Author Topic: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn  (Read 4937 times)

6R07mi

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Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« on: September 05, 2019, 02:20:16 PM »
Would this be one of the Ford Engineering cars? early 260?

-- "11M103" Michigan MFG plate would be Ford
-- The wall in the background suggests Ford Dearborn Engineering Center
-- the trees suggest May ~ Sept in Mich.
CSX2008 prior to body removal?
Other possibilities ??

regards,
jim p
Former owner 6S283, 70 "Boss351", 66 GT 6F07, 67 FB GT
current: 66 GT former day 2 track car 6R07
20+ yrs Ford Parts Mgr, now Meritor Defense

gt350cs

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2019, 02:24:31 PM »
Sorry, I do not have that plate in my records. It would be great if someone could provide this information. Good Luck.

Richstang

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2019, 02:46:45 PM »
I'm doubtful it is csx2008 (edit/with correction; that white Cobra was csx2014 per Jim). It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 11:45:24 PM by Richstang »
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Side-Oilers

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2019, 02:59:29 PM »
Any chance that's CSX2000?

I agree with Richstang.  I've been to, and driven on, the Dearborn PG many times.  This photo doesn't exactly match up.

Can't swear what it looked like in the 1960s, but judging by the flowers and the curbing behind CS's right foot, I'd guess this was outside a building somewhere on the Ford Dearborn property.

BTW: The photog should have lowered the camera by two inches to get rid of the tree branches from behind Carroll's head and making him look like crazy hair.
« Last Edit: September 05, 2019, 03:01:23 PM by Side-Oilers »
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

Dan Case

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2019, 04:35:38 PM »
Any chance that's CSX2000?

No.  Later car with early production features and options. I have tried for years to figure out which chassis it is. 

In higher resolution images of that car that day it appears that the sun visors and wind wings very early ones.  Front grille guard, Shelby American type front registration plat bracket, and the particular model of rear view mirror on the dash makes me think the second or third batch completed.
« Last Edit: September 05, 2019, 05:04:21 PM by Dan Case »
Dan Case
1964 Cobra owner since 1983, Cobra crazy since I saw my first one in the mid 1960s in Huntsville, AL.

Side-Oilers

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2019, 07:58:27 PM »
Thanks, Dan, for the added info and clarification.
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

6R07mi

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2019, 12:28:35 PM »
I'm doubtful it is csx2008. It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.
Richstang, I have #98 at Riverside as CSX2014

Note: the location I suggest is not in the track compound where the wavy wall is, but rather across Oakwood in the Styling/Design complex

regards,
jim p
Former owner 6S283, 70 "Boss351", 66 GT 6F07, 67 FB GT
current: 66 GT former day 2 track car 6R07
20+ yrs Ford Parts Mgr, now Meritor Defense

Side-Oilers

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2019, 02:05:29 PM »
Jim,
I think you're correct about across Oakwood, at the Styling/Design complex.  The brick wall there is more consistent with the photo.
Good eye,
Van
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

honker

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2019, 09:34:18 PM »
No idea where this was taken, but a similar wall behind the Mustang concept.

Mike

Richstang

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2019, 10:24:03 AM »
I'm doubtful it is csx2008. It was at Riverside in February painted white and prepped for racing.
Looks more like a standard street car.

That doesn't look like it's at the Ford's 'Research & Engineering Center' or the 'Proving Grounds' test track.
That wall is built with continuous curves with no vertical posts as shown in your photo.

This photo of CS & the Cobra might be at another Michigan/Ford Campus location.
Richstang, I have #98 at Riverside as CSX2014

Note: the location I suggest is not in the track compound where the wavy wall is, but rather across Oakwood in the Styling/Design complex

regards,
jim p

Thanks Jim, You Are Correct!
That white Cobra I posted was the same car that Skip Hudson raced in the '63 Daytona two weeks later (csx2104).
I'll go back and edit my post.
(the 'RacingSportsCars' site had it noted incorrectly back many years ago when I saved the photos.)

Also, I found a photos of csx2008 dated in late June '63.
That doesn't give it much time to be built since the trees have leaves in your Cobra body photo, but it is possible.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 11:46:27 PM by Richstang »
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Richstang

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2019, 10:43:24 AM »
No idea where this was taken, but a similar wall behind the Mustang concept.

Mike

Great find Mike!

I'd like to know where that location is. It does not appear to be in the courtyard of the "Research and Engineering Center' off of Oakland.
Here's a photo of the Mustang concept car in the courtyard with the wavy wall in the background.

Also, here's another photo of the concept in the same location as Mike posted showing the wall with posts. They can't be far from each other!
I was standing in the 'R&E' courtyard back in the early nineties as a design student on a tour of the facility.
Is the 'Design Center' in a different area then the 'Research Center' ... maybe that's that difference for the location of Jim's photo with CS and the Cobra?
1967 Shelby Research Group 

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honker

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2019, 11:14:25 AM »
Rich, great photos, not seen those before. don't want to get off topic, here's CSX 3001 ? with a wall, looks to be a different colour

 of bricks though ? Wonder where that's taken ?

Mike

Richstang

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2019, 10:19:42 AM »
Here's a bit more info on CSX2008 noted as an original white 260 Cobra (article from Jeff Burgy aka CobraJeff)
The link seems to be down at the moment, but I saved this clip from the article; I'll try to post the link again later if this one doesn't work.


https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/newsroom/2018/01/long-lost-1963-_bordinat-cobra-concept.html
« Last Edit: September 12, 2019, 10:56:40 PM by Richstang »
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6R07mi

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2019, 12:15:10 PM »
Rich, great photos, not seen those before. don't want to get off topic, here's CSX 3001 ? with a wall, looks to be a different colour

 of bricks though ? Wonder where that's taken ?

Mike

Mike,  Your photo gives another clue, the view beyond the wall is most certainly Greenfield Village, I'll have to look around when I'm there next month.

Just a FYI, the whole Engineering center will change a lot in the next several years and many of these reference structures will be gone as Ford is spending 1.2B to renovate the campus!

jim p


« Last Edit: September 09, 2019, 12:22:23 PM by 6R07mi »
Former owner 6S283, 70 "Boss351", 66 GT 6F07, 67 FB GT
current: 66 GT former day 2 track car 6R07
20+ yrs Ford Parts Mgr, now Meritor Defense

Side-Oilers

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Re: Cobra ID, CS & early roadster at Dearborn
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2019, 12:30:32 PM »
Do you know if the Dearborn Inn will survive?  Lots of fascinating and salacious stories, if that old hotel could talk!
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick