Replicas tron1: I Bennett £3 Inside Autokraft, Ltd. :7/ II 15 . ~II PHOTOGRAPHY: RALPH RISKIN

LEFT- One of the many pieces of original tooling Angliss purchased from AC prior to beginn ing his own op eration was a frame j ig. Here a finished frame waits to get the welds polished and buffed prior .to painting .

Th is weathered building is the bir thplace of the Autok raft AC MK IV Cobra . Inside the walls of tliis 25,000 sq. ft. building the Cobra is This wood buck , or form , "is also ;mAC resurrec ted . Located on the g rounds of the old Broo klands race track, Autokr aft, Ltd. employ s 40 craftsmen who buil d the Cobra . A few original. The years of use have left it none of them were invol ved in the original pro jec t when t hey were employed by AC. the worse for wear .

here once was a racetrack located nally used by AC to form the alu­ tributor of the AC MK IV, Ralph Riskin about 40 miles north east of minum bodies. He also purchases the (1344 Wetherly Dr., Los Angeles, CA T London called . This original frame jig they used to build the 90069) knows how to use a camera and track not only played host to many his­ ladder style frame. Not only does Angliss snapped a few pictures of the interior of toric races, it was also used as a jumping use original tooling, he manages to talk the shop. This is a rare sight for any­ off point for our planes on D-Day. The many of the original craftsmen out of body since Angliss is so secretive, he super long straights made for perfect retirement and puts them to work. makes Howard Hughes look like an runways to launch an assault on Europe. Luckily for us, the California dis- extrovert. KCI T he track is now closed and has been for years. The sounds and smells of race machinery are only memories and the The hig h I. high bank turns are now covered in banked c orne rs 1 ' weeds and shrubs. It seems to be an of Brooklands A true c raft , work ing with alum inum requ i res pat ience , skill , and a dedicat ion to the appropriate place for Autokraft, Ltd . can still be seen ·tl!Sk. A rear section is get ting the finishing touches by one of the wor kers. Rather I, althoug h t hey than grind i ng them do.wn, the weld s are hammered flat ; this adds strength . In 't he Placed seemingly helter skelter , various (Unit 815, Brooklands Industrial Park, are now background you can see anothe r tail section. If you look closely , you can see how nose and tail sections await the final I i Weybridge, Surrey, ) to be co vered by each of the aluminum panels was rolled and formed to create the piece. When com · assembly a;ea . weeds and pleted , you'll be able to see the weld but you won 't be able to feel it because it is so I. !I located. This now-quiet track is the birthplace of the resurrected Cobra. shr ubs. smooth . . From the outside of the weathered brick and wood building there is little, if any, A partial view of' indication of what goes on inside the the final 25,000 sq. ft. shop. assembly area. Less than a decade ago, Brian Angliss Here, the frames have began Autokraft, Ltd . At that time, the been painted shop was involved in high quality, frame­ and the up restorations of various marques. are slowly Angliss then began manufacturing re­ going together . placement parts for Cobras and he developed quite a reputation as a Cobra restorer. The Autokraft shop soon be­ comes t he premier restoration shop for Cobras in.the UK and E urope. It is now 1982 and Angliss begins building complete cars. Being the per­ fectionist he is, he buys many of the wood bucks, or forms, that were origi-

28 KI T ILLUSTRATED/OCTOBER 1986 KIT CAR iLLUSTRATED/OCTOBER 1986 29 BELOW- Another view of the frame fab­ rication shop.

I Although_ the layman may not see it, there are imp~rfections Out behind the Autokraft shop.is a treasure trove of dis­ in the body and these two Gents are responsible for making carded Cobras. Here a discarded 289 frame gets swallowed sure the aluminum body is smooth as, ahem, glass. And we up by Mother Nature. Need/ass to say, it makes for one heck don't mean fiberglass. of a trellis.

