CHESNUT MOTOR SPORTS
"The Ultimate Cobra!" Make your Cobra a SUPERCAR not Replicar!

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Don't buy anybody else's Cobra if you have never driven a C5 Cobra! Now that C5 components are readily available and affordable in the used market, Chesnut Motor Sports felt it was high time to finally build the ultimate performance Cobra. I also can supply all new components. Using an all Aluminum Semi-monocoque Frame with stock suspension components from the C5 Corvette, and skinned with a stock Cobra Body and trim, but you get the powerful and reliable performance of a C5 Corvette beneath a stock wheelbase Cobra weighing in at less than 2000lbs!	Contact Us
These pictures show the chassis just before tear down for final welding and detailing. The chassis is designed to accept several different bodies with only changes to the bolt on front and rear clips. They will be the Cobra, a 1923 T bucket inspired hot rod, Daytona Coupe, Cheetah, and a Lotus 7 inspired body. Based on the AWESOME Race-Proven Semi-monocoque frame design found in the Dragon Super '23 T-Bucket, this Cobra uses standard 427 Style body on Custom Aluminum T-6061 Frame. The chassis weighs 238lbs. Weight as shown is 1488lbs. (Without me!) Production version with no weight penalty will be a steel space frame with aluminum skins, allowing easy customer mods with standard welding equipment. Function and performance being paramount, the engine is moved back about a 6 inches, improving weight distribution. My car has 52% rear weight. My"over-the-top" custom headers were designed to maximize leg-room and cockpit for any enthusiast who may have found space issues in other Cobra kits.(And still keep the stock body dimensions!) Notice the C5 Vette differential and the C5 rear suspension components. I wanted to allow use of front mounted transmission instead of transaxle and torque tube arrangement of stock C5 drive-train, because the transmission tunnel would have been WAY too wide for Cobra-style body. Mitch, at Race Metal Smiths (802)295-7800 in White River Jct, VT., was able to fabricate a conversion plate and bearing support system so the rear diff could take a standard driveshaft. It bolts directly to the trans tunnel bulkhead. This makes the tunnel one large "torque tunnel" . I am applying for a patent for this design. Shown are 18 inch wheels with 275 front and 295 rear tires. There is clearance for 315 front and 345 rears without modifing the body. I am using race style steering shafts. But, a normal column with a Cobra style wheel is available. Front and rear sway bars are standard. So are 13inch front, 12 inch rear vented brakes with aluminum calipers. Yes the radiator is installed veritically for better cooling. Air is routed out behind the front wheels to eliminate "Aero lift" and the heat build up which is typical of a Cobra. I am running a second vent just below the stock one so that the air can properly evacuate. My body is a hand laid, non stressed skin. The hood, doors, and trunk have molded inner panels. The stock body weighs 175lbs. A carbon fiber/fiberglass hybrid which weighs about 100lbs is available. With this body it is possible to have a finished weight of under 1900Lbs. The picture shown below was taken early in chassis development. The front suspension clip and other bracing had not been completed. My chassis has a 4 inch lower floor than a Cobra but I still have 5 inches of ground clearance. Not shown is the fuel tank. I put a custom fuel tank on top of the rear diff, completely inside the frame members for protection in a rear end collision. (It has a sump section behind the diff to prevent fuel pump starvation.)
		FASTER
		LOWER
		LIGHTER
		CARBON-FIBER BODY OPTION
		MORE COCKPIT ROOM
		EASIER TO BUILD
		1900 Pounds
		90" Wheelbase
		62" Track
		52% Rear Weight Distribution
		49" Height
		Ford or Chevy Power
		Corvette C-5 Suspension
YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR TO BELIEVE THE WAY IT HANDLES AND YET STILL HAS A GREAT STREET RIDE!
Body/frame kits and "complete" kits using new C5 parts will be available soon.. Feel free to call me or email me with questions or comments.

P. O. Box 858 / 244 Walker Road, Grantham, NH 03753 Contact us

Disclaimer:
Cobra is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. Corvette, Camaro, & Firebird are trademarks of General Motors Corporation. Dragon Motor Cars, LLC. is not associated with Ford or GM.