This is Cool

[DonC1]

Friend of mine enquiring about building a clone of this car -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171198091838?_trksid=p2041548.m738&forcerRptr=true&item=171198091838&viewitem=

opinions?

[JB400]

Hope he does

[Ghoste]

It would be an interesting one for sure, I don't know that I've seen a clone of the King Cobra Torino before.  Saw one of the real ones once and it was impressive so I guess my opinion would also be that I think he should.

[BROCK]

Aero studies on these 2 way cool cars were disappointing.  Could
have been resolved & could have been a threat
As it was:  the Talladega & Spoiler II models from 69 were more
capable of doing the job.  A right nice job they did too

[Ghoste]

Was the Boss 429 not making more power than the Hemi?  I ask thinking they wouldn't need much aero advantage on those cars would they?

[BROCK]

Let's just chalk it up to development time.  The Hemi was well developed
for NASCAR by 66 (64 intro & much of 65 on the sidelines).  The Boss was
new.  With aero development the Hemi once again started advancing on
Fords' 427 Tunnel Port (the engine that made the C500 necessary in the
first place).  Henry Jr was all about dominating all racing venues with the
Ford brand.  Mr Iacocca & Mr France changed everything.  Ford had the
Calliope on the side lines as did Chrysler a DOHC Hemi.  Both were still-
born due to changing regulations. 
One of the most fascinating aspects of all this (at least to me) is that a
340 powered Daytona made the field & competed successfully for quite
a few laps.  This was along side the Boss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next thing you know:  everyone is running wedge heads & then restrictor
plates were born.
It's no wonder the 'Glory Days' stand out in our minds & hearts.  Unbridled
(at least compared to what came next & especially compared to today) was
what they were as manufacturers, teams, drivers......
Not hard to build a car these days that can run laps around the ones we all
love - not anymore.  No-one will allow it in their regulations.

[Aero426]

Not pretty as a Ranchero.

[DonC1]

Ugh!...nope.

That pic may indicate there are front end molds in existence for this car.....

[Ghoste]

Where did you find that pic?

[Aero426]

That's an old web pic.   I have some in an album at home that date from the early 80's.    Someone made molds.   

[BROCK]

That's an old web pic.   I have some in an album at home that date from the early 80's.    Someone made molds.   

Correct me if I'm wrong:  Did Nissan borrow those molds to make their headlight buckets for the ZX!!!!

[odcics2]

Let's just chalk it up to development time.  The Hemi was well developed
for NASCAR by 66 (64 intro & much of 65 on the sidelines).  The Boss was
new.  With aero development the Hemi once again started advancing on
Fords' 427 Tunnel Port (the engine that made the C500 necessary in the
first place).  Henry Jr was all about dominating all racing venues with the
Ford brand.  Mr Iacocca & Mr France changed everything.  Ford had the
Calliope on the side lines as did Chrysler a DOHC Hemi.  Both were still-
born due to changing regulations. 
One of the most fascinating aspects of all this (at least to me) is that a
340 powered Daytona made the field & competed successfully for quite
a few laps.  This was along side the Boss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next thing you know:  everyone is running wedge heads & then restrictor
plates were born.
It's no wonder the 'Glory Days' stand out in our minds & hearts.  Unbridled
(at least compared to what came next & especially compared to today) was
what they were as manufacturers, teams, drivers......
Not hard to build a car these days that can run laps around the ones we all
love - not anymore.  No-one will allow it in their regulations.

The #22 Daytona at the 1971 Daytona 500 was 305 c.i. unplated.  Any other engine choice had a plate of differing dimensions.

I was there when the restrictor plates were first used in August 1970 at MIS.   I remember all the complaining about  them!

[Aero426]

Both Ford and Mopar Hemis had the smallest plate opening and were choked down compared to the 305 in the slippery body.     The 305 was a one trick pony and would not have the throttle response to run anywhere but WFO at Daytona and Talladega.   But it was an interesting experiment while it lasted.

[A383Wing]

and it led laps

[Ghoste]

And pissed off Bill France while it did so.

[Stevearino]

Although there was one counterfeit made starting with a Cyclone body. I think it looked much better and the small rear wing on the Cyclone gives the car a little more visual balance.

[bama7070]

My daughter lives just North of Charlotte  -  I'm up there every couple of weeks and drop by RK motors to see what they have new from time to time  -  I've seen this car many times up there ,  and to each their own , but in person , it really isn't a very good looking car  least wise not to me  -  everything about it looks odd close up  on it

[GULFGLENY]

If the car had real race history, then it might fetch good money. It would have been cool to see it hit the race track and compete, but with that said, its just another prototype. Do not get me wrong, I think its cool and collectible, but its not worth that kinda cash!

[Aero426]

Although I think it is super cool and would love to own it,  the KC is a car that even some Ford people think is strange. 

[FJ5WING]

maybe true Doug but lots of Mopar guys hate the wing cars too.
Id love to have a King Cobra!

[Ghoste]

A car that appeals to a niche within a niche group of buyers for sure. 

[DonC1]

I like it too.

Found this on the net for sale...almost looks like the front clip was inspired by the KC....

[Ghoste]

What was it before the "inspiration"?

[Tri-Poised]

Was the Boss 429 not making more power than the Hemi?  I ask thinking they wouldn't need much aero advantage on those cars would they?

I know the Boss 429 in street trim would be lucky to generate a 15 second time slip.  They had enormous ports and a dinky camshaft resulting in their inability to get out of their own way.  The street hemi, had it's own reliability issues, but was an absolute terror in street trim, and simply couldn't be hooked up without a set of stickier tires.  A camshaft and headers would help both motors a great deal, but the 429 needed help the most.

[Ghoste]

I meant race trim.  I think the Fords were giving it to us in power.  Not by a lot, but enough.

[Aero426]

The race Boss 429 had a slight advantage over the Hemi straight up.     The Hemi in race configuration was pretty much maxed out after six years.     

But there's more.    Ford track tested a race KC against a Talladega.    The KC seemed way down on power, so they swapped in the Boss 429 engine from the Talladega.   By their calculations the same engine in the KC made 50 less HP, mainly attributed to changes in airflow and static pressure at the cowl.    Remember the '69 body has an exposed cowl (like a 69 Charger)  where the 70 has the duck tail hood hiding the cowl.  The same engine in the Talladega made 628 HP, where in the KC they said 578.    And with a standard 70 Torino front clip installed, 560 HP.   

[Ghoste]

Thats interesting.  Similar results on the 70 to 71 Mopars I would think?  (not in the numbers so much but in the direction of travel)

[myaerocars]

If you have a friend who is interested in building a King Cobra clone, then he should contact ME. 

I have one on Craigslist Atlanta for $5,500 built using the same  molds created during the resto of the  Orange Boss 429 KC.   It is under construction and I will not be able to finish it because of failing health.  It is a 302 sportsroof body, nine inch, buckets rebuilt front suspension and all new brakes with boxed upper and lower control arms and subframe  connectors.   Excellent floors  and cowl area.

I owned the molds for almost 10 years and sold them recently. 

Godspeed,
JON
Here is the link  -----------           http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4299405291.html  Read the ad.

[Aero426]

Thats interesting.  Similar results on the 70 to 71 Mopars I would think?  (not in the numbers so much but in the direction of travel)

The Mopars also encountered trouble with the upturned hood on the '71-up cars.