Photos of the car

Couldn't resist a few photos!

Stripes - changed my mind!

Cobra stripes

Today I had vinyl wrap stripes applied to the Cobra by Expression Car Wrapping in Baildon (see link below on the right and speak to Jamie). I have been going to have stripes, then not, then stripes, then not etc. You get my point - indecisive!

So I have finally made up my mind and gone for two broad metallic grey stripes (a sort of gunmetal) with a metallic red (more burgundy really) pin stripe on each side. The red matches the leather stitching and the carpets. The stripe measurements are taken from Superperformance website (which is approved by Shelby) and fit between the wiper spindles, the roll hoops and the reverse/fog lights (total 360 mm). The red stripe is 6 mm, then there is a gap showing the body colour (white) of 5 mm, then a grey stripe of 152 mm and then a central body colour gap of 25 mm. It is almost the same as I envisaged in June 2015 (see post)!

I took the car down in the morning and removed various things at their workshop such as the wipers, screen, number plate light, boot handle etc. I had removed the Cobra badges and sun visors in advance. The car was then left with Chris at Expression.

In the afternoon, after the stripes had been applied, I went down to fix the various parts, before driving home. It even looked good stripped down!

Here is the finished job. Very pleased.

So why have I changed my mind? Well one of my daughters said that a Cobra without stripes is .... well not a Cobra. She is the one who said that I drove it like Miss Daisy by the way! You would think that I would ignore her because of comments like that.

Anyway, if I change my mind again (which I don't think I will), I can always have the stripes removed!

Steering wheel

There is no power steering on the GD. I have fitted a 13" steering wheel and this makes it a bit heavy I think, so I might change it for a bigger diameter wheel at some stage (still leather).

Side vents

You may remember that I was not happy with the side vents from GD. I didn't like them in stainless steel, so had them powder coated in black. Still didn't like them! They didn't look suitable for such an expensive car. So I had some made that now look the part. Thanks to Mark and Josh for organising and making them.

They arrived in bare aluminium.

Side vents in bare metal

My first job was to make a paper template in order to mark out the captive studs. Once drilled I slightly elongated the holes so that they could be positioned exactly. Next I sprayed the vents with a primer, before coating with a Hammerite satin black.

Vents sprayed in stain black

Then I attached the vents to the car.

Vent fitted

And the full view

Gardner Douglas open day 2017

Fancy seeing the new GD factory and an assortment of factory and customer built cars (both Cobra and Lola T70 types)? Then Andy and Meena are holding an open day for existing and new customers at their new Grantham factory on Saturday 20th May, 2017. So if my build has inspired you, why not come along and see what you could have!

If you book you can even arrange a demo. You can chat to existing owners too, without booking!

The new factory is at Retro House, Swingbridge Road, Grantham, NG31 7XT (just off the A1), tel 01476 567180. The open day will be held between 10 am and 4.30 pm.

National Kit Car Show 2017 - Stoneleigh

Self-cancelling indicators

I had realised how reliant I was on the self-cancelling indicators on my day to day car. So without them I was leaving them on in the Cobra after turns. I even had a biker draw level at some traffic lights and say "Your indicator is still on mate". So I thought that it was about time that I did something about it.

It is an easy mod. that I should have done earlier. But I hadn't! Here's what I did:

I applied masking tape to the shroud and marked the straight ahead position of the steering wheel and that of the indicator self-cancelling stub (this little bit of plastic can be seen within the hole at the 10 o'clock on the column, when the indicator stalk is in the on position).

Straight ahead and self-cancelling stub position marked

The boss was removed from the wheel, then I carefully marked where I needed to drill holes for the pegs (about 12mm either side of the stub) and clear of the shroud hole. The pegs were cut from 4mm aluminium dowel that I had bought from Wickes.

Pegs in position in the boss

The boss was put on to the column when each peg was inserted in to the drilled hole. After both pegs and holes were done, I fixed the pegs with superglue (they are a friction fit) to ensure that they did not come adrift. Finally the steering wheel was re-attached to the boss and then secured to the column. A road test confirmed that the modification had worked and that the pegs did not foul against the shroud.

Steering wheel back in place.

   Another job done!

Careful application of the throttle!

Wow!

Fabulous sound track. Incredible acceleration. Incredulous looks from the bystanders and other drivers. Not a car for the shrinking violet!

And that is just the first run out.

Today I gave it full beans .... well 2k revs (max 6,500) and 60mph tops. Getting to know it slowly. Don't want the snake to bite. Chicken you might say. I agree, but at least I will live to drive it again. Andy said it was 'lively' and I see what he means .... you only need to move your toes a little and you are well over the speed limit. Sorry officer!

First drive

First day out