ERA 427 Cobra Street Car Replica

[Bobby Crumpley]

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ERA828  427 Cobra replica
Street car configuration
Ordered 11/2017
Delivered 05/2020
The car is painted Silver Mink, which is a color Ford used on Lincolns and Thunderbirds.  About 25 of the original 427 Cobras were painted this color, as well as a number of 289 cars.  While red leather was a common option for the leaf spring 289 cars, only one 427 (CSX3336) left AC with red leather.  I built this as I would have wanted a new one had I been old enough to buy one in 1966.  Having seen several original 289 cars that were Silver Mink and red, I knew this was a beautiful combination and fitting of a car of the era.
I built this car with drivability in mind so that I wouldn't constantly be fighting with a high strung beast, and it would be easy for my wife to drive if she chose to.  A car that doesn't wear out your left leg, was hard to start, needed special fuel, and overheated if you weren't on a long highway cruise.  I've owned an ERA before and have been around the Cobra hobby for many years, so I've seen many cars that were drop dead gorgeous and made a jillion horsepower, but were not nice cars to drive. 
Brent Lykins spec'ed the engine for me with that in mind, but assured me that even though drivability was key, it would still make north of 500 horsepower.  The block I chose was a late 391 truck block, which has very thick cylinder walls and extra webbing in the main bearing supports.  Cross bolted main bearing caps were added that are much thicker than what a 427 has, as was a 4.25" SCAT crankshaft and 6.7" connecting rods, as well as forged Race Tec pistons.  The roller camshaft is Brent's design and features Morel roller lifters as well as Brent's proprietary rocker shaft and aluminum arms.  This late block has very thick cylinder walls, but was only bored to 4.080".  While we still got 445 cubic inches and all the power the car could ever need, it preserved the thick cylinder walls and allows the car t idle in the garage all day and never exceed 190 degrees.  From the outside, it is virtually indistinguishable from a 427 block, but it didn't make sense to me to build an engine from a 427 block that had been sleeved or hade some kind of other major repair.
While everything looks correct under the hood, a Holley Sniper Stealth EFI system is hidden below the correct air cleaner.  Timing is controlled by the MSD distributor that also looks stock.  The car runs perfectly from first start to wide open throttle thanks to the tuning at Mad Dog Motorsports.  I chose a McLeod RST double disk clutch which is light as a stock Honda, but good for 800 horsepower.  The brakes are the optional Wilwoods from ERA and have the three Girling reservoirs as original.
The transmission is a TKO600 5 speed with the 0.82:1 overdrive and the differential is 3.54:1 with the powerlock.  The exhaust system is a custom built 2.5" setup with SpinTech mufflers and has been Cerakoted.
The 15" x 7.5" Sunburst wheels have Avon CR6ZZ tires that are camouflaged as original Good year Blue Dots.  In the rear they are pushed out just a bit thanks to the custom length suspension pieces that ERA built.
ERA also fabbed a custom trunk floor to make room for the in-tank Holley returnless fuel pump, so the trunk floor is about 1" shallower than normal.
Inside the car you will find Smith's gauges, an NOS Trico windshield washer button, and the correct mirror.  The red leather was selected from a hide to compliment the Silver Mink paint and to replicate what was delivered in the original Cobras.  Other options include a remote battery hidden in the trunk, bumpers that have been contoured to match the body, and the correct bumper overriders.  Under the hood you will find the correct windshield washer reservoir that took me two years to track down, finally finding one in Germany.

Will be listed on Bring a Trailer, link to follow.

The YouTube video with details of the car can be found here:

https://youtu.be/GQdXAwm8bfQ

[428kid]

Great car Bob!

[Bobby Crumpley]

Thanks, it's a wonderful car, but I've come to the realization that I have to own and restore a '66 GT350 before I die.

[Bobby Crumpley]

Priced now at $110,000, looking for a good '66 GT350 project so open to a trade.

[shelbydoug]

Is this a fiberglass body?

[Bill]

Is this a fiberglass body?

Yes, ERA only offers their product with a fiberglass body

[shelbydoug]

Is this a fiberglass body?

Yes, ERA only offers their product with a fiberglass body

That is what I thought but I wanted to confirm. Thank you.

[Tinface]

Wow. That's a nice vehicle. If it had a California registration I'd purchase it immediately.

[shelbydoug]

Very nicely done all around.

[JJH]

Well done sir!

A street 427 replica that actually resembles an original...so refreshing to see!

[Bobby Crumpley]

Thanks for the kind words about the car, a lot of planning and research went into trying to make it look like an original which is kind of silly, but what I wanted.

[Bobby Crumpley]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/445-powered-era-427-roadster/