I found some photos, I think you are correct. His car looked fantastic. Everything looked cherry including the interior.

This project is by no means a done deal. A number of obstacles need to be overcome.

I am inquiring about engine size in part because it could be useful to have these cars set up in the right displacement for amateur racing. I know that amateur racers do sometimes acquire mostly pre-built cars. If we had an option to easily sell it, it would give more flexibility to move on and try other things.

I’m trying to determine which motor size is OK for which class. So far I have found 2 L and 3.2 L for sporting car type competitions. So a small block Ford or Chevy would be way over that. There is a lot I don’t know.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

If an easy sell is a priority, then I would consider using a Ford or Chevy V8, as a four-cylinder Cobra would be such an unusual product.

I would agree with others, the expectations of a Cobra doesn't align well with your project. In the sense that a Cobra buyer is looking for a loud V8, and mostly would tend to lean towards a 427 as part of the mystique of owning one. Otherwise it'll be a hit as much as a Countach kit-kar built on a VW beetle chassis and engine IMO.

If you want to stay in the classic look, you might consider a BMW 2002ti and putting a E30 M3 engine in that, or even a later six version. There will be greater aftermarket support and doubtful that there would be a negative impact on resale since it is truly in keeping with the character of the car and brand.

For strictly racing purposes in the smaller displacement range it will be hard to beat a Miata, Honda2000 or Toyota MR2 platforms for parts and mod support.

Either way, ideation is a fun stage.

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

If you are planning on racing in a class, build entirely to class spec. It is easier to aim for a spec/class at the beginning and have that guide a build than try to adapt after the fact. I imagine Tom W may be able to weigh in on this since autoX follows similar (very specific) classing rules.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

You’re right, a four would be over the top, or under it.

But a BMW six could be a different animal.

The E46 M3 weighs 3450 lbs. Its 0 to 60 time is five seconds. The quarter is 14.1, 113 mph. A Cobra w/427 weighs 2350. With an S54 would probably be 200 pounds less.

That would be an incredibly fast car. And the sound:

https://youtu.be/lD6IRor1ZF0?si=eHqVN20mgXc03WSF

There would be difficulties no doubt. It was drive by wire. But word is about 100,000 of were made. This was interesting:

Also, I found a delete kit for the drive by wire thing, about 350 bucks. Gives a throttle cable.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Maybe I would feel differently if I drove one, but I’ve always thought the 427 was overkill for a car the size of a cobra. A 289 makes a lot more sense if you were going for a V-8. I think it likely that the best bang for buck, not to mention actual doability would be with an LS.

My second E30 had its cherry body beat to hell by a rear ender on the freeway. It’s still ran, but I didn’t have the room to do anything productive with it. I ended up selling it for salvage, 500 bucks. I had a nibble from three young guys who wanted to put it into a 2002. I told them that getting the ECU all set up could be a chore. They said they were going to get some sort of intake manifold made to attach three 2 barrel carbs. Part of their motivation was having a car that didn’t need to be smogged. I think it’s pre-1975 for gassers don’t need to be smogged.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Mine has an aluminum monocoque chassis. Everything possible is aluminum. Car weighs about 2000 pounds. It has a six speed manual. The engine is based on an aluminum block 350 chebby bored and stroked to 427 ci. It has a torque cam. About 450 to 500 hp depending which induction system employed.

You have to be very careful with it especially on the street.

I consider it a lethal concoction and am reluctant to sell it to anybody I know.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Personally I like the 289 Cobra, that was the original incarnation, to pay homage to. The LS is well... an awesome platform that can be practically installed into anything. Support makes this an ideal engine, plus as Tom mentioned, can be changed in displacement quite easily at reasonable cost.

If you're interested check out https://www.bmw2002faq.com
The 2002 crowd loves the S14, fuel injected or carbed. Very popular conversion.

Regarding smog testing, I dont know the regs for a kit car in your state, but I would imagine there is leeway given the number of them built and titled, and with all sorts of engines. I would expect they are exempt from standard testing, not being a production car. Something to investigate for sure.

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Stable Mates:
1987 300TD 310K mi (Hans)
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee OM642 165k mi (Benzrokee)

Dang, I hope you’re not regretting getting it - I know how psyched you were about it.

I’ve been thinking for a while that the push to go for maximum power often goes over the top.

I do understand that putting an S54 into something is a longshot - I’ve been watching some of the videos about hooking up the ECU and it’s daunting. But I keep coming back to that one, in part because they made about 100,000 of them. It has about half the torque of a 427. But the performance numbers would have to be incredible.

I did actually once see a Cobra spun out on an island median. I didn’t see the spin out, but I did see it sitting on the island with the owner nearby, looking a bit forlorn. And you just don’t see a Cobra of any kind on the street very often. So I wondered what are the odds that I would see one in that predicament?

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Not to get off the subject but I've got a friend that spent a wheel barrow full of money having a convertible 67 (with factory air) or so GTO restromodded. I don't think he kept it a year after he bought it. Seems he was on a long straight road one time and floored it for a little while. He said it scared him so much that he sold it to the guy that he bought to from (original owner). He has a drop top Jaguar now.

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Jim

Ox carts have more sophisticated suspension and braking systems than a '67 GTO...