Buying a High Tech

[601HP]

When I contracted to buy my Hi-Tech in early 1994 through Mike Kenney and Tim Gunning, ( and Tom D'Antonio, the original owner who sold the business to Gunning, and was still there working for Tim Gunning for a part of 1994) it could be had as follows:
a. With a 100% alloy body and interior
b. With a 100% fiberglass body, and fiberglass 'tub' interior
c. With a 100% fiberlgass body, and alloy interior which included floor pans, transmission tunnel, firewall, rear wall and trunk interior pieces (I purchased this version)
d. With a fiberglass body, alloy interior, and option for one or more of the following alloy exterior body pieces; hood, trunk lid, and doors.

I don't know how many of the early cars were built with a live axle. Mine is equipped with IRS and a Ford 9" center section.

I still have their original advertising literature/sales brochures from that particular period. There may have been modifications and or changes to their products subsequent to my purchase.

David

[Kasi]

OK I done, I will buy that car Today

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Kasi, like others have stated, the opportunity to own a good example of a Hi Tech replica does not come often and should be seriously considered. For the most part, they are far and away a cut above most other manufacturers and one of the most accurate and correct looking Cobras outside of the originals.

A few - probably due to the requests and actions of the owners - may have been sub-par in final execution, but mainly they are as good as it gets in the replica business and it sounds like the owner of this car did an exceptional job. The glass bodies were superb looking and were available with aluminum doors, hood and trunk. Frame and suspensions were accurate with many parts interchangeable with the original cars. I'd take one with a 460 in a heartbeat. If you want to be true to the originals the additional amount he is asking for the sideoiler seems reasonable.




Ernie, you really shoulda bought that other car and swapped out the rear axle, buddy!

BTW there is a fella in Aruba who built a beautiful Unique Motorcars Cobra a few years ago. Aruba isn't that big so you should know him. I think his name is Andre and he also had a pro stock race car. He might be a good person to talk to as he seemed to have done his homework when he made his purchase and detailed his build.

I'm in St. Lucia so I'm looking forward to an addition to the family of Caribbean Cobras. Good luck. Buy the Hi Tech.

Buzz
I know Andre he is a Nivce Fella I saw the Car a couple of weeks ago but it was not in good shape he also changed the BB for something smaller .

Yeeah the Caribbean Cobra Brothers sounds good

[Kasi]

So just talked to the seller by phone deal is done the Cobra goes to the Caribbean

Thanks again guys for all the Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If somebody out of the Forum headed to Aruba for Vacation drop me a mai or PM so w can have some cold ones at my Restaurant Bar

Prost
Karsten

[Excaliber]

Well thats pretty cool!

Footnote:
There are TWO companies called Hi Tech/High Tech. I THINK the name is spelled differently for each. Of course here on this thread were talking about the original, older Hi Tech company. The other one is in South Africa, parent company of SPF I believe.

[Kasi]

Any good transport Company recommendations ( Enclosed ) from Charlottesville VA
to Miami

[Buzz]

Congratulations Kasi! Welcome to the Caribbean (and international) Cobra fraternity! Quite a series of coincidences - The other Aruba Cobra is a Unique which is the same brand that I own and like you I am also in the restaurant business though admittedly, more of a sideline in my case.
I am sorry to hear that Andre's car is in rough shape - how come - wear and tear? Accident?
Post lots of pictures in your gallery - Your new car is a thing of beauty and these cars look great from all angles.

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Congratulations Kasi! Welcome to the Caribbean (and international) Cobra fraternity! Quite a series of coincidences - The other Aruba Cobra is a Unique which is the same brand that I own and like you I am also in the restaurant business though admittedly, more of a sideline in my case.
I am sorry to hear that Andre's car is in rough shape - how come - wear and tear? Accident?
Post lots of pictures in your gallery - Your new car is a thing of beauty and these cars look great from all angles.

Buzz
I think Andre lost interest in the car it was sitting in a Garage without any Cover full of dust and some scratches around I think he is concentrating to mich on his Drag Cars I ask him if he wants to sell the car and he came up with totally Crazy price so ( 60 K ) worth in my opinion maybe 30 K in this shape .

I will post lots of pics , promise

[1985 CCX]

Kasi

Contrats, transport from VA to Miami would be = fly to VA and drive it! A trip you will never forget I am sure.......