30 KIT CAR ILLUSTRATED/OCTOBER 1986 l The Cobra: Resurrected by A utokraft

By Michael Baranowski

ell,do you think the Autokraft Cobra is the real McCoy or ~ merely a well crafted replica? The one thing you can be darn sure of is this: We have no intention of making your mind up for you. When you take a look at the Autokraft Cobra, or more correctly the Autokraft AC MKIV, and all the intrigue surrounding it, it may indeed appear to be both at the same time. If you're confused, join the ever-expanding club. When you try to get a comment from the three par­ ties involved: , the Ford Motor Co., and Brian Angliss owner of Auto kraft, as to what the car really is you'll get three greatly different answers. Shelby is of the opinion that the car is a blatant rip-off and he says as much elsewhere in these pages. He considers the car a replica and wants Autokraft to stop using the Cobra name. The Ford Motor Co. feels the car is a resurrected version of the Shelby-fathered Cobra . Last but most certainly not least, Brian Angliss feels the car is the real item. Yes, there are a few facts that supportAng liss and seem to jus­ tify his real McCoy claim. He has indeed assembled all of the elements that went into building the original car, with the exception ofthe engine of course. In today's world the 427 has about a snowball's Continued on page :1.5

PHOTOGRAPHYBY : MICHAEL BARANOWSKI

MODELS : ROBYN LYNN KAYE (LEFT) KATHERINE ST. JOHN (RIGHT) A brand new 302 cu. in. V8 powers the Autokraft car. This is the same engine found under the hood of the.'85 Mustang except for the headers and roller cam.

A clue to the true heritage of the car can be found at the fuel filler neck.

The low back seats are coverd in Connolly leather. The leather treat­ ment is carried over to the dash and door panels.

chance of making it past an inspector , The only other option is a pa,ir of stripes. underside of the body, fiberglass inner especially in California. First and fore­ When the cars arrive here in the States, fenders hav~.been insta lled to act as most, Angliss has succeeded in pulling off they'll have the same 200+ hp, 302 cu. in. shields. the coup of the century when he was allowed V8 that came in the 1985 Mustang. This When you slide into the Connolly leather­ to call his car a Cobra and use the name will be bolted into a tubular steel ladder covered seats you find a more spacious and logos. Angliss has also recently pur­ frame that has been assembled on jigs interior than the originals. The passenger chased a controlling interest in AC Cars identical to the originals. The only real dif­ compartment is slightly longer and wider which has possession of the original tool­ ference between the Mustang and Auto­ which gives you things like footroom which ing. You'll note we said possession because kraft engine is the fact the Autokraft V8 427s never had. Interior heat was also a ownership of the tooling is a major bone of comes with headers and a roller cam. The problem with '65s and thanks to shielding contention right now between Shelby, Ford engine also wears a pair of aluminum valve in special areas, the only heat you'll feel is and Angliss. The best statement about covers inscripted with "Powered by Ford." when you turn it on yourself. The doors this whole situation comes from " Auto­ Since overheating was a problem with the and dash also wear the soft leather and mobile" magazine. To quote an acquain­ originals, Autokraft has installed a ther­ instrumentation is provided by Smith's tance of journalist William Jeanes " This is mostatically controlled fan just forward of gauges. Interestingly enough, the tach has one of those situations where, with very the radiator to aid cooling chores. Hang­ no redline indicated which leads you to little effort, everybody concerned can ing off the back side of the 5. 0 liter engine believe Autokraft feels the folks who'll be manage to look like a real ass ." is a 5-speed Borg-Warner T-5 tranny filled driving the car know what they are doing. The two examples of Autokraft Cobras with evenly spaced ratios. The final drive The steering column is adjustable for the we show are the pride and joy of Ralph ratio in the Salisbury rear end is 3.56: 1. driver although hand tools are required. Riskin and was one of the very first impor­ The front suspension utilizes unequal There is a spot on the dash for a radio ted. Jim Mapson took delivery of his '86 in length a-arms and Spax shocks. Large although Jim is hesitant to install one. It's january of '86 after waiting more than 1 Y2 (11.63 diameter) vented Gi.ding disc brakes his opinion the roar of the engine is music years for delivery. The car bears chassis are fit at the four corners and they do an enough. Hopefully, most people will agree. number 1060 and was the very first Cali­ admirable job of bringing the VR50 Good­ Does the Autokraft Cobra sound like a fornia-smogged car delivered. A die-hard year wrapped Halibrands to a rapid halt. car you'd like in your garage? You bet it racer of vintage Cobras, Mapson has spent The body for this car is hand formed does and you can drive yours home for a more time at the wheel of his 289 than from 16-gauge aluminum on some of the mere $41,000 .00. Just be prepared to most folks spend at the wheel of their original bucks. Each body will take about answer questions constantly and be pre­ street car. The only two modifications Jim 200 man hours to complete and with the pared to take a stand on whether or not it's made was to add the Halibrand knock-offs exception of a slightly longer nose, the a replica or the real thing. The only thing and to lower the spring perchs, and ride, skin is a spot-on duplicate of the original that will probably be agreed upon is the 1 Y2 inches. Jim also opted for the hood snake. To prevent rocks from flying up fact it is a beautiful, and beautifully craf­ scoop which makes up Y2of the option list. inside the wheel wells and pummeling the ted, piece of machinery. KCI

