SHELBY WOULD HAVE APPROVED: THE V12 COBRA

Big engine, little car. It’s an age-old recipe that has been putting big grins on the faces of car guys the world over ever since modifying began. Back in the ’60s Carroll Shelby did just this with the AC Cobra – shoehorning big Ford V8 motors into the light UK-built chassis to create one of the most legendary cars of all times. Magnus Jinstrand has always wanted to create his very own Cobra and when it all started to materialize for him he decided to take things a little further than originally planned…

… further evolving the original notion that defined Shelby’s cars and turning it into something all his own.

There is absolutely nothing subtle about this car, from the moment you lay eyes on it, it shouts out at you with aggression. From the rather large supercharger rearing its head out of the hood…

… to the copious use of carbon fiber that makes up its custom aerodynamic package.

There’s no hiding the fact that this is a superbly executed modern-day take on the original, right down to the 18-inch and slick-shod Rondell wheels. A Brembo braking package borrowed from a Lancer Evolution VIII hints that there must be a lot of performance hiding within…

… but nothing can quite prepare you for that initial visual impact the removal of the engine cover creates. Magnus’s initial plan was to fit a Mercedes-Benz V8 engine into the Autofab chassis that lies beneath the Dax-built exterior, but when the guy supplying him the engine gave him choice to go for a V12…

… well, let’s just say that he just couldn’t pass it up. The 6.0-liter V12 is a twin-spark (yes that means 24 spark plugs!) 36-valve (two valve per exhaust side) beast engineered to deliver a silky smooth and effortless surge of power. In its stock 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL600 configuration it developed 362hp and 530Nm (39 lb/ft)…

… so to make things a little more interesting Mangus added a Lyshom 3500 twin-screw supercharger, modifying it to accept a custom twin-throttle set-up. Lots of custom work was required to not only fabricate the two intake plenums, but also to plumb everything into place in a visually-gratifying fashion.

From the color-matched piping to the sheer size of the powerplant, everything is meticulously executed.

Custom stainless steel manifolds snake down…

… on each side of the Cobra…

… and connect onto a pair of big bore side pipes that flank the bodywork, dumping gasses before the rear fenders.

Underneath it all Magnus has adapted front and rear suspension from a Corvette C4 and uprated it with Öhlins adjustable dampers. Their remote reservoirs have been relocated within easy reach for fumble-free access to the adjustment knobs.

In its current configuration the supercharged V12 pushes 492hp to the wheels (around 600hp at the crank), all thanks to a very gentle 0.35bar (5psi) of boost. Drive is sent to the rear end via a Getrag six-speed transmission mated to a Helix twin-plate clutch and a custom propeller shaft.

Avon slicks measuring 245/645R18 at the front and a massive 305/680R18 at the rear offer plenty of grip through the corners…

… while Micke Svensson – who is responsible for all the carbon fiber on the car – designed and created the rear diffuser…

… which along with the adjustable Carrera Cup inspired rear wing helps keep that rear end planted. The whole exterior has been finished off in a flat bronze hue, custom mixed and sprayed by one of Magnus’s friends.

If you’re wondering why the trunk lid has been swiss-cheesed lifting the lid reveals why. On top of the front-mounted copper radiator a second one has been fitted in the rear for extra cooling.

Despite the car being solely for track racing and events like Gatebil…

… everything has been finished off beautifully. this being especially true with the interior where Auto Meter gauges…

… have been centrally mounted in the carbon fiber dash panel.

It may be a tried and proven formula, but big engines in small cars just never seem to get old. Magnus’s undeniably-Scandinavian approach to his project has turned his dream of owning a Cobra into something even he never initially fathomed. Something tells me that Carroll Shelby definitely would have approved!

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino

V12 Cobra

Numbers
492whp and 650Nm @ 0.35bar (5psi)

Engine
Mercedes-Benz V12 from a CL600, custom mounted Lyshom 3500 supercharger, homemade adapter plate for twin throttle bodies from a Volvo 960, Vems ECU with custom 24-channel spark power amplifier, 4x ignition coils from a Saab V6 24 valve, custom made intake plenum, custom headers in 5/8 stainless steel, sidepipes in 4-inch stainless with 3-inch’ inserts, custom oil sump and relocated oil filter, custom copper radiator in the front and aluminum radiator in the rear, 2x Bosch Motorsport 044 fuel pumps

Driveline
BMW Getrag 6-speed transmission, custom flywheel, twin-plate Helix clutch, custom chromoly propshaft built by Svea bil.

