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Messages - ANF289

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16
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: February 24, 2014, 13:22:19 »
quote:
Originally posted by Mark IV
   The cross members are located differently than a MK III due to the needs of the 5.0 engine, the sump used and the catalytic convertors that needed to be packaged in the car. As well as the transmission mount being in a different spot than the top loader.
   
   While there is some Frua DNA in the MK IV, it is NOT a "shortened MK IV!" For whatever reason you didn't like your MK IV, many do. Many would also question your "redesign" of the Frua. You are making a great car out of it but it will no longer be what AC sold it as. Who is right? Everybody! It is yours and do with it what you will...............
   

   
   So, do you want to restomod or restore your car?  When applied to a relatively common car the former certainly improves every aspect of the vehicle.  When applied to a rare car, it may improve its performance but it certainly kills its soul.  But you are right... to each his own!

17
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: February 24, 2014, 01:47:33 »
quote:
Originally posted by ace
   
I have considered the CRS but again I can't see how a car sold for £39k 10-14 years ago is worth pretty much the same today.
   
   Money put into an Aston Martin, Jag, Ferrari etc then would have at least halved by now.
   
   

   AC vs replica... you may have answered your own question.  The car market is like the stock market, it goes up and down.  But in the long run, if you got the right car, it will go up.  Maybe not in your lifetime, so plan on leaving it to your kid!

18
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: February 21, 2014, 17:42:55 »
quote:
Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Of course a proper 427 FE would be better but it means replacing the transmission as well and modifying the foot boxes and transmission tunnel on the MKIV. You can also bore and stroke a small block to 427cu but it won't spin much and will not last. A properly built 347 will rev to 7,000 and will make the car fast and reliable. There are ton of parts available that can bring the motor to close to 500hp. I think it's the better option for a light cobra. At least that's what I would do!
   
   Emmanuel[:)]
   
A 302 producing 300 RWHP is more than sufficient, thank you.[;)]

19
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: February 20, 2014, 02:44:18 »
quote:
Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
I used to have a Mark IV ...also had a Kirkham with a 427 and I can tell you the MkIV are not even close. ...You also mean 0 to 60MPH not quarter mile, ... As far as a comparison to a federalized Porsche,  I agree performance will be comparable to an early 80's basic 911... The AC coil spring chassis although a great chassis for the 60's would not on par with any 1980's Porsche.
   On the track, I'll bet and with only a regular 944 i will go faster than any cobra or any 60's and probably 70's exotic for that matter.  ...Let's enjoy classic cars for what they are, classics but for performance it's night and day.[:)]
   

   Right you are, 0 to 60.  But you’re missing the point: no significant difference between the 60’s and 80’s cars’ performance.   I’m sure if you throw a 427 in a Mk IV it will perform on par with your Kirkham… but who cares?  It really doesn’t matter if you are driving on the street.
   
   Concerning the shape: Look again and look harder.  The differences are not as great as you would like to believe.  Variation in the lines of the Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III are as great or greater than that between the III and the IV.  But again, that’s what makes a Mk IV a Mk IV.  The big difference is in the interior. Don’t you just love that dash?  I do! [:D]
   
   And the Porsche/Cobra comparo isn't as big a stretch as you would like us to believe. The May 87 issue of Road & Track actually did that comparison (RUF 3.4 vs 351 Mk IV) and concluded that both cars offered capability that makes the term “too much” something of an understatement.  By the way, every R&T tester preferred the Cobra... so much for parity with any 80’s Porsche.
   
   Good one about the 944…  I’d love to hear some more fairy tales, Grimm.[:)]
   
   We do agree that the most important thing is to enjoy your car… whatever it may be.

