Polished the Cobra today.
 

The Bronze Cobra hit 1,000 miles today. The car is a blast to drive, you have to get to third gear and still nurse the throttle before the tires hook up. I took a picture of my Elkhart Blue car in the reflection of the door, you can see this is a mirror image reflection on the polished bronze door. The car needs to be polished every two or three months or it tarnishes like a pot on your stove top. I still love it, but it's lots of work to maintain.

Wow!!!

That's an insane perspective!

I'll echo that, WOW!

Wow!!!

Copper Cobra
 

I saw this one at LMC last week

Ditto!

That car is bad ass, only to be one upped by your old Scarab:3gears:

Peter from LMC was in town for the vintage races at COTA over the weekend and came by to look at my cars.

HA, I thought this was Tim's garage...:laugh: There is a blue Corvette right next to the cobra in the second pic too.

That's funny, I wish it was my garage.

I am pleased to find this was not a euphemism.

K

any departures as a result of that visit?

Possibly, Tim. We will see.

Tim-

Looks amazing. What do you use to polish/wax that? Conventional products or something special?

Thanks

I use Master Formula Metal Gloss polish. I got this product from one of the vendors at MCACN and if he is there next week, I'll pick up more. He demonstrates at the show, and I was impressed. I like this product because it leaves no swirl marks and that's important on a big surface like a car.

https://cjsmasterformula.com/

How is that car done is it vinyl wrap?

They use sheets of silicon bronze to make the entire car. No wrap, paint or clear coat.

Here is David Kirkham making a Super Snake hood for another bronze Cobra. This hood will fit the twin Paxton Superchargers. Their work is amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsK8KFhPYwY

That always blows me away, how they beat the crap out of the metal, making a hundred dents and in the end they get it all smoothed out and flat. The final filing to get it flat is the key. I'm always afraid I'll remove too much material and end up with a weak spot.

That leaves me speechless!!

That body is amazing. Having done hammer and dolly work myself I couldn’t be more impressed. Such a cool car to own . I’d think a salt and vinegar wash would keep it sparkling without a ton of elbow grease. Although that may mainly before copper not brass . When I polish aluminum airplane props I use baking soda and they don’t tarnish for a very long time after I have one in my garage I polished about 5 years ago and it says I’ll doesn’t need to be repolished. Gotta be a way to extend the duration. .car looks amazing though.

Thank you, I'll try any method to keep it polished. It's best to keep it covered after polishing. The polished aluminum Kirkhams hold their shine for a long time. The brushed aluminum versions are the easiest to maintain.

Here's another amazing video of repairing a damaged quarter panel on a Kirkham Cobra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9moYO-WWhaQ&t=32s

That is a Kirkham ?

Yes, it is a Kirkham.

Would be cool to see them make a body for this thing.

https://youtu.be/GZE_xj0oF_8?si=TYte48Cxz3ISixbh

I learned these techniques he’s using from a guy when I was a young kid. I really enjoy doing this kind of work and take dents out of airplanes before I wrap them. Of course on airplanes I have to use hit glue pull techniques - Watching this is actually enjoyable to me. .
My wife says IDK how you can watch that stuff, When I was watching it . IDK maybe there’s something wrong w me but I enjoy stuff like that so much. Thanks for posting it

I’m surprised he didn’t re anneal it after he took the bulk of it out which I would think would have work hardened it a bit . Guys so lucky what a job to have.


Polished aluminum airplanes lose their shine fairly quick, the P51 that crashed at the air races had been polished every year they actually had to have it painted because they couldn’t find volunteers to polish it anymore. Chrome wrap would have been a good choice in that circumstance also. Airplanes have a lot of panel breaks in them so they lend themselves to wrap every well.

Like you Tim, I purchased MF at MCACN and I love the stuff. What caught my eye originally was his Pepsi/Coke aluminum cans that looks like chrome!!

Where does he sell this, in the swap meet area ? I recently bought a new trailer and would like to put something on the aluminum fenders and rock guard to protect it from winter salt.

Mitch, yes he is usually located in the swap meet area.

Yes, in the swap meet area. He wasn't there last year. I ordered it online as I can't put it in my carry-on luggage going home.

Thanks, I'll see if he is there this year before ordering online. My carry on fits in the back of my car...:grin:

Got mine at the show yesterday.

I bought a bunch of microfiber polishing rags from him, also.

I’ve got to get down there for lunch one day, Tim. :biggthumpup:

Time to gas up the 310!! Where’s my SuperDave airplane emoji?!:hmmm:

Cheers
Dave

PS: nice to finally meet you at MCACN! Now my wife wants to do that river cruise in Europe thanks to you:shocked:

We have a big Saturday group that meets and works in cars.