CSX6000?? on Ebay

[Nedsel]

I certainly agree with all of the question marks. It doesn't appear to match the sum of its parts.

The AC 289's came with standard 289 Cobra 6" wire wheels on a splined hub, but as has already been pointed out they also had bolts which could be easily removed to mount the pins for a 6-pin drive assembly.

I'm not familiar either with a vin-tag pop-riveted to the right shock tower. The B.A. Mk. IV's I have looked at had a number stamped on the right tower, lengthwise. Possibly the right tower on this eBay car was ground down to give the impression there had previously been a stamped VIN there, however the explanation that the law said "nothing illegal had been done" seems strange. When confronted with any automobile lacking a VIN, especially when there is evidence that it has been removed (witness the marks of a grinding wheel), they usually impound the vehicle immediately.

I think the recommendation to avoid this car is well taken.

[B.M.B.C]

Im not expert, but can i just add that this car could be a AC428 rebody attempt.

[What'saCobra?]

3327
Would certainly like to know the name of that UK author. If his initials are RM, you ought to know he has a very heavy emotional case (serious understatement on my part, but a story for another day, perhaps) against Brian and he might be tainted on this or any other BA issue.

It is true that BA built and shipped some CSX 4XXX cars, but they were revised subsequently (the "Northridge" cars, all pin drive, expensive and accounted for).

A single lonely last 289, with spline drives, original suspension, very very expensive, in a UK garage is being pampered properly and definitely NOT this car. COB/CSX 4001 has been switched from RH drive, to LH drive to RH drive in its early history, since the first owner didn't know what country he was going to live in. Silly twitt!

i never saw any entries in the factory registry regarding any 6XXX cars at least before 1995, when BA lost control of operations. i have heard persistent references to "various completion" cars issued by the Lubinsky team from bits incomplete upon their purchase of the Cars Limited's assets, but do not believe any were marked "CSX" legally. That isn't to say that none were marked CSX 6XXX. Only his confessor or hairdresser knows for sure.

While some 4 of the BA cars WERE CSX 30XX's (S/C's), published here at CC but also elsewhere, all are also accounted for. You are correct they are quite valuable, perhaps as much as 1/2 or so of the originals, certainly at least 1/3 (fairness disclosure, we have one in our photo cache up above for your perusal & edification).

Lastly, i genuinely hope you enjoyed 3327. i ran it pretty hard when i owned it. It was a great machine; it never faulted, never wobbled, never got pranged (as long as close doesn't count!). Not even scratched. Plenty of best time of day awards, no drags, but plenty of circuits of Bryar, Thompson, LimeRock Park, etc.

B.M.
AC Frua's are very pretty and not cheap. Cannot imagine the difficulty of shortening the chassis correctly. i think it has been done, previously. New pick-up points are not simple and a cut and paste must be visible somewhere. But, nothing is impossible, i suppose.

[Trevor Legate]

Almost certainly not a 428 cut-n-shut. All six present and accounted for and it's doubtful any more will be so abused since their values are on the way northwards. (CF19 - 23 - 35 - 39 - 47 - 68 since you ask...) There's another being built in the UK but that has major issues since the alleged 428 chassis - found buried in the factory many years later :-) had no certification issued so it's hard to prove its authenticity. Bit like the car in question!

Cheers JBo, my accountant will be in touch once he's calculated the interest charges!

[JBo]

Whatsacobra'
I had great times with 3327 as you did. No organized drags, but a few red light GP's and several trips to Watkins Glen. That machine left one with visceral feelings un obtainable today. I think it was the highlight of road cars I managed to enjoy if even briefly. Your other thoughts will be addressed in an PM.
Trevor,
As long as it is not Madolfs or A.L.'s accountant I'm OK with it. Note was stuffed into a book that i used for reference the other day.
JBo

[kris-kincaid]

On the Ebay car, you can see the front tower gusset was welded with a solid bead all the way around it. That's not the way AC did it in the 60's, they just put a few 2" or so long stitch welds on the tower. You can see an example of this in the photos of the car Canepa is restoring: http://www.canepa.com/racing/Cobra2/index.html

[Dominik]

To make a ground-off chassis number visible is no big deal.
My local police station had it done in 1980 in "no time" to verify an engine number of my 50cc scooter

I am certain, that almost 30 years later you only need a "Mag-Lite" with another bulb to read that number - if you know what I mean :-)

Dom

[What'saCobra?]

Correct! Good call, Kris.
i still lean towards calling this an aborted attempt at turning a MKIV into something "better". Grinding off the numbers, though, still implies a hot car, even though we see little other evidence, except for the odd sale environment.

In my view, a lack of history is everything, even in the kits. Since the Clinton years, there is little honor amongst even thieves, so why get involved in this kind of compromise? It can affect your life far beyond any potential gains. Buying "as is" is no protection against holding stolen property. You would have little argument to stand on, particularly if these discussions become evidence.

[Bernica]

There are three Cobra experts at SAAC that know more about these cars than just about anyone. They protect the registry, and are good at returning email.

They are:
Ned Scudder (Original Cobras) cobraregistrar@saac.com
Karl Saul (AC MKIV) - mkivregistrar@saac.com
Kevin Rogers (CSX 4000 and above) - 4000registrar@saac.com

The website is www.saac.com

If anyone can tell what it is, it would be one of these guys.

[Trevor Legate]

But you just gotta watch out for that Scudder guy!!! Seriously, whaddus he know???

[1ntCobra]

Ned Scudder is already involved in this thread...

Originally Posted by Bernica

There are three Cobra experts at SAAC that know more about these cars than just about anyone. They protect the registry, and are good at returning email.

They are:
Ned Scudder (Original Cobras) cobraregistrar@saac.com
Karl Saul (AC MKIV) - mkivregistrar@saac.com
Kevin Rogers (CSX 4000 and above) - 4000registrar@saac.com

The website is www.saac.com

If anyone can tell what it is, it would be one of these guys.

[Nedsel]

Not only that, but when he doesn't know what the heck is going on with a particular car, he says so.

[Bernica]

Sorry Ned. I just listed the three guys I know about, including you.

[1ntCobra]

And I thought only Wally and Trevor talked about themselves in the third person.

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Not only that, but when he doesn't know what the heck is going on with a particular car, he says so.

[Nedsel]

What can he say? Sometimes he just does that.