Cobra as a daily driver

[750hp]

I have owned Cobras for the last 15 or so years and have never really considered the idea of using one as a daily driver...until now.

Admittedly, I've only been doing it for the last couple of weeks and the weather has been fine, so it's all been pretty easy so far.

Whereas I thought the;

• extra noise
• heat
• lack of air conditioning
• the heavy clutch
• the solid roller cam
• the fact that I have to sit on the transmission tunnel to reach over to gain swipe access to the car park at work (left hand drive Arntz in a right hand drive country makes it interesting sometimes),
• being surrounded by buses and trucks in a low car
• not having a soft top or hard top
• being exposed to the elements would all make it too much of a compromise when compared to a "sensible" late model car

...but I love it just as it is!

Rather than diluting the experience of ownership by exposing it to the monotony of workday realities, it makes the drive to work fun. It makes me more inclined to leave work on time. It makes me smile.

My Cobra was built in the 70's and has the patina of something that's been around awhile. I has enough road rash that I'm not bothered about idea of it sitting in a car park all day.

I'm now thinking about buying a hardtop for if the weather is looking terrible, but other than that I can't think of any other reason why I couldn't drive this car every single day.

Does anyone else use their Cobra for more than weekend blasts?

[Legless]

Hey Craig,
I just drove mine on a 1500km trip and it certainly wasn't boring. Most of it was done without the top on and it was an awsome experience. With the contstant assault on one's senses there's no danger of or desire to doze off. Lol

[289fia_cobra]

During the first year of finishing my FFR, I drove mine to work 2x per week in addition to the weekend. Of course rain would stop that, but we get rain about 2 months of the year in total. The first year, I put on nearly 5,000 miles.

I built the FFR to be as reliable as a daily driver would have been back in the 60's and 70's when Ford still built carburated motors. It never crossed my mind that if the engine is built with care (i.e. correct torque specifications on all bolts and all tolerances adhered to) that there's no reason it couldn't be a daily driver. My 65' Mustang is a testament to that, which I drove as a daily in my college dazes!

The one time my car quit on me (momentarily) was an electrical issue - just had to tighten two screws and I was back to working again. Engine-wise, it's never let me down after 17,000+ miles.

[Bill Bess]

Hey nothing wrong with driving a car that's "fun all the time". My cobra has over 18000 miles on it now and always starts and runs perfectly...what's not to like about that. Everytime I get in the thing, I remember why I have it, and it's driven about 2 or 3 times a week.

Enjoy the Beast!

[jualwatt]

I bought mine to drive and take it whenever I can although not in the rain (no top) or over the winter months. Other than that if the weather channel says 10% or less chance of rain and the radar looks clear, I take the cobra. This morning on the way to work was about my limit at 35 degrees F for the half hour drive in , but tonight when I leave it will be in the 60's and awesome ! (Heated seats are paying off!)

[CHANMADD]

Well inthe mid 90's, I found myself pretty broke ass, and steadfastly refused to sell my Cobra.
So as it was my only car, I had no option but to use it for about a 70-80 mile round trip everyday
For about an 18month period.........The soft top becoame absolutely water tight, and the car performed flawlessly for that time as any "factory" car should............

[avdcav]

I do everything in mine , I even picked up my Xmas tree in mine
Car has many daily driver features for me. And it's super cool when you take it to home depot to pick up material.


Have at it ,
and driving in warm rain is just too much fun " the looks you get
Are priceless .

[Jaydee]

Mine isn't on the road yet, and I'm interested in what you guys have to say about everyday use.
Do you get over the worry of people running trolleys into it in the carpark, and idiots opening the door into it?
I remember a daily driver telling me the time he went to get back to his car in the carpark, only to find someone sitting in it. He thought he was trying to pinch it, instead he found a teenager just sitting there with a dreamy look in his eyes, and in his head going broom broom.lol.
JD

[mdross1]

Once our car was dependable it was used as a daily driver till freezing temps hit.With top and side windows cabin was quite cozy.Got so getting in and out was a breeze even with top on.Till we got back into motorcycles the Cobra was used a lot.

[Jim Kellogg]

I used my SPF as a daily driver for several years, year round in upstate NY. Driving to work, getting groceries, picking up and dropping off computers for my home business, she did it all in sun, rain and snow.

I work at a Toyota dealership, so she was parked in a semi-controlled area during the day. When I went to the store, I would just park a little farther out to try and avoid the parking lot rash. Funny thing, when I would come back out, there were almost always other cars parked nearby no matter where I parked!

I have a hardtop, and ran the hardtop through the late fall and winter months, then took her off for spring and summer.

