FASTBACK Streamlining a 289 FIA Cobra Roadster with a Le Mans Hardtop Page 36
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RCNMag.com SUMMER 2019 Nostalgic Allard J2X MkIII 427 SOHC Cobra Roadster DIY Paint and Prepping FASTER FASTBACK Streamlining a 289 FIA Cobra roadster with a Le Mans hardtop Page 36 Exacting Grand Sport #004 Replica Page 48 CO5994 ReinCarNation_VDO_356 Gauges_FullPage_7-19_V1.indd 1 6/7/19 11:58 AM Meister Brauser Scarab • Limited Series of 20 • Built to Original Team Specs • FIA Certified Street Legal High-Performance Scarab • All-Aluminum Body • Available Painted or Unpainted • SVRA Approved Option Services Provided • Vintage Race and Classic Car Restoration and Repair Services • Aluminum Body Construction • Fabrication Services • Specialists in the Development and Construction of Limited Edition Alloy Body Recreations Scarab Motorsports LLC 5002 Hadley St. Overland Park, KS 66203 (913) 972-2189 • www.scarab-motorsports.com Contents 36 OMING NEXT ISSUE C On the Cover Elegant, scratch-built BMW 328 CSX7084 from Shelby American honors the original hardtop Cobra roadsters that Converting your carburetor to EFI preceded the successful Daytona Coupe. This radster rides on a 427-style chassis with Improving on the ’67 Shelby GT500 four-inch, stainless steel main rails, and coilover suspension. Photo by Steve Temple. The eerie world of early kit cars THROTTLE STEERING FEATURE CAR 6 The Wheels of Federal Bureaucracy Grind Slowly 26 Cat Scratch Fever By Steve Temple, Editor This brand-new ’32 highboy howls with a hot big-block V8. By Joe Greeves RCN ONLINE 8 @RCNmag.com DIY A preview of current online exclusive content. 32 The Hot Seat Extend your roadster’s cruising season with a seat heater. FEATURE CAR By Jim Youngs 10 Return of the Allard J2X COVER STORY Reviving an iconic family name and its line of unmistakable V8-powered racers. 36 Faster Fastback By Steve Temple Streamlining a 289 FIA Cobra roadster with a Le Mans hardtop. By Steve Temple FEATURE CAR 16 Coupe de Grace FEATURE CAR How pioneering designer Peter Brock improved 42 Royal Treatment on his original Cobra Coupe. Deco Rides’ Maharaja pays tribute to a regal, By Steve Temple one-of-a-kind Duesenberg. By Joe Greeves DIY 22 Beat the Heat READER’S RIDE How to keep things cooler under the hood. 48 The Real Deal By Jim Youngs Building a ’63 Grand Sport that’s just as loud, raw and terrifying as the original. As told by Larry Taylor 4 CONTENTS 10 42 16 48 DIY 54 Learning Curve A first-timer’s experience prepping and painting small parts. By Jim Youngs FEATURE CAR 58 Conversion Reaction Exciting response garnered by a custom Corvette C7 Stingray. By Steve Temple FEATURE CAR 64 Cammer Cobra 58 64 Cramming Ford’s infamous 427 SOHC in a replica roadster. By Steve Temple READER’S RIDE 72 Miller’s Crossing Hitting the road, literally, in an FE-powered Shell Valley Cobra. As told by Mark Miller FEATURE CAR 78 Vive La Difference Top Gun translates French designs into American neoclassics. By Steve Temple RCN 26 78 86 Marketplace reincarnationmag.com | Summer 19 5 THROTTLE STEERING The wheels of federal bureaucracy grind slowly ecently I came across some articles dating back Elaborating on these communications, Gosswein R several years about a promising new law for further points out that nearly 2 1/2 years have passed low volume replica manufacturers. since the law’s 2016 deadline for completing any necessary Manufacturers in our industry were generally enthusiastic regulatory action. NHTSA has yet to issue a proposed at the prospect of being able to build a limited number rule, let alone a final rule. NHTSA deadlines for publishing of emissions-legal turnkey cars. This approach would the proposed rule have been missed, including April likely simplify the entire buying process while still 2018, May 2018 and June 2018. allowing consumers to build cars their own way. He adds that the only necessary requirement is for Steve Temple As far as ReinCarNation magazine is concerned, any NHTSA to provide a way for the low volume manufacturer Editor approach to building a replica is fine with us, whether it’s to register with the agency and file annual reports. a DIY project car, a nearly complete roller except for an However, NHTSA maintains that it must issue a regulation engine or a total turnkey deal. Just so long as replicas can before replica vehicles are manufactured and sold. get completed and running, and registered for the road. So what’s been the hold up? We contacted NHTSA, The replica law was enacted back in late 2015, but and the agency indicated that the proposed rule should here’s the rub: The National Highway Traffic Safety be published for comments sometime this spring Administration won’t let production begin until it issues (presumably before our summer issue is in print). From a regulation and it has yet to even issue a proposed rule, there, the request for