I’m Peter Newton. Enough about me!
The Car:
My father-in-law was briefly infatuated with Shelby and his car. He has a ton of books and ordered a F5 MkIII Roadster in about 2000 before he retired from Boeing. He used a wrecked, ’87 Foxbody, with 12K mi, as a donor car. It took him two years to get it carted and tagged. He never finished it, and in about 2010 lost interest and there is sat in his garage full of fluids for six years. He offered to sell it to me last summer for $20K. I didn’t actually laugh, but I may have made an involuntary noise and nothing more was said about it. Ok, I had never driven one...I didn't know! Last Christmas he gave me a card that said, “One Cobra”. I’m as puzzled as you are.
I flat-bedded it to my mechanic, dropped and cleaned the tank (fuel cell still good), drained all the fluids, blew everything out under pressure, and it cranked right up. It tuned up easily. He said my FIL did a great job building it. Driving it home (illegally) I felt a familiar feeling.
I always had motorcycles as a young man. I don’t have motorcycles (Ok, I am not allowed) anymore. When I first hopped into this car and took off I felt that old and familiar rush of being in the wind on a bike (but in a car of all things!). To me a car was always transpo only and a motorcycle was for fun. Who knew! I LIKE IT! I want more; much more.
Looks like this today:
I am guessing that the MkIII wasn't a uni-body like Mk IV, and the body panels had to be joined? Car goes away for straightening and painting (in flat black) this week. Once that’s done I’ll add all the repro goodies (in several big boxes) and finish the cockpit. I’m going to wait and decide how I want to paint it till the season is passed and it gets cold again. I’ll drive it with the stock 302 this season.
It will not be the same car at all next year. I am approaching this like a kit build; probably like most of you did. The difference will be that my entire budget will be in the powertrain since the rest of it was “free”. Unlike The Monster of another Shelby (or rather Shelley), I will not be under any illusions about making contributions to science or mankind. I INTEND to create a nightmarish horror to prowl the streets! Cue evil laugh. I’m so excited about it I may pee in my pants! It's BETTER than a motorcycle!
I look forward to meeting you all in person and cruising in a pit of Cobras... which must be a sight!
The Car:
My father-in-law was briefly infatuated with Shelby and his car. He has a ton of books and ordered a F5 MkIII Roadster in about 2000 before he retired from Boeing. He used a wrecked, ’87 Foxbody, with 12K mi, as a donor car. It took him two years to get it carted and tagged. He never finished it, and in about 2010 lost interest and there is sat in his garage full of fluids for six years. He offered to sell it to me last summer for $20K. I didn’t actually laugh, but I may have made an involuntary noise and nothing more was said about it. Ok, I had never driven one...I didn't know! Last Christmas he gave me a card that said, “One Cobra”. I’m as puzzled as you are.
I flat-bedded it to my mechanic, dropped and cleaned the tank (fuel cell still good), drained all the fluids, blew everything out under pressure, and it cranked right up. It tuned up easily. He said my FIL did a great job building it. Driving it home (illegally) I felt a familiar feeling.
I always had motorcycles as a young man. I don’t have motorcycles (Ok, I am not allowed) anymore. When I first hopped into this car and took off I felt that old and familiar rush of being in the wind on a bike (but in a car of all things!). To me a car was always transpo only and a motorcycle was for fun. Who knew! I LIKE IT! I want more; much more.
Looks like this today:
I am guessing that the MkIII wasn't a uni-body like Mk IV, and the body panels had to be joined? Car goes away for straightening and painting (in flat black) this week. Once that’s done I’ll add all the repro goodies (in several big boxes) and finish the cockpit. I’m going to wait and decide how I want to paint it till the season is passed and it gets cold again. I’ll drive it with the stock 302 this season.
It will not be the same car at all next year. I am approaching this like a kit build; probably like most of you did. The difference will be that my entire budget will be in the powertrain since the rest of it was “free”. Unlike The Monster of another Shelby (or rather Shelley), I will not be under any illusions about making contributions to science or mankind. I INTEND to create a nightmarish horror to prowl the streets! Cue evil laugh. I’m so excited about it I may pee in my pants! It's BETTER than a motorcycle!
I look forward to meeting you all in person and cruising in a pit of Cobras... which must be a sight!
Hope we have a few cars tomorrow evening so you can see some examples of what these cars can be. Thanks for joining us!