The only downside for me was the resulting corrosion from the winter salt. Still repairing some of those issues.



Would I do it again? Yes!

We were going through some particularly tough times due to medical costs, and at times the Cobra was my only vehicle. It was either sell her or something else, so I kept her and drove her - over 80,000 miles so far!!!

She is at Time Machines now, but when she comes home, will not see the salt again. Our times together - especially during the snowy winter months - were priceless, and I have enough stories of spins and grins to last a lifetime!

Jim Kellogg

[Dwight]

Coach Mike build his first Cobra 12 years ago. Since then he has build a Coupe and two other Cobras.
He drives them almost daily. If it's not rain he drives his Cobra. He had a top for the FFR and kept it when he sold it. Modified it a little bit to fit the Hurricane. Sold the Hurricane with the top.
He has a new Unique and is looking into buying a top for it. He still has the Coupe but loves driving Cobras.
Coach drives year round and we live in North Alabama so the winter are not that bad. 30 degrees and wet.

But with a heater a ride in a Cobra is enjoyable.

One of our Cobra buddies in Brimingham, Ala has his Cobra in my shop getting a heater and hardtop installed now. He loves driving everyday if it's not raining.

I drive in the winter but I don't have a top, just a heater and jacket.

[750hp]

Great photo Jim!

[CHANMADD]

Great stories alll........bunch of nutcases ...al of us..!!!

[itstock]

I'm young and I don't know how the hell anyone can use these cars as a DAILY driver! But PA has some crappy roads with all the potholes which doesn't help, and I suppose if I had a car with a bit softer suspension I'd be alright.

You guys that daily drive the Cobra, are, in my opinion, CRAZY!

[lippy]

Originally Posted by itstock

I'm young and I don't know how the hell anyone can use these cars as a DAILY driver! But PA has some crappy roads with all the potholes which doesn't help, and I suppose if I had a car with a bit softer suspension I'd be alright.

You guys that daily drive the Cobra, are, in my opinion, CRAZY!

CA has some crappy roads too. My daily driver has 19" wheels and 30-series tires, and I've cracked two rims. My truck has 16" rims and 70-series tires and the crappy roads aren't an issue. If you use 15" rims on the Cobra, it will handle crappy roads just fine.

[Jim Kellogg]

Roads in upstate NY run from good to dangerous (potholes, sudden spots of gravel, ect). You know you are bitten bad by the Cobra bug when you start looking at rain and snow traction when you buy tires!

I run 15" tires on my SPF, and don't run the ride height as low as some. In case anyone is wondering, the Yokohama Avid S/T were best in the snow out of all the brands I ran through the years. Sadly, they are no longer available. I bought an extra set when I heard that they were going to be discontinued, but my last set needs to be replaced soon, as they are getting old. Probably going to M/T next time, but no more plans for driving in the snow...

And Dwight... looking good!!!
Jim Kellogg

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Hey nothing wrong with driving a car that's "fun all the time". My cobra has over 18000 miles on it now and always starts and runs perfectly...what's not to like about that. Everytime I get in the thing, I remember why I have it, and it's driven about 2 or 3 times a week.

Enjoy the Beast!

I bet there are some cool places to drive where you live, I went through Havasu to Vegas a few times and the drives were awesome and the views unforgettable...

[mdross1]

Seeing those tires on your car Jim reminded of the year when first married we tried driving a big block Chevelle with posi thru one Maine winter wow that was one to remember.Then seeing Dwight with that leather flight helmet liner made me think of the leather hat I always use in cooler weather,that by the way works great.Good pictures!

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Jim Kellogg

I used my SPF as a daily driver for several years, year round in upstate NY. Driving to work, getting groceries, picking up and dropping off computers for my home business, she did it all in sun, rain and snow.

I work at a Toyota dealership, so she was parked in a semi-controlled area during the day. When I went to the store, I would just park a little farther out to try and avoid the parking lot rash. Funny thing, when I would come back out, there were almost always other cars parked nearby no matter where I parked!

I have a hardtop, and ran the hardtop through the late fall and winter months, then took her off for spring and summer.

The only downside for me was the resulting corrosion from the winter salt. Still repairing some of those issues.



Would I do it again? Yes!

We were going through some particularly tough times due to medical costs, and at times the Cobra was my only vehicle. It was either sell her or something else, so I kept her and drove her - over 80,000 miles so far!!!

She is at Time Machines now, but when she comes home, will not see the salt again. Our times together - especially during the snowy winter months - were priceless, and I have enough stories of spins and grins to last a lifetime!

Jim Kellogg

Driving in cold weather is one thing...but that is impressive!

[fordracing65]

Thank God for the hardtop, lol...