Suspension/Brakes
Front and rear suspension from Corvette C4, custom four-link in chromoly, adjustable sway bars from Sellholms, Öhlins coilovers front and rear, chromoly driveshafts built by Svea bil, Lancer Evo VIII front and rear brake calipers with 330 mm discs front and 280 mm rear, Wilwood e-brake

Wheels/Tires
Rondell 18X9.5J front, 18X11.5J rear, Avon slicks 245/645R18 front, 305/680R18 rear

Exterior
Custom made by Dax, carbon fiber custom front spoiler and splitter in carbon fiber, Porsche Carrera Cup inspired rear wing in carbon fiber, custom made rear wing mounting, carbon fiber rear diffuser. All carbon parts built by built by Micke “wunderbaum” Svensson, custom mixed color painted by Fredric Mattsson

Chassis/Interior
Custom chassis from Autof AB in Helsingborg with roll bar and air jacks in all four corners, Tillett carbon fibre seats, custom Micke Svensson carbon fiber dash panel, Auto Meter gauges, Racelogic computer

Thanks
Emil, Leffan, Agge, Pelle, Fredrik, ”Jevlar,” Loffe, Henkan, Micke, Andreas

Flash Forward: The superheroes of the Space Age

Since the 1930s, the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other DC Comics heroes have dominated American pop culture. But in the early 1950s, the brave animated legends had to reinvent themselves…

The transition into the ‘Space Age’ was a challenge for the costumed superheroes: Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman had to grapple with new sci-fi worlds, where technology was developing at light-speed. Taschen will soon publish the second instalment in Paul Levitz’s series exploring the history of the DC Comics characters, this time focusing on ‘The Silver Age’ of 1956 to 1970.

More information can be found at www.taschen.com

via Classic Driver

nettoyage

THAT’S HOW WE ROLLS: RACING LIKE ROYALTY

This is a Speedhunters health warning. If you don’t like over the top, full-blown builds on outrageous base models, with a sense of humour thrown in that could shock a stand-up then turn away, go on, go back to everything you know and be content. However, if you want to take a trip into a world where excess is not enough and limits don’t seem to exist, then welcome. This is Finland.

As part of our Scandinavian theme for July, we wanted to cover as wide of an angle as possible when it came to shooting feature cars. Because of course we want to showcase what’s happening up there, but the region isn’t defined by one country or one event, which is why I was at the Alastaro Drag Strip, a couple of scenic hours drive north of Helsinki. And as I stood there looking through my lens at the approaching shape I started to smile broadly…

I absolutely love pointless cars and by that I mean the ones that serve no obvious function when you first see them – these are the ones that draw me in. After all, every car that ever rolled off a production line was destined for a wide variety of tasks. Did you ever see an Integra Type R being driven by a grandmother? Of course you did, because anybody could buy them. That’s why when you talk to somebody about their project you’ll generally get a definitive answer, “I wanted to build a track/drag/race/show* car.” But what would you class this as? Really?

*delete as appropriate

Sure it says Pro Classic on the plates, but is it more Pro Resto? To be honest I don’t know why I’m asking these questions of you because I get a certain sense of freedom when I look at this Rolls Royce. It’s a proper why not car. The sort that when people ask the question why?, then the only answer is why not? Because if you try and think of a reason, you’ll be hard pressed as to what function it actually serves. But then why wouldn’t you want it to exist? There are plenty of bog stock Rolls Royces in the world, there are plenty of Weld Convo Pro wheels, and plenty of blown big block V8s even. What we don’t have enough of are those elements combined in one package.

The guys who built this are true craftsmen; running a metal fabrication business called PJP, Petri and Raine produce anything you want in the material. Out of business hours they put the tools to good use though. In fact I cannot recommend highly enough that you take some time out of your busy day and wander through the build shots and other projects the pair have put together, right here.

That day the Rolls was in action as a return tow vehicle for the Team Rust Model A drag car, all steel and all business. I watched as people caught sight of the big British saloon and then spied the drag car behind it. Can we have all of your attention please?

Like I said back at the start, nothing is normal with these guys. That 462ci GM V8 with the 14/71 Mooneyham blower sat on top of it was fitted in the back of a Mk4 Escort van before the Rolls Royce, and if I’ve got my information correct after being passed through translation it’s also called the middle of a Skoda Estelle home too. So you can start to see that the team have a different way of  looking at things.

One thing is for sure – they don’t take life too seriously! Look at the beautifully restored body work and trim.

Then the Pro Mod carbon scoop on top of the twin Holley Dominator carbs. It’s purely there for looks, but who cares? A normal chrome scoop just wouldn’t cut it now would it?

As I looked around the Rolls, I quickly realised it’s a massive jigsaw with pieces from different puzzles, making it particularly hard to figure out. Just where do you start with something like this?

Here’s what prompted that thought process – the leather headlining and yes I know this is the first time you’ve seen any of the interior, which is nothing short of jaw dropping. But just momentarily consider this,: how do you go about getting such a complex cage in, sprayed and then the headlining to fit so snugly above it?

