Exterior, Headlights, Hood Scoop, Paint, Wheels & Tires

[mkassab]

Well we settled on a paint color... we knew we wanted yellow.... no doubt... but what yellow??

We want a similar paint job as in the attached “this color combo” picture….. i.e., Yellow, 2 wide strips (9” to 7.5”) and a pair of red team strips on the front left fender. When I drop off the eng and other parts July 9th at Unique, I’ll take some painter’s tape to lay out the final location of the red team strips on my body with Alan. Based on the picture, it looks like the leading edge of the first strip is about 6” back from the front hood seam and flows down to the ~1 to 1:30 position on the wheel opening. Based on my “scale” measurements, the team strips are 2” wide with a 1” separation. Also a simple bright (wet looking) RED paint is good here (like Porsche or Ferrari would use).

When we visited the Barber International Raceway in Birmingham, AL during Unique's Homecoming, we went the the Vintage museum there and saw, first hand, the color we really liked on a Polaris Victory Vegas motorcycle on display (there were over 600 bikes on display.... so a very good place to pick colors !) To top it off, I was able to grab Alan and show him first hand the color we wanted him to paint. When he saw the paint, he said it's either a candy or DuPont Hot Hues paint. So, we were able to visit a DuPont Hot Hue store and view the Hot Hue paint chips and they also confirmed the Polaris Victory Vegas paint colors we saw at Barber (I’ve attached several pictures in the Victory pictures attached). So if you go to the paint shop, have the guy look at the DuPont, Hot Hues under POLARIS. You’ll see other manufacturers like Harley, etc. Once in the Polaris paint section, you see the following:

The main body color is FLAME YELLOW. Paint Code SE 4404, Hot Hue Formula 780325
The center stripe color is TURBO SILVER. Paint Code SE 4801, Hot Hue Formula 780319


Since Victory took the time to match the Flame Yellow and the Turbo Silver (see attached pict's).... we're going with the same color combo, Flame Yellow main color, Turbo Silver wide race strips and the "wet" bright red team strips on the left front fender.

[mkassab]

We had to make a choice on a single piece hood and scoop vs. a 2 piece, riveted hood scoop.... we went with the riveted option. We really liked the look and it will give us a little more height.... which I need with the Super Victor hi-rise intake manifold. Maurice is also dropping the engine 1 inch lower to give me more head room.

[mkassab]

For headlights, we chose Lucas Tribars.

[mkassab]

While at homecoming, we saw two cars with a 3rd brake light. They were very tastefully done and very bright LEDs. We decided to incorporate into our build. So, I'll place on Jul 9 and drill holes for mounting and wires prior to paint. On the back of the light, see pict, were three holes. After some conversations with the members, I covered the hole by buying chrome thumb tacks, cutting off the pin and epoxy glued to cover the holes... for mounting, I drilled and tapped two holes in the bottom, made studs from threaded brass bolts and drilled a center hole for the wire. So when mounted, it will be a low profile brake light.

[mkassab]

My wife Mel and I visited Unique (Alan and Maurice) this past Friday. The main purpose of the visit was to review the frame before powder-coat (Maurice doing lots of extra fabrication for me) and pick-up the headers and side-pipes for ceramic coating. To provide a mounting spot for the 3rd brake light, 2nd picture below, Alan added some extra fiberglass. Take note of the “building inspector” in the third picture. On the frame, you'll note some of the modifications, e.g., X brace, Accusump and oil thermostat mountings. The two Canton oil filters will also go to the left and right of the thermostat. And finally, Maurice is making a special bracket for the ugly Accusump electric control valve and we'll "hide" that out-of-sight under the Accusump. We’re looking to the 3rd or 4th week of Sept to pick it up. Alan painted the underside of the hood a few weeks ago. We shipped it off to Killer Paint where Mike Lavelle is doing his “thing” with the airbrush. I should have pictures of that in a few days and will post in the Killer Paint thread. Once the hood is received back, Alan will complete the body paint. We also decided to paint the engine compartment the same color as the car. This should make a good contrast with the aluminum heat shield panels. I dropped off the headers and side-pipes at my local ceramic coater on our return trip home. He’ll ceramic coat both inside and out for max heat retention, flow and corrosion resistance. And finally, my wheels and tires came a few weeks ago and I had them mounted and balanced ready for the Cobra Pick-Up day (well, event for me :D)

[mkassab]

Alan finished the priming and wet sanding and applied the DuPont Hot Hues two part finish yesterday. The base coat is a bright white followed by a bright flame yellow. This process gives a "candy apple" effect. Today, the stripes go on. The wide stripes will also be a DuPont Hot Hues paint... Turbo Silver. Alan will then complete with red team stripes over the left front fender and clear coat all.

Mark

[mkassab]

Yesterday... stripe prep and start with red team stripe painted. When I spoke with Alan... he shared that this DuPont Hot Hues paint takes longer to dry, and therefore, longer to complete the job. Day 3 he'll paint the Turbo Silver wide stripes and then clear coat everything.

Mark

[mkassab]

Alan finished the stripes and clear. It's all downhill now until delivery. Can't wait to see it in person. I'll "clear bra" after an extra long paint set time in the Thanksgiving time frame (~2 months).

Mark

[Slither]

Looks really good Mark[thumb]! Alan is a great painter.

[mkassab]

Here you'll see Alan did his magic with the final step... i.e., polish/buff. Next week the body will be married-up to the "other half" and final assembly to take place.

I think the paint job and color combo came out great. I must admit, I was very concerned with the turbo silver….. mostly because I’ve never actually seen a yellow/silver combo (it’s always white or black stripes). But in the end, I couldn’t be happier. I also like how the silver stripe changes color depending on light angles.

Mark

[beast]

Unique color combo. NICE JOB:D
Gary

[mkassab]

I completed the front air shrouds and oil cooler install. It was much easier than I thought it would be much harder.

For the night viewers, I installed 4 low level LEDs. The photo below does not do it justice…. To the night eye you can see the Cobra just fine, but it’s not “too bright” at all.

Mark

[weaver]

Looking good, show time is coming in a few weeks.

[Aggressor]

Mark - I really like the night look underhood.
Very Cool

- Geary

[Slither]

Yah, that night look is way cool[thumb]!

[mkassab]

During Unique's May '10 homecoming, I saw another Unique Cobra owner with this type of side mirror install. Based on that, I didn't install the traditional fender side mirror. I bought a small billet motorcycle mirror, fabricated an aluminum bracket to attach to the top/side windshield frame and picked up some ss bolts for attaching. When standing back from the car, it isn't really noticeable.
Mark