Think you're good at metal-finishing your bodywork?

Is that on a Porsche chassis or something? Either that, or there's a giant cooler built in the back. Like, what's with all the trap doors?

 

I know for sure that there are Polish, English and American built Cobra bodies because I have had them in my shop. There is probably more than one place in the States making them because some bodies need LOTS more work before they are painted.

The A.C. bodies from England are very nice and I understand the buyer pays a premium price for the body.
He will save some money in paint prep work because they are nice.
The #1 A.C. body rolled thru my booth and was the easiest Cobra I have done.

The polish bodies are decent, but need quite a bit of prep work. The photos are of a Polish built car. I was told the old Mig factory story too.

 

hi guys ,

i followed the auction for the aluminim 40 they sold on e-bay and kirkham (the importer ) is from utah.

they posted build pics (i have them saved on the other computer) which showed these cars are made in tiny pieces and welded together, lots of pieces in seemingly no random order.

after asking some questions to kirkham and on metalmeet the conclusion was that the polish factory had a bunch of skilled welders and very little metalshaping experience. they went with their strengths , which is welding.

however they got there, they got there. i don`t see how we can so easily dimiss their accomplishments.

how many of us are skratch building bodies???


gary

 

just for the record.. my question was an honest one and not a slam on the builder. how do you build a car or anything out of copper and keep it from turning green?

 

keep the bare metal out of the rain is the biggest factor. a protectant like Gibbs may help, but copper really needs exposure to moisture to oxidize. in the machine shop i work we have copper sitting around inside, the finish will dull a bit, but it doesn't get any green oxidation.

 

Hey,

Many of the Italian coachbuilders of the 40s and 50s used the
many small shaped panels welded together method, to build
their bodies. No large press tooling existed for one-off or
short series run bodies, and thus many patch work-like panels
served well. I'm told the inner sides or these bodies were kinda
rough, but the outsides were beatin and filed to perfection.
' didn't know that Kirkam was buildin Willys, guess that's why
the Swedes quit building them and moved on to '32 Fords.

Swankey Devils C.C.

 

Take a look at their wooden bucks. There was more time and effort put into those than a lot of guys put into their whole cars. Beautiful craftsmanship.

 

Better not leave it sitting around where I live. Someone would steel it and haul it off in the back of a truck with a bunch of AC units and sell it for scrap.

puns intended.

 

wow.

 

Damn those "copperchainers".....

I think they are pretty cool - actually saw the '40 in Charlotte a while back.


Reece

 

Well said, We should all aspire to do work on this level but it requires skills most will never have.

 

i once built a steel bra for my (now ex-)girlfriend for a costume party (see pics on the HAMB about 3 years ago)...

i don't care whether you like the car or not, that is WORKMANSHIP! i got sick of test fitting my work against the buck, and the buck in my case was a nice pair of tits!

those guys have more patience than i have hairs on my head...

 

Did that '40 really sell for $16,600?
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6355

 

hi duece rails,

i couldn`t believe it sold for that either, but thats what it sold for.

horrible marketing by kirkham, no one knew that car existed much less was for sale

gary

 

If that is indeed copper sheet,it probably cost a fortune in just material alone.
Pennies havn't been made of copper in years....they're zinc.
Scratch the edge of a penny on some cement & look at the color.
Thats why they dont ring anymore when dropped.
A company at work just installed a HUGE Argon tank to supply about 25 welding booths.They plumbed everything out of stainless tubing.Everything except elbows,tees,etc.
The guy told me to do it all in copper would have quadrupled the price.
I like that copper car!

 

This guy here in town made a copper bathtub for Jennifer Aniston and he charged her $60,000 or it!

 

Wow......that's a lot of work....I bet that things weighs quite a bit.....

 

That cobra is beautiful. If I owned it I'd run my tongue all over that body.

But if you had an electrical short you'd feel it as soon as you tried to open the door.

 

Just a couple things:

Unemployment in Poland is 15% but among 18-27 year olds it's more like 40% People have to be tallented and skillful just to have any work

The average Polish craftsman make less that the kid flippin' your McLunch

This wonderful work is ''The job'' no more no less.It's what you are expected to do for the money your paid

I think it's hard for some guys in the ''First world'' to understand conditions in the ''Third World''

Just my .02

 

i bet she looks wonderful in it.

gary

 

hint hint!

 

What a bunch of hacks....I never use more than two pieces of metal when building a body.....no wait, I mean I never use more than two pieces of bread when making a sandwich.

 

hi guys,

found the pics. the amount of welding is just incredible.


enjoy,

gary

 

Go to snschrome.com They do the paint like you guys mentioned. Dan

 

Crazy! I gotta respect work like that...especially because of the amount of patience involved...

 

These are both steller rides...over the top...but awesome craftmenship...

 

How many times did he have to test fit it!?