Seeking Information about a Blue Arntz with a single White Stripe and Red Interior

[GVS]

ClubCobra members, I am turning to you for historical information about this blue Arntz with a single white stripe, no hood scoop and red interior.





The current owner purchased this vehicle at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2009 auction. He has no history on the car other than an info sheet which came with it. The car is currently for sale by the shop who has maintained it: below is what the seller shared about the car.

• VIN: A186L061285
• Blue paint with a single white stripe and red interior. No hood scoop. Interesting roll bar.
• Chevrolet small 400ci block engine (might be stroked to 427ci) with a unique front timing-chain-cover mounted distributor (similar to the Scarab Motorsports front drive distributor), Moon intake and 4 Weber 2bbl side-draft carburetors. The shop who is selling had the top end of the engine apart in 2009 to have the heads re-done and guarantees that it is a Chevy engine (despite it looking like a Ford Windsor at first glance). Note the fuel pump is on the right side of vehicle in the SBC location, whereas a SBF would have it on the left side of vehicle.
• Doug Nash Engineering 5-speed manual transmission.
• Guldstrand Performance MGB front suspension which consists of aluminum lower A-arms that are very similar (if not identical) to MGB A-arms, tubular aluminum upper A-arms with Heim joints at the frame interface and what appears to be MGB kingpins.
• Jaguar rear suspension

The chassis is powdercoated and did not have any numbers near the front left bumper mount.

Does anyone on this forum recognize this car? Do you know its history?





Note what appears to be 1970s Volkswagen Beetle door handles in the door panels.


A custom hidden decklid hinge.


I appreciate any insight that you can share. Thanks in advance!

[750hp]

No additional history sorry, but the quad side-drafts really grabbed my attention back when it was auctioned:
1965 ARNTZ ROADSTER COBRA RE-CREATION - Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

[GVS]

Here is an update to what I have uncovered about this car. In 2014, it was for sale here:
Ford Cobra Arntz Roadster 1965 | Brighton Motorsports | Collector Cars | Scottsdale, Arizona

It was sold to someone in the Seattle area. A few months cater, it was for sale at Cats Exotic (exotic car dealer in Seattle). They sold it on eBay in July, 2015: 1965 Shelby AC Recreation

Interesting, it was listed at the Fall 2015 Lucky Auto Auction in Tacoma, WA:
Lucky Collector Car Auctions | Lot 632- 1965 Ford Arntz AC Cobra Convertible

Per 750hp's note above, it appeared to have come to Grand Blanc, Michigan and the current owner has it on Hemmings for $35K
1965 AC Cobra for sale #1829881 | Hemmings Motor News and also listed for sale on Craigslist.

I wonder why this car has changed hands so many times. Build issues? Drive-ability issues?

[joyridin']

If I had to guess, it probably cost a few bucks to mess with that intake system and nobody wants to change it out to something more realistic.

Looks to be a nice car though.

[GVS]

joyridin': I'm right there with you. I have experience tuning Webers, and they can be great carbs with cold, fresh air and the proper amount of tuning (jets, emulsion tubes, accelerator pump ramps, etc.). If they are not properly tuned, they can be a nightmare.

[GVS]

Just as a little follow-up to my own post, I spoke to Jason Smith (n6opv) and this car appears to be an Arntz Type 2 (1978-1980). As others have mentioned on the forum, many state-issued VINs for home-built vehicles have the date in the VIN. So it is likely this vehicle was completed and titled on June 12, 1985