For a number of years I have heard, at first like a rumor, and later with some more vocal conviction from my nephew, and firearms dealership partner, that his brother-in-law, Scott, had come into possession of a "real" cobra. I thought how cool would THAT be. But . . . nah! Not likely, I would be more likely to win Powerball.
Time passed and I was never really deluged with TMI concerning this automobile. Nor did I pursue greater detail regarding this treasure, thinking that it really was more likely a cousin of some make of one of our replicas.
The car supposedly could not be driven for a variety of reasons, and even as recent as Christmas of 2008 I asked Scott to consider joining the GCC, for not only the social comaraderie, but also for potential assistance in getting this treasure functional and road worthy. He took down the website, but obviously has never contacted anyone about it.
Well, last Sunday, we (me, Deb, and Matt) were invited to the Christmas party of my nephew's in-laws. We all do get along quite good, so this was not unusual, but, as fate would have it, this year's gathering was to be held in a building at Scott's business. The oversized structure, heated, and well lit appeared to be the shell for a potential pair of storefronts to lease out. One end of the front wall had a rollup garage door and the rest of the wall was windowed with a pair of man doors.
Scott was using one end of the interior as storage for his automobiles. The 4 cars lined up along the end were covered, but, thinking if this thing was here, maybe I will get a chance to finally set eyes upon it! As I looked left to right down the row, there appeared to be first; a large dirt track stock car, then a firebird/transam, then something else with a roof, and at the far end - furthest from the front wall - hunkered down a well covered smaller car with a bulge behind the drivers seat. Oh, oh! COOL!
The cover extended for enough down the sides to hide the body, but the distinctive front fender cowling, headlight nacelles, and flared fender openings were apparent through the cover - as was the shape of sidepipes and barely visible Halibrand wheels. Heart thumpin', holy crap!
The party began at 1:00 pm and we literally commenced feasting upon arrival. Matt and I quickly dug into din din and with some glimmer of hope that today would be the day of discovery into the mystery of Scott's treasure, we celebrated company with the clan.
By 2:00, I was as curious about what may be hiding under that cover, as you will be over the next 24 hours as to how the rest of this story develops! And although I had contemplated telling you that I was a new patient on viagra and that something had come up, and since I now know how you react when it is just getting good . . .I think it better, that instead of bearing any more disdainful harrassment from you, my Cobra brethren, I'll just continue the story as if nothing had happened and thus make all of the ensuing posts pointless!!!!!!
Finally, I came up with a plan. It would be a simple "if you show me yours, I'll show you mine" deal. It would be a matter of psychological reciprocity. Scott would be morally compelled and justly forced to reveal the veiled beast. I offered to show him an example of a firearm I had out in the car. He agreed. We went out, and spent a minute looking at it, I grabbed, tossed it back in the car and exclaimed, "its cold out here, let's get back inside. C'mon!"
Once in the building, I wasted no time (unlike the time wasted starting this story on a Sunday and not finishing it until the following Saturday!!). I said to Scott, "how about a peek at that car", pointing to the one in the back. As expected, he was compelled, he had no choice, he had seen the gun, and now it was time to pay the piper, or charmer as in snake. Heh, heh, heh!
With composure, and as non chalantly as he could, he mustered up an octave off, "sure, uh, help me get the cover off." YES!
This was it. Here we go. It was all or nothing. I let Scott lead, didn't want to look too damned anxious, ya know? Much like peeling that lacy red brasseire up, over, and off your sweethearts bosom, we grasped the car cover's lower most edge at the front of the car and began slowly tugging it away, out and over the quick jacks. They were chrome. As we slowly and gently peeled it toward the bonnet, we began rolling it gingerly between our fingers, passing hand to hand as the opening of the radiator appeared. OIL COOLER! Yes! SS braided lines, OMG! IT'S Guardsman Blue! White stripes.
Well, it was a Cobra. No doubt about it. We eventually got the cover peeled all the way back, rolled up and set on the floor behind the trunk. The rest of the family was about in a flash. It was like a patient on an operating table, with all focused to the center, except, instead of a solemn concentration with hushed voices, it was a cacophony of commentary, questions tossed about - and not answered, giddy anticipation, hands flapping, fingers pointing. Looks like I may not have been the only one kept in the dark. Scott's brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews were agape with wonderment at this car.
Then, he "popped the hood". Big block 460. Carbed. And as Scott was trying to explain how he had the CSX 4000 series dash plaque somewhere in the trunk or under the seat or something, I was focused on the small 2x3 or 3x4 inch metal plate riveted to the passenger side footbox cover - under the hood. The one that started out with "Built by Superformance". Scott was still talking about the CSX plate and I realized I had the undaunting task of explaining to Scott that, no CS was not the progenitor of this particular beast and that, although, no, it is not a kit, it is neither an original nor is it a continuation. Alas, the car is a product of South Africa, imported to the states and mated to a drivetrain for further transfer to some lucky recipient to have and to hold.
Scott seemed to deep down inside know this was the case. He said he knew it originally came from SA. He told me what it still needed to be functional but, you know, it went right over my head. I mentioned that I thought I have an SP DVD somewhere that he could have. He was glad to hear that.
At the back an original license plate was still attached. And then a terrible thought crossed my mind. I hope the hell this car was not stolen. The plates were Arizona, and the tabs were 2004 or 6, I believe.
Any way, there you have it. Another potential GCC car is waiting patiently to be rescusitated (sp?).
