So what could Las Vegas, the city of glitter and glitz, bright lights, and a 24/7 fun cycle have to do with an owner-built Cobra kit car and its creation? Or, better yet, why would we even mention the two in the same sentence?
As it turns out, it makes more sense than it seems because it was in Las Vegas that Richard and Tina Jones got their first close look at a Cobra kit. It was one of those casino giveaway cars (if you hit a jackpot), and in that moment, surrounded by all the hubbub of a casino environment, they were hooked. But not to drop another dime in the slots, but rather to build the car of their dreams. And so it was that the car dreams are made of was there in the city where dreamers come to make them happen.
The fascination with the slick little Cobra body lingered long after the vacation was over and all the other events of the trip were faded memories. There was no way to fight it, and it wouldn't go away. The only sensible thing to do was take a closer look at the possibilities.
Being a first time builder, Richard wanted to be careful about the product he selected, so he and Tina did a little Internet search and contacted a couple of the companies for additional information. When the final sorting was finished, Shell Valley was at the top of their list, but before any monies were spent, two other decisions had to be considered.
First, did Tina really want to sell her 22-foot ski boat, and second, should they visit Shell Valley's facility prior to purchasing the car? The answer they came up to both questions was yes. The boat sold and soon the pair were off to Platte Center, Nebraska, for a little show-and-tell. After meeting with Dana Dankert (SVC's salesperson), touring the facility, meeting Shell Valley owner Rich Anderson, and climbing into and checking the fit of the company's Tangerine Dream Cobra, a deal was made.
The rolling chassis, body, and the remainder of the parts arrived in August, and Richard got right down to the business of building his very first kit car. Most folks who see how the Jones' car is finished never guess a first-time builder constructed it. The attention to detail is at such a high level that you would simply assume it was built by someone with multiple cars in their portfolio.
When Richard ordered his kit, he checked the box on the order sheet that got him a rolling chassis-a package that included a powdercoated frame, narrowed 9-inch Ford rear, tubular A-arms, triangulated four-link rear suspension, Aldan coilover shocks, four-wheel disc brakes, and some retro-looking wheels. But Richard thought a little extra pizzazz was needed, so he pulled some of the suspension parts off and had a bit of chrome plating added to the mix. He then started the assembly process in earnest.
Richard then installed a 351 Ford Windsor crate engine that he had picked up from Christian Nelson at the Engine Factory in Irvington, New Jersey, as well as a Tremec five-speed transmission, into the chassis, adding the necessary plumbing to transport liquids (such as the 20-gallon aluminum gas tank from SVC) and gasses from one end of the car to the other. All wiring that provides power to all points on the body was next.
After the body was set in place, all the hinged panels were fitted, gaps tweaked, and mechanisms adjusted for effortless operation. The interior monitoring and Alpine-based entertainment system were also installed, wired, and made ready for final detailing. Once everything was fitted, all the panels aligned, and the mounting hardware operating smoothly, Richard stripped the body of its parts and removed the body from the frame.
While he had been doing the assembly work, Richard contacted several body shops to get their thoughts about how they would prep and finish this body. After a satisfying initial interview and a chance to see several finished projects, Richard settled on John's Auto Body & Paint Inc., in Imperial, Missouri.