Looking for Advice: First Cobra Kit Build

[Bill Bess]

Compare Hurricane, all factors with all other "kits", frame, body quality and completness of kit, driveline quality, authentic body, plus up grades and service.
Hard to beat, I'm just saying, great car trouble free for 5+ years...but just get the one you like.

Bill

[Mr Jody]

I’ll second Dwight’s note on Unique. And with you being in the Atlanta area, you owe it to yourself (and your wife…and maybe your father-in-law, too) to make a day trip over to Gadsden, AL to check out their facility. With originality sounding like it's high on their list, they will appreciate a Unique. It is also one of the few that has an independent rear (Jag type) as standard equipment. A plus for your wife in originality, and for you in tracking. And the Weavers at Unique will work with you to give you what you want.

A somewhat local (McDonough) 427 FE engine builder is Southern Automotive. Or, if you and your wife want more of a hand in building your own, and a possibly less expensive option, you could use a 390 FE block with one of Barry Robotnick’s (Survival Motorsports) stroker kits to give you 445 cubic inches. The 390 blocks are easier to come by than 427s, but the power potential for you to play with is still there, and they will look the same in the end.

While I seem to be leaning in the direction of originality to keep your wife and her father happy, the Unique with one of these engines can give you all the best of both worlds….and be close to home if you want to drop in and check on progress, and an easy trip when it is ready to pick up.

Here are some links to the above, and a couple of magazine articles featuring Unique.

Unique Motorcars

Southern Automotive

Survival Motorsports Home Page

Unique Motorcars Kit Car Shop - Featured Vehicles - Kit Car Magazine

What Makes Unique Motorcars So Exceptional - Kit Car Magazine

[Bill E]

Everyone here has a car they are loyal to. And that is as it should be. I don't sale kits. We hand build all our cars here with the customer. That is why you don't see our stuff for sell every where. I pay a lot of attention to other cars so mine can be better. So I can offer a semi un bias opinion on the competition. This will offend some that is not my intention. Ther are no bad cars just bad builders. If you spend some time at the track, like we do you will see a pattern emerge. The FFR is the most prevalent car then Superformance. Then just a scattering of everyone else. For the money FFR is a good choice and the Hunter is good to. If money is tight. If you wont to level up the Kirkum and ERA are hard car to beet as a kit car. Then you have to decide how authentic looking do you wont the car to be. Both are very authentic the Kirkum is aluminum . If this is not as important to you as having a safer better handling easier to get in and out of car then you need to look at the extended wheelbase cars. JBL is at the top of that list in a new kit. If you can find a Classic Roster and tear it down and rebuild it. For the money spent and performance it beats all of the above. If you are going to track any of these cars then stroked 351 is a better choice than a big block. A lot of guys here can tell you why.

[Bernica]

Here is another option. I don't know much about them yet, but thought I would pass it along. As said above, there are many many options out there....

Home - Riverside Racers

[littlewave]

Do not buy a StreetBeasts! No matter how good a deal it is!! They are longer in operating but if you come across one not finished.... run away!!

[rsutton1223]

Damn! Thank you for all of the awesome responses. I can already tell I am going to get in some serious trouble on this forum. This is just the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I already have an idea off of what I would like to do at this point, so now it is time to send her off this link and see what she thinks. She is also going to want to get out on the track with this car so that does play a factor for a driver that has limited track time. I'll probably get her out in the Subaru with AWD first before throwing her in head first with big power RWD.

The feedback is awesome.

[951mat]

You guys make me feel so good about my choice of JBL. I'll of course recommend it as well. See my build log if you haven't already. Website has even more thought.
New build
Its a Coupe, but chassis is same for roadster. The chassis is just over the top in my opinion. The Touring chassis looks great as well. Have fun deciding. Its all part of the fun. Good Luck!

Mat

[trularin]

You are going to get a lot of great advice - none of it will matter if you and your wife do not agree together.

My piece of wisdom is; make a list of what you want with this car and then shop.

Tru

[Bill E]

Trularin Is right. Go see some cars at the track and club events, wright down the things you like and what you don't like about each car. Make a list of what you wont in the car and the what you expect the car to do when you are living whit it day today Re dos are expensive Remember it is easier to tear down a car and redo it than to start from a kit.

[Bernica]

Excellent advice from Trularin and Bill E above. You should do your homework, both agree on a plan and "build it on paper" first. Impulse buying / building can be expensive and frustrating around here. I have many slightly used parts that can attest to that

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by Bill E

Remember it is easier to tear down a car and redo it than to start from a kit.

Not to be argumentative, but depending on what is involved I'm not sure I agree with that. It may be easier to build it the way you want it than redo someone else's work.

[kevin12973]

If you are serious about doing track days you will be in for a surprise. Check with your safety marshal on rollbar requirements. My SCCA tech said my FFR roll bars dont pass the broom stick test. Everybody knows FFR rollbars are very high compared to all other cobra makers. Also you need a passenger rollbar for your instructor. Roadsters are tough to take on the track, you need to find a leinient organization to run. Or you can get a FFR challenge roadster witch has a great roll cage but the doors are no longer functional. My vote is to build a Kirkham (Best cobra without a doubt) and use something else for the track. Unless your wife is a very good driver I would not attempt driving a 90" wheelbase 500 hp car aggresively until she has been moved from the novice group at least.

[cscobra]

Read the entire ERA website, and visit them. Visit all of the others that you can, too.

That's what I did. Ultimate overall quality at ERA is what won over my wife and me--we looked for several years.

Whatever you do, enjoy.