Philip L. Haller is a Phoenix police sergeant. He's a Porsche owner who had previously modified a '79 Mercury Capri Turbo and a '78 Porsche 911 SC. However, when he drove his friend Mike Foss's Cobra, he was hooked on Snakes.
He chose the Factory Five Racing '65 Roadster as his entry into the world of kit cars then went to Tempe's Gordon Levy Racing to help with the build, the cosmetics, and the power. After a patient, methodical three-year build, Haller had a slithering Snake he could drive around the desert...in style and at speed.
Haller chose a '92 T-bird IRS to build his Roadster on and set the ring-and-pinion ratio at 3.27:1. For safety and a smooth ride, he added Wilwood pistons, calipers, and rotor brakes; coilover shocks; 500-pound springs; and '93 Mustang spindles and installed a Flaming River steering rack and shortened '93 Mustang steering column during the early portion of the build.
For power, Haller popped in a '66 Ford 427 V-8 sideoiler that is stroked .20 over. The block was bored, honed, decked, aligned, and bored again. With a Holley 830-cfm Pro series carburetor, Isky cam, Edelbrock aluminum water pump, K&N 14-inch air cleaner, Ford 427 tunnel port heads, and Factory Five's 4-into-1s manifold, the mill pumps out 575 hp at 6,500 rpm with 550 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. This is enough power to propel the 2,200-pound FFR Serpent to a top speed of 185 mph, and Haller has smoked the tires in First to jet to a 0-60-mph best of 3.2 seconds.
Levy Racing did the bodywork and painted this beauty '00 VW Jetta Tornado Red, with Wimbledon White pinstriping. Chrome quick-jack bumpers, original door handles, and window glass finish off the exterior, while a Motolita steering wheel, FFR seats, and black leather upholstery provide a classic look inside. The engine compartment is decked out with 427 Cobra reproductions of the originals to complete the scene under the hood.
Too bad he can't use this blazing beast in the line of duty...no desert desperado would escape this Cobra Cop. However, since he can't, Haller just uses it for fun in the sun...tons of fun in lots of sun. Seems like a good fit to us.