Peter Brock has become a blogger! Sometimes referred to as the Energizer Bunny, Brock continues to delight us with his designs, insights and stories.
Now you don’t have to go to an event to ask Brock a question. He will answer your questions online on his blog, which will also make the answers available for all to see. You may want to ask questions about a project or vehicle Brock has worked on, a person he may have worked with, a design, his photography career or a question on current automotive happenings on which you would like his opinion.
Brock may not be able to get to all questions but he’ll try. Brock’s answers may be in various formats such as a text response or as video. Often Brock will have something in his archives or in the shop he will share.
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April 11, 2019 April 3, 2019 March 22, 2019 March 16, 2019
Who built the first Cobra, and where?
Why wasn’t the Shelby – DeTomaso P70 ever finished?
The BRE Parts Business
Who was the person you worked with the most closely at Shelby’s and how did he contribute to your success?
Hi Peter, great Info. on the early history and creation. I’ve moved to Calif., but please let me know when your open house will be [if not already past]. I don’t look at my e-mail too often. If possible I would make it a point to combine a trip with other business in LV.
Regards, E.G.
Outstanding bit of automotive history. Thanks Peter.
Dear Mr. Brock,
Thank you for your continuing contribution to capturing automotive history and in particular the Shelby world. My area of interest is the early conversion of the Ace in the UK before exportation. It was you that directed me to the Canadian small block truck engine that was used in that mock-up and road test before the Fairlane 260 was available, It was also you that shed light on John Tojeiro’s use of pre-war, Fiat designed leaf springs which were adapted to his ladder frame. Bringing this technology forward to achieve a world championship is a super human feat by any standard. I vote that you receive an Honorary Doctorate in Automotive Design! A builder is now finishing my FFR Type 65 Coupe (in my tax bracket) which I plan to show at your open house this year,
Best regards, Deane CB
Hello Dean…so cool that you are building your own Daytona. It’ll be a car that commands presence anywhere you go! Look forward to seeing you at our open house. Peter Brock
Interesting that the rears on the “Cobra Kit Special” appear to be snows. Better traction on the dry lake, perhaps? I guess this was before speed ratings were a thing for tires.
Great article.
Looks to me like that photo was taken at the 1964 Pike’s Peak Hillclimb. A.K. Miller’s car consisted of an Ace-Bristol chassis, Ford V8 and Devin body.
Hi, Peter! Thanks for this great historical tidbit. Got a question about Cobra styling: To my eye, the 260/289 Cobra’s face is so much more attractive than any AC Bristol I’ve ever seen. Do you have any idea how/when the design of the nose evolved from the look of the AC Bristol?
AC had started fitting the Ford Zephyr engine to the Ace due to supply of Bristol engines drying up, and Alan Turner, AC’s designer, took a spare grille from an AC Greyhound, turned it upside-down, lowered the bonnet(hood)line, and reprofiled the front to the shape that later graced the Cobra.
The lovely tapered nose made its debut on the AC Ace 2.6 “Zephyr”. The body grew fender flares when it evolved into the Cobra.
Hi Edd….There was one model from AC called the “Ace” that came just after the Bristol engined car and before the first Cobra. The Ace body style (designed internally at AC) was adapted for the first Cobras. Thanks for your interest and good questions! Peter Brock
This is the kind of factual information true “car folks” love to have when discussions come up.
What fabulous insight!!
Thanks, Pete. I worked with Ak Miller for several years when I was in charge of Ford’s Muscle Parts program. Being a modest guy, Ak never mentioned building the first AC/Ford. Ak was a real innovator, but not well known outside the Hot Rod world (early turbo charging, propane induction, Mexican Road Races, etc.)
Don Coleman
Be fun to try and track how many deals Shelby tried to make before one clicked. For sure he tried GM on engines before Ford. Among the chassis makers in England he tried were Aston Martin, Cooper, and Austin Healy.
Wild alternate future – what if Cooper had had the capacity to supply the number of cars Shelby wanted(?) – the Cobra would have been a mid-rear car!
There was the Cooper based King Cobra but that’s a differehnt story.
Fantastic story. Thanks Brock.
Fascinating information from someone that was actually there! Thank you for this post, Peter!