Autokraft Cobra Mk IV

[MadRiver]

I was daydreaming the other day. If you could afford it, would you buy one? I can't figure out if I think of it as a classic in its own right, or a glorified copy.

So, these are the things I think about when bored at work.

 

[vagt6]

There are other cars I'd rather have for the money. The Autocraft Cobra with the 351 is somewhat of a beast. Loud, hot, harsh ride, etc.

Used ones go for $20K and up. Seems like for that price a nice classic Lotus or Morgan, or maybe a Costello-esque MGB V/8 roadster would be better.

I rode in a 427 Cobra replica and it's not a comfortable car by any stretch. But if you want <span style="font-style: italic">explosive </span>power . . .

 

[drooartz]

Give the price and relative rarity of original Cobras they are one of the few kit/replicas that don't bother me. No one sane is going to drive an original Cobra down to the store, while a kit? Go right ahead.

There was a guy here local who had one of the continuation Cobras. Said he bought it as he wanted one he could drive, rather than an original that was to valuable to park anywhere (he had the means to have purchased an original). Still, they're still replicas/copies. Nice, but not an original.

That said, I've no real interest in owning one. I get all the bone-shaking I need from the Tunebug.

 

[bgbassplyr]

The Autocraft Cobra with the 351 is somewhat of a beast. Loud, hot, harsh ride, etc.

I rode in a 427 Cobra and it's not a comfortable car by any stretch. But if you want <span style="font-style: italic">explosive </span>power . . .

Brutal power! Harsh ride. Thats why the originals are worth big money now. When ol Shel was only asking $7 grand for a new one, he could barely sell enough to stay in bidness. And without Ford's backing, would have probably gone bank ruptured.

 

[Banjo]

Prefer the Supreformance models myself, but then I'm biased having worked at a Supferformance dealer.
Fairly comfortable, and if set up right the power's there, but not uncontrollable. I've had enough seat time to know they are fun and enjoyable. I could never justify spending that kind of money, but they are fun.

 

[TRDejaVu]

A lot of the owners seem to drive around posing as though they are the real thing. I have no time for poseurs.

 

[aeronca65t]

......If you could afford it, would you buy one?

No.

I've ridden in several of these types of cars and they're not my style. I'm more about "momentum" cars with modest horsepower.
(like Sprites and Miatas) :wink:

I <span style="text-decoration: underline">do</span> like the Porsche 356 replicas and the various Lotus 7 clones.

 

[swift6]

with Ian

I can appreciate the originals for what they are, but I can also appreciate a well done replica for what it is as well. Especially if the person standing there is the guy that built it.

I've spent a lot of time at the Shelby American Collection and feel pretty confident telling an original from a replica, and not just from the dash or the engine bay but other smaller details as well. It can be fun deflating someone insisting that their replica is an authentic Cobra but it is also annoying when they attempt it.

There is a local guy with a 260Z sporting a Ferrari 250GTO kit and tries to pass it off as such. He hates it when I show up and point out all the things that are wrong. I only do it because he actually writes "1962 Ferrari Special" on the placard and those that don't know are easily fooled by just the placard. If he listed it as a Datsun 260Z with a Ferrari 250GTO body kit then I wouldn't be bothered at all.

 

[TR6BILL]

Several years ago, at the British Motoring Club of New Orleans's annual British Car Day show (BF, that would be <span style="font-style: italic">Before Katrina</span>), a rich guy shows up with Edsel Ford's personal full-race real-deal Cobra, side oiler and all. It was on a trailer, most people paid little attention to it (it was off to the side), until he rolled it off the trailer. When he cranked it, every man on the grounds, and woman, became sexually excited! The sound of that monster is hard to describe. Very titillating, to say the least. Prolly the most beastly car ever built. I would give my eye tooth for one. Heck, I would give a bicuspid just to drive one.

 

[PAUL161]

My brother in law had an original aluminum skinned 289 version. After one ride in it, even with a 289, it was very quick and nimble, BUT, it was the hardest, nosiest ride I can ever remember having in a supposedly street vehicle. Interior was bare aluminum and the only upholstery was on the seats. All I can say is, it was a race car approved for the street. PJ

 

[DrEntropy]

The original cars were spartan and brutal. A friend had one of the CS 427's, Bill's assessment of reactions was true for that one too. woof. That car generated some great stories as well.

The 289 we experienced had a different personality. Had a "quicker" feel, still a monster tho.

Both are GREAT CARS. :laugh:

Kits, not so much IMO.

 

[3798j]

....If you could afford it, would you buy one? ......

Absolutely. Unfortunately the typical $90,000 (and up) needed keeps me from the being among the fortunate. I remember reading the story in Car & Driver sometime in the eighties and lusted after it then. Built in the in the AC factory using the same jigs, the same materials (aluminum), and the same building process, it has to be considered the truest continuation of the original - it was not a kit.

Bill, that Cobra you saw was probably Edsel Ford's son "the Deuce", Henry Ford II. Edsel passed away in the '40's.

 

[TR6BILL]

Bill, that Cobra you saw was probably Edsel Ford's son "the Deuce", Henry Ford II. Edsel passed away in the '40's.

There ya go. I think he meant Edsel Bryant Ford II.

The car was so totally awesome.

I got passed at speed like I was standing still in 1970, driving my 454 Vette. A 67 Cobra big block showed me no mercy.