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Willmet Cobra

Discussion in 'American Muscle' started by JohnLClark, Jul 20, 2010.

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  1. JohnLClark

    JohnLClark Karting

    May 15, 2005
    188
    Pittsburgh
    #1 JohnLClark, Jul 20, 2010
    I read an article in Classic and Sportscar about a Cobra CSX chassis that was rebodied with a Fiat 8v body by John Willmet. Anybody know where the car is today. According to the article the car was never sorted out and was a wild ride.
     
  2. prototypefan

    prototypefan Formula Junior

    Dec 23, 2005
    396
    ab, canada
    #2 prototypefan, Jul 20, 2010
    Willment Coupe

    The car was for sale for a long time with Paul Baber in the UK. Eventually landing at Autoputer in Florida. It spent time in California with an english fellow who passed away and is now back in the UK freshly restored. The car was just shown at Goodwood, google is your friend there are plenty of pics around.

    Here is a video you may enjoy, starts at about 1:09

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAyOaKEbPUg&feature=related
     
  3. BLT2DRIVE

    BLT2DRIVE Karting

    Nov 3, 2008
    234
    Holmby Hills,Calif.
    Full Name:
    Todd Varble
    #3 BLT2DRIVE, Jul 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I saw the car at the Shelby American Museum in Boulder this past Christmas/New Year's Holidays. I like going by when I'm there because the collectors are using there cars and the inventory on display is always changing with cars coming and going to events. The story board quoted that Willament asked and recieved body spec for the coupe from Shelby, then had it crafted in England from the Shelby supplied drawings... www.ShelbyAmericanCollection.com http://www.shelbyamericancollection.org/collection/csx2131.shtml
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  4. BLT2DRIVE

    BLT2DRIVE Karting

    Nov 3, 2008
    234
    Holmby Hills,Calif.
    Full Name:
    Todd Varble
    #4 BLT2DRIVE, Jul 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Simon

    Simon Moderator
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    Aug 29, 2003
    6,876
    Switzerland
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    #5 Simon, Jul 21, 2010
  6. prototypefan

    prototypefan Formula Junior

    Dec 23, 2005
    396
    ab, canada
    #6 prototypefan, Jul 21, 2010
    I guess technically the original car was a:
    Fiat 8V Ghia Savonuzzi Supersonic

    and now it is a ?

    AC Ghia Savonuzzi Supersonic
    Shelby American Ghia Savonuzzi Supersonic
    AC 427 Ghia Savonuzzi Supersonic
    Willment 427 Ghia coupe

    The Supersonic body was modified somewhat in the 1/4 panel, rear, hood and header panel area, so I'm not sure that even the Supersonic name can still apply.
     
  7. Simon

    Simon Moderator
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    Aug 29, 2003
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    #7 Simon, Jul 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. BLT2DRIVE

    BLT2DRIVE Karting

    Nov 3, 2008
    234
    Holmby Hills,Calif.
    Full Name:
    Todd Varble
    #8 BLT2DRIVE, Jul 21, 2010
    Thanks for the additional info and links.... sound like my kind of guy. Find,combine, build and race them... way cool!!
     
  9. JohnLClark

    JohnLClark Karting

    May 15, 2005
    188
    Pittsburgh
    #9 JohnLClark, Jul 23, 2010
    Simon, that is the car I am describing. Thanks for the picture. Since it has been restored, I wonder if they ever sorted out the suspension?
     
  10. DieCast MotorSports

    DieCast MotorSports Formula Junior

    Feb 10, 2004
    510
    Michigan, USA
    #10 DieCast MotorSports, Jan 14, 2013
    The answer is yes, the suspension has been sorted and from what I hear, it handles very well. All of the previous problems with the car have been sorted as well.
     
  11. bitzman

    bitzman F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Feb 15, 2008
    3,287
    Ontario, CA
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    wallace wyss
    #11 bitzman, Jan 24, 2013
    About the Savonuzzi (savonutzi?) designed car, only a week or two ago I tracked down the wife of the land speed and water speed racer Campbell that the car was supposed to have been built for and she said she never got the car, choosing a E-type instead.
    Did the car have a stretched wheelbase for the Ghia body?
    Does a dealer or a private individual own it today?
    Is it a real Cobra 427 competition car chassis number or a spare chassis that was intended to be used if a comp Cobra crashed?
    I see pictures of it at various British events so I gather it is roadable.
     

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