The Car Challenge

[caller]

Well done for spotting the Cobra, but what version?

And where within the UK was it made?

[STEVE G]

I don't know but it's an impressive bit of aluminium work, you would struggle to find many people still able to hand produce compound curved panels like that today, even in the aviation industry.

[magnum]

Is it the 427 are they made at brooklands.

[caller]

Is it the 427 are they made at brooklands.

No and no.

I feel a bit guilty about this as I am far from being a petrol head, but always liked the close proximity of this company to a place which had a great pub I used to use and where I nearly bought a house, even put an offer in before backing off.

Theses cars are not made anywhere in the UK now, but now the make has been established, it shouldn't be too hard.

[Big Boy]

What car and where made.jpg (62.68 KiB) Viewed 501 times

[tuktukmike]

There is an interesting spec sheet on wiki.

They were made at thames Ditton in surrey.

Ac Cobra were asked to make a prototype for carrol shelby in the us, the idea was to build a car capable of beating the corvettes and other muscle cars of the day on the track.

This they did with great success, such a shame that british innovation and engineering seems to have been almost lost.

Ttm

[magnum]

So I Give Up I will stick my neck out and still say its a 427 shell whatever new name they give it and still go with the brookland motor company.Put me out of my misery.

[PeteC]

Reference TTM post above,here's the entire Cobra story. Pete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra

[caller]

Okay, enough on this. It was the 1st Cobra built, in 2004, since the demise of the earlier versions - the caption under the photo explains all.

Production of this model was in Frimley, Surrey, which was very short lived. Potted history here:

http://www.acownersclub.co.uk/ac_history.asp

Another website here:

http://www.acheritage.co.uk/history.html

I feel very much out of my depth here, but I always had a thing about this company and the cars they have produced.

Well done Magnum and over to you!

[JW]

I had a replica Cobra based on a Jag chassis with the good old Rover V8, the guy who I bought it of said it was around 250 bhp (I bought the bugger without seeing it... brave and dum) I had it checked and it was about 145 bhp. Spent almost 700 quid to get it up to 225bhp - it was scary ehough with that and was a really lovely thing to drive moderately fast... faster than that just didnt feel safe! The guys at the golf course could here my coming up the hill which was probably a km away!

[Ginjaninja]

By the way, I don't see any reason not to allow entries about motorcycles. Yes, the base of experts on here is less than autos, but what the heck....no harm. Pete

Thanks Pete.

Regarding the Cobra; I always fancied a kit car and even more so the time to build one. The Cobra would be my kit-car of choice if I was to do it.
Having a garage and full set of tools is one of the top things on my list of 'miss-from-back-home' points.

Ok so hopefully this one is a bit harder than my last post.
Any ideas?

GN.

[Frank Hovis]

Does the green paintwork indicate that it is a Kawasaki? That's about the limit of my motorbike knowledge.

[Ginjaninja]

Nope! It's not Japanese.....

[magnum]

Is it Italjet 350 T

[Ginjaninja]

Is it Italjet 350 T

Well done Magnum.... jeeez that was quick.
It IS an Italjet trials but not sure what CC (Googled the pic). I would think it's a 250 though.

My first ever motorcycle and loved it to bits. Snapped the rear mudguard pretty much every time out on it and spent more time on the on the ground than the footpegs. Was a real bitch to kick start and caused many a bruised shin. Best time on a motorcycle ever. Upgraded later to a Beta Techno 1995 and still have that baby. Wish I could have my trials in H.H.
I've only ever seen two of them before and my dad owned the other which Is very strange....
Made in Italy... that's about all I know without consulting uncle G.

So Magnum did you need help from uncle G too for this one?

GN.