Shelby 427 Cobra into Daytona-ish

[GerN]

I've admired the Cobra Daytona for many years, but there has never been an affordable, decent kit to my knowledge.  Since I always do customs, I decided to do a modern GT restyle of the 427 Cobra with a nod to the Daytona.  In order to fit the necessary safety, performance and luxury equipment, it is about the same size as a modern Vette, which would be a natural sales competitor.  The front and greenhouse use resin copies I made of other cars.  Hopefully, photos of it in primer before too long.

tech note:  my files were way too big, so I used GIMP (photoshop-like freeware) to shrink them from over 4 MB each to about 300 KB each.  GIMP's export function allows this; I went with 19%, but I think they're still acceptable.

[afx]

Interesting project.  If you are planning on being a regular poster you should consider using a photo hosting site, then you wouldn't need to be concerned with file size.  I use Fotki.

[cobraman]

I agree, interesting. I will be looking in.

[jeffs396]

 KEWL!

[935k3]

Here is a modern take on the Daytona Coupe that ran at the 12 hrs of Bathurst race this year. It might give you some inspiration on where to go with this.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2015 by 935k3

[MGL]

Interesting project.  If you are planning on being a regular poster you should consider using a photo hosting site, then you wouldn't need to be concerned with file size.  I use Fotki.

Agreed. I'm what my kids call technological Amish but it only took a few minutes to set up a Fotki account, they require less info then this site does, it's easier to download photo's to it than it is here, and then you just copy and paste the pictures in to your post. By the way, you can also reduce the size of your photos in MS Paint. Cool concept on the car, waiting to see more. 

[Len Woodruff]

What kit did you use for the roof & nose?

[Crazy Ed]

     Interesting Build you've got going there Gerald. I'm guessing the nose and roof grafts are from a Datusn 240Z or it's ilk.

[GerN]

Thanks for the comments and interest.  The roof is my resin copy of a Mustang, circa 1965.  The nose is my modified copy of the rear end of a Porsche Boxster.  The Bathurst car may be a modified Superperformance Daytona; I couldn't find a good reference with a brief search.  My skills aren't up to making an acceptable Daytona, and I'm really aiming at a reasonably practical GT, not a racer.  My retro-styled GT will use unibody design with front and rear subframes taken from the 427 Cobra.  Also wheels of my design and a modified modern Ford engine.  I prefer to limit the websites I sign up for and I'm pleased with how my posted photos here look, but thanks for the Fotki suggestion.  That would be particularly tempting if I wanted to set up a site with all my models.

Edited September 7, 2015 by GerN

[GerN]

Photos in primer - much easier to see the shape.  Yup, it does resemble a 240 Z, and also a Ferrari 250 GTO and other front engine GTs of that period.  I think it has enough of it's own character to justify my effort. 

[MeatMan]

Wow Gerald, really nice work.  I absolutely love the way you modernized the front end!  

I have a resin fastback body for a winter build but plan a vintage Ferrari vibe to the front end.  I'll keep my eye on this one.

[rsxse240]

Very cool, man!  I've never been a huge fan of the rear end of the Cobra Daytonas, but yours looks pretty good.

 

I've had kind of an idea in mind for a LONG time, and that's to kit bash a Cobra and a Datsun/Nissan 240Z and your build kind of gives me some ideas. 

[GerN]

Thanks, guys.  I just cut a flat piece of styrene close to the Daytona shape and glued it to the rear using two part epoxy putty to get the spacing I wanted.  There is also a fair amount of Bondo in this multi-piece model.  After looking (staring intently) at the mockup, maybe a smaller wheel and tire combo would work better.  This almost has an SUV look.

Edited September 8, 2015 by GerN

[MeatMan]

Dunno, kind of like that fit.

[Spex84]

Wow, that's some ambitious work right there! Very cool result too... I like that you just went ahead and built your own version.

[vamach1]

These six coupes have not been together in 50 years.