In the market for a kit

[KrackShotKarl]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am currently living in Germany serving out great country, and will be moving back to the US soon, with a large desire to purchase a kit. I dont know a lot about other makers beside FFR. My main considerations/ selling points are:
- Price: I really dont want to spend more than 40K, but I dont want it to be a really cheap kit either as far as quality goes.
- Size- Im 6'4 and 220, I need a machine that can be modified to fit me comfortably, with out extremely painful, or costly work.
-Drivability- Im not looking for a track car, as much as a great street car.
-Customizability- I am decently set on wanting to put a '03 SVT Cobra engine in my kit, but if something comes over me, and I want a non Mustang engine, or even a non Ford engine, I dont want to have to do to many modifications, obviously some will have to be done though. Also, my wife is quite adamant about making this ours and doing the vast majority of the work ourselves, so we dont want a pre-painted kit, or one that is ready to drive.

So folks, sell me on what would fit these considerations.

[Dwight]

My friend Coach Mike has a Cobra for sale that fits your description. It's listed on CobraCountry.

I have several pictures in my gallery. I also have over 400 pictures of the build in my picture file.
Note that it has a Keith Craft 428 stroker motor. Very street-able, no issues. Coach has build a FFR, then the Hurricane and a Shell Valley Coupe. He sold the FFR but still has the Hurricane and Coupe. He wants to sell the Hurricane so he can build a '33. He drives the Cobra or Coupe every day that is does not rain. They are kept and well maintained in his 60' x 75' shop. Pictures in my gallery.

He has a wall full of trophies that he has won with the Hurricane.
You can email me if you want a picture of anything about the car.
Dwight
P.S. Coach removes and installs the top by himself.







For Sale: 1966 Hurricane 427S/C Cobra. Ford Vermilion Red w/white stripes and black pinstripes. The BIG Picture: Click Here! Under the hood: 428 Keith Craft stroker (461 cid). All engine info and dyno sheet (600 hp/ 619 ft.lbs. torque) included for you. Engine outfitted with all the good stuff: MSD distributor, 6AL box, Holley 750 carb. Canton front sump T-style oil pan. Edelbrock Hypo water pump. high-volume aluminum radiator with high rpm fan (2,800 cfm), March pulley setup. BIG Photo of powerplant: Click Here! Geartrain: Lakewood scattershield, Tremec 500 gearbox, rugged 9" Ford rear end (3.25:1 gear ratio), Moser axles. Suspension/brakes/rolling stock: 4-wheel 11" disc brakes, four QA1 adjustable, chromed, coil-over shocks. Wilwood pedal assembly and master cylinders, adjustable front upper control arms; rear end has three link adjustable control arms and panhard bar. Vintage Wheels fitted with Mickey Thompson tires. In the cockpit: period-correct hardwood-rimmed Cobra steering wheel, Classic Instruments gauges, fire extinguisher, black vinyl dash, seats and door panels with black carpet, black floormats trimmed with rich red piping; stainless steel footbox and upright support covers, 2-speed heater, wind wings and visor, doors and trunk weather-stripped, battery cutoff switch, trunk carpet. BIG Photo of cockpit: Click Here! You also get: black hard top with insulation and windows (sliders on each side), and a complete photo album of build and maintenance record. Very well taken care of, and this serpent has all the 'bugs' worked out. 8,800 miles on car and 8,000 on engine. This nimble little Cobra handles very well; it's extremely quick yet very streetable and driver-friendly; you can see and read more about it at the Hurricane-Motorsports.com website. BIG hardtop shot: Click Here! $37,500 obo [with the hard top]. Contact Mike at (256) 483-9472 CST, or email: MikeDLane@comcast.net
Florence, Alabama
14 July/October



Not the best pictures of Coach but a great picture of the Cobra


another road trip a few years ago

[*13*]

The market the way it is, buy a used car. You'll get so much more car for your money. I built mine when the market was good & it made sense. Glad I did it, but wouldn't do it now with all the nicely priced cars out there.

[Wbulk]

It would help you a lot if you used the search feature and read what you can on this subject. There are very few brands that are truely "a kit". Most are not like a model that you put together and follow the instructions step by step. Few even have a quality manual if one at all. Talk to people that have built or are building cars, not the manufacturers. Then when you have narrowed it down contact the manufactures. Building a car takes a large space, a lot of tools, and a fare amount of skill. Even if you have been working on cars for years you will be challenged.

