Fake Contemporary CCX83456 or CCX33456

[mrmustang]

I've been getting a lot of PM's and emails on THIS CAR on Ebay.

Owners listing reads as follows:

"REPLICA 1965 427SC SHELBY COBRA REPLICA, THIS CAR WAS BUILT IN THE LATE 1980'S-EARLY 1990'S, THE MAKER OF THIS CAR IS NOT REALLY KNOWN, IT HAS A CCX VIN NUMBER WHICH ONLY CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS USED AND THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM IN 1997, THIS CAR HAS A CALIFORNIA LINCENSE PLATE & PINK SLIP THAT IS TITLED AS A 1965 COBRA, THE CAR HAS A 351 WINDSOR ENGINE WITH A HIGH RISE MANIFOLD AND 4 BBL CARBURATOR, LONG TUBE CHROME EXAUST PIPES. BRAND NEW CURRIE FORD 9" REAREND WITH 3.55 GEARS, NEW FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, NEW FRONT SUSPENSION, PIN DRIVE HALIBRAND STYLE WHEELS WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES ON THEM, THE ODOMETER READS 2502 MILES, THE ROLL BAR AND GAS CAP FILLING SPOT ARE CUSTOM CHANGES THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD DONE WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT, YES SOME COBRA'S HAD THIS STYLE OF ROLL BAR, IT HAD ABOUT 1800 WHEN I BOUGHT IT 11 YEARS AGO. THE TAN COLORED INTERIOR IS NICE BUT THE SEATS NEED TO BE REDONE OR REPLACED, THE SEATS HAD TALL MOUNTS AND SAT TO HIGH SO I REMOVED THEM SO I COULD FIT BETTER, THE SEATS ARE NOT BOLTED IN AT THIS TIME, I AM THROWING IN A SET OF BLACK BUCKET SEATS WHICH I BOUGHT NEW AND NEVER USED FROM CLASSIC COBRA'S. THE CAR STARTS, STOPS AND DRIVES GREAT, IT WAS MADE WITH THE BASICS IN MIND, NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, NO BLINKERS OR HORN, ALL OF THESE CAN BE EASILY ADDED. THE CAR HAS A FORD T-10 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION, SQUARE CHASSIS, THE PAINT IS NICE BUT OVER 25 YEARS OLD AND DOES HAVE SOME NICKS AND CHIPS, MOST OF THE PAINT DAMAGE IS ON THE LOWER PARTS OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE FRONT END BELOW THE BELOW ONE OF THE GRILLE OPENINGS ON THE PASSENGER FRONT OF THE CAR, REAR FENDER LIP OPENING, AND ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE REAR OF THE CAR BELOW THE BUMPER AREA. THE TRUNK IS FULLY CARPETED WITH THE BATTERY HIDDEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUNK BEHIND A PANEL. THE CAR HAS STEWART WARNER GAUGES, ALL BUT THE AMP GAUGE WORKS, GAS GAUGE WORKS, TEMP GAUGE WORKS, TACH AND SPEEDO WORK, OIL PRESSURE WORKS, IT HAS OVER 50LBS OF OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE, NO OIL LEAKS. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 600 MILES IN 11 YEARS, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. NO LEAKS ON EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH SYSTEM. NO BODY CRACKS, CUSTOM COMPETITION STYLE ROLL BAR, THE GAS CAP IS IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR LIKE SOME OF THE COMPETITION MODELS HAD. HAS ELECTRIC RADIATOR FANS THAT WORK WITH A TOGGLE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY HEATING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HERE IN THE HOT CALIFORNIA SUMMER. DUE TO THE LACK OF DRIVING OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS THE CAR WOULD NEED A GOOD TUNE-UP AND A GOOD CLEAN JOB. FOR THE POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO THIS LITTLE COBRA MOVES ALONG PRETTY GOOD. THESE EARLY CCX CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC COBRA'S WERE MADE FROM ORIGINAL 427SC MOLDS, SEEMS TO A DEMAND FOR THE CCX VIN NUMBER CARS"

