427 Street Car Options

[PROFESSOR FATE]

Does anyone KNOW what options were available from Shelby to the original owner of a 427 street car? For example, could a buyer order and take delivery of a 1967 427 Cobra with side pipes, roll bar, a particular engine, hood scoop, oil coolers, fans, 8 track tape player, bidet, hot tub, et cetera? I don't mean stuff you could get at Shelby's parts department, and then have installed. I mean manufacturer supplied options that were on the car, when it was initially delivered.

[Anthony]

I would think that any option could have been ordered for a "street" car, to a full comp car package. The 427 dragonsnake has a street car serial #. I would think that there were not many street cars ordered with these options, as the S/C cars were available for awhile.

I believe the early street 427's actually had comp car frames, ex brackets for the diff cooler pump, that were not on later street 427 frames, although I would think that it would be easy to weld brackets onto a "true" street frame if needed, wanted.

[427SnakeSC]

Not sure about some of those things, but I do know that if it had side pipes, roll bar, hood scoop, it was no longer considered a street car. Equipped with those it was considered an SC. I think that also the street version came with two 4 barrels as opposed to 1 in the SC. As for one with an 8 track and hot tub, I hear that Shelby actually produced one of these and it was seen on Rodeo Dr. in Cali!!

[computerworks]

This blurb is from the Registry..

There were few actual options for the 427 Cobra...The following items were available, as evidenced by their inclusion on Factory Sales Invoices...:

• radio
• front and rear anti-roll bars
• hood scoop
• roll-over bar
• magnesium wheels

[ST]

Originally Posted by 427SnakeSC

I think that also the street version came with two 4 barrels as opposed to 1 in the SC.

Not really, some had a single 4V as well as dual 4V’s.

[PROFESSOR FATE]

Computerworks,

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

[427SnakeSC]

Originally Posted by ST

Not really, some had a single 4V as well as dual 4V’s.

Thank you, sir, I wasn't aware of that. As they say "You learn something every day."

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

I think it would come down to how many street 427's were dealer ordered, sent to the dealer, then purchased by an individual, vs an individual ordering a car to be built by Shelby through a dealer. If the latter, I would guess that with enough of money, Shelby could install any option. I would think that most street 427's were not ordered this way. If the dealer ordered the car, then he would probably just order a standard car, or with "options" as listed by Shelby, nothing fancy or expensive. Then, the dealer could modify the car further to the purchasers liking if needed. Who is going to pay for shipping back to and from Shelby for any additional modifications unless it's something very special.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

Computerworks,

I noticed also that the Registry indicated that those options were probably dealer installed. In the case of roll bars, sway bars, and mag wheels, these things are pretty much just bolt on items. But, a proper hood scoop, which would require reforming the flat hood to seal on a turkey pan, would take more skill than your average dealer body shop guy is going to have. I wonder, if the hood scoop was dealer installed, did they just cut a hole and pop rivet the scoop on?

Actually, I would think that the roll bar would be the toughest "option" for a typical dealer to install.

Re: the hood scoop...that would be easy.

No reforming the hood; all MK III's had the same hood...no sealing, since Street's were 2x4, so no turkey pan,,,, just whack a hole and pop-rivet a painted scoop.

Even so, I doubt many were done that way.

I would think most of the accessories installed at the dealer were radios and mirrors/trim.

[elgecko]

Hummmmmmm........ The 8 track was beginning it's entry in the automobile in 1966, when Ford installed 65,000 units that year. I guess a few could have made it into a street Cobra or two....they were the cool thing to have back then
Had one in the MGB, chick magnet
Dave

[RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Actually, I would think that the roll bar would be the toughest "option" for a typical dealer to install.

Re: the hood scoop...that would be easy.

No reforming the hood; all MK III's had the same hood...no sealing, since Street's were 2x4, so no turkey pan,,,, just whack a hole and pop-rivet a painted scoop.

Even so, I doubt many were done that way.

I would think most of the accessories installed at the dealer were radios and mirrors/trim.

Lewis Downs a long time member of the Norcal Shelby Club who passed away Monterey Historics weekend was a original Shelby 289 Cobra owner. He went to the factory to pick up his 289 Cobra and through his ownership had many of the so called options installed by the dealer, sort of. One of them was the hood scoop. He tells they used a jig saw to cut a very rough hole in the hood and then pop-rivet on the scoop. He had tons of stories and pictures, I kept telling him to write a book on living with a Cobra. During the 60's the Cobra was his daily driver in the San Fran area where he worked.

[Nedsel]

In reality, although Shelby American wasn't pumping Cobras out the door as rapidly as they might have liked, neither were they too excited about adding a lot of options to the cars beyond the standard stuff, such as radios and luggage racks on the small-block cars. The big-block cars basically had no options. Some people who ordered them asked for roll bars, wider rims, and sidepipes from the factory, but no more than a handful of street cars were equipped this way. Shelby American found out quickly that it was too time-consuming and costly to install these options at the factory, so they made them available through the dealers, and advised them to sell the customer the car first, then add the equipment later. In this manner, Shelby got out from under various cost, quality-control, and warranty issues. And it's why 99% of the cars that received these modifications got them after delivery.

