Greetings from the North-West

[tomsredstratos]

Hi Norm and welcome to the forum.

What was the reg number of the Allora you built? Is it one we know here?

Tom.

[Normb666]

Hey Guys,

thanks muchly for all the good wishes - it's nice to be wanted (except, maybe, by the rozzers!). Loooong way off getting anything that may one day resemble a Stratos, but that won't stop me posting rubbish on here

Prototipo - it's Chris, isn't it? - yeah, you're right, I did go to that Oulton gig with my yellow Cobra! The yellow Stratos in your pics was owned by my pal Dave...we both had yellow Strati at the same time between '89 and '92, at which point I sold mine (part exchanged it at a Lancia dealer's for a new Integrale Evo).
Are you the guy who does all the decals? - cos if so, I bought a set from you a few weeks back via ebay

Tom, my Allora was SBM 660R, built between late '87 and early '89, and it's now owned by Steve Struthers (Susit on here). He called me when he bought it and we had a good long chat, and next time I was up his way I got to see it all over again! At the time of the Oulton thing (2006) Steve was there and told me someone had crashed into the back of him...I believe he's got it sorted now (or is on the way, anyway). I did try and send him a PM on here but his mailbox is full.

Coupla pix of Cobra....



It's a Superformance, made in South Africa, and mine was no. 24 which turned out to be a prototype raced by the factory. Motor was a 351 Cleveland (5.7 litres) and it was very close visually to a real one - so much so that someone at Oulton asked me if it was real. No surprise there, till he told me he actually had a real one and couldn't tell!!

Mel, I think I've already spoken to Steve by chance - I think it was him at the Heaves Hotel "Car's the Star" car show in July, when I was there sorting out some details for a driving weekend I'd organised. Small world, eh? He never said it was a Lister Bell - but I was only vaguely aware of them then, and assumed it was a Hawk/Transformer.

Not sure whether I should continue to post in this thread or start a new one with any news...what's the accepted protocol? (assuming there is one!)

Laterz

The Norm

[ChrisCar6]

Welcome Norm.
Looks like your already beyond the 'just joined' status, so just post anywhere and everywhere!

[LM mic]

Very very nice Cobra Indeed !!!
Congrats
I do like the details and the way the front oil cooler is connected !!!!!!!!!!

[Stratie.fr]

Welcome and congratulations for your gorgeous Superformance...probably the most accurate cobra reproduction built since Shelby original ones!

Here there is another one in my shared garage...one red contemporary powered with a real FE side oiler 1965 427 SC engine

Have change to use it sometimes with some infidelity to my Corse S!
Only words you can say when you drive it its "WOW My God!!"

[ProtoTipo]

Prototipo - it's Chris, isn't it? - yeah, you're right, I did go to that Oulton gig with my yellow Cobra! The yellow Stratos in your pics was owned by my pal Dave...we both had yellow Strati at the same time between '89 and '92, at which point I sold mine (part exchanged it at a Lancia dealer's for a new Integrale Evo).
Are you the guy who does all the decals? - cos if so, I bought a set from you a few weeks back via ebay

The Norm

Yep, that's right.
There's a chap in our village that brought a similar Cobra back from South Africa. I wonder if it's the same make?

[ProtoTipo]

The Allora:

[tomsredstratos]

Yes I remember the car. It was advertised at around the same time I purchased mine (2001). That's when Susit bought it.

Yes it did get hit and as far as I know never repaired. He did reappear on this forum a few years back. Anybody heard from him?

Tom.

[Normb666]

That red Superformance looks ace! And it's got a proper 7.0-litre side-oiler too?? No wonder you say "wow" when you drive it! Mine was enough of a handful...you never have a relaxing drive in a Cobra!
The reason I bought that over the usual Cobra reps was precisely because of the way it evoked the real thing. I can't be doing with all these reps with cream leather interiors and all that fluffy malarkey. The whole point for me was that it should look and sound like it was about to rip your head off, not look like Barbie's Little Cobra or whatever Anyway, they must be doing something right, cos it's the only rep that Shelby actually licenced.

LM, I can't claim any credit for the Cobra as it comes out of the factory like that! All you do with a new one is drop in an engine and box! Bet the "build section" of the Superformance Owners Forum must be the most boring thing on the whole internet

Chris, that one in your village could well be a Superformance if it came from S A. Most of them end up in the US, although you can actually get one here through the official importer (Nigel Hulme, if I remember correctly). They also do absolutely superb Daytona Cobra reps and an incredible GT40 which is so accurate (steel centre monocoque!) that they all go on the GT40 register with proper continuation chassis numbers etc.

Ta for posting a pic of the old girl - almost brought a tear to my eye (didn't last long when I remembered all the skinned knuckles and new swear words I invented). Can't believe how tasteful I was fitting those yellow-centre Revolutions...not like me at all...probably drunk or something Where was the pic taken?
Oh, and I have to say how wonderful your decals are. Couldn't believe them when they arrived, especially for the price! I had some knocked up by a local firm when I built the Allora - still got a set somewhere - but yours knock them into a cocked hat.
Funnily enough, last weekend I came across one of the number plates from the HPE donor when I was mooching about in the garage. Wonder why we never throw anything like that away?? Must be a Man Thing...

Tom, my old car was sold from the Lancia dealer to someone in Bolton, and that was who Steve got it from. Apparently the guy never used it - said something about a broken clutch cable, which i thought was impressive considering it had a hydraulic system
Talking to LB Craig, he reckons Steve's got the body sorted (or is on the way) now. Hope so, but I can understand how soul-destroying it must have been to have that happen, and no source of body parts or anyone to help with fixing it.
Steve, if you're reading this, come and say Hello!

[ProtoTipo]

Chris, that one in your village could well be a Superformance if it came from S A. Most of them end up in the US, although you can actually get one here through the official importer (Nigel Hulme, if I remember correctly). They also do absolutely superb Daytona Cobra reps and an incredible GT40 which is so accurate (steel centre monocoque!) that they all go on the GT40 register with proper continuation chassis numbers etc.

Ta for posting a pic of the old girl - almost brought a tear to my eye (didn't last long when I remembered all the skinned knuckles and new swear words I invented). Can't believe how tasteful I was fitting those yellow-centre Revolutions...not like me at all...probably drunk or something Where was the pic taken?
Oh, and I have to say how wonderful your decals are. Couldn't believe them when they arrived, especially for the price! I had some knocked up by a local firm when I built the Allora - still got a set somewhere - but yours knock them into a cocked hat.
Funnily enough, last weekend I came across one of the number plates from the HPE donor when I was mooching about in the garage. Wonder why we never throw anything like that away?? Must be a Man Thing...

I saw Stephen not so long ago. I think it might have been at this year's Kit Car Show?

I can't remember where that photo of the yellow Allora came from?
We have a thread especially for all the Alloras here:
http://www.stratosec.com/Forum/showt...ra-owner-list!