If there is any interest from the SP faction, I would be happy to setup a meeting with Scott at the "barn" (3 miles souith of Washington) to possibly get this thing rolling again. It needs TLC.
Time passed and I was never really deluged with TMI concerning this automobile. Nor did I pursue greater detail regarding this treasure, thinking that it really was more likely a cousin of some make of one of our replicas.
The car supposedly could not be driven for a variety of reasons, and even as recent as Christmas of 2008 I asked Scott to consider joining the GCC, for not only the social comaraderie, but also for potential assistance in getting this treasure functional and road worthy. He took down the website, but obviously has never contacted anyone about it.
Well, last Sunday, we (me, Deb, and Matt) were invited to the Christmas party of my nephew's in-laws. We all do get along quite good, so this was not unusual, but, as fate would have it, this year's gathering was to be held in a building at Scott's business. The oversized structure, heated, and well lit appeared to be the shell for a potential pair of storefronts to lease out. One end of the front wall had a rollup garage door and the rest of the wall was windowed with a pair of man doors.
Scott was using one end of the interior as storage for his automobiles. The 4 cars lined up along the end were covered, but, thinking if this thing was here, maybe I will get a chance to finally set eyes upon it! As I looked left to right down the row, there appeared to be first; a large dirt track stock car, then a firebird/transam, then something else with a roof, and at the far end - furthest from the front wall - hunkered down a well covered smaller car with a bulge behind the drivers seat. Oh, oh! COOL!
The cover extended for enough down the sides to hide the body, but the distinctive front fender cowling, headlight nacelles, and flared fender openings were apparent through the cover - as was the shape of sidepipes and barely visible Halibrand wheels. Heart thumpin', holy crap!
The party began at 1:00 pm and we literally commenced feasting upon arrival. Matt and I quickly dug into din din and with some glimmer of hope that today would be the day of discovery into the mystery of Scott's treasure, we celebrated company with the clan.
By 2:00, I was as curious about what may be hiding under that cover, as you will be over the next 24 hours as to how the rest of this story develops! And although I had contemplated telling you that I was a new patient on viagra and that something had come up, and since I now know how you react when it is just getting good . . .I think it better, that instead of bearing any more disdainful harrassment from you, my Cobra brethren, I'll just continue the story as if nothing had happened and thus make all of the ensuing posts pointless!!!!!!
Finally, I came up with a plan. It would be a simple "if you show me yours, I'll show you mine" deal. It would be a matter of psychological reciprocity. Scott would be morally compelled and justly forced to reveal the veiled beast. I offered to show him an example of a firearm I had out in the car. He agreed. We went out, and spent a minute looking at it, I grabbed, tossed it back in the car and exclaimed, "its cold out here, let's get back inside. C'mon!"
Once in the building, I wasted no time (unlike the time wasted starting this story on a Sunday and not finishing it until the following Saturday!!). I said to Scott, "how about a peek at that car", pointing to the one in the back. As expected, he was compelled, he had no choice, he had seen the gun, and now it was time to pay the piper, or charmer as in snake. Heh, heh, heh!
With composure, and as non chalantly as he could, he mustered up an octave off, "sure, uh, help me get the cover off." YES!
This was it. Here we go. It was all or nothing. I let Scott lead, didn't want to look too damned anxious, ya know? Much like peeling that lacy red brasseire up, over, and off your sweethearts bosom, we grasped the car cover's lower most edge at the front of the car and began slowly tugging it away, out and over the quick jacks. They were chrome. As we slowly and gently peeled it toward the bonnet, we began rolling it gingerly between our fingers, passing hand to hand as the opening of the radiator appeared. OIL COOLER! Yes! SS braided lines, OMG! IT'S Guardsman Blue! White stripes.
Well, it was a Cobra. No doubt about it. We eventually got the cover peeled all the way back, rolled up and set on the floor behind the trunk. The rest of the family was about in a flash. It was like a patient on an operating table, with all focused to the center, except, instead of a solemn concentration with hushed voices, it was a cacophony of commentary, questions tossed about - and not answered, giddy anticipation, hands flapping, fingers pointing. Looks like I may not have been the only one kept in the dark. Scott's brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews were agape with wonderment at this car.
Then, he "popped the hood". Big block 460. Carbed. And as Scott was trying to explain how he had the CSX 4000 series dash plaque somewhere in the trunk or under the seat or something, I was focused on the small 2x3 or 3x4 inch metal plate riveted to the passenger side footbox cover - under the hood. The one that started out with "Built by Superformance". Scott was still talking about the CSX plate and I realized I had the undaunting task of explaining to Scott that, no CS was not the progenitor of this particular beast and that, although, no, it is not a kit, it is neither an original nor is it a continuation. Alas, the car is a product of South Africa, imported to the states and mated to a drivetrain for further transfer to some lucky recipient to have and to hold.
Scott seemed to deep down inside know this was the case. He said he knew it originally came from SA. He told me what it still needed to be functional but, you know, it went right over my head. I mentioned that I thought I have an SP DVD somewhere that he could have. He was glad to hear that.
At the back an original license plate was still attached. And then a terrible thought crossed my mind. I hope the hell this car was not stolen. The plates were Arizona, and the tabs were 2004 or 6, I believe.
Any way, there you have it. Another potential GCC car is waiting patiently to be rescusitated (sp?).
If there is any interest from the SP faction, I would be happy to setup a meeting with Scott at the "barn" (3 miles souith of Washington) to possibly get this thing rolling again. It needs TLC.
You rock Naj. 
