vamach1

I hear you - it’s a lot of work. I have probably ten time more Mustangs that Cobras that I think I would need several tables to lay out. As you can see these are all taken out of the packaging as I do not have room to store that many still in the peg card or box. I have a few special cars in the original packaging. Of course they are worth more unopened but I’m sure someone would take them off my hands someday. I have a few of the expensive plexiglas display cases for 1/64 cars with about 150 various cars in them but cost aside I would need a lot of blank wall space to put up a few dozen of them. It’s bad enough I have taken over a portion of the bedroom closet to store my models.?

Newer body style.

The battle goes on.

?? Gorgeous.

Sweet ride. ?

Is that a new release? I have not seen that one yet.

Don’t bruise yourself too hard. ? Not having a basement is probably what has held me back on having collected more than I have. The HW size cars are over 2K last time I counted and the model kits and and other scale diecasts probably number 500 or so. Since I collect all years of Mustangs and GT40’s that expands the possibilities. Thanks again for sharing your obsession that many of us can understand even if our non-model car obsessed friends do not.?

Wow Ray - that is one crazy collection for sure. I’ve got some 1/18 Coupes and roadsters and perhaps 100 Hotwheels sized Cobra’s and a fair amount of 1/43 diecast and kits but now we know why you are cobraman. I am going to the All Ford show next weekend @ Carlisle PA and hope to pick up some more Mustangs, Cobras and GT40s. I have been on Ebay about the same time and wish I got a rebate for the thousands (shhhh) I have probably spent over the last 20 years.

At least it has sidepipes, hood scoop, side windows and a roll bar. Not too shabby.

Any and all are fair game. You probably have a few I’m sure. ?

Looks like a great start. I has a 2003 Cobra but of course there’s no model kit - just a 1/18 diecast. Here’s a few kits I was tinkering with to do a McLaren convertible.

Here’s some Cobra decals I purchased from Keith. Amazing details but get out your magnifying glass and really sharp scissors. Keith has a Fotki page with all his decals but sells only via email (no Ebay etc.)

So here are five contenders for the best diecast 427 Cobras (based on the ones I have in my collection). Post any you have not shown here. #1 - Franklin Mint Super Snake. The top of the class. Although a few were made due to the almost absurdity of a dual supercharged car that weighed a little over a ton, this model recreates the real one in amazing detail. The FM resale market is still pretty strong for the various Cobra’s they made. #2 - WIX 427 Cobra. Great model for the money. This gem can be found for an average of $50 online and Is very well done. #3 - NAPA 427 Spin out Cobra. Like the WIX Cobra this can also be found for sale online and Is from the same casting as the WIX model. #4 - Burago 427 street version. Available in many colors and in a kit form too this one screws together, It is oversized and the wire wheels are pretty bad. #5 - Revell 427 street version. No side pipes or exhaust system. A later “race” version had the cutouts and sidepipes but overall it is pretty disappointing,

That’s a good idea. Will do.

Yes it is strange. I assume you added the “bumpers” to your diecast. Did you add a dual exhaust also from another kit or just say the heck with it like I did.

Well Ray it is the same company that is re-issuing the Minecraft “427” kit that does not have a 427 engine but has sidepipes.? Maybe it will come with some nice decals. ? Here are the ones from Keith Marks that I used for the steering wheel on the red exhaust free diecast. The guages were from the Monogram/Revell plastic kit that I cut out very carefully and glued in with Elmers versus putting them in water.

Ha ha. Sadly that is how a lot of real ones end up that are neglected. The diorama is very cool and realistic.

So based upon an Ebay search Revell had two versions of the diecast. Maybe someone noticed there wasn’t any exhaust system on a “race” car. Notice what I assume is Fisrt version does not have the hood scoop either.

Here is the Burago Version (light blue) with no sidepipes but it does have a molded in exhaust system with mufflers although I cannot see any exhaust headers. You get what you pay for I guess. Also pictured is the underside of the Revell one I just put back on the shelf. The Burago looks to be maybe 1/22 as it is visibly larger.

No worries Gary. The plastic version does have the sidepipes. I do don’t recall there ever being a plastic Revell or Monogram with a regular exhaust system the lack of which fits right along with the exhaust less diecast version. I assume you filled in the side cutouts for the sidepipes and added a dual exhaust system with mufflers for the one you built. Sorry to throw you off on the instruction sheet - I was comparing the diecast to the plastic ones and now we know there are some variations. Do you have the diecast version WITH the sidepipes?

I bought this 30 years ago and never paid much attention to it. I decided to disassemble it and while the lack of a complete engine did not surprise me the fact that there are no sidepipes or a dual exhaust system put this up there Pretty high in the what were they thinking category. Anyway, since it was apart it got some SnakeFu treatment (painted top of engine, did some chrome paint touch up and added the Revell/Monogram gauges and despite it not having a hood scoop either I added the air box just because it looks cool and the chrome rear license plate. Like many older inexpensive diecast the interior and engine and chassis were black plastic with zero painted pieces (sorry no before pictures). Clearly it is based on the Monorgram 427 plastic kit but with opening doors and turning front wheels. I see on Ebay there’s a later blue version with sidepipes so I may have to see if that one is worth getting. With the WIX ones being so much better this one will go back on the shelf a little nicer than out of the packaging but if I bought it today it would almost disappointing as the to be released 1/25 kit of a 35 year old 260 AMT cobra with a 427 body.

Veering off course a little bit here are two diecasts and the Monogram 427. The red 289 is made by Shelby collectibles. The Reid 427 is the Revell 427 die cast which is getting some SnakeFu detailing. The blue one is of course the Monogram 427 kit. I plan to steal a few extra parts from a Monogram/Revell 427 to add to the Revell die cast. It’s interesting the 427 does not have side pipes or any exhaust system unlike the Monogram kit but the real street 427’s had the standard dual exhaust which you almost never see on a replica because everyone associates the 427 with the S/C side pipes. Since I have no desire to cut up the metal 427 body I may try to add some exhaust pipes or just say the heck with it - it’s just a diecast model with hollow tires and oversized door hinges.

Who’s up for building either one of these? 39PH and Williment Coupe. Not sure if the top photo is the real one - those rear fenders look pretty wide.

Remember that AC Cars was still very much interested in their bodies and chassis and made a few variations of their own. The European races always had private entrants and teams using Ford and Ferraris under that country banner (France, UK etc). So it’s not unusual to see one-off versions for maybe just one race. I digress but In later years there was a 73 Mustang Mach raced at SPA which is the last car I would expect to see in a European road race. Now there’s a car that would not need any aero help from the windshield back.

Looking very cool - great color choice. You have inspired me - I ordered an ACME 427 race engine (1/18) that I hope will fit without to many issues and some 1/20 Goodyear tires (Lindberg Viper kit) to go on the resin wheels I ordered. I ordered this kit back in the 1980’s from Australia if I remember correctly long before Ebay and Websites. For a minute I had a crazy idea of doing a rear engine version like the experimental one Ford made in the late 1960’s but I thought that would probably be a lot of work and the engine would remain mostly hidden unless I hinged the rear window and trunk to open. By the way the wide fenders look like they should have come that way and blend in great.