[lippy]

I (mostly) finished ERA #797 on Saturday and got it on the road. This was one of the best projects I've ever done, and my kids (both girls and boy) all spent a lot of time on it and really learned a lot and enjoyed it. The ERA kit went together beautifully with no major problems, and the quality and service are A+.

I've only put about 75 mi on the car, but here are my first impressions:
- The ride of this car is very smooth and far better than I expected
- Very solid feeling car
- Great exhaust note. A little fussy at low RPM as I expected with a solid roller motor, but very drivable. Brent did a nice job and was super helpful throughout the process.
- Of course it's an open car with 60's technology and side pipes (Classic Chambered), but between wind and exhaust, this car is quieter than my '62 Vette (the wind noise on that car is far worse). I can see taking a long trip in the Cobra without a problem. Glad I got the side pipes - they aren't *that* loud.
- Steering and handling are great, and steering effort is surprisingly low. You really don't need power steering on these cars.
- Brakes (Wilwood option) seem very good. They require a bit of leg but stop well. Clearly superior to the Vette.
- I'm happy I built it with the wool and leather, and a decent amount of insulation. The interior of the car is a nice place to be.
- With the heat on, I drove for over an hour today with my son in 50 degree weather and it was no problem.
- The hidden stereo was a good idea. It's not like driving in a Cadillac, but I can hear it on the highway because the amp has lots of clean power.

I haven't gotten on it yet because I'm still breaking the car in, but I'm looking forward to putting some miles on this thing.