Polished the Cobra today.

[TimG]

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

[Too Many Projects]

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.

[napa68]

Originally Posted by TimG

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 leaves me speechless!!

[turbo69bird]

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.

[TimG]

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

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by TimG

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

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.

[ScottG]

That is a Kirkham ?

[TimG]

Yes, it is a Kirkham.

[turbo69bird]

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

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

[TimG]

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.