Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

[Walter F.]

Recently I post a question as to why Fords Cobra was not such a big seller as the Corvette. I was always under the assumption the Cobra was a much facter car then the Corvette, in fact i was under the assumption the race would not even be close. The Cobra, as the Ripcords song used to say, claimed they could take their Cobra out of gear and let it coast to the line.But judging by some car magazine road test, things do not seem so true. Sure the Corba was faster from these tests i found, but only by tenths of a second.

64 Cobra Car life 289 14.0
64 Corvette F.I. Motor trend 14.2

66 Cobra 427 Car Craft 12.2
66 Corvette Conv 427 12.8

If these two test are any indication of what real life was on the street or track, then paying almost $2,000 more for a English Sports car on steroids, then maybe as many had suggested on my post, the Cobra was not worth the money or the lack of practicality the Corvette gave its owners. Maybe Ford idea wasn't so great after all.

[Michael J.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Ha! Ford had no intention of making money with such an expensive, impractical, and low volume car. And there was never any intention to compete with an assembly line car like a Corvette. That was a "halo" car, just like the Ford GT was in 2005-2006, and the new Ford GT will be next year. As long as it consistently beat the competition, and it did, tenths or not, and attracted the best drivers to drive it, as it did with taking Bondurant and MacDonald from Duntov, it was a success many times over.

[Jim D.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

A well known fact is that the majority of "427" Cobras actually had lower performance 428's because of the limited availability and cost of the side oiler 427's. The few that actually had 427's went to the race teams.

[Mark H.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

64 Cobra Car life 289 14.0
64 Corvette F.I. Motor trend 14.2

Bear in mind the 289 Cobra only had 271 hp while the FI Corvette was rated at 375. Having an advantage of over 100hp and still losing even if it's "only" by .2 isn't something to write home about.

[Michael G.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Mark, the curb weight of a 289 Cobra was 2019 lbs. The curb weight of a 64 Corvette was about 3025 lbs. That 1,000 lb difference had way more to do with the ET difference than anything else. Put that 327 FI Chevy engine in the Cobra and it would turn way, way, way better than the 289's 14.0 seconds.

Franky, back in the day, there was an Austin Healy 3000 (weighs about the same as a 289 Cobra) with a 327-375 Fuel injected Chevy engine on Woodward that was unbelievably fast...I saw his tailights from some distance back in my 396 Chevelle, a car that typically ran about 14.0 on street tires....

[Michael J.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Bear in mind the 289 Cobra only had 271 hp while the FI Corvette was rated at 375. Having an advantage of over 100hp and still losing even if it's "only" by .2 isn't something to write home about.

Actually, most 289 Cobras had the same setup as the GT350s in '65 for '64-'65. Alterations to the "K" code configuration of 271 HP, the high rise aluminum intake and larger Holley 715 CFM carb were listed at 306 HP, but pointing well taken.

[Jim S.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Actually, most 289 Cobras had the same setup as the GT350s in '65 for '64-'65. Alterations to the "K" code configuration of 271 HP, the high rise aluminum intake and larger Holley 715 CFM carb were listed at 306 HP, but pointing well taken.

Not really😉 all but three 289 Cobras were delivered with cast iron intakes & Autolite 4100 carbs. Only three are known to have been delivered with alum intake & Holleys.

[Jim S.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

A well known fact is that the majority of "427" Cobras actually had lower performance 428's because of the limited availability and cost of the side oiler 427's. The few that actually had 427's went to the race teams.

Actually only approximately 100 '427' Cobras received 428PI engines. These were the CSX32xx series cars.

[Michael J.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Not really all but three 289 Cobras were delivered with cast iron intakes & Autolite 4100 carbs. Only three are known to have been delivered with alum intake & Holleys.

I have to defer to your superior knowledge Jim, after all you have a "real" Cobra……………….But I believe the 5 1964 FIA Cobras all had Webers, right? Cheers!

[Roger W.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

In 1964 I remember reading a article in 'Popular mechanics' by their automotive tester. I think his name was Tom Mchall or something like that. He tested the cobra with the 305 H.P. 289 and a 64 Corvette F. I. coupe. His biggest criticism of the Vette was the weight.

[Jim S.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

I have to defer to your superior knowledge Jim, after all you have a "real" Cobra……………….But I believe the 5 1964 FIA Cobras all had Webers, right? Cheers!

I was referring to street cars delivered to the public, not factory comp cars 😉

[Jim S.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

I have to defer to your superior knowledge Jim, after all you have a "real" Cobra……………….But I believe the 5 1964 FIA Cobras all had Webers, right? Cheers!

FWIW, other than the factory comp cars, only 2 street cars were delivered to customers with Webers.

[Frank D.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

Ha! Ford had no intention of making money with such an expensive, impractical, and low volume car. And there was never any intention to compete with an assembly line car like a Corvette. That was a "halo" car, just like the Ford GT was in 2005-2006, and the new Ford GT will be next year. As long as it consistently beat the competition, and it did, tenths or not, and attracted the best drivers to drive it, as it did with taking Bondurant and MacDonald from Duntov, it was a success many times over.

Which is why I can't ever quite figure out why these comparisons are so intriguing.
I would never for a minute think a factory delivered Corvette of the time could compete with a Cobra.

[Michael J.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

FWIW, other than the factory comp cars, only 2 street cars were delivered to customers with Webers.

[Ed S.]

Re: Real world car times Cobra vs Corvette

FWIW, other than the factory comp cars, only 2 street cars were delivered to customers with Webers.

And all 6 will be offered for auctioned at Scottsdale AZ this spring.