The best place to see cobra mfgs side by side?

pb4au · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:06 AM

Is the London show the best place to see different brand of cobras side by side for comparison?

I'm beginning by research and would like to see as many as possible to help decide my direction.

is there a better show this spring/summer to gain the best knowledge? From there i'd like to narrow it down to 3 then visit the factories.

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:41 AM

That would most likely be one of the best places for comparisons. You could also go to one of the kit car shows where the vendors will have theirs on display.

Ron

lovehamr · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 11:05 AM

Go to London. If you don't have a great time and have a good idea of what you want when you leave I'll eat my hammer. Corse, then you'll have to recast it! LOL

RedBarchetta · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 11:14 AM

http://www.replicarclub.com/Future/2...ndertheSun.htm

If you can't wait for London, then go to the Pomono, CA Fairplex in late April. This is the new home of the annual "Knott's Berry Farm" show that has now been relocated after several years in Buena Park. Put on by the AHA (Association of Handcrafted Automobiles). Plus it's next door to the NHRA museum (if you're into 1/4 mile stuff).
Fly into Ontario (CA) or The OC (John Wayne) to locate yourself closer to Pomona.

-Dean

rustyBob · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 12:32 PM

Yeah what Dean said.......the NHRA Museum is way cool.......
glad to hear they finally moved the Knotts Show....is there shade there????
100 degree heat out in the middle of a parking lot makes it hard to get
into black seats...OUCH....

Don · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 12:49 PM

Another alternative in Carlisle PA. If not driving, then the airport in Harrisburg PA

Home:

http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/index.asp

Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals
May 21 - May 23, 2010

http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/import/

*13* · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 12:59 PM

It's a great idea to get hands on visuals of the cars. I believe that if you ask questions & give us here on the site a general budget you be able to come up with a top three list. Everyone gets into these cars for a different reason & have a different idea of the ideal car. Budget is usually the biggest factor. If you know that, you may have your top three by default.

rodneym · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 01:01 PM

Honestly, I don't think there's any shade in Pomona.

Mooch · #9 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

From there i'd like to narrow it down to 3 then visit the factories.

What would be funny is if you end up really liking the Superformance... if you want to visit the factory your significant other might be a little shocked at the travel plans you would be making.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_El...,_South_Africa

Dangerous Doug · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 02:43 PM

There are comparison photos of different manufaturers on the ERA website. That's a good place to start. Don't remember the exact link.

Local gatherings can provide some good comparisons, too. Several years ago, when I first go bit, I put a feeler out for a ERA 289FIA and a Unique 289FIA to see if any locals had them. I got a response from the Bay Area club out in Pleasanton, and when I showed up at the breakfast meet, the two cars were parked side-by-side and I took photos and compared. I ended up purchasing my engine from the guy with the ERA.

Check your local club gatherings. No doubt, you'll meet some great people along the way.

Cheers,
DD

pb4au · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:01 PM

Right now my list is FF, Hurricane, ERA and BDR. Not necessarily in that order. I've been contacted by 2 of the 4 companies directly which made an impression on me. My budget is up to 50K and unlike many on the forum I’m not that interested in "close to the original" I actually don’t like the original that much, IMHO the nose droops to the ground too much and the ass isn't 'perky' enough and the interior is too sparse for my taste. Hell at this point I don’t know what FE stands for and why one would want a 'side oiler'. I have a 69 Chevy that sits in my ware house with a completely restored 350 SB so maybe it would make sense to have a 427 BB in this car. But I’m looking at just the bodies for now, I’ll decide on engines later.

I've never ridden in a cobra so that would be a good start. One of the forum members who bought a hammer has offered me a ride in his ERA.

Mine would only be used on sunny days which in Chicago is about 30 out of 365 and not consecutively. It basically would be the car I would drive back and forth to the office on those days and an occasional getting lost in the country car with my wife and local shows. Eventually it would be moved to our vacation home in the Keys and live its life there and I see no reason to ever sell it.

So this may take up to a year of research and the first step would be to see them, ride in a few, and then go see the factory and then decide.

Carlisle sounds like a good idea and definitely London and a trip out west as well would certainly be fun but only if we stop in Napa before heading home to make it worthwhile for Sandra. Thanks for the info

Cashburn · #12 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:05 PM

Bring your hammers to Carlisle. It would be worth it.

pb4au · #13 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:12 PM

yea i can put a few cases in the trunk for anyone who asks me about them or just supply you with them and let you sell them

thudmaster · #14 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:21 PM

And while in Napa you could stop by the Superformance and Shelby dealer there..............

cj428 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:26 PM

Don't know if you've seen this, or if it might be helpful in the meantime.

http://www.erareplicas.com/427/profiles/index.htm

pb4au · #16 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj428

Don't know if you've seen this, or if it might be helpful in the meantime.

http://www.erareplicas.com/427/profiles/index.htm

wow, thank you for that! thats helpful

Mooch · #17 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 04:30 PM

A year is a good time period to read, research, and think about your choice. I took about 18-20 months to come to my decision. Regardless of who you go with, this forum is a great resource. The ERA website is also a huge resource - you can download their manual sans images and get a good feel of their build through it.

you may also consider a 289FIA, based on the small block CSX2000 series, instead of the 427 based on the big block CSX3000 series. The nose is a bit higher, in addition to many other differences:

http://www.erareplicas.com/differ/index.htm

KSW64 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 06:32 PM

The Texas Cobra Club will host its 11th annual Spring Meet in San Marcos, TX on March 25-28th. Last year we had over 100 cobras attend. There were Lonestars, ERAs, Mid-States, FFRs, Hurricanes, BDR, SPF, Butler, E-Ms, Kirkhams and probably a couple of others I can't remember. There is always someone willing to give a ride to fellow cobra-lover. There is more info under the Texas Cobra Club forum.

KEN

CHRIS DAMSCH · #19 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 06:58 PM

Get with the Windy City Cobra Club.

There are guys in your area. When the weather breaks you will be able to see just about every manufacturers car within an hour or so of your home.

Great bunch of guys and gals too.

*13* · #20 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 07:38 PM

Sounds like a Hurricane/Unique/Superformance kinda guy. ERA's can bust that budget in a Hurry & are known for Being pretty accurate. Factory five Is a quality car but more of a Build it yourself kinda ride. There are sprinklings of many other cars out there as well. Take you're time. You'll find the right car for you when you have done enough research to be able to tell them apart by photos...