There are a large amount of kits out there that have never been built because the buyer got in way over his head. If I was doing it again I would contact owners that are building an ERA and Hurricane and start from their. I have neither. Builders usually only know their brand. Very few guys have a broad range of experience with a lot of brands. You can learn a ton more by talking to guys on the phone. They will be more honest. People want their brand to stay in business so their car does not lose value. When you build a car it becomes part of you, good or bad. One other thing, your marriage needs to be rock solid. Good luck.

Wayne

[Three Peaks]

For your list of qualifications for a kit, the FFR is probably the best for your purposes. Pricing is right there, should easily fit your size with some minor modifications/adjustmennts to the seating arrangements, quality kit and components are up to you- you can use as many donor or non-donor parts as your wallet allows, and comes without paint so you can make it yours. Also, they are great street cars as well as track cars if you get a hankering to go to an open track day once in awhile.

Bob

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Check out the ERA site. You only live once, and if building your own Cobra is what you both want, then give it a thought. ERA has just about the best looking Cobras on the planet, even though they are fiberglass. Small block FIA, big block 427, or slab side 289 Cobra, ERA will give you what you want the way you want it. They also have a comprehensive manual that leaves little to question.
And, they are great for larger drivers.

[PDUB]

There are a lot of great cars out there. Most guys will suggest that their brand is the best... which makes perfect sense!

Since I'm a Unique guy, I'll suggest you do yourself a favor and check out the Unique Motorcars and Unique Forums sites. They are an outstanding option. Other brands mentioned here are really good, too.

[Dwight]

We have several Uniques in our area. Both small block and big block. Great cars!

Check out their rollers. When you add up all the parts that you need for other brands of Cobra, you will find the price is about the same.

Compare apples with apples.

Dwight

[w-lewis]

I'll also vouch for Unique. The Weavers are top notch and will help you long after your purchase.

[YerDugliness]

The accolades for Unique products are true...very well engineered, quality fit, and in the years after you buy one, the factory has an annual "homecoming" weekend. Unique owners from all over the country come to the factory for this event and long-lasting friendships are formed. The Weaver family has a well deserved excellent reputation for customer service! Their forum is very user-friendly and fully open.

I, myself, am a fan of the Hurricane products, but I must admit that I am quite disappointed about one of their forum practices. While their product seems to be quite straight-forward to build, the forum has a "Dark Side" to which ONLY Hurricane owners are granted access. To me, this smacks of "We don't want the general public to know what kinds of problems they will encounter with our kits. so we'll keep that a secret until we have their money." Sorry, Hurricane....I've always championed your products, but I've always been quite honest about the "mistrust" that the "Dark Side" access issue creates. Hurricane does not, to my knowledge, make a 289 body model, although I do know that at one time they had a 289 project mule. That car used the same chassis as their 427 model, just a different body.

If you have the $$, you'd be wise to check out the ERA products. Great bodies, excellent reputation for reliability and longevity...but a fairly long wait was the norm in the past (although I have heard that they have managed to shorten the time somewhat). The ERA 289FIA would be my dream car if I could afford it.

The advice to buy an already completed replica should be given serious consideration. I am VERY happy with almost everything about the replica I bought used. I paid $18.5K and drove it home, got 25 miles per gallon on the highway, and have had only what I would consider "minimal" problems with it so far. However, you should keep in mind that NO component car is ever truly "finished"....for the previous owner or for you. They are like pre-owned houses, you'll find things you want to change about them as you are looking at them, and the previous owner will have made adaptations to make the car fit their idea of what it should be, not yours. Just a word to the wise, in case you think you'll be able to buy one and "drive it and forget it".

Cheers, Dugly

[dallas_]

Since you are 6' 4", you will find most makes to be a very tight fit for you.
I'm 6'1" and am tempted to modify the pedal box to add a little leg room.

Next time you are in the states, look up the local Cobra club and attend their next meeting. You really need to sit in some of these cars before you decide which make.

[PDUB]

The Unique 289 car will fit you, and it will fit better with your planned small block engine build than the 427 body style... check out these threads and click the embedded links for photos.

Unique Cobra For Sale

I'm to Big any advice

Good luck!

[KrackShotKarl]

Guys, Thanks for the posts and I am really looking into Unique and ERA, since they seem to be highly recommended. Does anyone have a friend or two who happen to own a cobra and be about my height, I would be interested to in talking to them about what the went through as far as modifications and orderings with companies.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by KrackShotKarl

Does anyone have a friend or two who happen to own a cobra and be about my height, I would be interested to in talking to them about what the went through as far as modifications and orderings with companies.

