1995 Mustang Cobra R clone
100% professional race history since 1996, campaigned in
IMSA Firehawk, Speedvision Cup, Motorola Cup and
Grand Am Cup
This is one of three cars built and driven by Chuck Snipes of
North Carolina (below at Daytona 1996)
100% professional race history since 1996, campaigned in
IMSA Firehawk, Speedvision Cup, Motorola Cup and
Grand Am Cup
This is one of three cars built and driven by Chuck Snipes of
North Carolina (below at Daytona 1996)
Car was purchased from Chuck Snipes in 2004 after it became
ineligible for GAC. Its’ last professional race was in Sept 2003
at VIR with Grand Am Cup in Budget livery.
ineligible for GAC. Its’ last professional race was in Sept 2003
at VIR with Grand Am Cup in Budget livery.
Beginning in 2004, the car began an extensive rebuild. The intent of this work was not a
concours restoration, but rather a very thourough rebuild of a racecar for use in serious
vintage racing. As such, aspects of the cars patina were left intact (such as the
somewhat bent-up floor pans and race era body repairs that did not represent structural
compromises).
All systems on the car were completely torn apart and rebuilt or replaced with the goal of
producing a very reliable racer with high quality parts and workmanship. Both the
engine and transmission were left as delivered from Chuck, as neither had more than 10
hours since the last tear-down. The engine is in the trim fielded at VIR in 2003, and has
three additional ECU’s with alternate tunes.
A full accounting of the parts involved in the rebuild can be found in appendix 2. No
expenses were spared in the parts used or the level of detail in the repairs. For example,
the front strut / damper setup is one of a handful of surviving MultiMatic prototype kits
for the GAC Mustang program, and were returned to MultiMatic for a full restoration.
Likewise, the GAC approved Alcon front brake kit was fully rebuilt with new hats and
rotors. The list goes on. See appendix.
Although Chuck ran several paint schemes on this car, it is the original Stars and Stripes
that was chosen for the final livery. Since the original digital files for the graphics were
lost in a computer failure many years ago, the graphics were painstakingly reconstructed
from vintage race photos and video as well as detailed photos (and physical samples) of
original graphics from one of its sister cars that is now in the hands of a restorer. Per
HSR and SVRA guidelines for graphics, period correct sponsorship graphics are
available, but not applied to the car. Only the car number, “Snipes Ford” and “Goldsboro
Neon Sign” currently decorate the car. Series names and series specific fuel and
contigency companies were not duplicated.
During the rebuild process, hundreds of photos were taken to document everything.
These are available on a CD at request. In addition to the build photos, there is a
reasonably large body of historical photos that can be included. Some of the historical
photos are copyrighted, so further distribution of them would be unwise.
The car has had less than 4 hours of track time since completion of the rebuild. This
time was spent with basic set-up and normal bug chasing after such invasive work. As
of this writing, the car has only seen a single track in common with those that it raced
professionally, namely Pikes Peak Raceway in Fountain CO. Lap times achievable with a
modicum of set-up time are roughly equal to Chucks’ qualifyting times.
Spares for many parts are available (the take-offs and some body panels). All purchased
parts inventoried have receipts and where applicable, instruction sheets.
Car is offered at cost. $55,000 US
Don Burch: don.burch.geophysicist@gmail.com 303-218-8489
concours restoration, but rather a very thourough rebuild of a racecar for use in serious
vintage racing. As such, aspects of the cars patina were left intact (such as the
somewhat bent-up floor pans and race era body repairs that did not represent structural
compromises).
All systems on the car were completely torn apart and rebuilt or replaced with the goal of
producing a very reliable racer with high quality parts and workmanship. Both the
engine and transmission were left as delivered from Chuck, as neither had more than 10
hours since the last tear-down. The engine is in the trim fielded at VIR in 2003, and has
three additional ECU’s with alternate tunes.
A full accounting of the parts involved in the rebuild can be found in appendix 2. No
expenses were spared in the parts used or the level of detail in the repairs. For example,
the front strut / damper setup is one of a handful of surviving MultiMatic prototype kits
for the GAC Mustang program, and were returned to MultiMatic for a full restoration.
Likewise, the GAC approved Alcon front brake kit was fully rebuilt with new hats and
rotors. The list goes on. See appendix.
Although Chuck ran several paint schemes on this car, it is the original Stars and Stripes
that was chosen for the final livery. Since the original digital files for the graphics were
lost in a computer failure many years ago, the graphics were painstakingly reconstructed
from vintage race photos and video as well as detailed photos (and physical samples) of
original graphics from one of its sister cars that is now in the hands of a restorer. Per
HSR and SVRA guidelines for graphics, period correct sponsorship graphics are
available, but not applied to the car. Only the car number, “Snipes Ford” and “Goldsboro
Neon Sign” currently decorate the car. Series names and series specific fuel and
contigency companies were not duplicated.
During the rebuild process, hundreds of photos were taken to document everything.
These are available on a CD at request. In addition to the build photos, there is a
reasonably large body of historical photos that can be included. Some of the historical
photos are copyrighted, so further distribution of them would be unwise.
The car has had less than 4 hours of track time since completion of the rebuild. This
time was spent with basic set-up and normal bug chasing after such invasive work. As
of this writing, the car has only seen a single track in common with those that it raced
professionally, namely Pikes Peak Raceway in Fountain CO. Lap times achievable with a
modicum of set-up time are roughly equal to Chucks’ qualifyting times.
Spares for many parts are available (the take-offs and some body panels). All purchased
parts inventoried have receipts and where applicable, instruction sheets.
Car is offered at cost. $55,000 US
Don Burch: don.burch.geophysicist@gmail.com 303-218-8489
