Originality

[zee]

EDIT: I've compiled it over the years through many different sources. None of this is my original research. I should've kept better notes to give proper credit.

I've been taking notes on the difference between different original Cobra models. Sharing it here because it'll be useful for others.

Keep in mind that most of what people think of as "standard" mostly comes from replicas that mostly copy rare race versions rather than common street ones. Just under 1000 total original Cobras were made (not including 5 Paramount Film cars), compared to 30,000+ replicas. Eg: only 5 289FIAs were built (only 2 survived), compared to 453 street cars and yet most replicas (sort of) copy the 289FIA.

Some replicas are copy of a specific CSX, but most kit-makers (including FactoryFive) sell kits that aren't original (eg: FFR provides the street dash with competition side exhaust).

Finally, it's silly to criticize other builders on their vision if it doesn't meet our image of originality, esp considering that the originals were hardly consistent and that the owners often modified their cars. The gauges and switches died often and were replaced without adhering to originality. The cars that were raced were often rebuilt and the engines often blew out. These were not show cars, they were driven hard.

Ironically, the replica builders talk a lot more about originality than the original owners ever did.

Total Number of Original Shelby Cobras

Leaf Spring Cobras (total 655)
260ci: 62 street cars, 5 factory racers, 7 independently prepared racers, 1 dragon snake
289ci: 453 street cars, 2 standard competition, 3 Sebring, 2 LeMans, 3 LeMans replicas
427 prototype flipto: 1
289 FIA cars: 5
Daytona coupes: 6
USSRC: 6

Coil Spring Cobras (total: 343)
289 COB/COX: 27
427: 260 street cars, 2 prototype competition, 19 production competition, 31 S/C, 1 Daytona super coupe, 3 chassis only

Some common points
Street cars (a majority of the original cobras) had exhausts that ran under the car and vented behind the car. In 289 racers they cut the muffler out, so it vented off to the side. 427 competition (and what later became semi-competition) had side exhausts.

Street cars did not have the roll bar.

Windshield
All models had the same frame made by Elliot + Beclawat. A small nameplate was attached on the inside top of the frame cross piece

Wiper Arms
427R + S/C The wiper arm had a shortish base & a relatively long stem attached with two rivets. The finish was bright - probably st/steel
289 the wiper arms had a longer base and there were no rivets

Front turn signal / indicator
427S/C: Lucas L539 - Amber lens with a pointed centre and with 3 fins cast into the lens.
427R Initially the same as the S/C but later changed to the Healey RB682S which was slightly bigger than the L539 and it had an amber lens and no fins
AC289 Initially the same as the S/C except the lens was white. They later changed to the amber Healey RB682S

Indicator + Brake lights
Due to a carry over from the previous generation of sq bodies, all the cars were initially fitted with the rectangular Mynx light
289 Initially Mynx but later changed to Healey. The indicator was the same as used in the front
427S/C Mynx lights.
427R Initially Mynx but later changed to Healey. The indicator was the same as used in the front

Sidescreen and soft top ferrels
All had 3 per door for the side screens and one mounted on either side just inside the rear edge of the ****-pit for the soft top bow. ie a total of eight

Filler cap
427S/C: Le mans style with a roller catch. It was secured in the body recess on top of the right rear fender with six hexagon headed bolts. The finish was a brush polished aluminium - not chrome
427R & 289: Ceandess type caps, not fitted in a rece

Bumpers + o/riders or Quick jacks
427SC: Quick lift jack points and no bumpers. The finish was up to the owner
427R and 289 had overriders and bumpers fitted front and rear

Oil cooler
Only on the 427S/C, mounted at a slight angle - top towards the motor. It was fitted with an aluminium cowling
Out of the factory, the oil pipes went off in opposite direction to the remote mounted oil filter

Grille/ air splitter
427S/C: No grille or air splitter
427R did not have mesh covering the "mouth" but it did have an air splitter

Wheels
289 Spoked wheels 6"x15" chromed. Tyres: 185x15" all round
427S/C: Halibrand, then Sunburst. Rims: rear 9.5", front 7.5". Tyres: rear 290 wide 15", front 207 wide 15"
427R - Sunburst then back to Halibrand. Rims: 7.5" all round. Tyres: Goodyear blue dot 8.15x15" all round Tyres were much narrower on the roadster than on the SC

Badges
289 The "AC" logo front and rear
427S/C & 427R: Round Cobra badge fitted front and rear

Badges side
289 No side badges
427S/C & 427R: 427 Ford Cobra

Wing Mirrors
289: none
427S/C and 427R Bullet type on the drivers side fender only

