Kirkham 77k-SPF 65k. Your choice ?

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by decooney

.....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.

Excellent point, decooney. That pretty much sums up the difference. The price point stuff gets a little muttled. I've owned both and they are different.

One is a 'Cobra', and the other looks like one.

[Igofastr]

My Kirkham was a daily driver. I see no difference reliability-wise between a Kirkham roller and one from SPF. So that should be taken out of the equation, unless this one was bought unassembled (I haven't checked).

As for bare aluminum, I can understand the taste issue, but in terms of general durability and ease of maintanance, NOTHING beats bare aluminum. Perhaps a delorean owner can chime in on the merrits of brushed stainless, but I can assure you that aly would be easier to fix than stainless if it were dented.

I've owned a number of cars; painted steel and fiberglass, and bare aluminum. In terms of maintanance, I'd take brushed aluminum every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

I agree with Duane, the Kirkham will sell first.

[jhv48]

Don't you mean one is a more expensive kit car than the other?

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

My Kirkham was a daily driver. I see no difference reliability-wise between a Kirkham roller and one from SPF. So that should be taken out of the equation, unless this one was bought unassembled (I haven't checked).

Hi Ron,
I see... "daily driver" huh. Feelings are hurt now..., we rarely saw you driving your former Kirkham to one of our monthly Cobra meetups. Maybe once or twice a year at most, as I recall. Now we know for sure that you did stiff us and kept that car all to yourself. Just kidding. Oh well, hopefully we'll see the next project a bit more, eh?

The point about the "daily driver" comment also came from the perspective that you can painlessly park a glass car in a supermarket parking lot, expect people to bang on it to see if its aluminum or not, and survive it without a panic attack. With a Kirkham, driving it as a "daily driver", you better have Sandwich's phone number handy in your cell and plane ticket ready for him to get on a plane and come pound the dents out for ya, know what I mean? I've had three people bump or kick my ERA accidentally since I've owned it, without issue, and no dents. Maybe I'm characterizing the Kirkham as being a tad more delicate and something you may not want to leave in a supermarket parking lot just to go get a carton of Milk, but I'd do it with an SPF or ERA without concern as long as the ignition was disabled! Not sure this makes sense, but trying to make a case for my "risk avoidance" argument as lame as it may seem. If I had a Kirkham, it would never be left to sit in a supermarket parking lot anywhere, even if I was sitting in it. People just wanna touch that aluminum, tap-tap-tap, knock-knock-knock... Whooops!

[Igofastr]

Duane,

Litterally, I drove the car everyday in the summer, except when I knew I was going to go in really early, or come home really late. I also drove it frequently in the winter, except when it rained or was bitterly cold (yeh, California bitter). Oh, and I parked it at the grocery store, Costco, Blockbuster, toys-r-us, you name it. Had a few doors bounce off of it, but never left a mark that couldn't be cleaned up with a bit of 220 grit and a red scotchbrite.

So, any chance of talking you into a 2012 WSCB Reunion? I'll help any way I can.

Unfortunately, I work a lot of Saturday's, though that should slow down some beginning with the new year. My plan us to have the GT ready before the Christmas gig, most likely by thanksgiving.

[Flygirl]

Originally Posted by froggyman

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
.

Is that really true? Is the Kirkham body really that fragile? Not disputing, but asking with some disbelief. That's my biggest worry with the Kirkham, by far more than the round tubed frame.

[HI Cobra]

The original Cobras had a thinner skin. The Kirkhams have an alloy used on
MIGs or other Russian aircraft that is a bit thicker and a lot stronger. Granted,
not as strong as steel but I have had mine for over 3 years and a few thousand
miles and don't worry about it. Cleaning is using Windex and paper towels (or
old diapers) and an occasional rub with scotchbrite as needed for finger prints.
Mine is brushed and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

...So, any chance of talking you into a 2012 WSCB Reunion? I'll help any way I can. Unfortunately, I work a lot of Saturday's, though that should slow down some beginning with the new year. My plan us to have the GT ready before the Christmas gig, most likely by thanksgiving.

Ron - actually, on a 1/5th scale we've been doing the Western States Cobra Group (WSCG) get-togethers every year since at different locations near the ocean. Back to basics, where it all started on CA Hwy1. Yes, and the wheels were already in motion two months ago for something special in 2012. Hint: Its near the ocean once again, with a twist this year - and there is no other place you'd rather be this time, I guarantee it. Cobras, Daytonas, GT40s once again. If you are interested, I have a room saved for ya, kept one extra just in case a former returning WSCB'er popped up. Sounds like that's you and its calling your name. Send me a PM, I'll send you the paperwork and its yours.

