Cobra Body Styles

[wtm442]

Question?????

Are there only 5 different body styles of Cobras?

289 FIA
289 Street (Slabside)
427 Street
427 S/C
Daytona Coupe

Thanks in advance for reply.

[Excaliber]

How about the "Turd" flip top! OK, it's only one, but there were only 6 Coupes!

[decooney]

I guess if you are looking at Cobras that actually look someone different from the list above, you might be able to consider these as being other/different versions of Cobras too:

-63 Cobra Lemans with Hardtop. CS2131
-DragonSnake - drag racing configuration, 289, hard top. CSX2357
-DragonSnake - drag racing configuration, 427, hard top. CSX3198, others...
-427 Super Coupe. CSX3054
-USRRC/FIA Cobras with swept back doors...
-AC 289 Roadsters.

[Badger]

If you start getting technical, there were actually THREE different Daytona Coupe body configurations! CSX2287, the proto, was the only coupe built in California; it has the "most correct" roofline. The next five were constructed in Modena by Carozzeria Gransport. Their first try, CSX 2299, was an attempt to "correct" what they thought was the mistake of the "strange roofline" of the first. (They wanted 2299 to look more like a Ferrari) This car was not as aerodynaically effective as the first, so the next three coupes had a compromised line halfway between the first and second coupes. The new Superformance Coupe has the "correct" roofline of the first car. The exact diffrences can be seen in comparison photos of all the coupes in the book, Daytona Cobra Coupes" if you can find a copy. Badger

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by Badger

If you start getting technical, there were actually THREE different Daytona Coupe body configurations! CSX2287, the proto, was the only coupe built in California; it has the "most correct" roofline. The next five were constructed in Modena by Carozzeria Gransport. Their first try, CSX 2299, was an attempt to "correct" what they thought was the mistake of the "strange roofline" of the first. (They wanted 2299 to look more like a Ferrari) This car was not as aerodynaically effective as the first, so the next three coupes had a compromised line halfway between the first and second coupes. The new Superformance Coupe has the "correct" roofline of the first car. The exact diffrences can be seen in comparison photos of all the coupes in the book, Daytona Cobra Coupes" if you can find a copy. Badger

Those damn Italians. That Coupe looked good though.

I read this on the web once. I think it was a link on the ERA website to a guy who is scratch building an aluminum Coupe. his site had the link to the history of the Coupes.
I couldn't find the link but here are the chassis numbers of the Coupes from his website.
Only six Daytona Coupes were originally built by Shelby American in 1964 and 1965. The original was chassis number CSX2287. Chassis numbers 2289, 2300, 2601, 2602 and 2286 followed as rapidly as time and materials were available.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Naumoff

Those damn Italians. That Coupe looked good though.

I read this on the web once. I think it was a link on the ERA website to a guy who is scratch building an aluminum Coupe. his site had the link to the history of the Coupes.
I couldn't find the link but here are the chassis numbers of the Coupes from his website.
Only six Daytona Coupes were originally built by Shelby American in 1964 and 1965. The original was chassis number CSX2287. Chassis numbers 2289, 2300, 2601, 2602 and 2286 followed as rapidly as time and materials were available.

2289 does not sound right. I'm pretty sure it is 2299.

[1ntCobra]

As for other body styles...

CSX3002 is a mix of 289 and 427 body styles (289 nose, 427 rear and forward braced rollbar).

Besides the flip-top, there was another big block car built out of a 289. It had 3 half circle holes in the nose. But now that I think about it, it looked pretty much like a standard 289.

[Power Surge]

I guess there are many different body "shapes", because even within the same model, the shapes varied.

But if you want to stick with the basic "model" of car to it's body shape, I would think of it like this...

Small block car - Street (slabside)
Small block car - Race (comp body, flared wheel openings, like a comp 427 car)
Small block car - FIA body
Daytona Coupe
427 Comp and S/C body
427 Street

Naturally you can split the body differences down even further (i.e. wide hip and narrow hip 427 cars), but I think that covers the basic "model" difference.

Obviously cars like the Turd, 3002, the Super Coupe, etc were much different, but they also weren't production sold cars.

[G.R.]

Even the 289 FIA style...at least 6 team/privateer(some sources say more) were made for U.S. USRRC competition....basicaly the only external difference between the FIA and USSRC cars were the USSRC cars were sans "Suitcase" bumps on the trunk lids. There were numerous minor differences in engine carbureation, dash layout, fender flare etc.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Obviously cars like the Turd, 3002, the Super Coupe, etc were much different, but they also weren't production sold cars.

So what is the cut off to be a production car? 6 or more? Like the Daytona Coupes or FIAs? But a one off is not?

[Excaliber]

WERE the Coupes even considered 'production' cars? I suppose they were, but thats typical of the Snake Oil Shelby so liberally used 'back in the day'.

[1ntCobra]

I'm kind of curious as to the reason for the question. Are you looking for specific models or sort of different variation?

In terms of building a replica, there are manufacturers that handle the standard models. But as far as I know none of them make Turd or 3002 replicas.

Acually a turd replica would be pretty cool.

[Excaliber]

I think so to, would like to see someone do that.

[Igofastr]

I'd like to see a 3002 replica...the best of both worlds. In my opinion, the nose of the 289 cars is more attractive than that of the bigblock.

Actually, my all time favorite car is a USRRC car that was formerly owned by Don Lee?...I believe it was sold at Montery this year, as I didn't see it at the Historics for the first time in awhile. It had more "slit-like" oil cooler opening that I think is prettiest of all the Cobras that I've seen. Wish the Kirkhams would make that version...then again, if I win the lottery......

[jj technics]

hello guys I am new on the forum ,but I like to share the little I know
for the 289 version slab side ,the le mans car CS2131 / 39PH
had a one inch wider body on the wheel arches at the moment this car is available from kirkham including the le mans hardtop

[Buzz]

Here is CSX3002. Hi Tech made a beautiful replica of this car with either an all alloy body or a glass body with alloy doors, hood and trunk. It was for sale about a year ago.

[Peterw11]

Speaking of the slabside 289, does anyone sell a glass version of the street slabside here in the States? Hawk makes a nice one, but apparently it's not available here.

I love the Kirkham, but way too much dough for my budget.

Also, I'll ask this question again. Does anyone recall the one-off AC prototype build back in the mid 60's on a 289 chassis? It predated the Frua 428 body and looked similar, but the nose was a lot simpler and cleaner.

There were a few pictures of it in Road and Track back when it first came out, and I spotted it again in a British classic car magazine advertisement back in the mid 90's.

Very pretty and elegant design which apparently never made it past the prototype stage.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Peterw11

Speaking of the slabside 289, does anyone sell a glass version of the street slabside here in the States? Hawk makes a nice one, but apparently it's not available here.

Slabside mnfgs
Hawk
Johnex3 Motorsport
Kirkham
Shelby American

[saltytri]

Also, JCF in Coos Bay, Oregon.

[spl310]

Someone posted a link to a slabside car that was being sold in 2 pieces. Anyone got that link?