Help Identify Cobra Body for repair purposes

[AFM19Doherty]

Back in 1992 I bought a Cobra kit car from a guy up north in Pleasanton
. The only paper work he had was an Auction reciept
from the Auction he originally purchased the car from in Los Angeles Area.
I think it was Spectrum Auctions.
Since then I have damaged the right front headlamp /nose area and i want
to get it fixed. There are no identifying labels on the Glass Body. It has the
typical lower passenger front fender just like the Steve Arnst bodies of the
70"s. I knew Steve and used to visit his shop alot back then and know the
story of how the mold got that way when someone stood on the car. Anyways
the most definining look on this car is the fact that its rear body is smooth around the fender openings with out the normal 2" flare. Also it seems to be
a little wider rear body width.
Where are there local meetings that have members who have years of experience to help me identify this a) clone knock off b) the original mfg
c) a local builder that can repair the body.
I can provide photos of the vehicle to help identify it or I can trailer it to
a LARGE gathering of cobra experts / afficianados who can help identify it.
It has a cheesy flimsy steel frame that looks homemade at best and I actually
cannot find anywhere where the body is actually bolted down.
The reason for the damages is that a caliper came off on the rear solid ford
rear end and then the tire and axle flew out and turned me into the center divider on the freeway in Scotts Valley, Ca. Lucky i was already slowing down
for slow traffic and was only going about 40 mph.
Also after talking to Bill Emerson when and where are the as local to me as possible club meetings that enough people attend to get answers. I"m in San Jose, ca. The car has sat for 10yrs and now i'm retired and want to fix it.
thank you if you got this far...lol

I know the frame is a home made frame but i'm only concerned with the
mfg of the body so i can purchase a nose piece from the mold. The rest
of the work i can do myself. I just need a nose piece only.

[LMH]

Can you post a photo or two?
Larry

[AFM19Doherty]

Yes I just joined today per Bill Emersons suggestion.
I'll try to resize the photos and one by one i'll post them

thank you


Denny

[LMH]

Hey Denny
You can send them to me on my email. I'll PM you with my address.
I know as much about sizing photo's as I do about women! Sooo... what I do is load them to Photobucket.com, which resizes them for me. Then I can use the image link to post photo's on CC. Might try that and see if it works for you.
Now if I could just find a site to help understand women!!
Larry

[AFM19Doherty]

ok I'll look for your PM...although i'm not sure where to look...hahahahha
I resized on but when you click on it the photo is too tiny to be of much
help

[AFM19Doherty]

I hope this helps but really they all pretty much look alike. this has no rear fender flares
its just smooth to the edge.

[LMH]

I'm not sure who the manufacturer is but I'm sure someone here will. The frame under the nose doesn't look familiar to me but it'll be a dead give away to another owner.
Do you happen to have any photo's showing the front suspension/frame under the hood?
Larry

[thudmaster]

Why not just trailer it up to Yuba City and let Ken Pike fix it. It won't be a fast job but winter is here anyway..............

[AFM19Doherty]

Larry,
The frame is obvously home backyard made with maybe a bootleg body.
But most of the kit bodies can be traced back to Steve Arnst....notice I
said most in California...you can always tell by the lower line on the right
front fender compared to the left front fender...typical of the Arnst mold.
Thundermaster:
As far a Yuba City, there are closer places to go once I find out the body
mfg may not be able to be found. but thank you for the information.

[LMH]

Oh, "Arntz" body. There is a forum here on CC for Arntz/Butler cars I think. Try a search and see what you find. Found this on line and I do see similarities.
Larry

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by LMH

I'm not sure who the manufacturer is but I'm sure someone here will. The frame under the nose doesn't look familiar to me but it'll be a dead give away to another owner.
Do you happen to have any photo's showing the front suspension/frame under the hood?
Larry

I agree, under the hood Photo can tell a lot. Post some pics of that. A lot of Bodies if have a similar look but under the hood could narrow it down or pin point it.

[bbrown]

Denny

Just show up at the Rock House for Saturday morning breakfast and there are plenty of people to talk to about your Cobra. We have just about 1 of everything ever made, but maybe not on every Saturday. Get directions in the Bay Area Cobra Club section. Every Saturday, 7:30. Hell, you may even see the guy you bought it from!

Bert

PS, Oops, forgot to tell you it's in Livermore........

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If push comes to shove and you cannot identify it with certainty, just replace BOTH front fenders with new fiberglass. I'm sure you can obtain a pair from a reputable builder.

[AFM19Doherty]

I'm thinking it might be a B&B that used to be in Los Angeles and now is somewhere in montana? Utah?
Anyone know how to reach Bulter because i'm told he and Steve Arntz collaborated together.
One give away on this body is the FlareLess rear wheelwells.
Also who can tell me when the meetings are this month at the Rock Store
in Livermore?? Or who can pm me their phone number so i can actually talk to someone live who might be able to help me.
thank you
Denny

[bbrown]

As of Feb. 2007 BACC will now be meeting at

The Rock House Pub & Grill
1840 Portola Ave, Livermore, CA 94551
When: Saturday mornings
Time: 7:30AM
Please use Google, Yahoo, Mapquest for map information

[thudmaster]

Missouri.........

Best I can do.

[AFM19Doherty]

thank you for the rock store location
however i just found out that there are also
meetings in mtn view which is really close to me.
just want to confirm the amount of people that
go there and if so this sat on the nov 3rd so
that my trip won't be in vain.

thank you

[mickmate]

Some Arntz details to help clarifyhttp://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...9&ppuser=10964

[decooney]

If you really want to know, just post more pictures here on ClubCobra. All the real indicators are just hidden beneath the snake skin.

For a quick indicator, take a few pictures of the dash and interior, up close, and the hood hinges and hood latch mechanisms used; and the trunk area. The clutch/brake pedal assembly and mounting configuration is also helpful if it is an older Arntz/Butler/Bennett car; floor mounted slider pedal box, etc. Also, the cockpit tunnel would be wider than most. The rear fenders look to be early Arntz style (no flare, drop straight off) and some of the Arntz/Bulter cars had longer sidepipes like you can see in the pics you have here. The old Ford rear does not seem to be matching up though. Most of the Arntz/Butler and some Bennett cars had rear Jag/IRS setups. If it is a Butler/Arntz car, you'll know by the frame, it will be extra massive in the center area with a large "X" box reinforcement and there is even a "G" or some other letters welded underneath the driver side foot plate I think; If you can take pictures of this stuff it will help. Some people put all kinds of body's on other chassis or home made or custom chassis and you can end up with a whole buch of hodge-podge creations. Need alot more pics...

[Monster]

Denny.....

I'll be at breakfast on Sat. at Rockhouse you can check out my Arntz/Bennett/Butler there to confirm whether or not you have a one. We can also talk more on Steve Arntz and Ron Butler. We generally get about 20 cars on a Sat. AM

see ya,
Mike