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10-28-2008, 04:55 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
CSX2451 - the Mercer Cobra
CSX2451 often shows up as the "mystery Cobra." Purchased as a chassis from SAI, it was stretched and rebodied as a show car.
The design was the work of Virgil Exner Sr., the famous designer from the Chrysler 50's era.
"...Virgil Max "Ex" Exner, Sr. was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons."
Exner did the milestone design of the Chrysler 300C...fins and all.
I had a few old and grainy pics of the Mercer Cobra, until recently when a good friend sent recent pics of the car in a rare showing last year. He has allowed me to share the images.
Quote:
1965 Mercer Cobra
Back in 1963 Virgil Exner Sr. designed a series of revival cars from many now defunct car manufacturers to show how he thought they might design a car today if they had survived and one of those was the Mercer.
Then in 1965 the American Copper Development Association picked Exner’s Mercer design to actually build this car and bring it from paper to reality. They purchased chassis number CSX2451 from Shelby and lengthened it 18 inches to start the build of this one and only 1965 Mercer Cobra. The coachbuilder chosen was Sibona-Basano from Torino Italy who built the body and as you will see from the photos used plenty of copper and bronze to adorn this custom body.
The engine was a Ford 289 installed and purchased from Shelby’s stock of CSX chassis Cobras being built in the same time frame.
Today this car is owned by William Lyon who also owns the Ghia bodied Bugatti another car designed by Exner Sr. Now on September 29th 2007 Virgil Exner Jr. Exner Sr. son and Peter Grist an automotive journalist and author of a new book about Virgil Exner Sr. titled Visioneer, the official biography of a designer extraordinaire held the Era of Exner Event at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
With the book signing and 10 automobiles from Exner’s milestone cars my friend Jim Milliken who brought his 1971 Stutz Blackhawk as another one of Exner’s 10 milestone cars took these pictures for me of this one and only built 1965 Mercer Cobra. As a Cobra enthusiast I am glad to share these pictures and this story with you.
Article by Dan Wulff
Photos by Jim Milliken
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10-28-2008, 04:57 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
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10-28-2008, 04:57 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
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10-28-2008, 05:33 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Chattanooga,
Tn
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance #086 ,351 Stroked Windsor
Posts: 120
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Not Ranked
Definetly , without a doubt , the Ugliest car i have ever seen.It is such a shame to know a Great CSX car was butcherd into that abomination.
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10-28-2008, 05:49 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VALLEY FORGE,
PA
Cobra Make, Engine: SUPERFORMANCE w DOUG MEYER ENGINE
Posts: 1,958
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Not Ranked
Jees o man! How much extra high speed lift can be added to a Cobra? Look at those front fenders etc...That car must be scary to drive...............
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10-28-2008, 06:28 PM
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Senile Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY USA,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
Posts: 4,534
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBCOBRA
That car must be scary to drive...............
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Drive??????? 
__________________
"I'm high all right, but on the real thing....powerful gasoline and a clean windshield..."
rick@autoventureusa.net
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10-28-2008, 06:33 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ferndale,
WA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF2089
Posts: 460
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Not Ranked
I dont like it but I learned something interesting.
Thanks CW.
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dblbarrel
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10-28-2008, 07:20 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Palm Coast,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby American CSX 4241 - authentically built
Posts: 2,573
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by kris-kincaid
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Ironically, being a mopar fan, I always thought the early 60s cars were some of the ugliest things Dodge ever put out. Now I know why. That Mercer Cobra almost makes my eyes bleed. Should have been called the Mercy Cobra.
Interesting piece of history though, thanks Ron.
__________________
Sal Mennella
CSX 4241, KMP 357 - sold and missed, CSX 4819 - cancelled, FFR 5132 - sold
See my car at CSXinfo.net here >> CSX 4241
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10-28-2008, 07:51 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Stoneville,NC,
NC
Cobra Make, Engine: Factory 5 mk4 445 FE
Posts: 1,623
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Not Ranked
Dang, are you sure that isn't Jules Vern car.