KITCAR ILLUSTRATED/OCTOBER1986 35 e recently spent some time with Carroll Shelby at the Carroll Sh~lbyon the W Chtysler-Shelby Development Center in Santa Fe Springs talking about the new Autokraft version of his legendary Ford and Autokraft; Cobra. As many people are already aware, Autokraft Cobra Autokraft has been licensed by the Ford By Michael Baranowski Motor Company to use the name Cobra PHOTOSBY JACKY MOREL ·The relationsf:lip explained ' and the Cobra logos on their car. Ford will also be supplying 5.0 liter engine (302 Anglis·s fellow, who I know and have a sub-contractor of.5.0 liter engines {302 cu.in.) and trannies for use in the car. When don't in my opinion. I think most people at Ford copy an automobile that was somebody he new relationship between the cu. in.) and to Autokraft. They the cars are sold in the United States, they nothing against. I would think he could feel the same way, I know Iacocca does. else's idea. Unless I wanted one for my .. come up with something better than 20 and Auto­ will be sold to the English factory through will be sold through a select few Ford I've talked to Edsel about it, as well as collection, say a 158 Alfa. If I couldn't buy kraft of England has received Ford's Industrial Engine Division and they dealerships and the drivetrains ·will be year old technology, if he's any kind of others at Ford and they fell they've taken a one, I'd probably build one, but for my T automobile man, instead of taking the damn good name and obliterated it. They quite a bit of publicity in the automotive will cany a Ford warranty. It will then covered by Ford warranties. collection only. I could never commercial­ press lately. It appears that a new Cobra become Autolu·aft's responsibility to issue Needless to say, Carroll is not a bit happy things that Phil Remington, Pete Brock, want to use the name again and I could ize on what a lot of other people did. The has been born, or resurrected as the fa c­ their own warranty. They have and, sur­ about this and he shared his feelings Klaus Arning, Bob Holbert, Davey care less what they do. It's not up to me to only reason the Cobra became famous is tory prefers to call it. What has yet to be prise, they're identical. By the way, Ford with us. McDonald, Ken Miles and a lot of others decide. The one thing I'm upset about is because Ken Miles, Davey McDonald, Bob explained are the exact terms of the agree­ was also a sub-contractor to Shelby Ameri­ "As you know, was developed. Dan Gurney and Phil Hill took them letting these people, Autokraft, who Holbert , and Pete Brock made a little ment. The only way to know those would can when the first Cobras rolled off the the builder of the Cobra and not Ford. the car and made it a legend on the race­ have no right to use the name, use it on a shoebox work. We used to call it a pair of be to have a copy of the agreement in hand line. Ford really had nothing to do with it. tracks. Now they've taken the 427 and put or, speak with a person involved in ham­ The finished cars will be sold through Iacocca gave me the money to build the in a completely different engine and called mering out the actual deal. We did the lat­ Ford dealerships although it is up to the prototype at Shelby American and the it a Cobra. I'm not sure what legal recourse ter when we spoke with John Clinard, individual dealership to negotiate with right to sell Cobras through select Shelby I have because, unfortunately, over the Marketing Manager of Ford's Special Auto kraft. They will also be serviceable at dealerships. When we quit building the past 20 years many papers have been lost. Vehicle Operations Group. John was one those same dealerships. Ford prefers that Cobra we had an agreement with Ford­ What I do have are the people who par­ of four individuals involved with the deal­ the Factor y have a hands-off attitude through Ray Geddes who was coordinator ticipated and worked for Ford during this making. The other three