Scratch built Cobra in Istanbul

[Merv and Sharon]

While traveling in Turkey I have had the chance to catch up with Ozgur Tan and his scratch Cobra build. Ozgur is an experienced mechanical engineer who has led some automotive design operations at some large car manufacturers in the US and Sweden. He has already made a Porsche 550 replica and has several other projects in train.

His Cobra is based on a careful study and analysis of original 289 dimensions. He also has hundreds of Cobra models and is extremely knowledgeable on the history and heritage of the car.

Starting with a 3-D computer model, he made a full size wooden buck and then from that, the moulds for the car. Kevlar is used extensively throughout the extremely strong body structure. He has added some wheel arch extensions that are similar to those used on early Cobra racers in the UK. Most of the parts including the windscreen, trunk hinges (reversed opening for the planned Le Mans hardtop), door hinges, bonnet and trunk locks, roll hoops, 105 litre fuel tank and bonnet hinge are made by hand from polished stainless steel and use of a laser cutter. Also, the interior tunnel and dash are made from carbon fibre and resin in special moulds that he has developed.

The car has a Chev racing-heritage small block installed and his own design exhaust stainless steel system that sits well up into the body.

The location of the handbrake is also interesting - being beside and slightly behind the driver's seat. It falls to hand very easily and saves space between the seats.

A work in progress, but on the road soon!

[Ozgur_Tan]

thank you for kind words

here it's another interior shot


wooden buck


and shameless link to my build thread
i'm going to start manufacturing of bodyshell, but slabside or fia ?

[Merv and Sharon]

No responses from my colleagues I am afraid. I suspect that they are as amazed as I am that you were able to do this! The wooden buck is stunning.

[Krait]

Very nice work indeed!

You are a talented man Ozgur.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Speechless is the term Ozgur_Tan.

Your dedication has to be admired. Cobra looks fantastic.

[Zedn]

Ozgur, your a real craftsman. I have seen your build on other parts of the forum and am amazed what you have achieved.

How did you make the timber buck? Is it carved from timber or is it thin veneer bent over timber ribs?

The time to make the body buck and jigs for the build must have taken many hours let alone building the car.

Well done and congratulations on your achievements.

Liam

[john chesnut]

Looks great Ozgur! You are very talented and I certainly appreciate the amount of work that tackling a project like this takes! John

[Ozgur_Tan]

thank you to all kind replies
if you want something and work hard, you'll get it !
when somebody ask me about the cost of this thing
i say "blood, sweat and tears"
peace
ozgur

[07cob]

Ozgur_Tan

I have seen a few postings on scratch built cars in the States but none in quite as much detail as what you have provided in your build thread. Some inspirational work there!!

Well done!

Geof

[Merv and Sharon]

Ozgur explained that the major part of the work, many months, involved the computer modelling to the original specifications and the complexity involved in the 289 shape. This is his professional field of course and he has tools, knowledge and skills that few of us have.

His build shows some of the variations that are lost on our mostly single body shape in Australia.

The back folding trunk is interesting (as is the rear folding hood) and is a feature of some of the original racing Cobras. The rear stop/light indicators are LEDs in the original type housing and the exhaust exits neatly.



He made billet catches for the trunk and hood.

[Ozgur_Tan]

@Zedn; i've had created sections from my 3d model every 200mm and CNC cut


@Merv; LED modification of Lucas 542 is great and was done by friend

[Merv and Sharon]

Ozgur, I just read through your build thread: (i'm going to start manufacturing of bodyshell, but slabside or fia ? ).

It is so long but really amazing for the international interest it created. I don't think we saw it here in Australia.

The hardtop that you planned looks very good and I am thinking I will get on to my colleague who has the hardtop mould for the Harrison Cobra that is resting in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and see what we can come up with! Obviously a shorter one for the standard trunk lid arrangement.

[rustyBob]

I followed Ozgurs build......he does amazing work.....
and it proves that there are still incredably craftsman
out there willing to take on a project like that.....
my hat is off to you Ozgur......mighty fine work....

[Ozgur_Tan]

thanks a lot again guys

we're sharing common interest
because of that our location in planet earth is not so important

this web forum is very easy to get-together and I'm following from since 1999
hell, just ask Merv about travel time from his hotel to my garage

ozgur

[Merv and Sharon]

Ha! Istanbul is no city for a sports car but the roads outside the city and between the major cities are better than most in Australia. Very impressive indeed.

[Ozgur_Tan]

main problem is traffic jam, roads are great and sunday very early is the best time to drive in city
traffic jam is normal for city with population of 15 million people

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Ha! Istanbul is no city for a sports car but the roads outside the city and between the major cities are better than most in Australia. Very impressive indeed.

[JBCOBRA]

Holy Smokes!
Very talented
I couldn't even make the buck........let alone the entire car!
I tip my hat to you!

[mickmate]

Kudos brother, that really is a scratch build.

[Merv and Sharon]

Dave - this was in adjoining shed...

[Ozgur_Tan]

hey merv
i've got a toy in my garage
local built "morgan plus 4" replica
i'm going to make mould for wings & nose cone and make those parts from carbon-fiber
currently she has got 2000cc inline 4 ford engine, maybe shoehorn v8 in it.