The Car That Ben Built

The Car That Ben Built

The Car That Ben Built

Ben, an Engineering Manager for GE Oil & Gas North America and 12-year employee, exercised his mechanical aptitude and skills in a unique fashion. "My wife and I were looking at buying a small convertible car. After looking at various models, I asked her if she would be interested in have a Cobra Replica. She loved the look of the car, and I was anxious to build one."

In October of 2003 the kit was purchased and Ben started to gather all the components needed to make this a street legal vehicle. "The kit provides the frame, body, interior panels, and some suspension components. I then started buying the remaining chassis and drive train components needed to finish the build."

"One thing about building your own car is the attention to detail and quality of assembly. You don't want to be thinking 'did I tighten that bolt?' when you are traveling down the highway at 65 mph! Ever since I was a child, I had in interest in all mechanical things. In high school, in addition to working at my parent's restaurant, I worked as an apprentice in a friend local service station. I learned many skills for automotive repair and maintenance, but most importantly I determined I wanted to pursue my college degree in Mechanical Engineering and learn to design machines, not just turn wrenches."

Ben started his career as a Design Engineer at the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania location, where he was responsible for the flange to flange (entire machine) design of hot gas expanders. The hot gas expander is a simple single stage power recovery turbine used in refineries to produce power from waste gas. This type of unit is currently under nomination for an ecoimagination award. The units produced in Pennsylvania location are rated for power recovery up to 75,000 HP.

Many people would consider Ben to be the typical gear head, always interested in cars and racing. "Building this car was a great way to balance out my work life. Things can be hectic at work, and coming home to the garage and 'turning wrenches' is a great way to unwind for me." Ben's love for things mechanical resulted in his building of a beautiful car, almost entirely from his own hands. "The mechanical assembly was straightforward. Wiring the car was a bit tedious (I guess that confirms my decision not to be an Electrical Engineer!). And, the bodywork and paint was the most satisfying experience."

This is not just a "good looking" car, but also a fast one as well. With almost 400 HP under the hood, and a total weight less than 2,300 lbs, this car can accelerate very quickly. "My goal was to have a car that could go from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, faster than most Corvettes and Ferraris on the road today." After two and a half years, Ben was able to finalize his project and obtain street legal certification from the state. Ben and his wife Marie enjoy Sunday drives with the wind blowing through their hair.