Karl, I'm the same height as you, but you've got a good 30lbs on me. Muscle, no doubt. If you decide to go with an ERA, it's pretty straight forward on how to fit you. I always post this shot of me when someone asks about fitting a tall person in to an ERA Cobra. This same shot is also on the ERA web site.

[KrackShotKarl]

[quote=patrickt;1143894]) If you decide to go with an ERA, it's pretty straight forward on how to fit you.

I have recently sat in a ERA Cobra, and it was to say the least, a really tight fit! The owner did say that he could move the peddles back another 3-4 inches, but I highly doubt that would be enough to make it comfy. So might I inquire as to how you made yours suited to fit men of our stature? Also, I would like to add that the color choice on your Cobra is quite nice! Well done!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by KrackShotKarl

...I would like to add that the color choice on your Cobra is quite nice! Well done!

Well thank you very much. That is an off-beige, in case you were wondering. It's a favorite of ERAChas as well.

Originally Posted by KrackShotKarl

So might I inquire as to how you made yours suited to fit men of our stature?

When I flew up to ERA, over six years ago, for what they call a "butt-in-seat" test, I sat in Peter P.'s (the head honcho) own personal ERA. My knees barely fit under the wheel and I looked right over the top of the windshield. I thought to myself "this is never gonna work." However, after working with the folks up there, the car fits me like a glove. Here is what was done:

1) Minimal seat cushioning (they custom make their own seats); driver's seat moved back; angled slightly and bolted directly to the floor -- no sliding rails.

2) 15" Moto-Lita wheel shimmed at the proper angle to fit my sitting/steering position while still looking proper.

3) Special, larger clutch master cylinder used that allows the pedals to be moved forward an extra couple of inches.

4) More room was built in to the footboxes starting with ERA #731 (one car before mine) -- that helped as well.

Don't discount the need for a "butt-in-seat" test -- it's pretty important. Depending on whether your height is between your feet and knees, knees and butt, or butt to head all makes a difference in how it's done.

[Rickd]

Krakshot. Welcome to the world of cobras. I've wanted one since Mechanics Illustrated had the photos in - I believe - 1964 - and those were on my wall as a high school senior!! Wanted an ERA since I discovered them about 12 years ago. But I started with a used Unique FIA about 5 years ago. Kept it for 2 years and sold it to order a turnkey ERA FIA. Visited the factory in Ct. 4 times during the build (frequent flyer miles come in handy).

ERA has custom fitted some cars for guys bigger than you. Things like pedal position all the way forward, using a racing seat vs the more heavily padded street seat, and seat position "all the way back". Since they build them from scratch - they can modify the drivers foot well if necessary to have pedals moved even further forward.

I have the "street dropped dash" in mine - and that takes away a little bit of clearance. A racing dash is slightly shorter in height. I would strongly recommend visiting the factory in Ct. Definitely (in my opinion) the best quality overall fibreglass cobra replica on the market.

[PDUB]

No doubt ERA is an awsome ride. I'd have one if I didn't have a Unique.

Check out pgermond, a Kaulifornia guy over on the Unique Forums... I think he is in your size range, and he is a great guy. Also, it's a really good place to go to get info, ideas, insight, and answers to your questions about the products and services offered by Unique. The owners of the company will talk with you there...

[Bill Bess]

Krakshot, after reading all the posts here I do agree that the Coaches Hurricane is the deal, but I'm saying that because I built my own Hurricane.
I researched most of the Replicas out there and most are very good, it really depends on how much work you want to do. Money wise..buy used you will save about $10,000 bucks over building yourself. ERA's are very good machines and have great resale, the Hurricane kit is the most complete Kit, very authentic and easy to build, they also will install engine mounts for whatever engine you want. These two cars were my top choices for me after all the research.
Truthfully, just buy or build the cobra you like most and you'll be happy and proud.
Bill
I'm pushing 14,000 miles on my car and it runs like a fine tuned watch.

[Dwight]

Coach build his Hurricane in my garage and I helped a little. I kept a mental cost of his build. As parts came in I would ask what he paid. I stopped at $56,000.

Coach's Cobra has got to be one of the best deals going.

Several Cobras have been purchased in our area in the last year or so. They are not cheaper, they do not have the motor, tires, wheels, etc that Coach's car has. When you add up the cost of all the parts, the Hurricane is the best buy. And they needed a little work on them.

I don't understand why this car has not sold. Is it the color? Brand? What?

And this Cobra run great, I would drive to California in it. And back, with the hardtop on, of course.


Dwight