Is the V8 Miata really a modern day Cobra?

Lots of articles have hyped the V8 Miata as the modern day Cobra; but is it really?

To answer the question I found a review Car and Driver Magazine did in 1965 of the 427 Cobra. Check out the specs compaired to my Jenna: 

                            427 Cobra              Jenna
Curb weight          2529 lbs                  2580 lbs with a full tank of gas

Weight dist           48 F / 52 R              52 F / 48 R with driver and full tank of gas

Engine                 427 CID                  347 CID

Final gear ratio        3.54                              3.55

From the article: “The Cobra will break traction to speeds beyond 100 mph and imprudent applications of power will send the tail end sideways"  Jenna broke them loose at 85 in 3rd and I have no doubt she will beyond 100...

                            427 Cobra            Jenna

Horse power         485 @ 6500         488 @ 6700 (425 adjusted to 1965 SAE ratings)

Torque                 480 @ 3500          413 @ 5000 (apx with my cam and tune)

Wheel base          90”                        89.3”

Track width           56”                        56.2”

Height                  49”                        47.2”

“Others defend the Cobra arguing that its raw power, great brakes and advanced suspension create such unabashed excitement the owner won’t give a damn about creature comfort"  Agreed but I do like windows and a top!

                               427 Cobra          Jenna

1/4 mile time            12.2                     11.5 on drag radials (time from swaptastic)

0 to 60                     4.4                      4.0
0 to 100 to 0 time     14.8                     14.4 but I will kill that with better brakes
Top speed               165                      Not with me in the car!
Mileage                   9-12                     18-25 typically. My average is 22.

"The driver of the Cobra has about as much fear of being passed by a faster car as he does heard of stampeding water buffalo"  I know the feeling...:-)

                                427 Cobra             Jenna

Cost 1965 dollars       $8,000                  $2,516

Cost 2013 dollars       $57,425                $18,000
 

Pretty cool huh? If you would like to read the entire 65 Cobra article click the Cobra

 

So is Jenna a Modern day Cobra then?  At her core she is the same combination of American muscle and great suspension in a small foreign car to create dazzling performance.  Her modern features like A/C, decent gas mileage and a folding top might very well be a part of the Cobra if they were still being made today. 

 

Still I cannot bring myself to see Jenna in the same light as the iconic 427 Cobra.  It's like I can love current southern rock but there will never be another Lynyrd Skynyrd. There can only be one legendary Cobra and it's no slam to any car that nothing can ever rival it.   

 

 

So it's up to the V8 Miata to find her own glory and leave her own mark on us.  Indeed after 4500 miles of driving one I find it most disconcerting to look down at a Miata interior and hear what amounts to a raucous, unvarnished Grand Sport Le Mans racer emanating from within!