A Cobra is a pretty sweet street car. A Cobra covered in candy apple paint is even sweeter

“I clearly remember saying to my mate Geoff when he first bought the car that he was the luckiest guy I know. Now I’m that guy,” says Barry Tetley, the owner of this stunning candy-coated Cobra replica. I don’t think many people would disagree with that assessment.

He had wanted a Cobra for as long as he can remember, so when Geoff bought one, Barry was understandably a bit envious. Throughout the time the car was in Geoff’s ownership, Barry always thought of it as his future car. With its rough-and-ready black finish and yellow nose cone, there was no doubt the Cobra meant business, especially with the roll bar extending down between the seats.

It’s Now Or Never

Although the car was Geoff’s dream machine too, it wasn’t long before he figured out it wasn’t quite right for him. With a young family but just the two seats in the car, it didn’t work. “We couldn’t even leave the kids at home and the wife and I go for a drive, as she would have to look after the kids,” Geoff says.

He knew his friend had always dreamed of owning the car, so Barry was the first person it was offered to, and although it may not have been the perfect time for him to be buying, he knew it was now or never. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand the thought of someone else driving ‘my car’ if I passed the opportunity up,” Barry says now. Needless to say, the deal was done and Barry was living the dream

Although at the time Barry didn’t know it, he’s since found out that when the car was built back in 1987, it was as a street-legal race car. Apparently the owner went to Graham Berry (now Kiwi Race Cars) with $80,000, which was a lot of money back then, and specced the car with the best bits available at the time.

As with all the Berry cars of that period, the chassis is built out of RHS and is fitted with a Jag rear end. According to everyone who has seen the underside of the Cobra, it’s quite impressively built, which is no doubt the reason for its superb handling.

After its racing days the car was moved on to another owner who proceeded to fit the engine bay with the 351ci Clevo it sports today. The bottom-end was fitted with TRW forged pistons, a 4MA polished crank and a Crower Street Beast camshaft. The heads are two-valve items ported for four valves by Mick Webb, and atop them sits an Edelbrock manifold and 750cfm Holley carb. With a Mallory ignition system and Ford Motorsport oiling setup, the combo is good for a reported 415hp, which in a lightweight Cobra is more than enough to get the heart pounding.

“I’m kind of an old school-type guy, so I like the fact it has a clunky, heavy-shifting top-loader gearbox in it,” Barry admits. “I know I could fit a Toyota box, and everyone says to, and even though it would give it an extra gear, it just wouldn’t be right.” It takes a hard man to drive a roadster, especially one that sees regular driving in the rain like the Cobra does…

“I’m sure Carrol Shelby didn’t design them to sit in the garage,” Barry reasons. “Driving them often does come with its share of problems though. I’ve been caught out many times with the weather. Once the road is wet she’s got a mind of her own. There have been many instances of her stepping out and me with my heart in my mouth. For a wild ride, just add water.”

If the car were still in as rough and ready a state as when Barry purchased it, I’m sure it wouldn’t be as much of a problem to repair should the car leave the road. These days, however, thanks to the absolutely gorgeous candy apple red finish on the car, Barry is understandably nervous. He feels the result is worth the extra caution, though. “I believe colour choice and finish is critical; I’ve seen many beautiful cars that could have been spectacular let down by an average paint choice and finish. Mine, however, proves an old race girl can be revitalised and get serious street cred by making the right choice.” It was with this knowledge that Barry took the Cobra to Jason and the team at Auto Colour Matrix on Auckland’s North Shore.

Thanks in part to the head-turning colour, the car now fits in wherever it goes, yet stands out at the same time. “It’s a chameleon, it fits into any event, be it hot rod, muscle cars, sports cars, classic cars, race, show or cruising.”

If the looks it got while on our photoshoot are anything to go by, it also generates a crowd wherever it goes. People who know what it is love the stance and the colour, while those who aren’t familiar with Cobras love the curves and contrast the colour gives around various parts of the body.

Inner Beauty

As well as the paint work, Barry has also had the interior tidied up and modified to be a bit more cruising friendly. Gone is the diagonal roll bar, and a second roll hoop has been added. He also commissioned Auto Upholstery and Canvas in Otahuhu to retrim the interior to a level far more suitable for a car that people will be looking at.

Beyond the cosmetics, Barry has sorted out various reliability issues and tidied up bits and pieces that were changed over the years; it’s now a turn-key car that is a pleasure to drive.

The three-piece spun aluminium wheels suit the car’s heritage and were on the Cobra when Barry bought it, although they were black at the time. Measuring just 15-inches in diameter, they fill the bulbous front guards nicely when wrapped in 245/50R15 BF Goodrich tyres. Up the back they are slightly wider at 265/50R15.

Can’t Wait For Summer

Although Barry’s not too put off by driving the car in winter, chances are he can’t wait until summer when he knows he won’t be caught out by rain. Living in Pukekohe, he has the ultimate driving roads on his doorstep just waiting to be cruised. If you live out that way and see a low red blur in the distance, it may very well be Barry and his very sweet candy-coated Cobra heading out to play.

1987 Graham Berry Cobra Replica – Specifications

Engine: Ford 351 Cleveland (5752cc), Edelbrock manifold, TRW forged pistons, polished/shot-peened rods, 4MA polished and balanced crankshaft, Crower Street Beast hydraulic cam, 2v heads ported out for four valves by Mick Webb, Holley 750cfm vacuum secondary carburettor, Mallory 110 fuel pump, Mallory Unilite ignition, Ford Motorsport oil pump drive, gated sump with windage
Driveline: Four-speed Ford Top-Loader close-ratio gearbox, Hurst shifter, Jag open diff
Brakes: Jag rear discs and callipers, Holden steering, front discs and callipers with a booster
Suspension: Koni adjustable shocks all round
Wheels/tyres: Three-piece spun aluminium wheels, 245/50R15 and 265/50R15 BF Goodrich tyres
Exterior: Candy-red with silver/black pin-stripes by Auto Colour Matrix
Interior: Auto Upholstery & Canvas (Otahuhu), Smiths reverse speedometer and gauges, leather trim. Complete with soft-top, hard-top, tonneau cover
Performance: 415hp (309kW), 13.5-second quarter mile

Barry Tetley – Owner Details

Age: 39
Occupation: Technical manager
Previously owned cars: ’78 twin carb SR coupe, ’68 VE Valiant
Dream car: Was a Cobra, now a ’62 Ferrari 250 GTO
Why the Cobra: “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand the thought of someone driving ‘my car’ if I passed the opportunity up”
Barry thanks: Miller Motors Tuakau for its mechanical services, mods and repairs. Auto Upholstery and Canvas in Otahuhu for the trim. Auto Colour Matrix for the panel and paint work

Words: Todd Wylie Photos: Dan Wakelin