Does anyone know who made this Cobra Body?

zx900 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 08:54 AM

This is a really messed up story on purchasing this car. When I talked to this guy he seemed to be a decent guy and had a few older cars he was working on and his story seemed to make sense.

I purchased the body, frame and drive train from him but he didn’t have a MSO from the place he purchased it. He told me he bought the car and was having a friend build the frame of the car. Apparently the friend was getting a divorce and wasn’t able to finish the frame. He had a bunch of paperwork from streetbeasts but didn’t have the MSO. He told me the welder had the frame manual and MSO but that was lost in the divorce.

I called streetbeasts and sent them pictures to get an MSO but they told me the body wasn’t theirs. Right now I feel like an idiot because I didn’t walk away from the car until he got the paperwork. In either case I am talking to the BMV to find out what I can do but I thought I would see if anyone has built one of these and can point me to the manufacturer so I can see if I can get an MSO.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

Jeff

jerry w · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 09:05 AM

I don't know what body it is, but I can tell you it is not from Antique and Collectible. Good luck in your search

capteddie · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 09:06 AM

Well I'm far from an expert. But my call would be that its not a CR or CRII

Ed

zx900 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 09:22 AM

Thanks for the replies. I know it's not a streetbeasts and I have been looking at some other bodies on websites but I haven't been able to figure this one out based on pictures. I also sent pictures to classic roadsters but they told me it's not theirs either. When I looked at their pictures it looked close. Actually Don told me that someone on this forum might be able to help.

What a frustrating experience this has been. I'm hoping that I don't have to go to court over this one but you never know what the BMV is going to do.

whichonetodrive · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 10:10 AM

In some ways it looks like a Lone Star but dont know about the glove box opening. have you measured the wheel base to see if that helps out? also measure the transmission tunnel and post to see if anyone elses car matches up.

Woodz428 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 12:19 PM

Why did they say it WASN'T a Street Beasts?? I'm not saying it is, however, they have gone through several name changes and it may be a body produced under the prior name. If that's the case they wouldn't want to supply an MSO, for various reasons, and the Street Beasts manuals would be applicable in assembly just MO.

edwhite7 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 12:20 PM

Not Contemporary, they didn't have a fiberglass dash.

StreetSnake · #8 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 12:34 PM

its not a streetbeast, the scoop and dash are different.

zx900 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 12:37 PM

The reason streetbeasts said it wasn't their body is because the fuel port is located on the fender and not behind the passengers seat above the trunk. They also said the design of the tunnel was completely different. I didn't even think about the fact that they have gone through several changes and may not want to furnish an MSO. Right now I am contacting the Ohio BMV and should have an answer from them soon. Hopefully I will know what my options are in the next week or so. I really hope I didn't just throw money at something that I can't use because I can't get a title for it.

Here is the response I received from them.

That is NOT our body. The tunnel is wrong the trunk is wrong, the hood is wrong the gas cap is supposed to be mounted in the rght rear fender the door openings are wrong.

In short, cars that were not made by us are routinely passed off as our products. If the sellers cannot furnish an MSO from us or even a packing slip of the pieces in the kit it is usually not our car.

Double Venom · #10 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 02:46 PM

Lonestar is the only one I know of that moulds their dash in place but the door opening doesn't look like a LS/CR's same body- almost.

The car is to good to be a CMC-Fiberfab-Innovative street machine AKA Streetbeast! et.al.
I also have no idea who finishes off the inside of the hood the way it is.
Sorry to break your back, but being in Ohio you will never get a title for it without an MSO. (I helped write the ordinance in the ORC for self assembeled cars in Ohio. Very easy with an MSO-impossible without one.

27 years 9 month's CPD- retired and lovin' it!
DV

mrmustang · #11 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 03:02 PM

Hate to say it, but it looks like the body's that Sony was using for their special audio display three or four years ago. Same deep lip dash, same footboxes, same lack of a fuel filler door. I believe these were produced by a company in Idaho but have no records of a Cobra related manufacturer there to confirm.

Bill S.

Got the Bug · #12 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Venom

Sorry to break your back, but being in Ohio you will never get a title for it without an MSO. (I helped write the ordinance in the ORC for self assembeled cars in Ohio. Very easy with an MSO-impossible without one.

So would it be impossible to register a scratch built assembled car in Ohio?

ZOERA-SC7XX · #13 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 05:33 PM

Try to find a live title to a 60's Ford and register it as such. I know it's a grey area in many states, but more Cobra's than you might think are registered that way. It's better than just abandoning the project. Good luck.

onefastmustang · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 05:58 PM

Maybe it is a FiberJet body.. He had 2-3 of them laying about the back of his shop about 4 years ago. One of them looked quite similar.

Tim Brewer · #15 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 10:57 PM

It's for sure not a Lonestar. I don't think it's even made in the US, it's right hand drive.

LMH · #16 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 11:50 PM

Doesn't Unique have a hood and trunk like that?
Larry

LMH · #17 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 11:52 PM

It's left hand drive Tim.
Larry

zx900 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 03:52 AM

It's left hand drive and the dash is just lying in place. I didn't realize I was going to end up posting pictures on a forum or I would have taken more pictures when I pulled the tarp off of it with all of the parts taken off.

You can't believe how I felt as soon as I read the post that it was impossible to register in Ohio. I am going out this morning and taking some more pictures of the car so I can get it off to the BMV in Columbus to see what they say but I am getting the impression that I may have to sell the car because of Ohio.

Thanks to everyone who posted. I should have an answer as to whether or not I have to abandon the project in the next week or so.

zx900 · #19 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Hate to say it, but it looks like the body's that Sony was using for their special audio display three or four years ago. Same deep lip dash, same footboxes, same lack of a fuel filler door. I believe these were produced by a company in Idaho but have no records of a Cobra related manufacturer there to confirm.

Bill S.

Actually there is an impression on the back of the right fender for the fuel door for one of the flip top gas caps. When you say it looks like the body Sony used where was the body located at? Was it in Michigan at store?

I will see about getting a picture of that fender when I am out there today and post it.

Double Venom · #20 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 04:25 AM

ZX,
Col's State Police in Columbus is unfortunately going to tell you the same thing as I did. However per the ORC it is illegal in Ohio to sell any type of vehicle "without title!". A court case if it should come about will/should be easy to win plus legal fees and punitive damages if you have to go that far! You can ask OSP for the code numbers of the ORC for a llittle leverage against the nice guy that sold it to you. (Me thinks he knew about the MSO fiasco and unloaded it?)
DV