[PROFESSOR FATE]

I bought my car in March of 1969 from a college kid at UCLA. He was graduating, had a job lined up back East, and didn't want to take the car with him. I hope he wasn't an Economics major, because he would probably be suicidal knowing what the thing is worth now. I think he was the second owner, but I'm not sure. He had owned the car for about a year, and had only made one modification. He took it to a local gas station to have the intake manifold replaced, when the magnesium one corroded and started leaking water.

I didn't know much about Cobras at the time, not that I do now, either. I didn't realize there were Comp cars, SC's, and Street cars. I just thought people ordered them with whatever options they wanted. This particular one had what I later found out was called the light weight engine, sidepipes, a roll bar, and nothing else. No hood scoop, no coolers, no swaybars, no fans, nothing. I really regretted not having the hood scoop, and planned on adding it later; but as the car became more and more valuable, I somehow lacked the nerve to put that hole in the hood.

Anyway, that was just a long way of saying that I wonder how the car ended up equipped that way. Apparently Shelby was not the greatest record keeper. And, it would not be likely that the dealer would retain records from the mid 60's. So, am I simply going to go to my grave never knowing how my car got that way?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

I bought my car in March of 1969 from a college kid at UCLA. I think he was the second owner, but I'm not sure. He had owned the car for about a year, and had only made one modification. He took it to a local gas station to have the intake manifold replaced, when the magnesium one corroded and started leaking water.

This particular one had what I later found out was called the light weight engine, sidepipes, a roll bar, and nothing else. No hood scoop, no coolers, no swaybars, no fans, nothing.

I wonder how the car ended up equipped that way. Apparently Shelby was not the greatest record keeper. And, it would not be likely that the dealer would retain records from the mid 60's. So, am I simply going to go to my grave never knowing how my car got that way?

Have you thought about contacting the previous owner (s), or even the dealership . What have you got to lose.

BTW, I take it that your engine has aluminum medium riser heads?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

This particular one had what I later found out was called the light weight engine, sidepipes, a roll bar, and nothing else. No hood scoop, no coolers, no swaybars, no fans, nothing.

Actually, what is very interesting to me is that is the way I would have ordered my street cobra if I would have had the chance to do so. The under-the-car exhaust was very inefficient. You definitely want a roll bar if you're going to have a little fun with the car.

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

So, am I simply going to go to my grave never knowing how my car got that way?

If I find the answer for you, will you "will" your car to me after you go to your grave? I'm definitely younger than you, although that doesn't mean that you'll beat me to the grave.

[Byots]

nm .

[PROFESSOR FATE]

Anthony,

Yes, it has aluminum medium riser heads. Also an aluminum water pump and an aluminum harmonic balancer. With regard to my will, if my son ever learns to drive a stick, the car will go to him. But, if he doesn't want it, your next in line.

Byots,

I agree with your philosophy, it shouldn't make much difference who put Shelby's parts on Shelby's cars, as long as it was done properly. I suppose the effect on market value lurks in the back of my mind somewhere, but since I'm not going to sell it, why should I care. As to finding the original owner, if Ned has any info on csx 3316, I'd love to have it, but the Registry indicates that I am the only known owner. Speaking of the Registry, is the info in that thing pretty much Gospel? It says that the car was invoiced to a dealer in Arizona, but everything I know about the car indicates it spent its life in California. Even the "427 Chassis Manual" that came with the car had Vels Ford penciled on the first page. Vels was a Ford dealer in Calif. located very near Shelby's facilities in El Segundo.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by PROFESSOR FATE

Anthony,

Yes, it has aluminum medium riser heads. Also an aluminum water pump and an aluminum harmonic balancer. With regard to my will, if my son ever learns to drive a stick, the car will go to him. But, if he doesn't want it, your next in line.

Byots,

I agree with your philosophy, it shouldn't make much difference who put Shelby's parts on Shelby's cars, as long as it was done properly. I suppose the effect on market value lurks in the back of my mind somewhere, but since I'm not going to sell it, why should I care. As to finding the original owner, if Ned has any info on csx 3316, I'd love to have it, but the Registry indicates that I am the only known owner. Speaking of the Registry, is the info in that thing pretty much Gospel? It says that the car was invoiced to a dealer in Arizona, but everything I know about the car indicates it spent its life in California. Even the "427 Chassis Manual" that came with the car had Vels Ford penciled on the first page. Vels was a Ford dealer in Calif. located very near Shelby's facilities in El Segundo.

Dan, the registry is just a written collection of what is known and what is not. Since the last printing was 10 years ago, they very well could have new info on your car, or new info that would show a mistake in the last entry. All you can do is ask.

[Byots]

nm .

[JBo]

What is the real question here? Is it the increasing number of S/C's versus the facory records and history of owners?