mph speedometer on 289 Cobra

[xb-60]

Idle moment....just wondering.... were many Cobras fitted with what appears to be a 170mph speedo ex-factory?

Here's COB6036....




Cheers
Glen

[LMH]

Are you sure that’s an original speedometer? KPH and MPH on a 60’s gauge?
Larry

[Ron Scarboro]

I'd guess that given that it has both KMH and MPH on the dial and that the dial itself has a black center (vs the chrome center on the tach) that it is a recent manufacture of a classic gauge.

[peterpjb]

there are two cob 6036 out there, the one with a FIA body is a reconstruction, therefore the gauges aren’t necessarily original

[xb-60]

Hi Peter,
The picture in my post is of the 'correct' COB6036 (the dark green car), not the FIA bodied car which uses COB6036's original repaired chassis.

Cheers,
Glen

[BERNIE]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Idle moment....just wondering.... were many Cobras fitted with what appears to be a 170mph speedo ex-factory?

Here's COB6036....




Cheers
Glen

Proud owner of COB 6047 ,is Smiths 0 to 160 MPH

Bernie

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Ron Scarboro

I'd guess that given that it has both KMH and MPH on the dial and that the dial itself has a black center (vs the chrome center on the tach) that it is a recent manufacture of a classic gauge.

Ron, yes it could be a replacement speedometer, however looking through my pictures of COB/COX cars and Smith's speedometers in early CSX2xxx cars, virtually every car has the black cap on the needle pivot.

DC has previously said that the build spec. of COB/COX cars wasn’t as consistent chassis-to-chassis because they were built much more to order than CSX cars.

I’m thinking that maybe the COB6036's 170mph speedometer with an inner km/h scale might have been specified by the original owner. Maybe he crossed the channel regularly?

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by BERNIE

Proud owner of COB 6047 ,is Smiths 0 to 160 MPH

Bernie

Hi Bernie,

I have no pictures of COB6047 or COX6013. Any chance of posting some?

Cheers,
Glen

[morgy]

might not be the same but my 61** car has a 160mph with black centre pivot

[rsk289]

My opinion would be that both instruments are replacements.

COB cars, to the best of my knowledge, had instruments with cylindrical black pointer bosses. The chrome pointer boss on the tacho here looks like the instrument's from a different model - maybe MG, etc. The photo isn't clear, but I can't make out the scalloped section with the red high beam indicator lens in it either. Similarly the speedo dial doesn't look like any I have seen in a COB car, both in range and in the existence of the inner KPH scale. likewise the pointer boss appears flat rather than drum-shaped - modern repros have this flat style of satin-black boss. Clarification of part numbers should help enlighten...
The ammeter's a later part, too, but I can't make out the other instruments.

[xb-60]

Here's another couple of shots....





Fuel gauge looks original, but water temp isn't (140⁰C).

I hope the owner doesn't take offence at our examination of the car. I would be happy to own it!


Cheers,
Glen

[rsk289]

Some of the switches have changed along the way too, I think - but yes, it's had a life, and things get changed to keep it working. It's all part of the car's history and not a problem at all in my eyes.