Nice Car! You must post pics in your gallery once you get the car...Please....

[Kasi]

Now i can change my Avatar to

[Red S/C]

Just going by what Tim said, in that he didn't sell any live axle cars. He told me this in 1993 when I purchased mine from him. Tom was there and he may have made a couple live axle cars. According to Tim if it was live axle is was done by Tom prior to him or the builder of the kit did it. He said all his cars used a 9 inch Ford IRS done by Jack O'Brien in Indiana.

[Kasi]

Here are some pictures of my new car









]

[Buzz]

Sweeeeeeeeet!!

[Excaliber]

Oh man that IS nice!

Now if I'm not mistaken, I can't tell from the pictures, the car does NOT have a fuel gauge! That was typical for the original competition cars. Note the twin fuel pumps, and there should be corresponding fuel pump switches on the dash. One pump (primary) draws about 3/4 way down into the tank, the SECOND pump draws from the bottom of the tank, that is your 'reserve'. When fuel pressure runs low, uh, it does have a fuel pressure gauge, no? You switch to the secondary pump. There was some comment about a 42 gallon tank? Excellent! Again, thats what the Comp cars ran. Many of the Comp cars have extremely low rear end ratio's, 3.7 or something like that. With a top loader and 1 to 1 ratio in 4th gear you could calculate a 'top end' speed that is fairly low with that ratio, motor SCREAMING toward 7000 rpm at top end. Think 'short track' gearing which was the most common racing venue at the time. With such low gearing burning rubber and getting sideways coming out of the corners made for a hellish environment. Only men with BIG balls need apply to drive the car anywhere near it's potential, in or out of competition. No question, these cars were scary then and that hasn't changed. Along with those low gears came two things, extreme rpm at 'cruise' speed and ultra low mpg. Hence the need for a 42 gallon tank! The typical 15 to 17 gallon tank would be a joke. With a more conservative 3.5 rear gear, top loader and classic 26" tires you can expect about 3000 rpm at 60 mph, 3.3 or so, maybe 2800 rpm. Assuming a reasonable carb and camshaft profile I would estimate 10 mpg is possible at a steady 60-65 mph. Could EASILY be 6 mpg with a fat carb, radical cam and a little heavy on the 'go' pedal.

Of course it's a 460 and I don't know much about that setup so give us an update when you figure it all out. Details man, it's all in the details!

Hmmm, modern style fuel pumps, subtract points at the Concours de Elegance. Of course the original style pumps might run as much as $1,500 per unit, so I'll let you slide on that one. Now, can we get some side oiler type fakey doo valve covers for that 460?

[Red S/C]

Nice, I like it very much. You did good! Excaliber is on the money, when you nail that 460 you will be happy with the large tank.

[kris-kincaid]

Nice job. You should be happy with it.

[Kasi]

So its perfectly made for a small Island in the Caribbean with winding roads and one main stretch in the middle


@ Excaliber
I think i put some Money on the side and go for the 427 soon

[Excaliber]

I do know a little something about Islands! A 17 gallon tank, even when I was getting 6 mpg, was still plenty to go and come back from 'where ever'.

[Car Lover]

Hi All; I'm new to your forum,but I also have a Hi Tech car. Car born in 1993
with vintage 427 s/o. I Have a call in to Tom DiAntonio on an unrelated issue
so I'll ask about the solid axle issue,but back then you could get what was re
ferred to in their literature as a builders package. What this was,you could
buy the body/frame package for X dollars and as finances permitted you could
buy the suspension package then the interior pack etc. So i think this was
probably a owner install on the solid axle. Tom was to much of an make it as
close to original as money will allow kind of guy. I have all of their literature
and video and no where do they mention a solid axle. the most repeated item
is there quest for authenticity. Mine was the last Tom made before going to
Shelby and the company was called High Tech Replica and it was also a Co-
bra restoration facility also. When mine was built it was as a complete roller
with a fibreglass body ,aluminum interior,aluminum rear bulkhead,doors,hood&
trunk, trunk interior,twin 240A stewart warner fuel pumps,42 gallon fuel tank
by Mike McClusky,Halibrand Magnesium wheels, and too much other stuff to list. All for the price of $42,330 and at the time i thought i was nuts.

[Kasi]

Pleas post a Picture of your car

Nice to have you here !!

Gretz

Karsten