MadaboutKitcars

soon to be Z4 on the inside, Cobra on the outside.....

Looks like the Cobra might need a little inflating. Z3 dimensions above, Z4 diimensions below

Maybe something along these lines ???



This is a Z4 (or Z3) contemporary style Cobra idea.

I have tried to create a mix with the Shelby Cobra Concept, Iconic Roadster and the AC Mk1V GTSR all rolled into one and adding modern LED lights.
(rear Lancia lights, front Fiat 500 LED halo units).

It might not be to everyones taste but, hey, I like it.

(Create your dreams with Photoshop) ;-)

Not sure on the rear light but the front gets my thumbs up. Im home early next week so going to take a drive down to see chris in my new 'hairdressers car' see how far away it will be from the z3

Danny - Give me a ring when you are down this way, it would be good to meet up at Chris's place if I am not working. It will give you a chance to poke about my car too.

If I can't make it down there you can always stop off in Southampton for a coffee and chat on your way back up north.

Some progress

My plan is to produce a "classic" set of moulds first, by this I mean leave the existing Cobra panels as unmodified as possible to give the option of a more retro "classic" look (as much as the BMW base car will allow). Then the next step will be to develop those panels into a "Modern" Cobra, incorporating elements from different influences as shown above. This will either be done as a whole new set of moulds or as "add on" panels over the "Classic" panels.

A small amount of progress made on Friday afternoon, where do the weeks go?

A few inches will need to be added to the front end





Arches are being moved down and modified to suit. 19" wheels will go on shortly, which will also help to fill the enormous Cobra arches.



Re-profiled sill covers are from the Z300S and will be modified to suit, and be joined to the lower front wing panels. The Z3 engine has determined the height of the front end panels.

Watching this one with great interest...as are a load of others i would guess..
Chris, i know you are the car-cutting-up / fiberglass expert, but please get the
front bodywork as low as it can possibly go, and be super carefull with the front arch positioning (maybe put the big wheels on first, and set the ride height, then set the arch height...?) To me, the front arches are one of the most critical styling issues the cobras have.... Basically, the better / more expensive replicas have a minimal top-of-arch to top-of-wing distance, and the cheaper ones have a bigger distance, and look (in my opinion)wrong.
I hope that doesn't sound critical, its not meant to at all, i just want this project to look georgeous....!
(and just so you all know, been painting cars for a living for 20 yrs, and repairing them for another 15 before that... including all bodywork on a number of kitcars, including 2 cobras..)
I want this one to look right, so i can build one for myself, and as i dont have a garage to keep it in once built, this could be ideal...
Keep up the good work everyone....

Hi Ollie

I don't take your comments as critical, I appreciate that you want this kit to be the best it can be, as I do. But, and it is a fairly large but (queue some big bottom jokes), the limitations of the Z3 base car are apparent with the car and panels in front of you. The Cobra front panel/bonnet are currently sat on the Z3 slam panel. The slam panel is a bolt on/removeable item that could be moved down, along with the radiator that is mounted on it, but this would be a pointless exercise as the valve cover on the 6 cylinder engine cannot be moved. As with the MX250 kit there will be a large element of compromise needed to make this body conversion work. There will always people who will say that it's not a good replica, but to them I say it's not a replica, it's a TRIBUTE

The cobra has a large but, but i like it.....(geddit..?)
Looking close at the pics i see what you mean...
Maybe lower the front panel and custom scoop the bonnet to clear the rocker cover..? Probably too much work...
Point taken about compromise, i think the 'cab area' (screen / doors / glass) work well with the cobra idea, the rear end obviously works, i hope the front works out just as well.
Dont breathe in too much of that dust now...all the best, Ollie.

Here are some more.

This is the Bailey Blade Concept Cobra



The Reuben Zammit Concept




The Ford Shelby Concept



Venom Cobra. The side window is like the Z3

I'll have the Venom Cobra, please.

I like Cris's quote. " It's not a replica, it's a TRIBUTE "

Could be the new TRIBUTE trademark. ;-)

:-) Really like the idea of going for a *classic* look initially with options of an *evolved* / Cobra look as a follow on... keep up the good work, lots of interest apparently...

reuben zammit one looks good. bit like the one in the xxx action movie. possible beetle headlights round but slanted. the newish shape with the domed roof. might have after market headlights out by now. or motorbike headlights behind a round headlight cover like the pod lights in the first concept pics. rear lights look like something off the peugeot cz 2 seater.

You amaze me Chris. Love Cobra's. Here is my self built one. It uses the complete suspension and drivetrain from a C5 Corvette. So, it's not a replica. It's a Tribute too.

Just like to say I'm watching this project with great interest. Love the idea of the modern take on the cobra and I think that fits the BMW base better rather than going for a true replica.

Any ideas how long after the classic kit the 'modern take' kit will be?

Any ideas how long after the classic kit the 'modern take' kit will be?

Knowing Chris - about a week ;-)

Talking about Z3 body conversions:
There is this new one being constructed.
I think it looks great.

They have recently added xenon lights, and also plan to do a fastback hardtop.
I hope the fastback hardtop would fit a normal Z3 body too...would love to have that.

https://www.facebook.com/BertiniGT25

ive been following the Bertini for a while now, and i mean a real while. i do like the look of it to change the z3 but it seems like its took ages to produce very little and im sure the guy had orderd 300 badges to sell 150 kits?

Bertoni Badges

Yes , there has been a lot of work on the Bertoni over a while. and yes it may be a bit over the top on the badge numbers, but from experiance sometimes it can cost less to do 300 than to do 50, depending on where they are done.

Didnt think of that dave, do they have a release date for the kit yet and a price?

Heard they wanted to be able to present a fully ready version for stoneleigh and a preview in Detling.
I know the moulds for the hood and for the rear are done and first pieces have been made from those moulds.
Though the first one is being painted as we speak.

pricing something like this must be hard.
It all depends on the number that will be produced.
Wouldn't want to make that excise.

Regards, Koen

I asked ages ago when I was looking and was told the price wasn't set yet but he was lookig at aroun £4,500 for the panels only. It seemed steep to me and no news on the delivery led me to do my own thing withthe Z300S (or rather get Chris to do it)

£4500? they be lucky to sell a single kit! anything over £2k is over priced
in my opinion. maybe £2.5k at a push!

Hey, does anyone know of any Z3 interior trim *options* to hide away the BMW branding and give a more classic look...