Summit Racing Catalog Cover

[rdorman]

I just got off the phone with the owner of the car Rick Saccone. Like the article states he has a business that builds customs and does restoration...... this one he built for himself because how he put it "just wanted one"

Being here in Ohio where Ricks shop is and never hearing anything about him, the car nor his shop peaked my interest. After asking around a bit and doing some searches but still coming up empty handed I decided to give him a call.

Rick was a very pleasent guy and sounds as though he has an interesting operation going there. He noted that he had built a number of Cobras over the years from a variety of manufacturers for his customers. He was not aware of the Ohio Cobra Club, Club Cobra nor the Fling! He is now.

Watch for Rick to show up here eventually.

Comment on the car. While I prefer a more original approach, I think it is plainly obvious that this is one well done car. I for one am going to appreciate it for what it is and look forward to checking it out.

Thanks
Rick

[casaleenie]

Stryffeler, are you starting trouble again?????????

[Dan Stryffeler]

Who... little old me???

[bibt1272]

I was at Vern shop. He said, he sold the kit in 1998 to the owner. The owner should have given him credit for building the the frame and body. However, he said, he liked how the owner finished the car and was very proud to show me the article. He said people will know this is a West Coast Cobra. I for one like the idea of a retractable conv. top. However, it needs to be a hide away soft top. Anyone who owned a mid year corvette knows what I mean.

[bibt1272]

Originally posted by Unique580hp


I really like it!

In fact, I don't know if I've seen a Cobra that I don't like. I like the originals, and, I liked Lou's chromeillusion blown drag car.

I know I'm walking on egg shells here, but I like most all classics, street rods, antiques, etc. I feel that each one reflects the individuality of its owner. I view them as moving art.

From the flowing line of an early Auburn Boattail Speedster to the new Ford GT. Each classic has its own uniqueness. (ok to me a Pacer looks like a turtle, but it is unique)

In fact the whole debate on this forum about "original" vs "continuation" vs. who has the best replica kind of puzzles me.

Everything but the originals are a fake, a copy, replica, or whatever else you want to call it.

Whether it is the correct shade of blue or hot pink doesn't matter, it is still a replica.

I can understand some people wanting their car to be as close to the original as possible. But to me, if everyone had the same exact blue cobras with the correct engines, interiors, wheels, etc. Then you would just have a bunch of clones that are exactly the same. That to me, would be extremely boring! Can you imagine a car magazine called "Original Cobra Replicas" in which each car featured would be exactly alike? All very nice clones to the originals but all the same?

It seems many people feel that the only "correct" cobra is what is sitting in their garage.

I don't know why some people that own Cobras look down their noses on any Cobra (especially one that is as nice as the one in Summit).

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the original Cobra.

I also really like it when people are not afraid to express their individuality and customize their Cobra replicas putting their own personalities into them.

Maybe these people need their own website "Club Custom Cobras" or something.

In defense of West Coast Cobras, yes, their car is larger, wider, has a much more civilized interior, a much safer frame and chassis, more comfortable seats, etc and is a FAKE Cobra, but, so is my Unique, and SO IS YOURS (if you have a replica).

I'm sorry for the rant, but I have been reading this forum for a few months now and have had several postings and have gathered a ton of very useful information. I'm sure most people here are really nice people. Everyone has been very helpful to me that I have emailed about various topics. But I also feel that there are a ton of snobs that post on this forum that don't like any car other than their own or an original. I think it takes a lot more creativity to create a personalized Cobra (like in summit) than it does to simply imitate a car that Shelby made 40 years ago and a car that thousands of other people have in there garage as well.

Just my 2 cents.

[bibt1272]

It was worth saying again.

[MAXVELO]

Hey Bibt1272, how bout loading some photos???

[ItBites]

The car is black with silver stripes with purple between the wide and the pinstripe.

Just thought I'd correct the greenish and purple guesses earlier.

The front page photo was shot in red? light and so the car looks purple, buit is actually black.

