RCNMag.com SPRING 2019 DIY Dash Construction Smyth Ute Conversion London Cobra Show Preview ONCE AND FUTURE KING A throwback MkI GT40 modernized with the latest twin-turbo EcoBoost engine Page 38 Artistic mastery in a Factory Five ’33 Hot Rod Page 28 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 38 OMING NEXT MONTH C On the Cover Pete Brock’s Superformance Cobra Conceived to honor Ford’s Le Mans winning GT40s of the 1960s and the 2016 GT, Supersized Super Seven the Superformance Future GT Forty pairs a 600 hp EcoBoost V6 with the classic Ken Miles Edition GT40 MkI design. Photo by Drew Phillips. Inset photo by Mike Peters Photography ERA Cobra with 427 ci Cammer THROTTLE STEERING DIY 6 Old Versus New School 34 Crash Course in Cabinetmaking By Steve Temple, Editor Constructing a custom GT car interior in a Factory Five Racing Coupe. RCN ONLINE By Jonas Jasinskas 8 @RCNmag.com A preview of current online exclusive content. COVER STORY 38 Once and Future King FEATURE CAR A throwback MkI GT40 modernized with 10 Brickyard Tribute the latest twin-turbo EcoBoost engine. Reconstructing memories of A.J. Foyt’s 1961 Indy car. By Steve Temple By Juan Lopez-Bonilla FEATURE CAR READER’S RIDE 44 Cloaking Device 16 Memory Lane Classic Sting Ray styling conceals a contemporary Corvette. Reflecting on the 15-year buildup of a Daytona Coupe reproduction. By Joe Greeves As told by Russ Foster EVENT PREVIEW FEATURE CAR 50 The Power of London 22 The Transformer Exciting new developments for the London Cobra Show. Morphing a muscle car into a performance pickup. By Juan Lopez-Bonilla By Joe Greeves TECH READER’S RIDE 56 The Case for Coilovers 28 Artistic Pursuit Precision adjustability for improved comfort, handling and curb appeal. Aesthetic mastery gives rise to a fine-tuned ’33 hot rod. By Jeff Zurschmeide and courtesy of Cusco As told by Chris Leso 4 CONTENTS 10 22 16 28 FEATURE CAR 60 The Keeper Hitting the high-water mark with a Boss 429-powered Ford Torino. By Joe Greeves TECH 66 Power Plays Three recipes for eclipsing big-block power in a small-block Cobra. By Steve Temple 44 60 FEATURE CAR 72 Mr. Sandman Bring me a dream — the hottest dune buggy that I’ve ever seen! By Joe Greeves READER’S RIDE 78 Hitting the Apex A higher calling for Corvette C5 components. By Dave Green RCN 87 Marketplace 72 78 reincarnationmag.com | Spring 19 5 THROTTLE STEERING Old Versus New School hile recently attending a Corvette ZR1 two- Don’t get me wrong, both cars are loads of fun, but W day driving school at the Spring Mountain the Cobra is way more elemental, almost medieval by Motor Resort and Country Club, I realized comparison. Even so, it would be cool to see how well just how much I had to “unlearn.” That’s because I’ve a Cobra would stack up against a Corvette in timed been to a few other driving schools with several types runs, just to see how far we’ve come. Rick Malone, Spring of cars over the years, and the technology has changed Mountain’s chief driving instructor, recalls manhandling markedly. one around the track a few years ago. He felt it did very Steve Temple For instance, hustling a Cobra replica around a road well, but found it sloppier on the turns, and he had to Editor course requires a wholly different technique. The slip- work harder at it, too. and-slide method for setting up a corner exit hardly As much as there are differences in technology, the agrees with the Corvette’s sophisticated electronic one constant over time is the generous power on tap, suspension and low-profile Michelin Sport Cup 2 racing almost too much for the relatively short road course tires. You carve through the corners with surgical that we were limited to (but a much longer one is in the precision, rather than mixing up a greasy meatball drift. works, so stay tuned). I was grateful for the patient and Also, the Corvette’s carbon ceramic brakes with professional demeanor of the skilled driving instructors ABS allow a much more aggressive entry. They really at Spring Mountain to keep me on track (literally). scrub off speed — right now. The threshold braking I recall driving on this same course several years technique is still similar, just way more sudden. ago in a Honda S2000, which in some ways was easier In addition, with a Cobra, you just turn the key and to toss through the corners, especially after some personal punch it. In contrast, the latest Corvette requires a instruction from the Honda’s suspension engineer. But preflight checklist with several electronic adjustments. I also found myself stomping the throttle and mashing These include setting the driving mode (track, in this the gears to squeeze out as much acceleration as possible case), along with the rev matching function for the clutch from the 237 hp four-cylinder. No way would it ever hit — no need for double clutching and blipping the throttle 140 mph on the backstretch as I did in the Corvette. between shifts, as in the old days. Also, don’t forget to No surprise, then, that with the ZR1’s 755 hp plug in the SD card and activate the data recorder supercharged LT5, some restraint is needed. As with function. the Cobra, it can really bite you in an instant. Only a There’s even an avionic-style, heads-up display on moment’s inattention or lack of focus can result in an the windshield, minimizing the need to glance down embarrassing off-road excursion. I came close a couple at the dash to get readouts for speed, revolutions per times, but rescued the slide before heading into the dirt. minute and gearing. In comparison, the only trick deal So what’s the bottom line here? Consider taking on the Cobra’s instrumentation was a reverse-reading advantage of the latest in performance parts for your speedo. replica build, and you’ll find your driving experience Speaking of punching the throttle, the ZR1 has a will be markedly enhanced. And you’ll also have a better computerized launch control function. While not part chance of staying on the pavement, too. of the driving school’s curriculum, it does provide a more consistent launch, as it takes the thought process Steve Temple out of revving the engine and dumping the clutch. [email protected] 6 reincarnationmag.com | Spring 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. Straightening Out Ford’s 351 ci Engines Cleveland, Windsor or Modified? Here’s a basic rundown on Ford’s 351 ci engines and what makes them different. www.RCNmag.com/blog/ straightening-out-fords-three-351s Rikki Tikki — The Homebuilt Real-Deal V8 Healey Racer This unrestored 1956 Austin-Healey 100 was converted Cobra Roadster in period to a Chevrolet small-block and raced in SCCA Auto technician builds his own events in the 1960s and ’70s. Cobra from sheet metal and used parts, all to fulfill a friendly chal- www.RCNmag.com/fresh-finds/ lenge from a member of the local real-deal-v8-healey-racer Cobra club. www.RCNmag.com/garage/rik- ki-tikki-the-homebuilt-cobra-roadster To The Victress Belong The Spoils This extremely rare Victress C3 up for internet auc- tion boasts recent ownership by Merrill Powell, the car’s designer and part owner of Victress. www.RCNmag.com/fresh-finds/ to-the-victress-belong-the-spoils Reinvented Roadster With 250 horsepower and a scant 1,500-pound curb weight, the Zenos E10S takes the British roadster formula to extremes. 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