OK, so what's up with the 'Klutzmobile'?

[propayne]

The Mantaray has always had the Cobra engine in it - except I guess when it was a Maserati Grand Prix car. You'll notice that it has a carburetor during the time period it was used in the Monkees episode but ended up with the much more attractive Webbers.

As the story goes (and noted earlier), Shelby tapped Dean to give the first Cobra that was put together in Moon's shop, its very first coat of paint.

Appears the Pearl Yellow wasn't very durable and it didn't last too long before it was repainted blue.

Jeffries personified the California hot rod and custom car culture that was a cornerstone of the original Shelby American.

Before he became famous for building custom TV and movie cars, he was well known for lettering and pin striping Indy cars and race cars, including Lance Reventlow's early Scarabs.

Our friend Tom Cotter wrote a wonderful book on Jeffries - highly recommended.

- Phillip

[Side-Oilers]

Thanks for the Mantaray pix.  I'd hate to be the guy who had to change its spark plugs or a radiator hose.  Does the body tilt up somehow?

I realize that custom cars don't have to be funtional.   But, just sayin'...

[propayne]

It was functional - it's in the movie Bikini Beach.

Jeffries did all of the driving in the movie because he was nervous about letting Frankie Avalon drive it.

The body is not fiberglass - Jeffries hand formed it out of aluminum and no bondo or lead.

- Phillip

[mark p]

It was functional - it's in the movie Bikini Beach.

Jeffries did all of the driving in the movie because he was nervous about letting Frankie Avalon drive it.

The body is not fiberglass - Jeffries hand formed it out of aluminum and no bondo or lead.

- Phillip

Wow 

[2112]

It was functional - it's in the movie Bikini Beach.

Jeffries did all of the driving in the movie because he was nervous about letting Frankie Avalon drive it.

The body is not fiberglass - Jeffries hand formed it out of aluminum and no bondo or lead.

- Phillip

Wow 

+1