mikeljgt500kr Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I will start a thread for my saga of this. Having waited 10 months for my 2013 GT350, I approach it with a bit of trepidation, and know the problems with any SAI build these days. From all the stories, many of which are bad (some amazingly so), posted in this section, I know to expect problems. This is not like ordering a 2014 GT500, a new C7 'Vette, or even a new Viper, this is like hand to hand combat with the builders and vendors. But I am patient and approach it with the sober expectations that it may take 12-18 months to see anything in my driveway. The facts as I know them today: Deposit down, DenBeste used as dealer, Shelby Engines used for drivetrain. A picture of my thoughts for an engine attached, the Shelby Engines 289 331 engine, with Webers, real ones. Still looking at options and trying to understand what they are. So stay tuned for a long process…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARALD KELLEY Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 How cool. One day at a time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITHERTZ66 Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Great choice! That engine looks killer, and I think you will love it. Now you get to agonize over color choice. Going with a 4 speed? I'm guessing you have plenty of long trip type cars and a Cobra is not typically known for it's touring capabilities. For that reason, I would stick with period correctness and put in a toploader. They are loads of fun and easy to operate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks Troy, but color is set for the 50th, all Viking Blue, you do get a color choice for the across the nose stripe. But none of the research I have done shows any connection to a driver for those colors, seems they were just colored to match a crew chief and crew in the pits. I would like to do Dan Gurney, he was my fav racer of the day. Maybe someone knows his usual color? The tranny I am thinking of is a 5 speed Tremec short throw, very nice in the prototype they had. http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1401-shelby-american-50th-anniversary-289-fia-cobra/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_becker Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Wow - I never heard from you Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_becker Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 www.planetshelbycobra.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Sorry, but I never heard from you about Dana's number either.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali_KR Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I will start a thread for my saga of this. Having waited 10 months for my 2013 GT350, I approach it with a bit of trepidation, and know the problems with any SAI build these days. From all the stories, many of which are bad (some amazingly so), posted in this section, I know to expect problems. This is not like ordering a 2014 GT500, a new C7 'Vette, or even a new Viper, this is like hand to hand combat with the builders and vendors. But I am patient and approach it with the sober expectations that it may take 12-18 months to see anything in my driveway. The facts as I know them today: Deposit down, DenBeste used as dealer, Shelby Engines used for drivetrain. A picture of my thoughts for an engine attached, the Shelby Engines 289 331 engine, with Webers, real ones. Still looking at options and trying to understand what they are. So stay tuned for a long process…. Exciting time Mike, and congratulations. I'm friends and live close to DenBeste, they're good people up there in Windsor. Can't wait to follow along the build thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Keep us posted with pictures of the build. I think they will send them along the way if you ask. Get to know Tony in the Cobra shop. He's a super guy that will be a resource after your build is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks guy, I look forward to updating everyone who is interested. But, as you all well know with SAI builds, it may be quite some time before you or I see anything. Stay tuned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseygator Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Very cool... Congrats! I love the viking blue. And the yellow stripe looks fantastic too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT1171 Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 See that your on line Mike.Contratulations. Ordered one this week also. I understand they have had strong salesalready. Next assignment is to sort through engine and transmission options. And it will be a learning experience and fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 That's great SGT1171, at least we two can commiserate about the long wait and sorting through so many options for everything. I haven't made any irrevocable decisions on engine and tranny yet, so let me know what you are thinking too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Very cool... Congrats! I love the viking blue. And the yellow stripe looks fantastic too. Thanks! I have not settled on the yellow nose stripe yet, still thinking about what color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT1171 Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Great, will do Mike. Appreciate the benefit of your experience (and anyone else too). Glad that there's plent of time to to work through it. I do like the Viking Blue with the Yellow stipe. Perfect! Very Swedish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Swedish? Speaking as a Norwegian-American who lived in Stavanger for several years, you do know why there is a yellow stripe in their flag……. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-man Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I'm partial to an orange FAI stripe. Orange was the color that Bob Bondurant and Lew Spencer used on their #12 289 FIA Cobra in the 1964 racing season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Wow! Thanks Zman, that is the kind of info I was searching for, what stripe colors went with which cars/drivers/numbers. I was also looking at orange. Where can you find the info on this? Anyway, one for Bob would be neat, he and Sterling Moss are our "celebrity" judges at our local car show each September, the Santa Fe Concorso. That might give me an edge in judging for it in 2015…... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT1171 Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I give up. Why the yellow stripe in their flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 OK, remember this is a joke from the Norwegians, who fought in WWII with the Allies, while Sweden capitulated to Germany at the start of the war,……. it is because it matches the yellow stripe down their backs…..sorry, old Norwegian joke….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-man Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Wow! Thanks Zman, that is the kind of info I was searching for, what stripe colors went with which cars/drivers/numbers. I was also looking at orange. Where can you find the info on this? Anyway, one for Bob would be neat, he and Sterling Moss are our "celebrity" judges at our local car show each September, the Santa Fe Concorso. That might give me an edge in judging for it in 2015…... I found my information in a book titled "Shelby Cobra - The Shelby American Original Archives 1962-1965". It contains many photos taken by Dave Friedman. I got it at least 20 years ago when I made my first donation to the Shelby Heart Fund. Mr. Shelby even personally signed the title page for me, as well as a few Heart Fund stickers (just like the one in my avatar. In any case, I took a look at the book to see what other stripe colors I could find. For the 12 hours of Sebring (1964), it shows Phil Hill and Jo Schlesser driving the #14 car with a yellow stripe. Dan Gurney was in #11, with a white stripe (co-driver was Bob Johnson) . Ken Miles and John Morton drove car #1, with no stripe. Z-man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks for that Z-man, Dan is probably my all time favorite racer, through AAR and all. Lots to think about now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT1171 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Hah, Scandinavian rivalry. I think that when I first read the body color was called Viking Blue, the yellow stripe just seemed to make sense. And I like the look. Not sure the best way to go on other options. For lack of a better place to start, I was told that the original cars were 4 speeds, but that a 5 speed is like having overdrive, and makes driving more enjoyable. Also, that some Cobra owners will buy a five speed, and put a 4 speed knob on the shifter for appearance. Wonder what the discriminating Cobra owners recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Yes, I think the real choices are how "original" you want it to be and/or look. I'm still not sure either, but I really do want real Webers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT1171 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 ITHERTZ makes a good point for the 4 speed. How far are you cruising, if far take another car. So webers were original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Right, I doubt I will be driving 500 miles a day on the interstate with it. Problem is, can any 4 speed handle 400 or so HP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S8MS-01904 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Cool! Are they done yet!!! jk, great fun and waiting for updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 A TKO600 will give you a five speed with a highway 5th gear (I think there are two options for 5th). I had one in mine and had no desire to change it. I got 18-19 MPG on the highway at 75-85 with it. The Ford GT gets about that in 6th. Both of my "supercars" get better mileage under almost all circumstances than my Dodge pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted January 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks two, by the way, did you see the Heritage Edition GT sell at Mecum for $320K? What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelbyKR664 Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I saw that too. The GT machines will only go up. Better than stock, gold or a house and you can have a ton of fun with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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