20
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: February 19, 2014, 18:54:26 »
quote:
...the reasons why MKIV don't do well in the US are the following:
   
   They are subject to smog laws in most states and can't be easily modified. They are an evolution of the original car and look very different than anything produced in the 60's, too costly to make them look like a MKIII  The MKIV is a nice car, well built, but it lacks the wildness of the original. It's like a 70's or 80's Corvette, Does it compare with a StingRay? No. The later models have very weak engines and plastic bumpers. They are still Corvettes, but the soul is gone.
   
   Emmanuel[:)]
   

   Smog laws in many states no longer affect the Mk IV, they are typically waived for classic/historical registration.
   
   The esthetics between the 60’s and 80’s cars are so insignificant that many feel there is no need for a costly retrofit.  I happen to agree with BBK, the evolution of the design improves the car, as does the overall quality.  The fact that it was produced in the 80’s makes it all that more remarkable.  There is really no comparison to the 80’s Corvette.  The Mk IV was one of the fastest cars that could be bought in the US at that time.  You can’t say that about the Corvette.  A fairer performance comparison would be with a federalized Porsche of that era.
   
   If you want a sports car for the street, it’s the best Cobra money can buy… and on this side of the Atlantic it is still a great deal.  The performance difference between a 60’s 289 (average reported road test 0-60 = 5.12 s, N = 5) and an 80’s 302 (0-60 = 5.69 s, N = 3) is just not that great, and simply removing the smog equipment will eliminate that difference.   Anyone who has driven a properly set-up Mk IV would never think the soul is gone.  Quit the contrary: the gestalt is pure Cobra

21
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Which MkIV for sale at Forristalls, Houston TX...?
« on: February 19, 2014, 13:54:25 »
quote:
Originally posted by Emmanueld
   
Three things:
   1) Steering wheel of questionable taste!
   2) Knockoffs i think too far out, questionable safety.
   3) 302 type fuel injection, 351 takes a different intake which is wider. Although the correct intake may have bee available through Ford Motorsport.
   

   Four… I like the creative use of weather stripping or tygon tubing in place of missing hood (bonnet) bumpers.
   
   It does look sharp in white.

22
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: January 29, 2014, 17:40:24 »
quote:
Originally posted by dkp_cobra
   
Short story..

   Touché! [:D]

23
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: January 29, 2014, 16:06:41 »
quote:
Originally posted by French Frie
   
ANF289,not sure to understand all the subtilities of your answer (but try the same in French !), but you're talking about your experience, and I'm talking about mine [;)]... and I confirm that the MKIV is unknown by most of the enthusiasts here ! and I remember the story of US guys on this forum who said that they weren't very welcomed at classic events, because of this ignorance. and I assume that a Cobra is more a Shelby than an AC on your side of pond...
   
   But I agree with you about the fact that the overall trend is rather upwards... and there is NO problem to me, as the only thing I want is enjoy and drive my car, in a quite shelfish way, and do not plan to sell it !
   

   I believe we are saying the same thing, and you certainly can say it better in English than I could ever attempt it in French!).  My point was simply that the “problem” with the history is easily remedied… the “problem” with people not wanting to learn anything that they don’t believe, is another story. [;)]

24
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / car values/desirability
« on: January 29, 2014, 15:16:24 »
quote:
Originally posted by French Frie
   
Once again, I think we're too focused on value and asset, even if nobody likes loosing money ... regarding the MKIV, I do think that a part of the "problem" is its unknown history.

   Mk IV owners appear to be focused on many things, but its confused status certainly benefits those who focus on the joy derived from looking at and the fun derived by driving the thing.  Fact is, there is more now than ever before on the internet about the car, so anyone can become familiar with the history, as seen here:
   
   http://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools/HVT/VehicleSearch/Report?vc=1359385
   
   http://mycarquest.com/2013/06/the-ac-cobra-mk-iv-what-a-terrific-car.html
   
   http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/3/31/Unique-of-the-Week-1985-AC-Cobra-Mk-IV-7708033/
   
   http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php/?see=3493
   
   http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ac-cars/1986-ac-autokraft-mkiv-cobra-ar129167.html
   
   http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/271279/driven_ac_cobra_mkiv.html
   
   The problem, if there is one, is likely to be more than an unknown history.  I personally don’t think there is a problem.
   
