superformance car #

[cobrarob]

I am looking at a superformance cobra and the owner is unsure of the car #

I looked at the VIN # and the last 4 digits are 1355 , does that mean the car is # 1355 or # 355

Also the car has no glove box , can this be inmstalled afterwards or does it have to come out of the factory this way

Thanks for any responses

[TerrysSPF]

Do you have the rest of the VIN number?
It is probably car 355 - especially if it doesn't have a glove box.

Does he know what year the car was built? -That would help.

[cobrarob]

Terrysspf

He told me the car was a 1999 and I think the whole VIN # K1398AN1355

Rob

[Got the Bug]

Most Superformance cars are stamped with the chassis number in half a dozen places. Ask the owner to look around. My chassis number is stamped on the front frame cross member in the engine compartment near the radiator.

It's hard to believe that someone doesn't know the chassis number of the car they're selling.

Just saw your post...could be 355. 1999 would definitely be an early car.

[TerrysSPF]

Rob- That would be #355 then.

As far as the glove box is concerned, I do believe you can have one installed after-the-fact, but not sure how much it cost. You could contact a SPF dealer and they would be happy to give you a price for that.

Good luck!

[cobrarob]

Guys

If the car is # 355 are there certain items that I should be concerned abouit with an early model car

The car has a 460 stroker in it right now , just for information

[vanoochka]

Originally Posted by cobrarob

Guys

If the car is # 355 are there certain items that I should be concerned abouit with an early model car

The car has a 460 stroker in it right now , just for information

I have car #237 and have never had a problem directly related to its age. Superformance does have a service bulletin out on shock mounts. The problem is not specifically related to the age of the car, but it would be a good idea to change them out, if it hasn't already been done. It's easy to do and takes about an hour.

http://superformance.org/bulletins/S...-080718tsb.pdf

Here's a thread I started on a kit available to remedy the problem.

R/T Suspension Mounts

Superformance has continued to improve their product with upgrades over the years. Quite a few of them were incorporated into the 300 series, but there are others. I don't know if this list is complete, but it at least describes some of them.

http://performanceunlimited.com/supe.../features.html

I've not once regretted buying an older model Superformance. Good luck with your decision.

Chuck

[TerrysSPF]

One of the things I've always heard owners of older SPF's complain about is the lack of padding in the seats. You might want to check out their condition, although without a newer seat to compare it to, you may not notice a difference.

As van pointed out above, there have been numerous upgrades over the years, but SPF's are terrific cars. I guess it all comes down to how much $$$ is this guy asking for his car and how does the price compare to some of the newer models that are for sale today. -Check out cobracountry.com to compare some cars.

[vanoochka]

Originally Posted by TerrysSPF

One of the things I've always heard owners of older SPF's complain about is the lack of padding in the seats.

Okay, maybe one regret.

[Blas]

Adding a glove box now could be a bit difficult and expensive due to the fact that the main fuse panel and all its related wiring (on older pre#1040 cars) is attached to the dash in the exact position the glovebox would be installed. Not that it couldn't be done, but as with any older car, the wiring is quite content to be left where it is and moving it could awaken electrical demons. The glove box is not that big really, you could always throw a small travel bag behind the passenger seat in place of it. If you just like the look, just mount a glovebox cover. BTW: Dashboard is just fiberglass.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by cobrarob

He told me the car was a 1999

If the car is #355, it would have to be a very early '99 build.

My #747 was built around January 2000 (headers are stamped with that date) and being a Series 700 (which I recall started around build #640 or so?), it has many of the desirable upgrades such as Wilwood front/rear calipers, front 13" discs, chrome roll bar as standard equipment in place of the black bar, fresh air ducts leading to the foot area of the cockpit, lockable gas cap hidden inside the Aluminum Monza filler cap, rear fender protectors as standard equipment and a 12 volt accessory plug under the dash.

So don't sweat buying an older car if you know which series it is. And even ones older than mine have the dropped foot boxes. Most people can't even tell that my car is going on 9 years of age, and the subtle differences between mine and some of the newer ones (slightly higher front cowl and a slightly enlarged hood scoop opening) can only be seen when you park two of them together.

-Dean

[terry lee]

Rob,
My 2003 SPF is #1560 (Feb. '03 delivery) which would make me believe that the car you are looking at (if built in 1999) is probably #355. Just a guess. I think they do more than 50 cars per year. Let's do the math: 4 years x 50 cars per year = 200; which would put my car at #555 based on #355 for a '99build. Confused yet?????????

TL
Freezing in NC tonite

[vanoochka]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

My #747 was built around January 2000 (headers are stamped with that date)

Long before I bought my SPF, I restored pre-Stingray Corvettes as a hobby. In order to get it correct, I needed to know the approximate production dates of various components relative to the actual car build date. I recall the appropriate date code on some items could actually be up to 3 months prior to the actual production date of the vehicle. The point is, the date code on your headers may not be your vehicle production date, depending on what the inventory turns of headers were at SPF at that time.

I've documented that my car (#237) was produced in June of '99. Since I have no clue what the production output was at the time, I don't know what that means relative to the production dates of other car numbers, but 500+ cars in 6 months seems like a lot.

Chuck

[RedBarchetta]

I think we can all agree that Superformance didn't pump out in excess of 500+ cars from Jan 1, 1999 to early 2000. Especially since they haven't built #3,000 yet (real close though if not already being built).

Something is screwy with the numbering here.

"My 2003 SPF is #1560 (Feb. '03 delivery)". Assume for a moment that #747 was, in fact a Jan '00 build. That's a span of 813 cars across three years, or 271/yr or ~23/month. That sounds more realistic to me. So the mystery car in question is still in my mind just that, a mystery.

[sparks]

my 1459 was a jan 02 delivery

[Blas]

oops...wrong thread

[Randy Rosenberg]

I took delivery of SPF #582 in Nov 1999.

[cobrarob]

Guys

Thanks for all the responses

Although it is not completely clear it looks as though the car is probably # 355
It baffles me that the guy who owns this car could have it for 9 years ( so he says ) and still not know the number of his own car

I will do so more investigating on the car itself and try to find the accurate #

Rob

[ronwin]

Hi.
I think I can help with the dilemma of SPF # 355. It was shipped from HiTech in SA to House of Cobras in CA on June 3, 1998. Considering shipping time, floor time and install time, first registration could have occurred in 1999. Incidentally, it was (is) Royal Blue /White.

Car # 1355 (Titanium/Indigio Blue) was shipped to Dynamic Ohio on March 28, 2002.

I am the former CEO of SPF Intnl Inc and I retired after we sold the business to Lance . I returned to South Africa, and live on the coast just 30 minutes or so away from HiTech.

If there are any questions about cars during the period up to mid 2005 I will be only too happy to assist (if I can). I browse Clubcobra every day, but have only now reregistered in order to help Cobrarob confirm # 355's production/shipping details.
Regards
Ron

[vanoochka]

Hmmm...

Looks like I need to take another run through all my documentation research.