The moment Dean Hornbacher unloaded his Midstates Cobra from the trailer we knew something was unusual. For one thing, the 427 badges on the front fenders above the cooling vents were Corvette 427 logos. Our second clue was the license plate: "COBRAT 1." To confirm our suspicions, we immediately opened the hood, with Dean's permission that is. Aha! The Cobra had a Chevy 427ci powerplant. To some, that's taboo. But, not everyone's a Ford fan. The kit car hobby is filled with individuals who desire to build some self-expression into their cars.
Ever since Dean purchased a '70 Chevy Nova that had originally been built with a late '69 Chevy 427ci mill at Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago, he'd been a GM fan. In fact, back when Orange County Raceway existed, Dean ran a 12.40 pass in that Nova. He wishes he'd held on to that rare car that came from Nickey Chevrolet (with the backwards K). Nickey Chevrolet was like Yenko Chevrolet-both dealerships hot rodded factory Camaros, Novas, and Chevelles for customers and sold them new. From owning and racing that '70 Nova, Dean remembered how stout the Chevy big-block engines were, especially the 427ci.
Growing up in Inglewood, California, he and his buddies used to ride their bicycles over to El Segundo. That's where the Shelby American shop moved to in the mid-'60s, at the corner of El Segundo and Aviation Boulevards. After getting kicked out of the small showroom, they'd peer between the fence's chain links and watch Shelby's technicians preparing and testing the Shelby Mustangs and the Cobras. From those moments Dean knew he'd one day own a Cobra-he just didn't realize it would be Chevy powered or a replica.
Some 30 years later, after researching the various available Cobra replica kits, Dean purchased a Midstates bare body and frame. Midstates' owner, Bob Calio, emphasized that customers could build their kits anyway they wanted to. If they desired installing a Chevy drivetrain for example, Midstates would help them. Dean was also impressed with the quality of the Midstates fiberglass body and the significant amount of steel that reinforces it.
KIT CAR invited Shell Valley and Midstates Classic Cars & Parts, which is now wholly owned by Shell Valley, to participate in the KIT CAR Performance Day. Mr. Hornbacher is also president of the Association of Handcrafted Automobiles (AHA), the very same kit and replicar club that produces the annual Knott's Berry Farm show. It was fun to see "El Presidente," as club members know him, put his Chevy rat-powered Midstates Cobra through its paces. Since he used to drag race his Nickey Chevrolet '70 Nova, we weren't surprised to see him do well during the 0-60 mph runs. We're also sure that with more practice, he would have conquered the skidpad and the slalom.
The mighty rat mills from Chevrolet will hopefully again make a statement at KIT CAR Performance Day. Watch out for those "dirty rats," as James Cagney used to say, in upcoming test articles. KC
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