Messages

706

General Forum / AC 427 S/C Continuation

« on: January 24, 2007, 20:11:46 »

Don't be so modest Chafford - just take out another mortgage and sell the kids into slavery! I've not asked about the car Rod has for sale. I know who owns it and I had a feeling it had been withdrawn - but I guess not.
   
   Gerry can give a ball-park figure to build a Kirkham, but as he says, the deciding factor comes down to how much you are prepared (or not) to spend on the engine. If you can buy your own Genesis, for example, and send it to him, then he can give a much more accurate cost. It's also much easier to phone him 01892 750341. Or you buy a pile of parts and glue it all together yourself, thus saving a couple of shekels....I have seen many Kirkhams and they are as good as it gets, especially the FIA car - love it! Everything a Cobra should be (and you have it with coil or leaf suspenders) and there are pics of all the cars in my latest book (cheap plug)
   He has three Kirkhams being built right now and I will try to post a pic when time allows. He has 427, 289 and FIA cars built, finished, painted and available for viewing.
   
   OK NIk, I will be having several photo-sessions with my car when its back from the paint shop and when I can get out and about - you might have noticed the weather has not been kind of late!! In the meantime, the car on the cover of (yes That Book again) will suffice as its the same (cloned)
   
   Knowing how much those things cost to build, and assuming you allow a sensible hourly rate, £100,000 would be a bit on the cheap side...! It's a costly exercise - trust me, I know of what I speak!! :-(

707

General Forum / AC 427 S/C Continuation

« on: January 23, 2007, 13:50:23 »

Chafford
   I forgot to say: Yes they are road legal. At least, mine does have an MOT. Are you looking for one?
   Of course, following the BJ sale ($5mill? possibly) all 427s will now be Very Expensive, whether CS owned it or not. Carry on hyping :-)

708

General Forum / AC 427 S/C Continuation

« on: January 23, 2007, 10:42:14 »

I have not seen an AC selling for a figure as low as that. I know a number of the owners of such cars (!) and they would never consider selling for a figure that low. Bear in mind that last year, an AC 289FIA went to a new owner (and member of the Owners Club) having been advertised with a £135,000 price tag. So a 427 will be that and a bit more, if we follow tradition!

709

General Forum / Smart/"AC" yet again

« on: January 20, 2007, 20:39:54 »

Rick
   I think you may be right and there is much to be said from sitting back and collecting royalty payments, or so they tell me - just ask Paul McCartney & Co. We should all be so lucky. So should Mr.Price, who tried to keep the "AC" name alive.

710

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / 'tool time' story: how I recreate my MK 4

« on: January 20, 2007, 11:10:50 »

Naturally that is the intention. I doubt it would be cost effective to 'convert' a perfectly good MkIV and nobody is suggesting they should. But this was a decidedly ex-MkIV that might well have been scrapped. Rather than throw it away, it can be adapted into this style of car, if the owner wishes. Or not. It was also an exercise in trying to make a 'Cobra' that would accomodate a taller driver. It still has an AK chassis number and the work carried out will be recorded in the MkIV registry. Gerry Hawkridge has no problem with the MkIV - he owns one!

711

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / 'tool time' story: how I recreate my MK 4

« on: January 19, 2007, 20:53:32 »

   
   
   Enclosed, with luck, is the 'Hawk' MkIV with a MkIII-type body, a sort of Mk3.5, or the best bits from an ex-MkIV with the looks and original-style interior of a MkIII, plus more space in the cockpit for the taller gent.

712

428 Frua Forum / AC Frua manual 4 speed conversion.

« on: January 19, 2007, 17:28:40 »

If you really must go for a manual (I would not bother) then the fewer gears the better. The first of the Shelby Daytona Coupes (OK, from Superformance!) had a 6-speed box which was definately two cogs too many. They now fit 5-speed - but with that much torque, three of those are pretty redundant.

713

General Forum / Smart/"AC" yet again

« on: January 19, 2007, 17:23:36 »

Just wondering - if (if, if, if) the Kimber thingy actually happens, which company is AC - the one in Wales(?) or the one in Malta. They can't both be - can they..?

714

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / ac cobra prices????