were Edsel Ford, about this aspect. of my programs all the way through - whole time. Ray Geddes remembers the Michael Kranefuss head of SVO, and There will not be resumption of serial there would be no more Cobras. I sold the agreement and he knows what it was. All Brian Angliss owner of Autokraft. John numbers for a number of reasons. The name Cobra to Ford for $1.00, I didn't sell Ford got was the name, I had the rights to build the car. I'm not saying they recently spoke with us via the phone and first and foremost being that the NHTSA the right to manuf;:~cturethis car that AC don't he relayed the details as far as Ford is now requires a 17-digit number on new cars was building. I had a verbal agree­ have the right to use the name Cobra concerned. cars. ment with Edsel Ford three years ago to because they do. What I'm saying is they The story opens in December of 1982. About the Cobra name ... never allow the use of the name Cobra don't have the right to give the name away Brian Angliss is selling his engineless As the cars are now imported to the with any replicas. Because I think the to be used on this particular car. What Cobra's through a small dealership in United States, they wear only the AC logo. Cobra should have died. As far as the 289 ever it takes to stop it, I will do. I was lied Chicago. As the cars are then manufac­ They are entitled to since they received a or 427 versions, nobody had any idea it to by Edsel Ford. He lived at my house tured, they will accept any combination of 25 year license on the AC logo from AC would become a legend. It was just another when we were building the Cobras and the engine and transmission. Angliss also Cars. Interestingly enough, Angliss recen­ rough riding clunker that happened to be a only reason I left Ford was because perfor­ happens to be one of England's premier tly bought a controlling interest in AC very fast car. mance went away in the 7Os and when they car without consulting me or asking any buggy springs tied down by trace chains. It Co bra restorers and he'd really like his Cars. The name Cobra has been given to "Anyway, suddenly, everybody starts hired Jackie Stewart, I figured they didn't questions. Shelby American built the was a rough riding sumbitch that would replica to be authentic. To help in the Angliss and Auto kraft for a length of time making kits. I really didn't worry about want me anymore. That's why I went to Cobra. I intend to follow any legal recourse I pound your head off but, they turned it into redesign of the engine compartment to not specified. The cars are now being sold them because most were pretty junky and work for Lee Iacocca and . can, I'm not really ready to talk about it a champion that beat . AC cars accept a Ford drivetrain, Angliss contacts in Europe under the Cobra name and they they called them Cobra replicas. In my This Autokraft car is still just a replica. yet. didn't do that; Brian Angliss didn't do Jack Roush of Roush Engineering in Livonia, wear the appropriate nameplates. Once opinion, you can't stop anybody from Just because they took some tooling that "The name doesn't make the car, the that. How can they sit around and make a Michigan. At that time the Ford factory the final product liability questions have making these kits. Then suddenly, I've is 20 years old and worn out, doesn't make car makes the name. You can call a car profit off it, rather than let the Cobra had yet to be contacted about anything. In been answered here in the US, the cars heard Ford had licensed this Brian Angliss it a real Cobra. The reason it became a anything you want to and if it goes out and legend die? redesigning the engine bay, Roush becomes will be sold here as AC Cobras, again with fellow (the owner of Autokraft-ed.) and AC legend was due to all the work put into it waxes everybody's ass, it will be recog­ The people who went out and spent the impressed with the cars construction and correct insignia. has given