   For those who are focused on value, I don’t see that prices have dropped, at least in the states.  If anything, there seems to be a movement towards an equilibrium point (~ $100,000) resting between the typically higher prices seen in Great Britain/Europe and the typically lower prices seen in the USA.  Worldwide, on average, prices appear to be creeping up.  I’m sure that statement could start a fight in just about any bar (pub) in the world!

25
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Recent Auction Results
« on: October 08, 2013, 20:31:08 »
quote:
Originally posted by linklaw
   
Has anyone been following recent auctions for MK IV cars that have sold?  I want to increase the insurance on mine and the agent said that I need to come up with some indication that the value has increased, such as recent auction results. If anyone has this info, please post it.  USA auction results would be best as the company, American Collectors, is in the US. Thanks.
   John
   
John,
   
   Just went through the process with my Mk IV.  In addition to the Hagarty values by condition: Fair ($66,500), Good ($84,000), Excellent ($97,000), and Concours ($119,000); I added a spread sheet summarizing the asking price and confirmed sale prices for 10 MK IVs.  Between 2011 and 2013 asking prices for Mk IV’s averaged $99,670 (N=10) and sale prices averaged $94,095 (N=8).  Of those sold in 2012-2013 the average asking price was $105,749 (N=8) and sale price averaged $97,400 (N=5).  PM me if you would like the table containing all the info (dates, description, website/seller info, etc.).  I’d post it here but people tend to hold their cards close to their chest when they start talking about money.  If the group is interested I would be happy to add any additional data sent to me and post the whole thing here.  The cars are identifiable, as are some of the previous owners, but the latter can be removed.
   
   Art

26
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / A MKIV on an event poster
« on: June 06, 2013, 20:21:38 »
quote:
Originally posted by French Frie
   
I checked in the handbook, and they do not mention this grease

   Very crafty referring to the owner's manual! [:D]

27
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Exhaust manifold 302efi
« on: May 20, 2013, 05:37:44 »
quote:
Originally posted by French Frie
   
Oh yeah ! Really tight, indeed ! What is the material of the panel shied added ? No heat problem ? Or burned feet [;)] ?
   
   Ps : many thanks for this fast answer !
   

   The heat shield is KoolMat = NASA Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials developed by Rockwell Space Systems (now Boeing North America).  Still warm... but no burned feet!
   
   
quote:
PS2 : Am I correct if I assume you plugged the air pump lines ?

   Yes, the air pump was removed and the remaining plumbing was capped.

28
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Exhaust manifold 302efi
« on: May 19, 2013, 02:38:08 »
quote:
Originally posted by French Frie
   
Sorry to unbury this topic, but I bought this 1515 (same as 15150, but non-ceramic coated) header, and just checked visually, but they seems really thicker than stock exhausts ! Can one of you take pics of headers installed on his car ? Many thanks !
   

   Here ya go:
   
   
   
   

29
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Billy Joel's Cobra for sale thru Exotic Classics
« on: May 15, 2013, 19:28:36 »
quote:
Originally posted by Mark IV
   
NO, NO, NO!!!
   
   It was NOT Billy's car, I sold it new. It was his brother-in-law and if Billy ever owned it it was due to the lawsuit.
   
They are not hearing you!  It's on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Shelby-Other-Cobra-1985-autokraft-/151042145162?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item232ad03b8a&vxp=mtr
   Interesting, it must be overheating a lot... has two water temp gauges (no clock)! [:D]

30
Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / MKIV AKL for sale
« on: April 12, 2013, 16:37:26 »
quote:
Originally posted by 302EFI
   
I must admit that I do not understand what exactly is being suggested in relation to the subject matter of this thread.
   

   Here, here, Shep understands (see above)...

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