RE: First Shelby Cobra goes to auction

[thegreenhell]

fourwheelsteer said:

LotusOmega375D said:

Lovely video. Says it all really. Although not sure it had all independent suspension early on like the guy says. Also the motor was a 260 (4.2 litre).

Can't believe it's already 4 years since Shelby died.

All Cobras had independent suspension, as did the AC Ace. The Ace and early Cobras had a double wishbone set-up with transverse leaf springs. Later Cobras got a coil-sprung set-up.

It's independent all round, but not really true double wishbone. The leaf spring acted as the upper link.

[lfsv8]

Both this fascinating article and video clip (via link promoting the auction) both refer to several changes of paint colour, reportedly to give magazine road-testers at the time the impression that more than one prototype/production car existed, hence leading to a presumption that Shelby production proper was then already underway.

Unfortunately the colours concerned were not actually identified, other than in their primary form (blue, yellow, etc.).
Does anyone know what this particular shade of blue actually is please?

If it was only painted following UK-export in bare aluminium and then US-workshop V8 engine & transmission installation, is it at all likely that it was still an AC colour, such as 'Guardsman Blue' perhaps? Alternatively, does anyone have a reliable handle on whatever US paint code this shade of blue might be, please?

[CanAm]

Monty Python said:

I think this is a myth - at most it's going to generate 1G or so under acceleration so you'd have to pretty feeble not to be able to move.

I think the myth/story referred to the 427.

[aeropilot]

lfsv8 said:

If it was only painted following UK-export in bare aluminium and then US-workshop V8 engine & transmission installation, is it at all likely that it was still an AC colour, such as 'Guardsman Blue' perhaps? Alternatively, does anyone have a reliable handle on whatever US paint code this shade of blue might be, please?

Guardsman Blue was a Ford-USA colour....I think first used in 1964.

It could be Guardsman Blue - difficult to say for sure. Probably is seeing as it was a 'Cobra' colour.

[lfsv8]

Many thanks for your reply 'aeropilot', much appreciated.
Since raising the question I've also found this, within which the nearest comparison-match does indeed appear to be 'Guardsman Blue':-
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/originality-forum/...

[Sway]

mikEsprit said:

Second time within a week that I've read how recognizable the Miura is to non-car people on Pistonheads.

You can state it every day in every article, but it still won't be true. The Miura isn't even the most recognizable Lamborghini.

Personally, I can't imagine it coming close to breaking the top 100. Has a Miura ever been in a movie, even?

Italian Job...

The Miura is one that is perhaps losing it's wider awareness amongst the general public. My grandmother certainly knew what a Miura was, although had very little interest in cars - she used to say that the only car she'd bother getting a licence for would be one.

Mum would know too, she loved the Italian Job as a kid and had minis for several years off the back of the film.

No way my better half would have a clue about the Miura. Cobra, yes.

[AH33]

SHED

At least get some seat covers on it

[JohnGoodridge]

Update: It did indeed set a record sale value at $13.8m (about 10.6m gbp at current rates)

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/20/luxury/shelby-cobr...

[Dinoboy]

The record price beats the previous record price for an "American" car, a Ford GT40

[Chris Stott]

That D Type