quote:hard braking causes the front end to "dive", which has the effect of transferring more weight (load) onto the front tires, making matters even worse
While I agree on the rest of David's post, I think this part is incorrect. When more weight moves to the front tires, it's actually harder for them to lock up, with all the weight on them pressing them into the asphalt. So if that weight transfer didn't happen, the fronts would lock up even earlier.
That's why a car with 4 equal brakes on 4 same size tires always ends up locking the rears, because the weight transfer gives more weight to the fronts and less to the rears, and the rears then easily lock up.
Interesting about the Cobra as well, the ideal braking car locks up all 4 wheels at the same time. But the balance changes during the braking, and maybe the Cobra owner figured out that just locking the rears just before stopping gives the best brake balance during the whole stopping effort. Not recommended for the street though...
For those interested I can tell you that I changed all my braking to a Pantera Performance/Quella kit this winter. 4 Willwood calipers, new discs in front, kept the rear discs, + new handbrake set up. It stops on a dime now, and doesn't lock up until maybe the last 2 feet (front). They work so fine I now have a problem with fuel from the secondary bowl sloshing into the engine when braking, will realign carb this winter.