Ford Phantom Cobra ???

[BATHURSTFAN]

I went past a car yard in Brisbane and there was an EB Falcon with the blue & white stripes as the 1978 Cobra and decals.

I thought it was a "made up" car, but someone told me that several were made and were called a "Phantom Cobra".

Does anyone know about this car???

I was going to get a photo but the car has since sold.

It was on display at a car yard in Kedron, Brisbane.

[brchi17]

From memory, these were made for a visit by Edstal Ford II not long after the first EB V8 was built.
At the time there was a lot of talk of a Cobra rivial, but it was mearly hype.
There was also a rumor at the time of a return of the 351, but that too didn't happen.
The car also resembaled the EB SS that was a 6 cyclinder verson used for production car racing.
I must go back through my car mags for more info
Hope this helps in the meantime,
cheers.

[brchi17]

I've found that mag !!!

All of what you are about to read had been paraphased from the March 1992 Edition of CAR AUSTRALIA - Author not stated in the article.

The above mentioned article stated that the Cobra was "strictly a one off" that was done to celebrate the visit to Australia by Edsel Ford II.

The one you saw was/could have been the only one of it's type ever built (did the price seem quite high for a vehicle of its' age?).

The real EB Cobra, was an idea thought up between Jac Nasser (then Ford Aust. President) & Mike Jarvis (then PR chief).

The EB Cobra was a rushed mock up of the 78 version which was simply an Automatic V8 (165kw - back when this was serious sports car grunt) EB Fairmont & the job was done by John Birt (then Ford Broadmeadows research centre).

Apart from the blue stripes, the car was mechanicaly stock apart from a twin system to allow for better engine breathing. It had a Tickford body kit & lowered suspention & the yet to released Tickford 16' wheels.

It was then noted, that the stripes were not exactually true to the origional as they wearn't as wide nor were they spaced far enought apart, as the origional XC.

The rest of the article went on to talk about the return to the race track of the V8 Falcon in the hands of Dick Johnson & Glenn Seton. It also highlighted the creation of Tickford & spoke about the factory fitted sunroofs & all of the options that Tickford were going to offered by Tickford. There were also spectualation about the (then) unrealeased EB GT.

Hope this helps fills that void about your knowledge of this unique Australian car.
cheers.

[SWRT]

FPV should make a 25th Annaversary Cobra in 2003 and unveail it at the Melbourne or Sydney motor show.

[brchi17]

I think Ford is very busy getting the XR8 ready for the Melbourne motor show as its' due in March & I bet thats where we'll see it first.
cheers.

[Esses]

Seen around Canberra: an AU Futura (of all things) done up with Cobra stripes. Looks professionally done. What a waste, it's only a six.

[BATHURSTFAN]

I was told by a friend of a friend....

That this EB Cobra was Numbered No1 and sold for $13,000 - the one i saw in the caryard recently that is.

Thanks for the info.;)

[Andrew]

Steve, I too have seen an AU in the Cobra stripes - in a caryard in Hobart. It looked pretty silly.

[SWRT]

I've seen a AU XR8,white with cobra stripes at Gosford Ford.