Opinions Please

[john chesnut]

Hello everybody, My name is John Chesnut and I am brand new to Club Cobra. I have been fortunate to be able to follow my dream and build some sports cars based on the style of the late 50's sports racers and recently an aluminum chassis, Corvette powered and suspended hot rod with a 23 Model T-bucket based body.
I am finishing up one of my dream cars, a 427 Cobra. I built it with an aluminum semi-monoque/backbone style chassis. If you are familiar with Herb adams, he built and sold a similiar chassis under the name of VSE Cobra's. I use new Corvette suspension, steering, brakes, wheels and tires, and the differential which I have converted to accept a driveshaft. I am using an LS6 with a T56, 6 speed trans. But, a Ford combo will work as well. The body shell and all accessories are from Mid-States. I have retained the stock wheel base and track but because of the chassis design the footboxes are significantly larger and the floor height is 4 inches lower. The result is more room for the driver and occupant. The complete car weights 1900lbs.
I am seriously considering offering the car as a kit. I know that there are alot of great kits and turnkey minus cars on the market but I believe that my car has a unique combination of modern engineering, all aluminum drive train, suspension, chassis, and other parts. I know from racing my T-bucket that the perfromance is staggering! If I could market the kit complete with all of the Cobra parts, alluminim chassis, all new Corvette parts, headers, sidepipes, aluminum coil overs, and all the other parts needed to complete minus engine, trans, wheels and tires for $29,000 do you think that there would be a market for it?
I appreciate any input! John Chesnut

[Dwight]

John
You should take your Cobra to the London Cobra Show and other Cobra/Kit/Car shows and see what the market response is. Let the people see it. The kit price is high but your Cobra is different and the market may pay your price. With Cobras costing $20,000 to $80,000, your finished price may be a bargain.



Dwight

edit Rule of thumb, double the kit price for a finished car.

[mr bruce]

hi John, How about doing a Daytona Coupe on your frame? . I have a set of molds for the Daytona Coupe sitting here collecting dust. I can make you a body to try out, or sell you the molds. Drop me a line if you're interested

[mrmustang]

John,

With the flood of turn key minus (and other complete) fiberglass body kits on the market, you might want to put together a finished car and show it to the public before you decide whether to offer it to the masses. I know of three other fellows who followed the VSE design route and ended up losing their hard earned investment(s) due to a lack of a following for "their great idea".

Bill S.

PS: Now, if you have a cheap enough labor force in New Hampshire, you might be able to get away with a less expensive turn key minus for say $19,999.95...In this price range you are more likely to seek success........

[race-it]

Unfortunately your timing may be a little off. The economy as it is I am seeing an overall decline in cobra prices across the board. I would want to closely monitor current sale prices for completed and kit packages before making a big investment. In any event I hope you are successful. I would think about the daytona coup body also. If you dont I just might.

Jim
Race-it

[dlampe]

Welcome to the club!

I have seen his work and it is top shelf! He had a car at Run and Gun this year and didi a great job.

Show us some pictures of what you have in mind.

[wtm442]

Here is one Cobra on Corvette manufacturer ....

Group Five Ltd.'S Cobrette

[767Jockey]

This sounds like it would be a really good platform to adapt to a GT40 type replica.

[john chesnut]

Thanks for the input. Please keep the thoughts coming. The same platform will fit an original wheelbase and track Dayton Coupe and this is some thing that I am planning to do. To adapt it to a a GT 40 is a different animal and requires a complete new chassis design. That being said I am in the design stages. I want to use the Corvette transaxle in this configuration but as is puts the wheelbase 15 1'2 inches too long. But, I am beleive I have a solution for this.
I know that my kit would be more expensive than some. But the chassis is super stiff and light. The Corvette suspension parts offer world class performance, the indepent rear is one of the best. I am able to maintain a great street ride with outstanding performance.
At 2008 Run and Gun my car won the roadcourse, drag racing, and autocross events with me driving. I have only competed 4 times in my life, all at Run and Gun. I won the 1.7 mile road course, in class, by, I think 5-7 seconds.
Again thanks for the input. John

[mr bruce]

Here's a deal for you, send me one of your frames, I'll build and install a Daytona body for you,. When it's done ,come down and pic it up. If you like it, pay me for the body. If you don't like it, I'll take the body off and you get your frame back. All you'll be out is the cost of a coupla trips to the 'Burgh. Or any of you Daytona wanna's, same deal. Buy a frame from John, send it to me and I'll install the body on the frame for the cost of the body.

[mr bruce]

Hot Rod Jim's Corvette Suspensions for your Hot Rod or Classic Chevy

[mr bruce]

GT 40 with C-5 suspension- ZSR_Chassis