comments lasts anywhere from despite concerted efforts by the Specialty Equipment 30 to 90 days. Issuing a final rule would then follow, but Market Association. While most folks know of SEMA’s the time frame for this step is indefinite, as we were mammoth trade show held in Las Vegas every year, this informed that rule-making is a long process. organization also works hard to protect aftermarket This latter comment hardly comes as a surprise. It’s and replica companies on a variety of issues, such as really disappointing that our government officials have tariffs, E15 ethanol and state licensing and registration. been dragging their feet for so long on the replica law, When asked on the status of the law, here’s what as there’s really no downside to this piece of legislation, Stuart Gosswein, SEMA’s senior director of federal as underlined by Gosswein. government affairs, noted to us via email and by phone “The law was intended to create jobs, generate taxes, interview: provide consumer choice and place a spotlight on America’s “There has been no change since our SEMA Show automotive heritage,” he points out. “We are continuing meeting [in November 2018] when we stated that SEMA to urge NHTSA to allow companies to begin immediate was prepared to take NHTSA to court if it failed to take production. SEMA is working through a variety of immediate action to implement the low volume replica channels, including our allies in Congress, to put pressure car law. on NHTSA to expedite the low volume program.” “It was not an idle threat, but we held off filing a If you’d like to add your voice to help jump-start the lawsuit since SEMA had subsequent communications process, contact Secretary Elaine Chao at the U.S. Department in which agency officials indicated that they were within of Transportation and ask her to direct NHTSA to implement weeks of publishing a proposed rule. Months have now the 2015 law: [email protected]. passed and the agency remains unaccountable.” Steve Temple [email protected] 6 reincarnationmag.com | Summer 2019 7 NEWS & ALERTS Visit RCNmag.com RCNmag.com and sign up for our newsletter. Get exclusive content delivered @ right to your inbox. Visit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our daily content and get the most out of ReinCarNation Magazine. I Let This Austin Get Away I let this 1935 Austin Seven Sports Special reproduction get away after some intense biding, and honestly, I’m not thrilled about it. www.RCNmag.com/blog/ i-let-this-austin-replica-get-away Boosted SVE Unrestored Devin 295 Racer Exobusa Project Car Raced throughout the 1960s and ’70s with a 409 ci Chev- This featherweight two-seater rolet under the hood, this unrestored Devin 295 drag car from Exo Sports Cars is propelled is a treasure for nostalgic racing enthusiasts. by a 156 hp Hayabusa street bike engine with an aftermarket www.RCNmag.com/fresh-finds/ turbocharger for good measure. unrestored-devin-295-drag-special ¡ ¢ £ ¤ .R .c /f h-find / § b¥¦ ted-busa-power-in-feather- weight-exo A Sound Investment? Can a replica vehicle be a sound investment, and if so, how does it pay dividends? www.RCNmag.com/blog/a-sound-investment 1956 Wright Special Roadster Seen this year at Amelia Island, the Wright Special started life as pre-war Maserati Indy 500 car before receiving custom aluminum bodywork and a Corvette dual-quad V8. Join the Discussion www.RCNmag.com/blog/1956-wright-special-roadster FB.com/ReinCarNationMag 8 Advertiser Index CONTINUATION, REPLICA AND LOW VOLUME AUTOMOBILES Allard Motor Works Inc. .............................41 Published by: BAT Inc. / Mocal USA................................86 Borla Induction . 71 1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd., PO Box 220 Three Lakes, WI 54562 www.rcnmag.com CRS, Inc...........................................71 © Copyright 2019, COLE Publishing Inc. No part may be reproduced without permission of publisher. Factory Five Racing ................................3 In U.S. or Canada call toll free: 866-933-2653 Elsewhere call: 715-546-3346 Email: [email protected] / Fax: 715-546-3786 FormaCars, Ltd.....................................41 Office hours Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CST Forte’s Parts Connection . 86 SUBSCRIPTIONS: A one year (4 issue) subscription to Haywire & Co., LLC .................................85 ReinCarNation™ Magazine in the United States is free. Visit www.rcnmag.com or call 800-257-7222. ididit, LLC.........................................7 Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy is important to us. Marcel’s Custom Metal..............................31 If you prefer not to be a part of these lists, please contact Nicole at [email protected]. Meaty-Delivery ....................................86 DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Contact Brad Bisnette at 866-933-2653 or sales@ Motor Classic & Competition Corp.