Kirkham 77k-SPF 65k. Your choice ?

[Hydramada]

Talking about these cars as an "investment" is just silly. They are toys....albeit high priced toys. Buy the one that you like better and has the advantages you want for a price that is acceptable to you. All the brand loyalty crap is just that..............crap. All our cars have advantages and disadvantages. Just decide which are important to you.

These cars are an emotional purchase more than a logical one.

[mreid]

If you can afford the $20k difference, then the Kirkham everytime.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by mreid

If you can afford the $20k difference, then the Kirkham everytime.

Well that's just more "brand loyalty crap."

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Well that's just more "brand loyalty crap."

Finally we agree on something!

[madmaxx]

Made $10K on my first one, guess it wasnt an investment, lost $300K in 2008 what a great investment. If you buy anything you are invested in it. POS 529 plan I opened for my kid 5 years ago lost more than my or any fking cobra will.

[Igofastr]

Agree.

Bought mine in '05, sold it in '09 for what I had in it (minus the sweat-equity of installing the motor).

A better investment than my 401K, my house, or any of my other cars. Heck, if I hadn't had a three-way trade worked out on it at an agreed price, I'da probably made money.

[Silverback51]

I looked at both, and chose the SPF for two reasons.

First is I really did not want an aluminum body. Second was I did not like the round tube frame.

For those wanting originality, it's the only choice. I was not going to use a FE style engine, so that was not important to me.

Don't get me wrong, the Kirkham is a work of art. Just was not for me.

[FUNFER2]

Those are good points. The tube frame is not as strong and the aluminum dents easily. Unless you're a body man like me, having a body shop hammer & dolly dents out is specialize field meaning you must know what you're doing, especially with thin aluminum, and can be expensive. But hey, it's a KIRKHAM.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Well that's just more "brand loyalty crap."

Damn right!

[STL Mark]

Both are really nice. Neither should ever be considered an "investment". If you take either to a car show or have a conversation with the average Joe at a gas station they will always ask you first - "IS THAT A REAL ONE?" They will not be able to tell the difference between either, and you will always have to answer ""NO" to their query. Sure you can explain the differences. Their second question will be "Does it have a 427?", and their 3rd question will be - "How much does it cost?". If you can afford the Kirkham - go for it. But in the end - it only really matters to you. You'll spend plenty of money no matter which car you choose.

[jhv48]

Just my personal opinion, but I don't like the unpainted aluminum body. Don't care if is polished or not. Just doesn't look right to me.

Therefore, I bought the SPF.

[Silverback51]

The Kirkham I looked at had the brushed body finish. One of the things I considered was having it painted with a translucent blue. That way you would still see the brushed aluminum body work under the paint.

Don't know if anyone has ever done that or not.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

The Kirkham I looked at had the brushed body finish. One of the things I considered was having it painted with a translucent blue. That way you would still see the brushed aluminum body work under the paint.

Don't know if anyone has ever done that or not.

Don't know if that would work as alloy needs some specialized primers for proper paint adhesion and that would negate the aluminum showing through a translucent (candy) color.

[FUNFER2]

I believe I would get the brushed aluminum then clear coat it. I could always spray color on it later if I ended up not liking it a virgin.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Just my personal opinion, but I don't like the unpainted aluminum body. Don't care if is polished or not. Just doesn't look right to me.

Therefore, I bought the SPF.

I've never been a fan of the "bare naked ladies" either. It's kind of like black paint - an OCD delight but a nightmare to maintain otherwise. To me it's kind of like me and dogs - I love other people's dogs and they love me, but I don't have the time to keep up with one. Unfinished or polished aluminum? Let me know how that works out for you. Aluminum has been successfully painted for over half a century, so the FUD of getting one painted isn't real.

[froggyman]

I don't think you can compare these two cars equally. They each have their merits for the right person and market. As I see it they both are great products. As for the Kirkham, you cannot go wrong with this car, seems priced right and it is a work of art. If you have to buy this car so you can sell it later at a gain or a loss you miss the beauty and merit this car deserves.

SPF is also a great car that can be driven daily without fear of someone leaning into it and denting it, the beauty of the SPF is more than skin deep, it is incredibly well engineered, not as a work of art but as a great rolling product. IMHO

Both great cars, but not apples to apples.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I've never been a fan of the "bare naked ladies" either. It's kind of like black paint - an OCD delight but a nightmare to maintain otherwise.

Wash and polish. Just like painted cars. You really ought to stop damning every painted and unpainted Kirkham. It's boring me.

Just say you don't like them, which is fine, but stop passing along nonsense. They're NOT a nightmare to maintain. And they don't dent easily from hail, assuming you actually take your Cobra out in that kind of weather.

There are plenty of rocks, stones, pebbles and other junk on the roads here and I haven't yet heard a complaint.

[FUNFER2]

It's not really a comparison, between the two, just a question on which you'd choose. Although we may think a painted car would be easier to maintain than aluminum, they both require cleaning, just in a different way.

I would like to ask any Kirkham owners if they've put a clear coat on the body to keep from oxidizing ? I assume,....someone has.

I wonder what the appearance would be between a typical high gloss clear and a satin ?

I think I would choose a satin.

[Bill Bess]

Hmmm! I guess I would take the SPF because I'm more practical. If you really want to decide witrch car is the best value and not a choice based on emotion you can use this decision method. Make a list of things you" Must Haves" on the car, ie. engine type, alum., etc. then make a list of "not requireds" and give each a numerical value from 1 thru 10. You can make a decision using this method and get the best overall value for your buck.
Actuaslly I would go for the ERA..hands down.

[decooney]

Both are nice cars, but this is an odd comparison to some degree. IMO: The SPF might be a tad overpriced and the KMP is a tad underpriced. Now if the Kirkham was priced at $82k and the SPF was priced at $57K, it might give a more interesting perspective. Jason with the KMP lives right up the road from me, I know who built the motor, and the car speaks for itself. The car is barely driven. Seems to me its low because its priced to sell in today's market.

Funny how many folks get hung up on just comparing a fiberglass body vs. an aluminum body, and very few talk about the differences is chassis and suspensions and other bits between these two cars. I would consider the Kirkham with FE a handcrafted work of art that you take out every once in a while, like a real Cobra, and the SPF is more of a factory type manufactured car that you can drive regularly with little to no concern with its extra durable fiberglass body and other parts more easily obtained or replaced. Both great cars but very different once you look under the snake skin. Good luck to both sellers. Given the current asking prices in today's market, my bet is the Kirkham will sell first.