Some questions about COX6111

[Dave Schwaab]

After reading the recent article in Classic Motorsports, I tried to find out some more details about COX6111 and the other "Crossover Cars". Of course, I raised just as many new questions as I answered.

1) Are they counted as 427's because of the chassis, or 289's because of the engine?

2) What size tires did they originally come with?

3) I noticed the taillights appear to be 4 round lights, with separate trun signal and brake lights, as opposed to the 2 round lights and 2 round reflectors found on the CSX cars. Is this because they where built by AC Cars?

4) Did Shelby American build any "crossover cars", or only AC?

5) I also noticed the black dash material covering the bodywork between the windshield and the cockpit. Was this a factory option, or a mod by a previous owner?

Anything you can contribute would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Nedsel]

Regarding what the magazine called "crossover cars":

They are listed in the "coil-spring" production, but they are not broken out as 289's.

They were delivered with 6" wide wire wheels mounted with 185 x 15" tires. Interestingly, on these cars the spline-drive hubs were equipped with bolts in a six-pin layout, so to switch to pin-drive wheels requires the simple replacement of the bolts with pins, and you're all set.

Your observations about the tail lamps are correct: the bottom lights are not reflectors as in the USA cars. Because these were sold in Europe, they had to conform to the European laws then on the books, hence the turn signals are orange and the brake lights are red.

Only AC Cars built the coil-sprung chassis 289-powered cars. Each had a COB (RHD) or COX (LHD) V.I.N. Although Shelby American initially said a buyer could choose either a 289 or a 427 for the "Cobra II" they later decided to offer just the big block in the USA.

The black material on the cowl is a common addition to European (especially British) cars. It was added by a prior owner, not at the factory.

[Dave Schwaab]

Ned, thanks for the info. You have a really nice car there. I think the "crossover cars" are the best street Cobras ever built.

I hope the FFR I am (slowly) building comes out half as nice for drives such as the one you made in the story. Those kind of experiences are the reason I'm building a Cobra replica (although, mine will have a solid rear axle; homage to the TR-3A I learned to drive on).