Now take a look at this. See what I mean? This really is a complete build. How sumptuous does that leather look? The craftsman at local Finnish furniture company Pohjanmaan got involved with the build and stitched it all together – something the guys are eternally grateful for.

But once again, look at how the metal, leather, wood and carbon fibre all work so well together. And that’s not a line of text I thought I’d ever write to be honest.

So this is how they did it: starting with a standard Rolls Royce Shadow, the pair cut the entire floor out leaving something similar to a remote control car body, just a skin. They then fabricated a full tube chassis.

Which allowed them a free rein when it came to the complexity of the tube – the only limitations being the outline of the bodyshell. So this crazy, over-the-top amount of bars could be expertly welded together without hindrance. With the entire chassis sprayed in the colour you see here, the headlining was then trimmed in an otherwise unfinished bodyshell. It had been prepped for paint, but the final primer and top coat hadn’t been applied. But of course the two parts had to be put together then to carry on…

You can see the front end of the new chassis here, with the frame horns coming up towards the engine where they then tie in to the front suspension mounting points before passing through that mass of interior tube and then emerging…

At the back end, forming that all important cage. Another thing that I really like about the colour-matched cage is that it’s very much a feature of the build. The Rolls will never run a seven second pass in the form it is today, but the cage makes you feel like it’s possible.

The mix of components confused me at first, wildly modified with driver restraint cage and crazy gear specific shifters for the TH400 auto box. But no monster tach on the dash, or aftermarket steering wheel for example. So I tried to look at it as though I’d spent countless hours, evenings and days working on it like the guys did.

That’s when it becomes clearer why you’d keep certain elements relatively untouched: firstly it looks good and actually adds to the overall impact because it adds to the air of ‘factory standard’. Secondly because it also keeps the budget down: as I was told by plenty of friends as I shot around the Rolls Royce, the pair are normal people with normal depth pockets. This is very much about skill and observation, not masses of money.

There are no wild colour choices here, but there is a very subtle two-tone scheme going on. The original mid blue colour was replaced by the heavy metallic Ruby, which when you get up close adds to the custom effect.

So okay it’s never going to be confused with stock.

At the back the 12x15in Weld Convo Pro wheels and Hoosier tyres see to that.

With the Mooneyham blower trying to suck the famous flying lady’s wings off.

On the move the Rolls attracts so much attention. I know this isn’t really surprising but given that we’re at a major Finnish drag racing event and there is some seriously impressive machinery here, it’s the way that attention manifests itself that strikes me.

People simply stop what they’re doing and wave or even applaud – they love it. Gene Winfield even fell under the influence and made a beeline for the Rolls at a custom show last year, signing the centre panel.

I know of at least two other custom Rolls Royce Shadows in the world: one in the States which deviates even further from original than this one and a drag-specific one in the UK. What I don’t think either of those do though  is keep the Crewe (where they were made) spirit so intact. There’s just something about the way the guys can cut out the inner rear arch to expose the Hoosier tyre, yet make it feel natural, that works for me.

The exhaust note might be loud, but the chrome trim around the wing exit point is a very considered detail and smacks of restrained quality.

I can’t remember seeing such a successful mix of styles, materials and finishes in just one build. You’d have to combine a whole car show to get them usually.

But that’s what the Rolls is I guess… a whole car show in one bodyshell. It’s whatever you want it to be, whatever you need it to be for you. Drag, show, luxury.

But if you’re still in any doubt as to what the point of the Rolls Royce is, I’ll try and help lift you from your misery. It’s a smile maker. We don’t need no stinking nitrous… Well not inside the luxurious interior at least.

An original ’80s brick mobile phone and fake gold bars as wheel chocks? Are you getting it yet?

Plain and simple it will stop you in your tracks, make you point, laugh, smile, applaud and want to know more. Then when you look at it closer you’ll realise that unlike a whole load of other very specific project cars, with the Rolls you can do so many things. It’s a tow car today but it could also be a drag car. Yet it also works perfectly as a show car. You want to run down to the shops? Okay so maybe that’s pushing it… just.

Bryn MusselwhiteInstagram: Speedhunters_bryn
bryn@speedhunters.com

PJP Pro Classic Rolls Royce

Engine462ci GM V8, Mooneyham 14/71 Supercharger, full teflon belts, 2×1150 Dominator carbs and 200bhp nitrous

TransmissionTh400 auto box, three lever shifter, Strange shafts

Suspension/BrakesQA1 suspension kits, BMW E36 components, Wilwood Drag lite discs and calipers

Wheels/Tyres15×6 (front) and 15×12 (rear) Weld Convo Pro wheels, Hoosier drag slicks

InteriorFull custom leather retrim, original Rolls Royce steering wheel, full drag spec cage

ExteriorStandard with a hole cut in the bonnet for the supercharger and two in the front wings for the exhausts, two tone metallic paint