For the record:
That car is not a Contemporary Cobra as all Contemporary cobras used a 4" round tube for both main rails and rear sub structure. Also, no Contemporary Cobra ever came with a 9" rear, nor the center mounted gas filler cap, oversized singular roll bar, engine compartment firewall layout, external trunk hinges, door hinges as shown, the fiberglass molded in dash, and a host of other items too numerous to mention. The CCX dataplate and where a VIN would be stamped in the chassis is a moot point. My thoughts on this are that it could have been taken off another car if their was already a California title associated with the chassis number, then added to this car as it was easier to do that than to title the car under the early SB100 rules and regulations. Sorry about the reality check, but the seller knows this car to be an early West Coast Cobra based on my observations, and numerous emails through the Ebay messaging system.


Hopefully this stops the numerous PM's asking how to tell what type of special Contemporary Cobra this is, where on the frame the CCX number may be stamped in, and who may have built it (as a custom one off Contemporary Cobra prototype ).


Bill S.

[Ron61]

Also if anyone from California buys that car and tries to use that illegal registration they could wind up with a big fine and loss of title. Some DMVs here are now wanting to see any car that is titled as a 1965 Cobra and last year they had a few people going from car show to car show looking at any special construction vehicle and running the license plates. A guy here lost his Cobra at a car show when they checked it and it came back as a 1965 Cobra. And the CHP is also checking license plates on these cars when they see one going down the highway.

Ron

[1985 CCX]

Not even close..............

[Bill D]

Deleted

[Fast289]

Speaking of fugly, what's up with that picture you are using Bill on your page? No offense!!!!

[John McMahon]

That is just plan bad! Not even remotely near a Contemporary.....

[Danr55]

THanks Guys.. I thought I was about to find out a lot of things I didn't know.. As it turns out, everything I picked out as wrong, you've confirmed.

[Bernica]

From the ad on Ebay:
"NO SURPISES HERE JUST A NICE CLEAN COMPLETE RUNNING CAR THAT GETS ATTENTION ANYWHERE IT GOES."

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Danr55

THanks Guys.. I thought I was about to find out a lot of things I didn't know.. As it turns out, everything I picked out as wrong, you've confirmed.

Dan,

There are at least 11 other items that can be pointed out on this particular car. However, why would I want to educate the seller when he comes looking at this thread.


Bill S.

[rjusino]

Well, I bought it. And now I will be trying to figure out the origin of the vehicle and making some changes to suit my preferences. It runs great and seems very mechanically sound, fit and finish is pretty good also. I had it appraised and bought it for 5K less than the appraisal....so I am happy.

RJ

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by rjusino

Well, I bought it. And now I will be trying to figure out the origin of the vehicle and making some changes to suit my preferences. It runs great and seems very mechanically sound, fit and finish is pretty good also. I had it appraised and bought it for 5K less than the appraisal....so I am happy.

RJ

Congrats! Happy is really all that counts!
Now...as you get to know the car and have it, you should participate here and take advantage of what is available here.

[rjusino]

Thanks, I have waited awhile to get one, and am very happy. I do need to search this site for some info on mounting the seats....I can't believe this guy was driving this car with his seats just sitting there not mounted!! I did order some seat tracks already from Finish Line.

[750hp]

Congrats on buying a Cobra RJ. Assuming the appraiser knew what they were looking at and gave you the true value for what the car is (and what it wasn't), getting it for a big chunk under appraisal will give you the chance to correct a few things with the car and still be in front. Have fun with it!

[1795]

Originally Posted by rjusino

Well, I bought it. And now I will be trying to figure out the origin of the vehicle and making some changes to suit my preferences. It runs great and seems very mechanically sound, fit and finish is pretty good also. I had it appraised and bought it for 5K less than the appraisal....so I am happy.

RJ

Good luck with your purchase. Let us know how the repairs progress and what you learn about your car.

[1795]

Originally Posted by Fast289

Speaking of fugly, what's up with that picture you are using Bill on your page? No offense!!!!

Bill isn't quite that ugly in person. Unless the strain of finding another cobra has started to overwhelm him

[rjusino]

Thanks Guys ! I am already making a list of modifications and corrections, but for now I am just enjoying driving it and looking at it parked in my garage! Damn these are sexy cars!

RJ