Fender heat extractors
None on the previous gen sq. bodies
427S/C Owner's preference for colour matching since they were delivered unpainted
427R & 289 - These cars were delivered fully painted from AC cars and the heat extractors were colour matched to the body colour

Dashboard
At the extreme ends of the dash, the face curves sharply away from the occupants
289 The lower edge had a slightly larger portion in the centre to accommodate the clock. A cubby hole was a standard feature
427S/C Straight lower edge, without a cubby hole
427R Straight lower edge, with a cubby hole

163833

Steering wheel
They all were fitted with 16" 3 spoked wood rim. Tear drop slots. The centre spoke pointed vertically down
289 & 427S/C: "AC" logo
427R: Pete Brock "Cobra" logo

Rearview mirror - Dash mounted
289 Had a small rectangular mirror mounted just off centre on top of the dash, with a bigger glass
427S/C Had a small rectangular mirror mounted just off centre on top of the dash - the stalk was relatively short
427R Same as 289, but smaller glass and longer stalk

Pedals
All used the cast aluminium pedals with the "AC" logo cast into the pedal. The pedals each had two rubber grommets
427S/C & 427R: Pivoted on the floor and swivelled on their mounting to the pedal lever
289 Pivoted on top and also swivelled

Seats
427S/C & 427R: Black leather '60 style bucket seat, flat cushion
289 A variety of colours were available

Carpets
427S/C & 427R: Industrial pile black
289 A variety of colours were available

Gearlever
All models had reverse selector levers just under the gear knob
427S/C & 427R: The lever exited slightly to eh left of centre of the tunnel and then was angled forward and towards the driver
AC289 Due to the smaller block, the straight & short lever came out of the tunnel in the correct place

Handbrake
All models had the same style of chromed handbrake lever on the right hand side of the tunnel (for both RH and LH drives). In the engaged position, it stood almost perpendicular to the floor

Doorpanels
427S/C Not fitted with door pockets. The inside of the door was trimmed with black Vinyl or leather
427R Black, but with door pockets
AC289 Door pockets, colour matched the seats

Door trimming
All models had an aluminium strip along the sill of the door, extended from the bottom of the hinge all the way around the bottom of the door sill to the door latch striker. Was engraved with the "FOMOCO" logo in the centre

Roll bar
Only found on the 427S/C. Also only on the driver’s side. Was removable. The front hoop was routed through holes in the body, was visible behind the seat and was anchored to the chassis through the floor of the body. The rear pipe started slightly left of centre of the hoop and angled down fairly sharply towards the right.
The finish was up to the owner.

Ash tray
Only on 427R. Mounted on top of the transmission tunnel in front of the gear lever.

Chicken Handle
Only on 289Sport. Mounted on the rim of the body above the dash on the pax side.

Engine
289 Ford 289ci
427S/C Ford 427ci side oiler
427R Ford 427ci side oiler then went to the Ford 428 Police interceptor & then the Ford 429ci
Only 260/289 had the Weber, not 427

Header tank
427S/C & 427R: Galaxy brass header tank (black), mounted directly to the front of the engine
289 Similar to Galaxy, flatter, mounted different. Also black

Pipes
All radiator & fuel hoses were black rubber (often modified with braided hoses by their owners)

Radiator fans
427S/C: Two 5 blade aluminium fans were mounted on the front face of the radiator
427R a single fan
289 No fan.

Exhausts
427S/C - side pipes without heat shields, finish upto the owner
427R & 289 - Twin underslung exiting directly under the taillights

Luggage compartment trim
289 Same as the Roadster except all were black
427S/C Brushed aluminium panels
427R Fibreglass. Earlier cars were white and later they were black

Battery
289: single Lucas FRLT9A 12V in the trunk.
427S/C 2 Rebat 35a 6V Aircraft batteries mounted behind the passenger seat
427R: single Autolite 12V in the trunk

Cigarette lighter
427R: a lighter on the dash.

Clock
289Sport: In the centre of the dash at the bottom bulge.

[zee]

Another thing is that the 427 was supposed to go to the 93" wheelbase.

Ford spent a lot of time and money perfecting the 93" frame and suspension. AC received a computer printout and graphs showing the wheel movements and ideal pivot locations on the rear suspension (from the Mustang mid-engine project). However, the forward pivot points had to be redesigned. In that process, the 93" wheelbase detail got lost. Phil Remington and Bob Nagstadt did not notice it and spent time helping AC tune the details.

Ford's attention got moved to GT40, Carroll just wanted 100 427 cars to homologate for racing last week and AC was tired of Shelby's interference.

Ultimately the right hand wasn't talking to the left and we ended up with a 90" wheelbase instead of the 93" as intended.

