"What will your Cobra look like?"

Unlike production cars (Ford, Honda, BMW), kit cars all look different; no two are alike. Each builder creates their own interpretation of what a sports car should be. Some builders prefer a classic look (close to the originals), while other people like a modern feel with up-to-date paint colors and big 17" wheels.

This is an original 1965 427 Cobra. Notice the roll bar only protects the driver - also, it is kind of small tube, spindly. The seats are low-back, they don't go above the body of the car. This provides no protection to the occupants neck or head. The color on this car is Guardsman Blue, right out of the Ford catalog for 1965. It is not considered a "modern" color choice.

This is a kit car. Notice it has two roll bars. The roll bars have a bigger diameter to better protect the occupants. Also, the seats are high-backs; they offer protection to the neck and head in the event of a rear end collision. These things were not available in 1965 making the car look a bit more modern. The wheels on this car look similar to the originals (both use a 15" diameter.) The body paint choice is Guardsman Blue, like many of the originals, indicating the owner still likes the look of the original cars but with modern safety features.

This is also a kit car. The red is a modern (or up-to-date) shade and the shiny reflections indicate a clear coat that was not available in the 1960s. The dual roll bars also give it away as a kit car. What I wanted to point out on this car, though, is the modern wheels. They are a big 17" wheels, unavailable in the sixtys. The tires for these 17 inch wheels are able to handle much better than the 15 inch tires making the car feel more like a modern sports car. The 17, 18, and 19 inch wheels may handle better and look cool, but for me, "it just ain't right."

Here is an example of the dash layout on an original 427 Cobra. The guages are British made Smiths. Typical for 1965 are the black face with little white numbers and little white needle. These guages were functional but difficult to read while driving. They were poorly lit making them almost useless at night. Notice the walnut steering wheel and shifter knob; classy touches for an expensive sports car.

For contrast, the owner of this kit used creativity to assemble a cockpit better suited to his own taste. The digital, white face guages are usually easier to read, especially at night. And that steering wheel may not look classy but it is much more comfortable; the wheel is thicker and soft, making it easier to grip. You might notice the high-back seats as well.

"What will your Cobra look like?" Well, the short answer is, "I don't know yet." I tend to like the classic 1965 look. I believe mine will be Guardsman Blue with no stripes. Low back seats and a single, driver only, roll bar. Look for 15 inch wheels, similar to the originals. (The original wheels are super expensive requiring many modifications to the kit to make them work.) In short, I haven't even decided where I'm going to locate the battery yet so I can't really say what the finished car will look like. You'll just have to keep an eye on this blog to find out!

Today I'm sandblasting the rear differential getting ready to paint it and put it back together with different gears. We should have the suspension hung on the car in about one month. That is the first major assembly step.