Phantom XC Cobra

[drof]

Heres another mystery car for you Nick.....
The Phantom XC Cobra was a Bathurst prototype car but I can find no info on this car. The only Diecast model released of this car was by Trax.
Anyone else help?

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[Nick Short]

Hi Dave. Is that the odd-looking squashed thing with Cobra colours? I've only ever seen a photo on the Autopics website if that is the one....

[drof]

Nick, I can't seem to find the one on the Autopic site you are talking about, I have tried various titles for a internet search about this prototype model but so far no success.The Trax model was introduced in 1998 and it was called a "Phantom Edition". This release was based on a rare Bathurst prototype, which never made it to the market. I will e-mail Trax Models to see if I can get any info from them. I have tried various Australian Muscle car sites, heaps on every GT Falcon and the Phase 4 and your beloved Cobras,nothing about the Phantom. If this car did exist, even in prototype version it may be worth even more than the Phase 3 and 4's. The colour sceme was black with gold striping and gold Cobra's. Unfotunately nothing else to tell.

Has anyone got any info or heard about this model??

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[Nick Short]

Sorry Dave, the car I was thinking of on the Autopics site was what looked like a squashed lightweight Cobra sportscar in the blue and white colour scheme. I don't know anything about that one either! I'm very intrigued by the black and gold one and would be interested in any info.

[Graeme]

I know the model but not it's origins.

I doubt if it exists as a real car except perhaps as a motor show special. I certainly wouldn't regard it as a Bathurst prototype.

For the curious, there is a picture of the Trax model at the Gateway Models website ( page 5 of the Trax 1:43 section)
where you'll find the asking price at $99.00.

[Nick Short]

Thanks for that Graeme! It certainly has the Cobra kit bolted on, but as you say it may well be a show car - very 70s paint job! Other than that I have no idea, but then I'm a Pom and didn't catch any of this motoring history at the time. In fact around that time we were all raving about the Austin Allegro in the UK, and that's sad.....

[ET351]

I didn't know what the story was with this 'Phantom XC'. I had a look at the pic on Gateway (thanks for the link, Graeme).

After I saw it, it reminded me of the Mustang II. Around 1977 there was a 'Cobra' Mustang, and it had the Black and Gold paint scheme, looked similar to the Phantom. I think I saw a plastic kit of it, or maybe it was a pic in a book, I'm not sure.

BTW, congrats to me on 100 posts:D

Cheers, ET351

[biante2224]

Drof

I recall reading in one of my many books / magazines a brief reference to the concept of the XC COBRA. A early plan was to paint the last 400 body shells black and call them Playboy Specials.

After a bit of research and constant looking, I can't now find the printed article and therefore can't really account for its validity (sorry).

Perhaps someone else can help you. I'll keep looking !

[Nick Short]

If my mate is right, the Cobra is still a "Playboy Special" - he calls it the Ford Codpiece and thinks it's nothing but a poser's car.....oh well.

[Senator1]

From memory this topic was raised quite some time ago,with many various theories whether it was for real or not, & i seem to remember someone who used to work at ford said it never existed & was just a figment of the minds of the people at Trax, a bit like the light blue XR GT they produced & when questioned by a mate of mine who was ex-ford dealer their reply was "we're not sure we'd better check our information more correctly next time"

[morton]

Hi drof just been browsing the threadsand seen yours right at the end, I bought the 'Phantom Cobra' from trax and never thought much of it's history until now. Did you ever find out any information on the car or just run into a dead end, I always thought of it as one of the proto acrs that never make it into production.



Martin