[Derald Rice]

One other thing....

There were no cup holders.

That's what the passenger seat was for.

[J R Jones]

zee, That is a lot of research and a great source of data.
Last week there was discussion here on Shelby racing the Toyota 2000 GT, after the Cobra program. I was interested in his success as Pete Brock was running Nissans in the same (CP) class.
I also scrolled through the AP and BP classes.

I raced a Shelby GT350 in BP after I got out of the Air Force in 1970. I was usually outclassed by Corvettes that enjoyed a progression of Factory development at that time. In the Central Division the fastest Corvettes were from the Michigan area, with factory ties. One season I raced a Sunbeam Tiger for a local guy and did very well, but I never saw another Tiger at the track. Cobras were rare by then as well. I spoke to Sam Feinstein when he switched to a Corvette. He still had his AP Cobra but it was too valuable to race.

I went through the SCCA archives and found these National Championship Runoff (Cobra) results during my early racing years.
1970 AP 0
BP Dick Stockton 2cd, Bob Rogers 8th
1971 AP Paul Choiniere 7th, Loren Pearson DNF, Sam Feinstein DNF, Don Hager DNS
BP Gordie Meffert 2cd, Mack Yates 5th, Tom Bungay DNS
1972 AP Loren Pearson DNF
BP Don Roberts 2cd, Mack Yates 6th
1973 AP Sam Feinstein 1st, Loren Pearson DNF
BP Don Roberts 2cd, Mack Yates 5th
1974 AP Dick Workman 6th, Sam Feinstein 10th, Loren Pearson DNF
BP Mack Yates 5th
1975 AP Sam Feinstein 5th Loren Pearson 6th
BP 0

I did not find Cobras in the Runoffs after that. I have seen some of these cars at auction, restored now and with staggering values.
jim

[Mike.Bray]

Interesting story of CSX 2000, the first Shelby Cobra.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2022/03/09/how-CSX-2000-laid-the-foundation-for-the-shelby-cobra-legend

[robmccon]

Great summary, thanks for sharing!

[mburger]

Lots of good info, however you should include foot notes to your sources.
This is not to add credibility to what you have posted, but each piece of data has been sourced from someone and somewhere and you should contain a reference to the source.

[zee]

Lots of good info, however you should include foot notes to your sources.
This is not to add credibility to what you have posted, but each piece of data has been sourced from someone and somewhere and you should contain a reference to the source.

100%. Unfortunately, I compiled it slowly over the years and did not do a good job of keeping track of the sources because I was only putting it together for my personal use.

[GoDadGo]

Here is the Coolest Cat to ever tame a Cobra and he's owned it since it was new and still does. It is the longest continuously owned Real Deal Cobra that exists.
https://youtu.be/x1SQn4stkXA

The car that motivated me was (CSX 3178) as it was when Shelby had it when he passed away. I fell in love with the color and understated look of the car which was later restored and sold again in it's original livery after an extensive restoration.
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo16/monterey/lots/r194-1965-shelby-427-cobra-csx-3178/380123

Here it was after the restoration and sold in 2021:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-rNwHqfIew

I just tried to capture the feel of that simple look of CSX 3178 prior to that extensive restoration.
https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-new/customer-steve-l-graduates-his-mk4-roadster/

The cool thing about these cars is that they are an interpretation of what each of us believe to be our own dream cars. Whether it is an authentic re-creation throw-back to an earlier CSX car or a crazy over the top custom build it will certainly be special.

[SJDave]

100%. Unfortunately, I compiled it slowly over the years and did not do a good job of keeping track of the sources because I was only putting it together for my personal use.


Zee, your breakdown was really interesting, I cant imagine how many books and other information sources you used to come up with the list of things the originals had.
GoDadGo - Never saw the Herbie Hancock video with Leno, thanks...it was a "cute" car as Miles Davis said! With big teeth!

I read 4 or 5 Shelby books before ordering my kit, and was out of work at the time, so had too much free time. I started putting facts into an Excel spreadsheet to track changes and modifications to the Cobra. I tried to make it chronological but there were many gaps in the time line I didn't have any data on. Unfortunately the forum won't accept ".xls files" as attachments and the "pdfs" are too large to attach also. The "other" forum allows both. If you want a copy PM me and include your Email address and I'll send it to you.

What a great hobby!
Dave

[Jim1855]

Steve,

Thank you for that delightful diversion of incredible originals.

