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KOBRA KOUPE - What do you think?

2 Jun 2020, 1:51pm
Hi all,
Now that we are no longer able to purchase the SWB kit I just wondered what you guys/gals thought of merging two kits to make a Kobra Koupe. Personally I love the coupe look which really hides the Z3 underpinnings so wondered what mating the back of the SWB with a Kobra front would look like. Or maybe cris could mate the Kobra rear wings with the central section of the Z3GT?

Here's the look that I'd love to get close too.


https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/10/stunning-shelby-cobra-coupe-features-1200-hp-boosted-ls3-swap/
2 Jun 2020, 7:07pm
Very Andy wrote:
Hi all,
Now that we are no longer able to purchase the SWB kit


Is this true? Why? and is the SWB convertible still available?
2 Jun 2020, 10:10pm
Mitchelkitman wrote:
Is this true? Why? and is the SWB convertible still available?


Do tell please, anyone, anyone.
2 Jun 2020, 10:12pm
Very Andy wrote:
Hi all,
Now that we are no longer able to purchase the SWB kit I just wondered what you guys/gals thought of merging two kits to make a Kobra Koupe. Personally I love the coupe look which really hides the Z3 underpinnings so wondered what mating the back of the SWB with a Kobra front would look like. Or maybe cris could mate the Kobra rear wings with the central section of the Z3GT?

Here's the look that I'd love to get close too.


https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/10/stunning-shelby-cobra-coupe-features-1200-hp-boosted-ls3-swap/


I can see that working really well ! Far more economical than the similar Factory Five kits.
2 Jun 2020, 10:17pm
molleur wrote:
Do tell please, anyone, anyone.


Deja Vu !!
2 Jun 2020, 10:18pm
molleur wrote:
Do tell please, anyone, anyone.


Not listed on the website ?
3 Jun 2020, 2:50pm
Sorry I just assumed as it's no longer on the Tribute site. I had heard from somewhere but might have got the wrong end of the stick :whistle:
3 Jun 2020, 3:28pm
Classis Coachworks have the convertible (but not the hardtop) on their website - I don't know if that tells us anything or not? Best not to speculate - just hope we can get the vehicles we like:biggrin:
3 Jun 2020, 7:05pm
Maybe the moulds have gone kaput
4 Jun 2020, 8:22am
I have wondered about an extended hard top for the Kobra as an option instead of a full blown coupe.

I wouldn’t want to lose the summer convertible ability but do like the lines of a coupe ish roof line for the winter.

Something along the lines of what 427Hardtops produce for the ‘real’ cobra kits.

I would be even more happy with a hardtop that has the lines of the coupe from the side angle but has an almost upright piece of glass between the balustrades (is this the right term?) that make up the sweeping sides. Like in the new MX5.

An OEM top as a starter with the extras added would be a great project for someone with skill.

Dave
4 Jun 2020, 1:37pm
It would great to see one of the Tribute kits equipped with a big BMW V8. An easy 500BHP can be had from the M versions !
4 Jun 2020, 2:07pm
DaveP wrote:
I have wondered about an extended hard top for the Kobra as an option instead of a full blown coupe.

I wouldn’t want to lose the summer convertible ability but do like the lines of a coupe ish roof line for the winter.

Something along the lines of what 427Hardtops produce for the ‘real’ cobra kits.

I would be even more happy with a hardtop that has the lines of the coupe from the side angle but has an almost upright piece of glass between the balustrades (is this the right term?) that make up the sweeping sides. Like in the new MX5.

An OEM top as a starter with the extras added would be a great project for someone with skill.

Dave


I agree Dave that would look great. Looking at the Cobra in my link it does appear to be a hardtop which may be difficult to make properly as you then get issues with fixing it and stability.
4 Jun 2020, 2:28pm
Lucky@LeMans wrote:
It would great to see one of the Tribute kits equipped with a big BMW V8. An easy 500BHP can be had from the M versions !


All looking good until the diff parts company with the floor?
4 Jun 2020, 3:55pm
Mitchelkitman wrote:
All looking good until the diff parts company with the floor?


Some areas would need to be beefed up !

BMW themselves fitted a V12 in a Z3 as a one off. I'm sure they didn't use the 1.9 diff from their donor !
4 Jun 2020, 6:06pm
Lucky@LeMans wrote:
Some areas would need to be beefed up !

BMW themselves fitted a V12 in a Z3 as a one off. I'm sure they didn't use the 1.9 diff from their donor !


Your knowledge is undoubtedly greater than mine - I thought I'd seen reports that M level Z3's had diff mount problems, but I could well be mistaken.
4 Jun 2020, 7:18pm
Very Andy wrote:
...Here's the look that I'd love to get close too.


That would be very nice if you could achieve it. :cool:



There was at least one Kobra using a hard top roof.



And here are a couple of real ones from last year's Goodwood Revival.






Good luck, Paul. :)
4 Jun 2020, 8:58pm
Mitchelkitman wrote:
Your knowledge is undoubtedly greater than mine - I thought I'd seen reports that M level Z3's had diff mount problems, but I could well be mistaken.


You're right , they did have problems in that area, fatigue related partial failures. Nothing that couldn't be fixed and strengthened.
5 Jun 2020, 5:30am
Thanks for the pics Paul. That red one with the hinges at the bottom edge was interesting.

I have lifted some pics from the [url]www.427hardtops.com[/url] website. Their offering for the Dax and others is very nice. Probably cost as much as a whole Kobra though ��





9 Jun 2020, 8:17pm
That's rather nice.
10 Jun 2020, 12:05pm
That shouldn’t work, but it does.
Very nice!
10 Jun 2020, 4:12pm
Looks good from the front. I don't think it would look right from the back. It would be 250 SWB !
10 Jun 2020, 10:40pm
Looking at the original post and what's trying to be achieved I wonder if z4 coupe is better starting point. The bonnet/cabin/boot ratio is much better suited. Some of the wide body kits give an idea of how it may work.