Unfinished Business: Cobra Kit Replica
If there was a category for cars that are most likely to show up as unfinished projects, the Cobra kit car would certainly be in the top five. I imagine there’s even a bracket for the same kit car getting passed through multiple owners, waiting for its chance to be finished. This one is certainly a potential candidate for that category, as it looks like it hasn’t been touched in ages and the seller isn’t exactly verbose in describing his history with the car. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace in Gardner, MA for $11,700.
The pictures aren’t great but they tell the story. This thing was never much past half-finished and the bodywork certainly reflects the roughshod nature of the car. The seller does have some details worth sharing, including that it was built on a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette chassis and that it retained the engine, transmission, and rear end from the donor Corvette. I don’t know why, but it seems wrong that this has a Chevrolet engine under the hood. Doesn’t it need a 289, at minimum?
Still, I can understand how you end up here. You just want to have a car that resembles a classic Cobra to rip around in; it doesn’t have to be a 10 out of 10 tribute. That said, even keeping the Chevy mill under the hood hasn’t made the path to completion any easier for this Cobra kit car, and while I dig the yellow paint job with black stripes, it still needs quite a bit of finishing before it looks ready for prime-time. The biggest hurdle? The seller seemingly indicates the body has to be stretched six inches to fit the Corvette chassis, and it’s hard to confirm whether he’s already done this or the next owner will have to.
If the body literally needs to be stretched – or otherwise re-imagined to fit the Corvette chassis – I would definitely ditch the Corvette chassis and start with a new platform. Since we mostly encounter these Cobra replicas as projects that are at least assembled but needing the wiring done or suspension sorted, this one is a conundrum because it may need even more than that – and it’s not exactly a giveaway at the current asking price. The seller is open to interesting trades so perhaps there’s a way for both of you to get what you want.
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Comments
Bet if the owner had wiped the fingerprints off the camera lens the pictures would have been better. If the job of hanging the body on the Corvette chassis was done properly I’d be inclined to shorten the rear of the frame and driveshaft rather than doing a complete change. Guess it’s up to the new owner how much effort and money he/she wants to put into it. Could be nice when done.
You sure are making some lemonade here.
It is yellow.
Wow people whine about a small block Chevy swap, they’ll bust a spring over this.
looks like body has already been cut up, why a C3 chassis and drivetrain? Good luck with the kit!
I agree from that side view looks like the door and rocker were cut and stretched But now it has ruined the proportions of the car and it just looks odd
Chevy Cobra blue would love to drive it to a ford rally and open the hood HA!
Looked at another Cobra kit and the doors have the same relationship with the rear flair as this kit. Either way, if that’s what happened then they stopped short because the rear wheels are still too far back. Not too sure why anyone would take the time to stretch the body anyway.
Bobhess I agree the rear wheels are still off but I still “think” the door itself and rocker below have bee lengthen that would not affect the door rear flair relationship I don’t think ?
May have to give up on this one. It’s screwy enough with the lousy pictures but I don’t think any of us can make good sense out of some of the stuff going on with this build.
Run, Forrest, Run!
Something else to consider…..
These things can be difficult (or impossible) to insure. For example, Hagerty specifically lists ’63-67 Cobra replicas among cars they won’t cover.
Probably because most of the owners drive like IDIOTS.
These are the people who have to do burnouts to try and
impress everyone.
The reason that the original Cars & Coffee got shut down
in Irvine,CA.
So out of shape it’s useless
Anybody else notice that the ad was placed two years ago?
I did. I was going to comment about it, but you beat me to it. No surprise considering the crappiness of the ad.
I work for State Farm. I belive we insure more Cobras and Bentleys than anyone in the state. If you have a good driving record and good credit we can usually beat Hagerty.
This could be a Cobrette -a short lived cobarlike body that was designed for the 70’s corvette..My brother has one – unfinished – but wont sell it.
Hmmmm… “I know what I’ve got.” or, “I’ll get to it soon.” “You don’t have enough money.”
Any or all of the above, perhaps others.
The only thing to recommend this is the cheap price.
And it’s destined to become an expensive purchase.
The worst photos ever.
Don’t stop at 6 inches. Stretch it 36 and make a limo. Keep it yellow. Name it “limo-nade.” It will be expensive, but your wife will let you keep it after the divorce.
Seems to me shortening the frame is a lot easier than lengthening the body.