1963 Cobra at the London Motor Show - images

[Richstang]

It appears there were two cars on display at Earl's Court along with a rolling chassis. Since this was in the UK they might be COB Cobra's with the 60xx chassis numbers. The license plate does show us the name "AC Cobra"

This first photo is readily found on the internet, but a second from the opposite side was discovered from an unknown source.
If I could find that source we might be able to enlarge that photo.
The event coverage was also printed in the "Autocar" October 16th, 1963 issue.

Anyone else have any more information to add?

[6R07mi]

Richstang,

I have a couple of different view that appear to be the same event,
interesting the shade of the Cobra appears to be lighter in some of these photos.
My notes for  the photos are;

British Motor Show 10/16/63
George Phillips Photograph Collection
Revs Institute® Archives

regards,

jim p

[Cobra Ned]

The bare chassis is a late one, with rack and pinion steering and 6" wire wheels. There is still debate over its identity. It is believed the RHD finished car was the AC Cars demonstrator, COB 6005.

[shelbydoug]

I remember those pics and thinking that they weren't exactly inspiring. "You can't send a kid up in a crate like that" is what I was thinking.

The coil spring chassis' were more confident building to me. Silly kid.

[JD]

I think there are 3 cars being displayed; one bare chassis, one completed darker car with light seats in front of the chassis and one completed lighter (red?) with dark seats car behind the chassis, accounting for the color (tone difference) and that the same car could not be both in front and behind the one chassis.

[Richstang]

Thank You Jim,
Here's the links for 2 of the REVS 1963-10-16 photos. The photos are large in size so we can zoom in to see more details.
The rolling chassis is in the center of the display area. It looks to have 'Pirelli' white lettered tires on it. Another hint it isn't destined for the USA?

This link shows one photo was taken from the front of the chassis. It shows us the dark painted Cobra with a hint of the light, maybe tan, color interior. It appears to have black wall tires with no lettering.
https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=415631&collection=p17257coll1

The second photo taken from the back of the chassis shows us a medium color painted Cobra, possibly red with a black interior. It appears to have 'Goodyear' white lettered tire 
https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=385293&collection=p17257coll1



Thanks Ned,
We see in this attached photo, the demonstrator had black painted wire wheels.
(Photo thanks to SunDude's Flickr albums)



Thanks JD,
You stated that more clearly than I did. I mistakenly used the word 'including' when I should have written 'in addition to' when referring to the 2 Cobra cars on display. I'll fix that. I agree with the paint colors you suggest.

[Richstang]

Here's another photo of just the chassis from more of the side.

[Cobra Ned]

Thanks Ned,
We see in this attached photo, the demonstrator had black painted wire wheels.
(Photo thanks to SunDude's Flickr albums)

It has black wire wheels in that photo, but it didn't when it was the AC Cars demonstrator. Nor was it maroon - that was a later paint job. It started out dark green. At the time of the Motor Show in October of '63, there were only 2 right hand drive 289 Cobras built, 6004 and 6005, and both were green/ beige.

[Side-Oilers]

^^^ Are those Pirellis?   Blasphemy!

[Richstang]

^^^ Are those Pirellis?   Blasphemy!

reply #5 ....I was thinking the same thing. Goodyears only on one of the three displayed.

[Richstang]

Thanks Ned,
We see in this attached photo, the demonstrator had black painted wire wheels.
(Photo thanks to SunDude's Flickr albums)

It has black wire wheels in that photo, but it didn't when it was the AC Cars demonstrator. Nor was it maroon - that was a later paint job. It started out dark green. At the time of the Motor Show in October of '63, there were only 2 right hand drive 289 Cobras built, 6004 and 6005, and both were green/ beige.

Thanks Ned! That is good to know.

[Richstang]

Here is a link to one more photo from the 1963 London Motor Show...from the rear of the rolling chassis.

Motorsport Images;
https://www.motorsportimages.com/photo/1018355711-london-motor-show/1018355711/


Also found this image from the previous year 1962.
The licence plate only says 'COBRA' for 1962 and the article text mentions it is only for the American Market at that time.

[Dan Case]

Also found this image from the previous year 1962.
The licence plate only says 'COBRA' for 1962 and the article text mentions it is only for the American Market at that time.

It is CS 2030 in the 1962 pictures, the prototype for rack and pinion steering.  I helped with some restoration questions of CS 2030 a few years ago. The dash and instruments photographic illustration in the chassis manuals for late American market CSX2xxx Cobras shows a dark room cleaned up picture of CS 2030's components...in its prototype right hand drive layout. The car owner came up with an original print of the as taken photo during his research of his car. (If one mirror imaged the photo in the chassis manuals it would be very much like, not exactly like, rack and pinion steering street American market Cobras through CSX2200. CSX2201 onward dashes and instruments are significantly different.  Note: The late chassis manuals have lots of information that does not apply to CSX2201 onward cars and lacks significant information that would be helpful to CSX2201 onward car owners.)

If the photographer had pulled back just a little a very rare Cobra option would have been tipped off. Cobras for AC Cars' home market could be factory fit with driver adjustable shock dampening system. A control knob was mounted rearward of the gear shift lever. The driver could adjust the dampening level of the shock absorbing dampeners with that knob. I believe CS 2030 was the first Cobra chassis to get driver adjustable dampeners. I have no idea how many systems AC Cars installed but I have seen pictures of two later cars during restoration with the control systems. There is another off to one side picture taken during the same factory picture session showing the knob on the transmission cover (a.k.a. tunnel).

[Richstang]

Here is a link to one more photo from the 1963 London Motor Show...from the rear of the rolling chassis.

Motorsport Images;
https://www.motorsportimages.com/photo/1018355711-london-motor-show/1018355711/


Also found this image from the previous year 1962.
The licence plate only says 'COBRA' for 1962 and the article text mentions it is only for the American Market at that time.

CS 2030 in the 1962 pictures, the prototype for rack and pinion steering. It is also right hand drive.  I helped with some restoration questions of CS 2030 a few years ago.

Thanks for that ID and info Dan!

[honker]

Ad from the Autocar magazine, October 18th. '63.

Mike