Concensus!

[nolastyankee]

Today is one for the record books. I have decided to record it not only for posterity, but to hold ourselves to the committment. Yes, believe it or not, we have finally agreed upon a color for the Spence car.

We have also found a painter. There is a local guy over by Tulsa that came by recommendation of the Shelby dealer in Oklahoma City.

(Believe it or not, there is enough Shelby sales in Oklahoma to justify a dealer. I know, it blew me away too...)

Anyway...this painter has done 35 Cobra's, including a couple of the real deal, and many Kirkhams, and more Shelby's. He's super fussy and has all the anal retentive qualities that us engineers love. We should get along well.

The plan is for the car to go over around July 4th and be back in August.

And the color is....
Dark blue with yellow FIA stripe and meatballs. Just like this...

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/nolastyankee/Fia2x.jpg

But with this color blue...

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/nolastyankee/CSX 3002.jpg

I'm not quite sure how to act now that we know the color. It feels kinda foreign. Oh my god, could we be getting close to finishing this car?

Brian Carlson

Unique 9122 - 289 FIA Cobra - The Legendary "Spence" Car

[Brent]

Beautiful combination!

Should look good in the Pigeon Forge sunlight in September. (-:

Congrats Brian.






Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[clayfoushee]

Excellent choice!

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[gasman]

Well heck yeah!

Steve Foushee
Unique #4279389

[ralphscott]

Great choice Brian and not an easy thing to do!

Ralph

[excelguru]

Exceptional choice!

Keith :)
My car is FOR SALE! (http://webpages.charter.net/excelguru/UMC_4_Sale.htm)

[clayfoushee]

Especially exceptional, in that it doesn't use the same-old, tired stripes that everybody else uses[}:)].

Seriously, that Shelby FIA in the first photo above has always been one of my all-time favorites.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[brfutbrian]

quote:Originally posted by clayfoushee

[}:)].

Seriously, that Shelby FIA in the first photo above has always been one of my all-time favorites.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

same here, if i do another car somewhere down the road, thats it. brian, your car will look great in dark blue. later, brian

[Slither]

Clay,

I really like that first FIA as well [:P], though the boss wants red ;). If it has to be red it is OK by me, 'cause either way it is gonna to be sweet :D:D!!

Paul

289 FIA

2899464

408 Windsor

Toploader (wide)

3.07 rear

[clayfoushee]

All true. If I do another, it will either be a solid red FIA, or a FIA just like the one in the first pic, both with white pipes and wheels............decisions, decisions. This may sound like heresy, but I'm craving a small-block FIA Cobra, high-revving 302-based, warmed-over and stroked.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Slither]

No heresy involved Clay [}:)]... remember, that is basically the winning combo from the old days :D:D!!!

Paul

289 FIA

2899464

408 Windsor

Toploader (wide)

3.07 rear

[clayfoushee]

Yeah the 289 was the award winner, but there were a lot of complicated reasons for that, all related to the fact that "timing is everything." By the time the 427 became available, aero-design began to take over on the FIA circuit, roadsters were becoming "bricks," and Ford shifted it's financial backing to the new GT-40. The 427 Cobra was an anachronism and never was developed as a factory-sponsored racer, although many privateers did OK with it on the smaller circuits. Of course, the 427FE lived on as a 3-time LeMans winner and world champion in the GT-40, until it was banned out of existence by the FIA.

For other reasons, I just crave the high-revving small block, since I can't use the BB torque in anything I'm doing.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Naumoff]

Nothing wrong with having one of each. I like all the Cobras.In the back of my mine is a second Cobra( since all of those who don't understand say "IT ONLY HAS TWO SEATS" YEA! what's your point! My van only has two seats.)
A 427 just happens to be my first love.:D

Brian Great color pick![8D]

Clay, You just need a bigger garage;)

Tony

Unique 427 #4279480 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[pseim]

Great color choice, Brian





Paul

[pgermond]

WOW [^]

Phil

427 Roadster, #4279436
Southern Automotive FE
3:31 and Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[eliminator]

My persoanl favorite of all the BLUE'S.[^]

Rick
#4279405

[rdorman]

I never had any doubt that the color you picked would look great. I was really nice to finally meet you at Homecoming.

Clay, I think an FIA is some where in my future as well. But I am thinking more serious road car and less show car in my choices. We like to drive these things all over the country and some of the bits prove to be a bit tiring if you know what I mean. I am watching Juan's ride with great interest. I may even, GASP, go to 'real' seats (heated,power, high back and head 'rests'), larger rims, stereo (hidden nicely of course), overdrive, stalk mounted controls, glove box, and less leaky top (insulated too), heat and air, fuel injection, under car exhaust, "twin hoops" (but no outside braces), etc. Everything trying to keep with a 60's feel or look as much as possible but just more geared toward living with on long trips. I am constantly torn between historical accuracy and 'livability'. Until I come to a compromise that I am happy with I will keep on thinking about it!

Rick

[spd4me]

Brian, that dark blue number 98 has a FIA snout but it looks like it also has 427 brake vents. What manufacturer is it?
Bob

[nolastyankee]

Bob,
The dark blue car in the picture is actually a Hi-Tech aluminum replica of CSX3002, the first 'real' 427 car. Even though it is a 427, with the 4 into 4 headers, coil spring chassis, and stretched body, it still wore the FIA nose. This aluminum replica is one of the finest on the road and virtually identical to CSX3002.

Brian Carlson

Unique 9122 - 289 FIA Cobra - The Legendary "Spence" Car

[spd4me]

It's kind of like the one they named the "turd"

[nolastyankee]

Bob,
The affectionately named "turd" Cobra was the 427 'lightweight' car that raced one time in Nassau against the Corvette Grand Sports and the like. It simply walked away from the field until breaking down. The car is also known as the 'fliptop' because of a one piece hood and bonnet that looks very similar to the Coupes on the front end. You are correct, it too wore the FIA styled opening on the nose. If you look closely at pictures, however, the body is very, very different from the other S/C cars.

Details are at the link below...
http://www.csxinfo.net/compcars/fliptop/fliptop.htm

Brian Carlson

Unique 9122 - 289 FIA Cobra - The Legendary "Spence" Car

[spd4me]

Brian
Is that flip top an original? Looks kind of like Mr. Conehead when he was headed for the showers at the country club. No crack!
Bob

[nolastyankee]

Bob,
Yeah, I agree it looks a little different, but the "fliptop" is certainly an original CSX car. If I remember correctly, this car and a couple of the coupes were on the Shelby "fire sale" list when the company liquidated the racing shop at the end of the '64 season. The car sold for somewhere around $5K.

Brian Carlson

Unique 9122 - 289 FIA Cobra - The Legendary "Spence" Car

[spd4me]

Would have made a great retirement plan.