Post by mudhenk27 on Mar 13, 2014 21:34:38 GMT -5
At the Superfest in Colorado, I got a close look at an original 289 roadster. I fell in love with the details...things like the tubular framing of the door, hood and trunk panels, the elegant hood and trunk hinges, the aluminum interior panels, etc. I decided then that I would like to have a more accurate car than my SPF prototype COB032.
As a small-block fan, I thought I would like a replica of an early 289 race car based on the new SPF 289 Slabside. I was planning along those lines when a Hi-Tech big-block replica showed up for sale, and opportunity knocked. The car was built by the Arizona-based Hi-Tech company in 1996, and completely redone by Cobra expert Craig Coombe over the last couple years.
As an aside...The Arizona Hi-Tech company is the reason Superformance got its name. The first few SPFs, like my COB032, were imported into the USA as Hi-Tech cars using the factory name. When Charlie Ponstein found out that the name was already in use here, Jim Price came up with the Superformance brand name.
The guys at Hi-Tech were great car builders, but not the best businessmen, and the company dissolved after building about 200 cars. The ones they built are outstanding replicas, however, and duplicate the original from the frame up. Most of the parts are interchangeable with the real thing. The ladder frame is 4" tube, all of the body support tubing is accurate, the unequal-length glass foot boxes are right, the interior details are correct including Smiths gauges. The radiator and fans are right, inner aluminum panels, hinges and latches, all correct.
There are some details that still need attention, though. My hood scoop edge needs to be thinned, the bolts surrounding the gas cap need to be changed, the suspension covers in the trunk are a bit tall and should be glass rather than aluminum, it would be nice (but expensive) to have the dual fuel pumps in the trunk, etc. The 427 is a center-oiler, not a side-oiler...but so were several of the originals.
I'm fortunate to live close to Nick Acton, an outstanding Cobra specialist, so his help will be invaluable in improving the car's accuracy over time as funding allows. Overall, it's a great car, one of the most accurate available, built by a great guy, and I feel lucky to own it.
Here are some pictures...Craig did a great build.
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Can't wait for spring...gotta hit the road.
Bill
As a small-block fan, I thought I would like a replica of an early 289 race car based on the new SPF 289 Slabside. I was planning along those lines when a Hi-Tech big-block replica showed up for sale, and opportunity knocked. The car was built by the Arizona-based Hi-Tech company in 1996, and completely redone by Cobra expert Craig Coombe over the last couple years.
As an aside...The Arizona Hi-Tech company is the reason Superformance got its name. The first few SPFs, like my COB032, were imported into the USA as Hi-Tech cars using the factory name. When Charlie Ponstein found out that the name was already in use here, Jim Price came up with the Superformance brand name.
The guys at Hi-Tech were great car builders, but not the best businessmen, and the company dissolved after building about 200 cars. The ones they built are outstanding replicas, however, and duplicate the original from the frame up. Most of the parts are interchangeable with the real thing. The ladder frame is 4" tube, all of the body support tubing is accurate, the unequal-length glass foot boxes are right, the interior details are correct including Smiths gauges. The radiator and fans are right, inner aluminum panels, hinges and latches, all correct.
There are some details that still need attention, though. My hood scoop edge needs to be thinned, the bolts surrounding the gas cap need to be changed, the suspension covers in the trunk are a bit tall and should be glass rather than aluminum, it would be nice (but expensive) to have the dual fuel pumps in the trunk, etc. The 427 is a center-oiler, not a side-oiler...but so were several of the originals.
I'm fortunate to live close to Nick Acton, an outstanding Cobra specialist, so his help will be invaluable in improving the car's accuracy over time as funding allows. Overall, it's a great car, one of the most accurate available, built by a great guy, and I feel lucky to own it.
Here are some pictures...Craig did a great build.
Can't wait for spring...gotta hit the road.
Bill