him the tooling to build the cars. by the people who built it. Just to copy it nized as an exceptional automobile. I just 8 Grand 20 years ago, they had guts. I Angliss and Roush enter into a(n) (tem­ It is also true that once that happens, A C didn't have a damn thing to do with the and palm it off as an original is a blatant lie used the name Cobra. I've got lots of names couldn't even sell the 1000 cars I built. porary) agreement. Angliss will supply the the Ford Motor Company will unleash it's design of the 427-Cobra. It was done by a and doesn't have anything to do with where I could use. The name Cobra doesn't mean These folks are the ones who deserve to cars and Roush will install the engines and giant legal machine on unauthorized users Ford employee, Klaus Arning, who still the name Cobra came from or what it anything to me anymore. What does mat­ get the appreciation if there is money to be handle distribution however, Roush soon of the name Cobra. They simply want to works for Ford. Arning did it on his own accomplished on the race track. This car ter to me is all the blood, sweat and tears made. AllAutokraft is doing is cheapening learns how tough it is to be a manufacturer' protect their investment. And they fully time, designing the chassis that is, and won't out run anything anymore and with from all of the people who developed it the name by calling the car something it and decides he can't handle the respon- ' intend to. Phil Remington who now works for Dan the little ol' motor they've got in it, it is from a pile of poop to a pretty decent car. 1 isn't. The original buyers bought someth­ sibility of runriing the Ford factory Trans­ The conclusion . . . · Gurney, was the guy who made it work. hard pressed to pull it's own weight. From Pete Brock, who was my first em­ ing that Ken Miles waxed Ferrari's ass Am race team and build Cobras at the It would appear that Brian Angliss has J Pete Brock and the employees of Shelby "Thank God for the Shelby American ployee, to Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Jo with. Brian Angliss didn't have anything same time. The two reach an amicable come as close as any individual has in American are the ones who put it together. Automobile Club. They call them replicas Schlesser and Ken Miles plus the 50 others to do with it. parting of the ways. Roush nonetheless resurrecting the Cobra. With the excep­ All AC was, was a subcontractor that we and they don't register them as Cobras. who made it work. These are the ones I "If anybody was going to build the Cobra arranges a meeting at SVO between Ford, tion of Shelby, Angliss has reassembled , gave the right to sell the Cobra in Europe They are registered as replicas and that is think Ford hurt when they allow someth­ again, it would be me. Believe me, I've had Kranefuss, and Clinard. Out of this meet­ the original players in this play and the ; and England. That was probably the big­ what this car is - a replica. In return for ing like this. I've seen the cars before and ample opportunity but, I've said no. It ing comes the resurrected Cobra. Cobra truly does seem destined to roll on gest mistake I ever made. Now, suddenly, Ford loaning me some money, I sold them they're damn nice work but why doesn't isn't right to the folks who bought the The details ... the street again. How well will it be re­ they think the car is theirs and they had the name for $1.00 and they've used it Brian Angliss build something he thought cars originally. The Ford Motor Company will become cieved? Only time can tell. KCI . ·nothing to do with it. It wasn't even their ever since. They've screwed the name up up instead of copying somebody else? I "That's the way I feel and you can idea. Now, Ford has licensed the Brian so bad it doesn't mean anything anymore, can't imagine why anybody would ever go print that." KCI ------

L------~~------1·------~ . 36 KIT CAR ILLUSTRATE D/OCTOBER 1986 KIT CAR ILLUSTRATED/OCTOBER 1986 37