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10-28-2008, 07:55 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: The Heart of the Citrus District,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold 3047 & 3002 in 2012
Posts: 2,763
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Not Ranked
Al
Jules Vern?
.....you're old enough?
Mercer was not quite the name.
It was Mercy
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10-28-2008, 09:02 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Indialantic,
Fla
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
Posts: 53
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Not Ranked
Looks more like Elvis designed that car after a peanut butter and banana binge.
__________________
Fast cars don't make fast drivers
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10-29-2008, 12:29 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Alice Springs, central Australia,
NT
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic revival kit (CR3181), gen III engine, T56 6 speed box, AU XR8 lsd diff
Posts: 5,699
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Not Ranked
That is one butt ugly car
__________________
Cruising in 5th
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Never be afraid to do something new, Remember, Amateurs built the Ark: Professionals built the Titanic.
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10-29-2008, 04:12 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Crawley,
WS
Cobra Make, Engine: AC427 MkIII of 2004 vintage
Posts: 1,210
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Not Ranked
Strip that copper off - worth a fortune in China!!!
__________________
trev289
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10-29-2008, 06:36 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cape Coral,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: 2009 Solbra
Posts: 3,861
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Not Ranked
First off there is no car as ugly as you guys portray and this car was Exner Sr attempt at what a Mercer roadster would look like if they had stayed in business. The only reason the Cobra name is tied in is because they needed a frame and bought CSX2451 and a 289 Ford engine from Shelby to have this one and only Mercer built which makes it part of the Cobra history. In the 3rd picture posted you can see a Studebaker, Chrysler, and a Dodge all designed by Exner that actually went into production. Thanks Ron
__________________
Dan Wulff
I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.
(No doubt, most will blame it on the donuts.)
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
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10-29-2008, 08:56 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Yorba Linda,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF w/392CI stroker
Posts: 3,293
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Not Ranked
Aggghh!!! The horror!
This thread cost me 30 seconds of my life that I'll NEVER get back.
Thank you.
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10-29-2008, 01:53 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Queen Creek,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Midstates, Vette suspension, Baer 6P brakes, 540 cid Chevy, Haltech Fuel Injection
Posts: 906
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Not Ranked
I kinda like it. I hadn't noticed the openings between the wings/fenders and the hood before.
There are way uglier cars. How about AMC Pacer, Volkswagon beetle, Pontiac Aztek, and a ton of others?
__________________
E. Wood
ItBites
10.69 @ 129.83mph - on pump gas and street tires
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10-29-2008, 02:11 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Avon,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: 1969 Mustang Fastback Pro-Street, constantly changing ongoing project!
Posts: 746
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Not Ranked
Yes, It's ugly but a part of history. Thanks for posting the pics
__________________
Mick
(Of The Troops & For The Troops)
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body; but rather a skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, WHAT A RIDE!"
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10-29-2008, 10:05 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Vero Beach,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: COX 6111 - '66 "AC 289 Sports."
Posts: 1,572
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Not Ranked
ItBites - thanks for not bringing up the Edsel in that list.
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Ned Scudder
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12-15-2011, 08:40 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Williston,
VT
Cobra Make, Engine: Factory Five - the 1st Mk4
Posts: 34
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Not Ranked
Looks like the Mercer Cobra Roadster went to auction. Expected $800,000 to $1.2 million.
The special Mercer-Cobra Roadster will be put to auction on August 20, 2011 in Monterey with an expected draw of $800,000-$1,200,000.
Now that was in August 2011. Anyone know what happened?
1965 Mercer Cobra Roadster - Top Speed
Just found it:
1965 Mercer-Cobra Roadster - sold for $660,000
SUPERCARS.NET - Image Gallery for 1965 Mercer-Cobra
George
__________________
George
1975 Porsche 911 Targa Carrera - sold
1952 MG-TD - sold
1962 MGA - sold
Purchased Factory Five Mk4-#1 March, 2010, under construction
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