Real Cobras, Real Roads, Real Fun

[A-Snake]

The September issue of Classic Motorsports is now on newsstands.

Eight pages on 10 Cobras in the Blue Ridge mountains.

[A-Snake]

"It's the spring of 1966 and a young overeager customer is visiting his local Ford dealership. He's read about the 427 Cobra's massive big-block power, and he just has to have one.

The salesman repeatedly tries to steer the young enthusiast toward the more practical and docile small-block version, the 289 Cobra, but the potential customer will have none of it. He wants the big block. So the salesman dutifully wheels a bright-red Cobra to the front of the lot and takes the youngster for the ride of his life.

Upon their return, the customer is visibly shaken. Once he is able to quell his trembling enough to finally catch his breath, he sheepishly admits that perhaps the 289 version might be a little more to his liking after all.

The salesman looks over to him and says bluntly,
"That was the 289 version""

-Tim Suddard
-Publisher Classic Motorsports“

This is the opening paragraph to the article in Classic Motorsports

[CobraDan]

That kid was no son of mine

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by CobraDan

That kid was no son of mine

Of course not, in 1966 that would have been you.

[CobraDan]

You are right that in 1966 I would have been that younger kid but the mystic of the Cobra replica even today is the big block and I would have not wanted the 289 version even if it ran circles around the big block 427 or 428.

[marcocsx3121]

In the early/mid 1970s, our New Jersey Cobra Club meetings could be characterized as "real beer, real Cobras, real roads, real fun". The most amazing part is that we lived to tell about it.

[BMK]

..I wonder how many kids were talked out of buying a Cobra, by parents who convinced them to buy a more praticable car....

Can hear it now...

[lust4fia]

I hope this mag shows up before I go on vacation Saturday. It would be perfect reading for the road.

[Excaliber]

Some time back a buyer was interested in my ERA, he all ready had an (anemic) 289 style replica Cobra. I took him for a test drive in mine and then let him drive it. No sale! Car was WAY 'to fast'.

Great story A-Snake, I'm still chuckling.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

I wonder how many kids were talked out of buying a Cobra, by parents who convinced them to buy a more praticable car....

Uh, me for one!!!!!!!!! In the early to mid 70's there was a big block CSX car in town for sale, Plain Jane 3000 series car, owner was trying to get $3,400.00 for it........I begged my dad to loan me the money, he knew the car and owner and knew what the car was capable of, said NO WAY, I ended up with a Ford pick up truck!!!!!!!!

In the 90's when the prices started going thru the roof, I reminded Dad about that red CSX car and he told me he was still glad he did what he did back then, cause he told me I probably would not have lived 6 months owning that car and the bad part, he was probably right.......
The one that got away........

David

[Jim Maxwell]

My wife and I had a wonderful time, putting over 600 miles on CSX 3288 over the 4 days of the event. My brother, Ed, who owned CSX 2306 as a younger man, drove CSX 2401 with his wife, Nancy. I drove from home to the mountains, 2 days of great mountain roads and no traffic, and a smooth trip home with not a single hitch(if you don't count the minor coolant leak from a not tight enough hose clamp due to the emergency water pump replacement one day before the event). Fortunately, NAPA had the rebuilt pump in stock, and almost the correct date code to boot! Only two of the original cars, each at least 40 years old, pooped out, one with carb problems, and the other from a rear brake fire due to a seized emergency brake caliper. The weather was absolutely perfect (Jay Bentley, we missed you-no rain this year!). The roads around Blowing Rock are second to none for fun and beauty. We did the Tail of the Dragon last year and Hwy 221 south from Blowing Rock is even better, in my opinion. (Just don't get stuck behind a gutter manufacturing truck for several miles!) The ride to the top of Grandfather Mountain was spectacular. A famous hillclimb race was held there for years and after the trip up and down, you can see why! New Cobras would have probably been more reliable, but it was awesome to get the owners of 10 originals to actually use their cars as Shelby intended. Good for them! No trailer queens here. Two of the cars had actually recently undergone Concours restorations for the Amelia Island Concours de Elegance, but now that the show was over, it was time to put the pedal to the metal, and they did!
By the way, Tom Cotter, owner of CSX 2490, a wonderful original 289, and co-sponsor of the Cobra Moonshine Tour, is now the co-chairman for the Amelia Island Concours, held for charity every March (second weekend) at Amelia Island, Florida.The 2008 event will feature Trans-Am. I am sure that most Club Cobra members remember the Trans-Am series and the Mustangs, Cougars, Javelins and Cameros that battled head to head, with superstar drivers like Mark Donahue, Parnelli Jones and Dan Gurney going at it each weekend around the country. I went from Louisville as a teenager to watch the races at Mid Ohio. What a treat! Can-Am, Trans-Am, and my favorite part, the Cobra enclave at the spectator area in 1969-70. I loved them then as much as I do now. I just wish I had bought a few of them then!

[A-Snake]

Just ten original Cobras and a '67 GT350 over for lunch.

[A-Snake]

It was also Jim Maxwell's task to insure all the cars were lined up each night. Wouldn't you know it, the only one that's out of line is that white CSX3288.

[mickmate]

That's not white it's pearl, with spider cracks all over it, and the rubber falling off.......... and we love that car!

[Jim Maxwell]

Thanks, Mickmate! Here's a couple more shots of the Tour.
A-Snake--Can I help it if I'm cross-eyed after a day of switchbacks?

[A-Snake]

On top of Grandfather Mountain.

[Jamo]

The stuff of dreams...

[1ntCobra]

I got a copy of the magazine.

Ned brought 2 cobras and needed someone to drive one of them? Hey, I would have driven one for him!

[CobraEd]

What stores carry this magazine?

.

[Jim Maxwell]

Barnes and Noble carries it as does Borders. You can subscribe on-line to the magazine if you find you like it. They also publish Grassroots Motorsports.