Mike wanted his replica to have modern power, braking, and handling, yet retain the classic looks of the iconic roadster. To that end, Mike picked up a wrecked '97 Lincoln Mark VIII and stripped it of its 4.6L Four-Valve engine, rear suspension and driveline, and a few other needed items. Having dropped modular engines into customer cars, he knew it would give the lightweight two-seater good power with smooth manners and respectable gas mileage. The four-cam engine was left stock (nearly 300 hp makes for a fun ride in one of these for sure) and wired it up using ACCEL's DFI engine management. Since the Lincoln had an auto box, Mike backed the modular with a T-45 five-speed manual transmission donated from a Mustang. The Lincoln's IRS was refitted out back, and the kit's Mustang II-style front suspension was used up front without any modifications.
For the interior Mike once again wanted the overall look to be that of a classic roadster, yet with a few modern touches that would make driving more enjoyable and monitoring the modular an easier task. Dolphin digital gauges got the nod for the dash and a Kenwood stereo with four strategically placed speakers do their best to be heard over the roadster's side pipes (and most likely loses). The side pipes, as well as the Cobra-lettered oval air cleaner, are actually from an original Cobra-parts that Mike had stored for many years with dreams of building his own.
The roadster was completed in 1999 and Mike enjoyed it every chance he could. The modular engine certainly raised a few eyebrows when the hood was raised, but Mike never regretted the choice for a minute. Having built dozens of cars over the years, including early Corvettes, Mike says the longer wheelbase of the Everett-Morrison really made the car handle extremely well and the power-to-weight ratio certainly made many a stoplight battle a moot point when the right pedal hit the carpet.
The Cobra came to an end in Mike's life when he stumbled upon the '55 Crown Vic he had built for his dad (also with a Lincoln Mark VIII drivetrain) at a specialty car dealership in Missouri. Mike made a deal to trade the Cobra replica for his dad's Crown Vic with plans to redo the Crown Vic for his father one more time with even more upgrades. Now that's our kind of car guy. The kind who can let his own dream car go to ensure that his father gets his dream car back.
The Details
Mike Steveski's Everett-Morrison '66 Cobra Replica
Engine
- '97 Lincoln Mark VIII 4.6L 32-valve
- 3.552-inch bore
- 3.543-inch stroke
- Chrome cam covers
- Original 427 Cobra air cleaner
- MSD ignition controller
- ACCEL/DFI engine management
- 280 hp
- 285 lb-ft torque
Transmission
- Tremec T-45 five-speed manual transmission
- B&M Ripper shifter
Rearend
- '97 Lincoln Mark VIII 8.8 IRS
- 3.27 gears
- 28-spline halfshafts
Exhaust
- Custom-built "four-into-four" headers
- Original 427 Cobra side pipes
Suspension
- Front: Mustang II-style double A-arm, coilover shocks
- Rear: '97 Lincoln Mark VIII IRS assembly, coilover shocks
Brakes
- Front: 11-inch disc, single-piston caliper
- Rear: 10-inch disc, single-piston caliper
Wheels
- Front: American Racing chrome Nitro, 18x9.5
- Rear: American Racing chrome Nitro, 18x9.5
Tire
- Front: BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD, P245/40R18
- Rear: BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD, P295/35R18
Interior
- Black classic bucket seats, black vinyl-covered dash, Dolphin digital instruments, LeCarra Cobra steering wheel, tilt column, Kenwood AM/FM/CD with four speakers
Exterior
- PPG Mercedes Silver (2001 color) basecoat/clearcoat with black stripes, powdercoated frame, polished side pipes