Jim

[J R Jones]

This is a modern take on originality, however the body material is contemporary @ $317K
The mechanicals are period correct and sound that way:

Carbon-Fiber-Bodied Shelby Cobra 427 CSX4000R

[/url]https://youtu.be/ZubNgDiAIUk

https://youtu.be/Za1tR_I_aA4

The demonstration impresses even if restrained. This ain't yer father's Coyote.

jim

[Gumball]

Hey there, Zee - thanks for raising this and providing some good info for those who are interested in building a tribute to the original cars.

For years before I ordered my kit and especially during the build I was definitely a Cobra-stalker. I hung out at lots of vintage races and went to museums (including the Shelby Museum in Boulder, CO) armed with note pads and a camera to talk with owners, mechanics, and document everything I could. I also searched out the best books and online resources for pictures and information on AC cars and Shelby American.

Below is a pretty inclusive list of all the modifications that went into the construction of FFR7074 to make it a bit more authentic looking, as well as pics of some of my favorite books, including the May 1965 Road & Track issue that covered all things Shelby at the time.

• Riveted hood scoop, modified contour to match hood
• Rivets ringing the leading edge of the hood as on the original comp and S/C cars
• Rolled wheelwell / flare lips
• Smoothed and painted body interior - (Eastwood Alumi-Blast to replicate look of bare aluminum)
• Hidden body side mounts (now standard on Mk4)
• Revised front body mounts - looks like original-style riveted mounts
• Original style hood prop rod and storage clip (3/8" stainless tubing - McMaster-Carr)
• Bumpers w/hoops – polished stainless steel from FFR
• Roll hoop, driver’s side only – 1 ½” Mk4 version from FFR – chromed by Kerr West in Phoenix
• Side pipes – Gas’N stainless pipes blasted and ceramic coated semi-gloss black
• Four-into-four headers – FFR ceramic coated semi-gloss black
• Smiths mechanical gauges set in an S/C dash layout (speedometer, tach, oil temp, oil pressure, water temp, volts, and fuel from Nisonger)
• Leather dash covering to match seats
• Period correct switches, knobs, and indicator lights on dash (********** and Moss – MG and Healy parts - mostly original Lucas w/relays)
• Lock-out style shift lever with correct flat-top black knob with 4-speed markings
• Pull straps on doors (hooked to door latches to act as a release pull) – black leather
• Door panels, black, with map pockets – black vertical ribbed vinyl w/map pockets (**********)
• Locking glove box to match dash covering - lock and finger tab from local RV store
• Ashtray - OEM-style Cobra part (Cobra Restorers)
• Waxed cord wrapping on wood steering wheel at spokes
• Tags (AC Cars and Shelby American) – stamped with donor SVT engine # and my personal build #
• Dash to transmission tunnel tubes (fab’d by me before FFR offered)
• Underdash support panel (Breeze)
• Seat mounting pans (Breeze)
• Kirkey low-back vintage race seats - modified contour, leather covered by local upholstery shop, inflatable lumbar on both, and seat heaters
• Serge-bound carpet edges where visible (local upholstery shop)
• Black leather covering for visible chassis tubes in cockpit
• Rubber heel and side pads on carpet by pedals (local upholstery shop)
• Degas tank – OEM Ford (modified big block tank, aluminum tubing, Breeze lower radiator hose kit and bracket, and various OEM hoses)
• Old-style engine front cover w/v-belt pulleys for crankshaft, waterpump, and alternator
• OEM Ford dual-point distributor with Pertronix
• Pertronix coil w/spray painted yellow top and reproduction Ford decal (vintage Mustang supplier)
• OEM Ford style spark plug wires and boots
• Holley 650 Double Pumper modified with dual idle circuits and blueprinted by Pro-Systems
• OEM-style mechanical fuel pump with single in-tank pickup from Breeze (non-return) and one-piece stainless steel chassis fuel line
• “Cobra” aluminum valve covers)
• Canton "T" high-capacity road race oil pan with original "Cobra - American Shelby" decals
• Hood opening under scoop modified to close-up more of the opening for original underhood appearance (front eight inches of hole ‘glassed over – no longer necessary on Mk4 as you can cut the hole to your liking)
• Oil catch can on firewall (original S/C design from Cobra Restorers – basically a replica of a ‘50s brass Kohler lawnmower gas tank)
• Girling remote brake reservoir cans (pair from Moss Motors) with braided supply lines (Pegasus Auto Racing) and adapter nipples (Lodestone Billet Works) to attach to OEM Ford ’94 SVT master cylinder
• Original style hood hinges (Breeze)
• Hood hinge filler panel modified to look like original radiator bracket with extra tab, post, and pin (Breeze)