[madmaxx]

Wish I would have used all my money to buy nflx yesterday instead of my Cobra, LMAO!!!!!!

[STEVE-O]

Originally Posted by HI Cobra

The original Cobras had a thinner skin. The Kirkhams have an alloy used on
MIGs or other Russian aircraft that is a bit thicker and a lot stronger. Granted,
not as strong as steel but I have had mine for over 3 years and a few thousand
miles and don't worry about it. Cleaning is using Windex and paper towels (or
old diapers) and an occasional rub with scotchbrite as needed for finger prints.
Mine is brushed and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Saw in Sep 2011 Hot Rod magazine a new Kirkham made of copper. I cant imagine the upkeep on the blindingly shiny aluminum one let alone getting the tarnish off a copper one!

[kobrabytes]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

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.

I too have to laugh at this comment... That's the number one comment I get when I show my car. i.e. I bet that is a nightmare to maintain!

I've got over 22k on my car, I average 5.5k on the road a year. I can tell you that this is the easiest car to maintain that I have ever owned. If this were a painted car it would have had the paint sand blasted off the nose long ago. Rock chips that would tear a hole in paint go completely unnoticed on a bare aluminum car.

I've also been caught in a hail storm, hurt like hell hitting my head, but did absolutely NO damage to the car.

The finish of the car is a personal choice. Simply put, driving a polished (or brushed) car is not for everyone. Most people probably wouldn't like the attention. It's a car that sticks out like a sore thumb. It's a guaranteed 30 minutes at the gas station. You'll even see non-Cobra fans drop their jaw at first glance and ask you what it is. I don't remember once when someone hasn't taken a picture of my Cobra. It's a bit embarrassing to be out with the other Cobra guys and have people single my car out. (I personally like all Cobras.)

Probably the best thing about owning a Kirkham is the Kirkhams. Until you have rubbed shoulders with these guys your definition of excellence will be lacking. I have NEVER been more satisfied with the purchase of something than I have my Cobra. I'm lucky that I live an hour away, but at any distance it's worth every penny paid.

One happy and wind blown Kirkham owner!

len

[Igofastr]

Kobrabytes +1

[maurice19]

Welcome Flygirl

I have a little input on the fragile Kirkham to share.

The car is not that fragile in that I can sit on the fenders to relax and not worry about dents or scratching the paint.
I have approximately 16,000 miles and no real dings to speak of.
I prefer the raw sanded finish because it only takes a half hour or so a month to clean with windex, not that I`m lazy, ha

Maurice

[Igofastr]

It seems that the only people who are concerned about the fragility of the Kirkham, are those who have never owned one.

Seriously, durability is not an issue.

Ps, Maurice, you available to do a motor instal next tuesday? I'll call.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

It seems that the only people who are concerned about the fragility of the Kirkham, are those who have never owned one.

Seriously, durability is not an issue.

Ps, Maurice, you available to do a motor instal next tuesday? I'll call.

Perhaps their way of justifying their own purchase to the world or themselves? Who know's?
Personally, I'd be pretty stoked to own just about any cobra
Just saying...

[Igofastr]

Demis,

Me too. I like all Cobras.

It just seems that the dead horse has been beaten enough. It's perfectly OK not to like aluminum because of its looks. It can, of course, be painted. But most modern aluminum Cobras use much stronger and thicker alloys than did the originals (which were pretty soft, no argument there).

I would just hate for someone to exclude a particular car from consideration based on misinformation about the durability of its construction and finish, particularly when those making claims are doing so without any real experience.

Rock on, everyone.

[Igofastr]

Originally Posted by decooney

Ron - actually, on a 1/5th scale we've been doing the Western States Cobra Group (WSCG) get-togethers every year since at different locations near the ocean. Back to basics, where it all started on CA Hwy1. Yes, and the wheels were already in motion two months ago for something special in 2012. Hint: Its near the ocean once again, with a twist this year - and there is no other place you'd rather be this time, I guarantee it. Cobras, Daytonas, GT40s once again. If you are interested, I have a room saved for ya, kept one extra just in case a former returning WSCB'er popped up. Sounds like that's you and its calling your name. Send me a PM, I'll send you the paperwork and its yours.

You've been PM'd.

[maurice19]

Ron,

You betcha, Red Rider, on the install

Maurice

[SCOBRAC]

Kirkham. I wish I had a spare $80k. God I miss this place.... I still have a spare tire / wheel.

Michael

[maurice19]

And a nice Cobra you had, Michael

Maurice