« on: January 18, 2007, 21:21:28 »

And I'll drink to that.......but maybe not Cobra :-(

715

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / New MkV Cobras for sale

« on: January 18, 2007, 17:19:27 »

Hi Constant
   
   Yes I saw that car. I had a very similar conversation with Steve and I believe it now has a UK owner but lives in France. I had a very quick look round it but did not take any photos. It probably was the car from the website as it was fitted with a number of 'extras' - I loved the way the luggage rack was mounted on the wings and not the boot lid (wonder why?) and therefore you had to unbolt and remove the rack to open the boot more than two inches. Just the thing for a trip to the supermarket!! Different. I thought the front 3/4 shape looked quite good and as you say, may have been slightly different to the other MkV in question. Feel free to email me pics if you wish! Thanks.
   Brooklands had the car since, as you probably know, it is the official service and repair agent for AC(Malta) in the UK. (More of than anon, no doubt)

716

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / New MkV Cobras for sale

« on: January 18, 2007, 10:09:50 »

I'm not an engineer of any kind, so will not make comment about the way in which the cars are put together, drive, handle, stop, start especially since I've not driven one yet. I used to photograph prototypes and pre-production cars (which was interesting!) so I think I have a vague understanding concerning 'build quality' (and I used to drive a 911 so I tend to use that as my reference point) If you study the car in the gallery on the Clive Sutton website, you will naturally observe the shape and curve of the wheelarches, esp. the rear arch, in  the profile shot - does that look correct to you? and the manner in which the bonnet (hood) 'fits'? Also check the panel gaps, hood in particular - instead of an even 3-4mm all round, its more like 10+/- The fit and finish of the interior is not good - the way the gear-knob was plonked in place, showing and inch or so of thread, door panel trim kept in place by two metal lugs, so it flops about...?? If I had built that at home, I would be depressed. 59,000 of my hard earned pounds - don't think so. As a dedicated fan of the AC marque (as was) I am naturally far from happy re the situation. I would love the MkV to be the car that carried on from the MkIV, but it's not even close - in my opinion!! Possibly these issues will be addressed in time and the car will be improved, as is the way with hand-made autos and no doubt John Owen will see to it. I would urge all concerned to pay no attention to me and make their own judgement. I mean, I meant a chap the other day who drives an Austin Maxi and he adores it - seriously!! A fine automobile and a paragon of reliability... :-)  It's a funny old world.
   (I wish you'd finish your lunch Nik...it keeps coming back)

717

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / 'tool time' story: how I recreate my MK 4

« on: January 17, 2007, 20:03:23 »

I wonder why you like black/black John..? But you have a point. I nearly went down that route on my car - one day maybe...
   
   dkp - as well as being a good source of all Cobra parts, it might be worth contacting Gerry at Hawk Cars. He has just converted a MkIV to 'original' (MkIII-type) specifications, with the advantage of a longer pedal box, with the pedals mounted about 50cm forward and the seat mounted further back. It has a recessed wing-mounted fuel filler, original-style dashboard. The car has MkIV suspension, but with better springs, and the looks of an original - a Mk 3.5 ? I took a couple of photos yesterday and will try to load them here. It could be one of the best, most useable of all Cobras! Maybe. I look forward to trying it out some time soon.
   contact: gerry@hawkcars.co.uk  or call (UK) 1892 750341

718

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / New MkV Cobras for sale

« on: January 17, 2007, 19:52:26 »

I have not been sent any information about the MkV other than doing my own on-line research and seeing the SVA car, plus the C.Sutton demo car at Earls Court. I doubt that these cars stand any chance being 'passed off' as any other Cobra model, since they have their own quite distinctive...err...quality...?
   
   I note that one of the two ebay cars has (allegedly) been sold and maybe the new owner will chip in with more information - yes?
   
   AK1131 - Autokraft is no longer trading as a company. MkV's are produced by AC Motor Holdings Ltd, based in Malta.

719

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / 'tool time' story: how I recreate my MK 4

« on: January 17, 2007, 17:07:22 »

Dark red...!!!

720

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / ac cobra prices????

« on: January 16, 2007, 17:26:56 »

AK1131
   
   I'm not disagreeing with any of the above - but are you planning to attend the next SAAC convention, stand before the assembled multitude at the Saturday night dinner and repeat that out loud..?? (Please check your escape route first.) And before you ask - yes I have.....
   
   But if you are still in the market for a 100% genuine AC Cobra-shaped vehicle that echoes the 427S/C but was made by AC has full AC documentation, let me know as I have one (they do exist)