• Hidden trunk hinges (Breeze)
• Turn signal – self cancelling with small tip - no switch - right hand style (Russ Thompson)
• Dash switches from ’65 Mustang – ignition, lighter, lights (any vintage Mustang restoration supplier)
• Trunk lid support rod (**********)
• Trunk lid, modified without peak (Karl Gess – no longer an issue due to Mk4 body changes)
• Grommets, rubber, front bumper brackets (**********)
• Grommets, rubber, for roll hoop (McMaster-Carr)
• Rectangular Lucas taillamps – modified to allow two bulbs per side (**********)
• Recontoured body at taillamp mounting pads to match rectangular lamps and to add more "roundness" to the tail
• Lucas tail lamp and front marker lamp lenses with “Made in England” markings (ebay UK)
• Windscreen support rod and bracket (**********)
• "Beclawat" windscreen tag
• Lower windscreen support bracket - attaches to bottom of frame and to top of cowl (fabricated by me)
• Windscreen wipers - Lucas (FFR)
• Windscreen washers, bottle, and pump (Moss Motors)
• Heater (FFR) w/original style body-color defroster vents on top of front cowl and "Smiths" decals on blower motor in engine compartment
• Lucas tri-bar headlamps
• Rockguards, chrome wire, headlamps (**********)
• Halibrand-style 15" wheels with knock-off centers (FFR)
• Avon CR6ZZ tires – vintage appearing radials with tread pattern that looks like bias-ply tires
• Soft top and side curtains (FFR old-style)
• Soft top bow support brackets under body to chassis (fabricated by me)
• Tonneau cover – black vinyl – modified for fiberglass stiffener pole in center (FFR)
• Lift-the-dot posts and side curtain ferrules with drain tubes showing on door interior
• Rolled cowl front and rear with exposed rivet heads on lower edge (Mk4 has rolled cowl, but no rivets)
• AC pedal covers (brake and clutch)
• Original-style throttle pedal on Russ Thompson pedal lever (pedal pad fabricated by me)
• Mechanical throttle linkage (see my "how to" on this forum)
• Side louvers painted body color (**********)
• Badges (round tri-color Cobra) for nose and tail (**********)
• AC badge for steering wheel center
• Self-contained dual tone airhorn – (Griot’s Garage)
• “Powered by Ford” badges for sides (289 style without engine size)
• Badges, AC logo for knock-off hub centers (**********)
• Wind wings with original style mounting blocks - not the clamp-on style - for use with the original style side curtains (FFR – logo removed)
• Sunvisors (FFR)
• Windshield side post plates and washers (**********)
• “Triplex” windshield decal
• 1965 Road America tech sticker - reproduction from local decal maker
• Grab handle on passenger side cowl (**********)
• Safetywire on wheel knock-offs
• 1965 license plate (CA Shelby manufacturer plate number)
• Cobra - Caroll Shelby Motors license plate frame
• Trunk carpeting (FFR)
• Foot-well ducts with period-correct pull knobs on far outside edges of dash (non-powered flapper-baffles)
• Map reading light on passenger side of dash (MGA parts from Moss)
• Engine bay battery box with Lucas decals (Breeze)
• Vintage battery cell caps from fake battery topper - glued to top of standard battery
• Rolled door openings with exposed rivet heads on underside of roll (not sure how the Mk4 doors are finished)
• Side curtain ferrules (3) on top of each door
• Foot dimmer switch for headlamps with rubber pad (Ford OEM part from vintage Mustang restoration supplier)
• Vintage Ford style engine bay wiring harnesses (reproduction Ford part from vintage Mustang restoration supplier)
• OEM Ford solenoid and voltage regulator (reproduction from vintage Mustang restoration supplier)
• OEM Ford 1G alternator with “Autolite” production ink stamp and OEM appearing brackets (fabricated by me)
• Oil cooler with nickel finish braided lines and black fittings – not connected (Setrab from FFR)
• Factory-appearing placards/decals/labels (Year One, NPD, Mustangs Plus, Moss Motors, etc…)
• "FoMoCo" stamps on appropriate hoses and parts (supplied by local rubber stamp maker)
• Tecelamite grease gun in trunk as original cars (ebay UK)
• Spare tire and jack (OEM Ford parts, including hold-down hardware – space saver from donor car)
• Scissors jack - modified OEM Ford part from donor to work on FFR chassis
• Tool roll - period correct look, but not OEM AC or Shelby
• Rear fender spats - polished aluminum - modified by cutting top 1/3 off and recontouring (from Brian Alvarez vendor at ffcars.com)
• Block-off panels, front body/bumper support structure - aluminum panels to close the area to the sides of radiator (fabricated by me)
• Cooling vents with mesh covering on rear side of front wheel wells – allows cool air to headers

[BadAsp427]

This is all very cool information... Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far...