How many unfinished cobras are out there and why

eddytheb · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 03:13 PM

I often wonder how many unfinished cobras are out there and what are the reasons that people stop working on something that was once a life long dream. I have been doing Cobra builds for years and found that there are a bunch of guys that just need a little help and there back up and running. It has been real rewarding to be able to help a few guys and get them back at it. What are the reasons your build stopped and what would help you get going again.

Check out the new shop at www.eddytheb.com

D&M2 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:11 PM

The process of building my cobra has been quite a learning experience. I used to work on some of my cars when I was in high school but it was usually minor things and any of the major stuff when to the garage.

My cobra build is pretty much finished. All of the running gear is in place, the electical is working, and most of the moving body parts are pretty well aligned. However, since I don't have the experience in getting an engine running, the car has been at a local guy's home garage for the past year waiting for him to have time enough to get the engine fired up.

He is so busy though, he has not had any time to work on it. I had been waiting for him to work on it as he is a person friend and is one of the best around. However, he has agreed that he probably won't get to it still for quite a while so the cobra will be brought back home where I can at least refine things until I can find someone else who can help get it running.

Mike

rustyBob · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:28 PM

I built my car in my 1.5 car garage over a 6 year period But what took me so long was wife had major auto accident then went through cancer treatment and we moved half way across the country and some times money had a lot to do with it.I never gave up on it because i knew how much fun it would be when it was finished.........
I would never have left my car at someone elses shop/house for any length of time no matter how good they are and the "I'm to busy" excuse dosen't fly with me if you have time to eat or poop you have time to get my car fired up or dont offer to do it if your not going to............

Ralphy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:34 PM

Take it from a recent shopper. The top non completeted kit Cobra being sold is Street Beast. I did not buy a SB, hearing so many negatives.

Silverback51 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 05:45 PM

My original plan was to buy an ERA kit and build it myself. If I had started down that road, one of two things would have happened. It would have been sold as an incomplete car, or I would have had to pay someone to finish it for me. My work schedule just does not allow me the luxury of the amount of time necessary to build a car.

fastraxsg · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:30 PM

I've been working on my Hurricane for about 2 years now and its about 1/2 way done if you don't count body prepping. I've done it all by myself with my two young daughters helping. We've had fun and work when we can so it will eventually get done. School and work just doesn't allow us large blocks of time. But rest assured, when it is done, it will not be pink....meanwhile we continue to drive and fool around with our old beater. ken

*13* · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:39 PM

Money pit!!!

These cars cost a lot & can require a lot of effort. If you love the challenge of a big project your more likely to finish it! It would be interesting to know who has invested the most & will never finish

twobjshelbys · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:42 PM

I may have found a project. A friend of mine that had moved away came to our little pub on Saturday said his boss is building a 289 kit. This could be interesting...

tcrist · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 08:44 PM

Mine is 99.5% done. It just needs a few items finished up but with my arthritic fingers it just hurts too much to work on it and being overweight does not help. Or just a lack of motivation I guess.

On another note, there is a B&B in Tracy Ca. if anyone is interested. No its not mine.
http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/1424248797.html

Terry

Stinson Pilot · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 09:36 PM

Probably will never know how many are out there.

I got my kit from a guy that had dreamed of having one, got it home and it sat in his garage for 4 years, never started it. He said he just lost interest.

Great deal for me!

Gunner · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 09:46 PM

Every part of me that is sad I didn't build mine gets happy when I go sit in my beautiful, factory-built, fully sorted beast. I didn't even go broke on it.

Doesn't mean I don't stare out the window sometimes, dreaming about an ERA truck pulling up to unload all those exciting boxes and bales and body-on-a-pallet...

rustyBob · #12 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 09:46 PM

I got a call a couple of years ago from a woman in Denver her brother had died and in his garage was an unfinished Cobra kit that he had purchased and never started and she wanted to know what it was worth and what she should do with it.
to make a long story short.........
she donated it to a local highschool in Denver.......
that was cool........

LMH · #13 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 11:22 PM

I had mine nearing completion, then started changing it to better suit what I really wanted in the first place. I work on it every Sunday but that seems to be the only time I have to devote to it.
Plus I'm just plain slow!
Larry

Silverback51 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrist

Mine is 99.5% done. It just needs a few items finished up but with my arthritic fingers it just hurts too much to work on it and being overweight does not help. Or just a lack of motivation I guess.

On another note, there is a B&B in Tracy Ca. if anyone is interested. No its not mine.
http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/1424248797.html

Terry

99.5% complete? I never thought that any Cobra would get that close to being complete. I know I consider mine 95% complete, but that last 5% will never be done, as there is always something else I want to do to it.

EarlsflyinCobra · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 06:37 AM

I've been working on mine for 6 1/2 years, off and on between bouts with cash flow problems, cancer setbacks, and other minor problems. I take exception to the Street Beasts comment as I own one and know of others that are finished. I agree that they are not the best company to deal with and you really have to stay on top of them. Unfortunately, they had been improving but now they seem to be on the decline once again. I have been trying for 3 or 4 weeks now to get an engine start with no luck, which is not related to anything SB has done. I hope to finish mine soon, but, my standard answer now when asked when it will be done is, Turkey Rod Run, however I don't say "WHICH" TRR.

Tony Ripepi · #16 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:55 AM

Hello All,

Interesting question and not an easy answer.....

I have been building, buying, selling and driving Cobras since 1989. I have had four roadsters, One Daytona and a GT40. I built the first two from scratch and hired out the things that were needed from craftsmen that had the skills i.e. painting, machine/engine work and some specialized metal work. Bought two turn key an SPF, a Shelby and recently started on a new project.

I helped to start the BACC ten years ago and have seen group grow from 8 guys to over two hundred + today.

When you start the build it is a journey and I have seen other peoples journey last from 6 months to over twenty years. The process gets complicated by life, wives, children, shifting goals and manufacturers coming up with new products.

When I started my first car the concept of a "Roller" either unpainted or complete roller (Plumbed, Wired,Painted, upholstered, Soft top, heater etc. etc.) did not exist and when it was available you as a home builder could almost not do better on the fit/finish than what was available on the complete roller. Additionally an Aluminum car similar to what the Kirkhams offer was not anywhere on the Radar screens.

As time has moved on there are some of the builds sitting in peoples garages that have been passed by either from the industry, over estimating skills, cost, life changes etc. etc. you can fill in the blanks.

The key ingredient is that things change...........

Tony R.

63mercury · #17 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 12:46 PM

I have been at my build almost 2 years and the big stopping blocks for me are money and parts, (the money to buy needed parts). The big thing I am doing is working on it at least a couple hours per day off, other than that I have no excuse not to finish in less than 2 more years. For those who don't know I am scratch building mine. Carl

sllib · #18 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 01:23 PM

Mine is mocked up, runs, everything works. I am ready to tear it down and send the body to the painter but, once again, I'm out of the country for a few months. If everything goes well and I can hang around the US for a while I'll have it on the road next year. I got it in late 2003.
Bill Stradtner

khansmith · #19 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 01:52 PM

Mine has taken over 3.75 years and I am now just finishing up (final details but she is registered and road ready). My issues were that in these three years I have moved twice, held 4 different jobs, sold/bought 3 houses, remodeled 3 houses, got married, had two kids, built two motorbikes...did I mention the two kids? Funny thing is that paint took forever!

elmariachi · #20 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63mercury

For those who don't know I am scratch building mine. Carl

Carl, you bring a whole new meaning to the term "scratch-built":

Finally starting