Baby Cobra on a Suzuki Cappuccino chassis
Discussion
Saw this on Autoblog last week - very cute, the workmanship looks amazing. It helps that the Cobra isn't a huge car to start with. Is it me or does it a look even more pumped up than the original?
When I was a student I wondered if a nine-tenths scale of classic Americana on modern running gear would be a good idea; now with technology like 3D scanning it's something eminently feasible.
When I was a student I wondered if a nine-tenths scale of classic Americana on modern running gear would be a good idea; now with technology like 3D scanning it's something eminently feasible.
Slice of Americana eh, lets not forget AC Cobras were built in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England. Even after Shelby did his excellent stuff the cars were still built here before being sent to the states to have the engine put in.
They were still built in Surrey in the eighties & nineties by Autokraft as the MKIV down the road at Brooklands using the original tooling & body bucks.
Anyone know if there is any truth in the story that Shelby also looked at the Healey 3000 as an alternative ? Don't think that would have been lusted over as much somehow.
They were still built in Surrey in the eighties & nineties by Autokraft as the MKIV down the road at Brooklands using the original tooling & body bucks.
Anyone know if there is any truth in the story that Shelby also looked at the Healey 3000 as an alternative ? Don't think that would have been lusted over as much somehow.
Tempest_5 said:
What's the point of a lot of kitcars ? Individuality, the fun of building it, usually better performance than the donor car, a shape you like/love for a fraction of the cost, sense of achievement...etc
Most kitcars do indeed have a 'point', I can see the point of nearly all of them, from the Ultima to the Vindicator 4 seater 7, but I can't see the point of a baby Cobra, unless, as I said earlier, you absolutely had to use that chassis and had to have that shape. But who would be imposing such restrictions?singlecoil said:
Most kitcars do indeed have a 'point', I can see the point of nearly all of them, from the Ultima to the Vindicator 4 seater 7, but I can't see the point of a baby Cobra, unless, as I said earlier, you absolutely had to use that chassis and had to have that shape. But who would be imposing such restrictions?
Does there have to be a point.I don't see the point of hanging a canvas square on the wall with 4 different coloured squares painted on it and calling it art but I do appreciate that we are all different and like different things,
What does intrigue me tho' is if the cobra didn't exist would you still be saying what's the point?
)thescamper said:
singlecoil said:
Most kitcars do indeed have a 'point', I can see the point of nearly all of them, from the Ultima to the Vindicator 4 seater 7, but I can't see the point of a baby Cobra, unless, as I said earlier, you absolutely had to use that chassis and had to have that shape. But who would be imposing such restrictions?
Does there have to be a point.I don't see the point of hanging a canvas square on the wall with 4 different coloured squares painted on it and calling it art but I do appreciate that we are all different and like different things,
What does intrigue me tho' is if the cobra didn't exist would you still be saying what's the point?
Let me answer your question with a question- does the chassis in the op have to be used?
Playing Devil's Advocate, it could be argued that at least it's doing something different with the cobra genre - apparently the rest of the industry feels there's always demand for another cobra or seven. However the fact that it's in Japan is significant; I'm guessing that the fact that the Cappuchino is a kei class car, in basically the right layout is the reason for using it.
I don't know what if any kitcar industry there is in Japan, but I've only ever seen panel kits. The costs of car ownership are high, and although some western classics are highly prized they are for those with deep enough pockets - this is much more accessible. It may not meet everyone's approval but I'm sure it causes a little frisson of excitement everywhere it goes over there, even if the soundtrack doesn't match the visuals (can't think of a witty collars / cuff analogy
)
If you think that's pointless, check out some of the Mitsuoka stuff.
@Tempest_5: if the Americana reference was aimed at me, I should have been clearer - of course I know the genesis of the Cobra, but I was meaning stuff like classic Mustangs, Camaros, 'Cudas, all of which could be shrunk by ~10% and still be a decent sized car... just a thought
I don't know what if any kitcar industry there is in Japan, but I've only ever seen panel kits. The costs of car ownership are high, and although some western classics are highly prized they are for those with deep enough pockets - this is much more accessible. It may not meet everyone's approval but I'm sure it causes a little frisson of excitement everywhere it goes over there, even if the soundtrack doesn't match the visuals (can't think of a witty collars / cuff analogy
)If you think that's pointless, check out some of the Mitsuoka stuff.
@Tempest_5: if the Americana reference was aimed at me, I should have been clearer - of course I know the genesis of the Cobra, but I was meaning stuff like classic Mustangs, Camaros, 'Cudas, all of which could be shrunk by ~10% and still be a decent sized car... just a thought
That's the old one! The new one is much more, err, well...
and this is what happens when you let them loose on an MX-5:
and check out Top Gear for their take on the Phantom.
Don't know how it's classified (maybe based on sales of their original designs alone) but apparently their the 10th biggest Japanese car manufacturer; though I suspect that's more impressive than it sounds - I'm guessing it's a pretty steep gradient to Toyota...
and this is what happens when you let them loose on an MX-5:
and check out Top Gear for their take on the Phantom.
Don't know how it's classified (maybe based on sales of their original designs alone) but apparently their the 10th biggest Japanese car manufacturer; though I suspect that's more impressive than it sounds - I'm guessing it's a pretty steep gradient to Toyota...
seansverige said:
Playing Devil's Advocate, it could be argued that at least it's doing something different with the cobra genre - apparently the rest of the industry feels there's always demand for another cobra or seven. However the fact that it's in Japan is significant; I'm guessing that the fact that the Cappuchino is a kei class car, in basically the right layout is the reason for using it.
I don't know what if any kitcar industry there is in Japan, but I've only ever seen panel kits. The costs of car ownership are high, and although some western classics are highly prized they are for those with deep enough pockets - this is much more accessible. It may not meet everyone's approval but I'm sure it causes a little frisson of excitement everywhere it goes over there, even if the soundtrack doesn't match the visuals (can't think of a witty collars / cuff analogy )
If you think that's pointless, check out some of the Mitsuoka stuff.
@Tempest_5: if the Americana reference was aimed at me, I should have been clearer - of course I know the genesis of the Cobra, but I was meaning stuff like classic Mustangs, Camaros, 'Cudas, all of which could be shrunk by ~10% and still be a decent sized car... just a thought
Years ago a did a car design proposal for a Japanese company and I asked why so many panel kits and no kitcars?....type approval is almost impossible to pass and very expensive for a small sportscar manuacturer.I don't know what if any kitcar industry there is in Japan, but I've only ever seen panel kits. The costs of car ownership are high, and although some western classics are highly prized they are for those with deep enough pockets - this is much more accessible. It may not meet everyone's approval but I'm sure it causes a little frisson of excitement everywhere it goes over there, even if the soundtrack doesn't match the visuals (can't think of a witty collars / cuff analogy
)If you think that's pointless, check out some of the Mitsuoka stuff.
@Tempest_5: if the Americana reference was aimed at me, I should have been clearer - of course I know the genesis of the Cobra, but I was meaning stuff like classic Mustangs, Camaros, 'Cudas, all of which could be shrunk by ~10% and still be a decent sized car... just a thought
Panel kits are the only option and that is why the japanese have become leaders in this industry....just an example....but you just have to guess on what platform its based to understand how good this car is:
Edited by fuoriserie on Wednesday 26th May 11:17
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