Nice ride. Not the way I would do one (I'd put in a BBC). Who cares about original?!?!

Just stirring the pot...

[bibt1272]

Thanks for asking.

[MAXVELO]

Looking good My man! Those wheels are gonna look killer. looks like it will be alive soon. I can remember waiting. it was killing me!

[bibt1272]

I did not realize you had added new photos. Was looking at your build photos in Nov. and I was not sure of your thoughts for the finished look. It turned out awsum!
You and Mahuska in SanFran. should meet for lunch. Oh say in nev. You would both be there in less than an hr. with those killer cobras. Summit, eat your heart out. Terry

[G.R.]

Like I've said before except for a very few of us we all own streetrods/hot rods with Cobra bodies. Some detail them down to the last rivet, others customize them to their tastes--never was an original Cobra painted orange, or Candy RED, or viper blue, or any of the other colors we often see them painted, they didn't have "ghost stripes", or flames, or Chevy engines, or Buick engines, or blowers, or 16-18 inch wheels or MSD or other electronic ignition systems, or Wilwood disc brakes, let alone fuel cells, stereos, and on and on when Shelby sold them to the public.
The owner of the Summit Cobra may very well have had his build "twisted" out of context by the writer of the article--the last one they did about a cover car was also a little warped in "fact".

Personally I think it is an ok replica, not to my taste, but....--maybe the builder did find fault with the WCC body and frame, because it didn't meet his standards, after all he builds custom rods etc for a living. BFD, it is his car featured on the cover and in the calender insert , not yours or mine, until we get on the cover I don't think we really have a right to ***** and complain about someone elses ride,
.

[bibt1272]

Gary

Those are oustanding looking cars on your photo gallery. Do you build them for a living. The GT500 is boss. Terry

[MAXVELO]

Actually "those" cars in my gallery are one in the same. I bought the "West Coast" car from Weld Motorsports jan. 2003. They used the car to advertise a new line of Forged Wheels back in 96. The wheels that are on the vehicle were custom made by them and are the only set like it. After they were done advertising. the new line of forged aluminum wheels they stored the car in the warehouse for 6 yrs. Vern gave them a killer deal since the car would get alot of publicity and several vendors threw in alot of goodies (Ford crate, blower, fuel injection, TCI tranny etc. etc.) During the 6 yrs it was stored it suffered some damage. The pipes were starting to rust along with all the other metal parts. Someone attempted to move the car and started it in gear, it then hit a truck parked in front of it and suffered the damage you see in the front on some of the yellow photos. They (Weld) then did a cost analysis to see if it was worth restoring and selling. They had already started to dissassemble the car (as you see in the yellow photos)(this is also how got it) They then decided it was not worth fixing and it would cost over $20k, so they sold it as-is. That was my LUCKY DAY! I live in New Mexico and saw an ad in the Kansas City thrift paper (small paper with classified ads) and immediately called Carl Robinson (big time Racer with Weld Motorsports) and he didnt know much about the car and said it had never even been driven and lost all the paperwork on it. It didnt even have a serial # on it (that he could find) I then sent him a cashiers check (that day) after receiving the yellow photos from Carl that I have in my gallery. I picked it up that weekend on a flatbed along with several boxes. I spent the rest of the year transforming it into what you see in the black photos. As you can see some of the major things I changed were the self made Rollbar and re-located the cas cap filler. I didnt like the idea of leaning over the car too fill-up and the spilling gas all over the trunk when done. I also didnt care for the grill and opted for the fans and tranny cooler instead. Thats what makes my car MY CAR, my creation. And any changes or modifications you make will make you proud of you car. What youll find here is that no matter how nice your car is, theres allways someone that blow it away (as Ive experienced here) but to me MINES THE BEST! As will be yours to you. Good luck and enjoy the build!
Gary

[bibt1272]

Vern Emailed me a said he has your pictures. Its a great story and a good looking car. Thanks Terry