Willment Racing Team Cobra

[Stephen Marshall]

I saw in Trevor Legate's book "Cobra: The First 40 Years" that the Willment Racing Team raced at least one Cobra in the 60's and may have had a chassis for another.  Apparently the racing car was sold and has now ended up in a US collection.
   
   When I was a student in 1970-3 I often worked on the pumps and cleaning cars at the John Willment Ford dealership at Streatham Road, Mitcham.  One of the directors raced an Escort RS that was prepared by two of the mechanics at the rear of the showroom.  Other curiosities in the workshop were a racing Ford Galaxy and a Ford Galaxy pick up used for transporting power boat engines for the power boat team.
   
   Hidden away at the back of the showroom was a car about the size and shape of a Cobra.  As far as I can recall it was built with a red fibreglass body with a fixed bulbous hardtop, apparently by an Italian company.  It had perspex windows and no bumpers but chrome overriders front and rear.  The boot was largely occupied by an enormous spare wheel and two batteries held in place by rough wooden wedges.  I was told that John Willment was a "bit of a car nut" and this car had been built for him.
   
   Does anybody know anything about this car?  I wonder if it used up some Cobra bits that the racing team had left over.  Presumably the car was sold off or carted away to the scrap yard when John Willment went into receivership (their last claim to fame being a leading case on the accountability of receivers for VAT).

[Mark IV]

like thi s one....?    http://www.motor-sport.uk.com/gallery.php?details=252

[Stephen Marshall]

Nothing like that at all!  Imagine a standard Cobra body but with a fixed hardtop instead of a soft top and you will have some idea of the general shape.  Perhaps a bit like an overgrown VW Karmen Ghia.

[Stephen Marshall]

Looking at the other pictures on the site, the picture of the Sytner Cobra is closer to the appearance.

[Mark-Anthony]

Hey Guys
   
   Do you mean the 427 Cobra that was bodied (re-bodied?) by Willment using a Fiat Ghia Coupe body?  The car was for sale for a long time over here some years ago but went back to the states.
   
   It was sold by a Ferrari dealer in Kensington, London (whose name I forget).  The car was reviewed in either "Classis Car" or "Classic and Sports Car" just prior to sale/export.
   
   Mark-Anthony

[Mark-Anthony]

Sorry I should have added:
   
   The body is a Fiat 8V by Ghia, designed by Savonuzzi while still at Ghia.  The chassis number of this/that car is: CSX 3055
   
   I have the current owners name address & telephone number somewhere, west coast USA.  If I can find a photo of it I'll post the web address.
   
   Mark-Anthony

[Mark-Anthony]

Is this it?
   
    www.secondstrike.com/Coupe/OtherCoupes.htm
   
   M-A

[Stephen Marshall]

That's the one!  The photo does not do justice to the sheer poor quality of the bodywork.  For example, I do not think that it boasted a single door lock for what was supposed to be a road car, and the interior was very spartan.  Still, nice to know it is still around.

[TLegate]

As far as I am aware, the Ghia Coupe is alive and well and living in the UK and has been for some time. I was talking to the owner a few weeks back, plus the previous owner! The whole car is being 'refreshed' and the interior will be converted to 427 Cobra spec.
   I first saw the car at Willments showroom in Mitcham circa 1972-ish when it was buried in a corner, tyres flat, covered in dust and with a broken rear window. The salesman fell of his chair when he realised I knew what it was, as nobody who saw the car amongst the Cortinas and Anglias had a clue! For a small fortune - £3,750 - it could have been mine! But having just left art college and living on £7 per week, my post office account was about £3,740 light. I always liked the car as the quirky piece of Cobra history that it is.

[Mark-Anthony]

Trevor,
   
   Any chance you could get (with his permission obviously) his name and telephone number and/or e-mail addr so that I could contact him directly?  If you can please send it to:-
    mac@key2law.co.uk
   - thanks.
   
   Mark-Anthony

[TLegate]

Hi Mark
   I would if I could - I gave him my card and he promised to contact me once the car is finished to his satifaction, so I have to wait until I hear from him! I have no contact details. Sorry

[nikbj68]

I`m sure I recall it passing through Nostalgia in the 70`s, painted black and bearing the registration COB2, I must admit to really liking the shape, and I`d love to know that the (reportedly)terrible handling will be rectified along with the interior`s shortcomings. (Such as this quote from Mark Lawrence, in 2005: "...So it is with some cars. Any time now the ex-John Willment Ghia-bodied AC will come to market (again) and all kinds of claims will be made for it. The fact is that nobody wants to drive it, which is why it is a low-mileage heap of steaming stuff....")
   Incidentally, Octane Magazine featured the Fiat 8V Ghia from which this Coupé took it`s body in the Oct `05 issue, the one with the Goodwood Racers (incl. ex N.Granville-Smith Cob)on the cover.
   Nik.

[Mark-Anthony]

Guys
   I've found the car, it's in this country and it's owned by a club member.  It is being well looked after (and it's NOT for sale).
   
   I have given my word that I will not divulge the owners name etc so please don't ask.
   
   Mark-Anthony

[cobham cobra]

I guess by now you've all seen the article in the November edition of ACtion? Pages 12,15,16 provide interesting background to the Ghia bodied car. By the way, telling me that you have found the car and it's being looked after by a club member in the UK doesn't make me any more curious at all............no not at all...honestly [;)]
   John.

[aaron]

The owner of this car also owns a very original AC Cobra 260 aswell