The Cobra Experience museum

[Steve Carlton]

I heard about this place in Martinez, CA a couple of years ago and went in today. They are currently running guided tours and it's well worth visiting! For me, I liked the Daytona Coupe, although theirs is a replica of the 5 Italian versions made. Only the prototype that Shelby built has the roof that bulges up more and is more aerodynamic and significantly faster:





This is a Mark IV, and they had special wheels that were vaned to pull the hot air off the brakes. Our tour guide said Holman and Moody were running them and having problems with the brakes overheating. He said Shelby went over to look and saw that the wheels were on the wrong side, forcing air into the brakes vs drawing it out, and didn't say anything...




A comparison of the 427 frame vs the 289 frame:





The crew had been complaining about clutches being burned out when loading the cars onto the truck, so someone ran it up fast and...





Some engine info:





Essex Wire ran a well known team of a GT350 and a Cobra, painted the same:





A tuxedo company used a Cobra in its advertising...




Several hand made models there, too:





The gallery of original size images here:

https://gromitspapa.smugmug.com/Cars/The-Cobra-Experience/

[CMDR Perry]

Very cool Steve, isn't that version of the Mark IV with fangs also called the J Car? DP

[Steve Carlton]

Yes- I think the guide said it was JE2.

[ckcarr]

I think you deserve a Cobra....

[Doug E]

Thanks for the post, hadn't heard of it before.

[ToySnakePMC]

Wow. Thanks for sharing this. Not sure if I was ever aware of this museum. Just added that to my list of places I must visit someday. I've visited the Simeone Museum in Philly. https://simeonemuseum.org/ ...and stared at their original Daytona there. But the Shelby museum looks to be just over the top.

[Steve Carlton]

I edited some to a little larger size than will show here. The back of the Daytona:






This GT40 was used in the movie Ford v Ferrari:






The center display:








A GT40 frame:




Tombstone's jacket:






Tombstone's car, which had "cutback doors" to allow for bigger rear wheel flares. This one went end over end:

[LWJ]

Thanks! I wasn't aware. Sounds like a destination.

[masraum]

Very cool.