Which is the best cobra manufacturer?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by lippy

Ironically there seems to be more agreement than disagreement on the prior posts that the top three are Kirkham, Shelby, and ERA.

And I think you have the order correct as well.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

And I think you have the order correct as well.

Only in Arabic, Hebrew and Urdu.

[kevins2]

Actually, I was referring to the hotly debated original vs. replica thing...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by kevins2

Actually, I was referring to the hotly debated original vs. replica thing...

You know, I don't think there's anyone on this forum that takes Evan's position but him.

[patrickt]

... and I bet you didn't know Chas was fluent in Urdu, did you?

[Tommy]

REAL 1,
It's one thing to express an opinion as such. It's another to state an opinion and use the actions of the SAAC to claim it as a fact. The fact that the SAAC exists, it maintains a registry, and that registry includes some cars but not others does not make the cars it includes automatically more collectible, more valuable or more authentic than any others manufactured after 1967. What it likely reflects is that the SAAC must have permission from the Shelby Trust to use his name and the Trust wants the SAAC to include in its registry contemporary cars in which it has a financial interest. If Shelby American could make the right deal with FFR, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see them added to the registry. So, I suggest you allow the market to determine the relative values of the various Cobra clones produced after 1967. Your claims that those recently manufactured cars listed in the SAAC registry are intrinsically more authentic than others comes across as either naive or self serving.

[LMH]

Oy vey!
Larry

[phattyhales]

Of the three everyone seems to have narrowed down, Kirkham, Shelby, and ERA, I prefer Kirkham. I work for them so I am not biased at all! . Not only have they maintained originality in just about every way they have also improved things like suspension and brakes from the originals. Most have more power to not that you'd need it. We just shipped off a car yesterday with a fuel injected, dry sump, 427 SOHC motor which produces somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-800hp.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by phattyhales

We just shipped off a car yesterday with a fuel injected, dry sump, 427 SOHC motor which produces somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-800hp.

That's strange. I was just thinking of shipping 539 to you for you to install a SOHC engine and maybe a few other improvements.

[phattyhales]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

That's strange. I was just thinking of shipping 539 to you for you to install a SOHC engine and maybe a few other improvements.

Give us a call man!!! lol
Here is the facebook link for it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by phattyhales

Give us a call man!!! lol
Here is the facebook link for it.

He might as well... and you all could take your time. After all, he never drives the damn car anyway.

[RodKnock]

And NOT driving it with a Cammer in it would be awesomer.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by lippy

This forum is mostly self-serving opinionated hyperbole, which is one of the reasons I like it.

... and one it which REAL 1 is an active participant in keeping it that way

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

"Best" can be interpreted in many different ways. And the "self-serving" comment is also in it of itself "self-serving."

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The book in which you refer to also specifically states that the continuation models offered by SAI are "true replicas."

The OP asked for opinions "on the top five manufacturers of the replicas." And that would include the Shelby Cobra continuation models.

And yes, your comments are self-serving, but that's OK. We all are to some extent. The OP just needs a Club Cobra Orientation Day so he can get squared away before posting to the forum.

Yes, another quote taken out of contex. Lol. No surprise. Keep reading my friend.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Yes, another quote taken out of contex. Lol. No surprise. Keep reading my friend.

It's not out of context. I don't have the World Registry in front of me, but as I remember, the caption says that "they" (SAAC) needed to call Shelby's "true replicas" something other than that and decided to call them "continuations."

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Tommy

REAL 1,
It's one thing to express an opinion as such. It's another to state an opinion and use the actions of the SAAC to claim it as a fact. The fact that the SAAC exists, it maintains a registry, and that registry includes some cars but not others does not make the cars it includes automatically more collectible, more valuable or more authentic than any others manufactured after 1967. What it likely reflects is that the SAAC must have permission from the Shelby Trust to use his name and the Trust wants the SAAC to include in its registry contemporary cars in which it has a financial interest. If Shelby American could make the right deal with FFR, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see them added to the registry. So, I suggest you allow the market to determine the relative values of the various Cobra clones produced after 1967. Your claims that those recently manufactured cars listed in the SAAC registry are intrinsically more authentic than others comes across as either naive or self serving.

Tommy: let's review.
1. The continuation Cobras are genuine Shelby Cobras. Fact.
2. No other manufacturer may represent or call their products "Cobras" or Shelby Cobras. Fact.
3. SAAC is the worlds leading authority on Cobras. Fact.
4. A major purpose of the Registry is to identify, catalog Cobras and to establish definitions defining what cars are considered by SAAC authentic "Cobras". Fact.

Your suppositions as why SAAC included some cars and not others remains your personal suppositions....to which you are entitled to have. They specifically and expressly provide definitions as to replica/kit vs. Cobras. You may not like their definitions and position but there you have it. I just happen to agree with them.

I said nothing about collectibility. That's a different discussion. However there is no doubt in my mind that Shelby continuation Cobras have a far better shot at being collectible than replicas and are more desirable finances permitting. That's MY Humble opinion to which I am entitled.

[gsharapa]

I have had 4 Superformance Cobras (Very Nice) 1 Kirkham FIA that was as close as it gets to an original 289 Comp Car and now an Exact. The Exact is very low volume with only 12 cars sold but dead nuts on to an original in carbon fiber! Very cool............

[Dimis]

I'd have thought FFR are the "best". No?
They have sold far more than any of the others.
Possibly more than all others combined.
Popular opinion would therefore suggest that for the vast majority of cobra owners agree with me.

Else FWIW: I'm with rodknock

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Tommy: let's review.
1. The continuation Cobras are genuine Shelby Cobras. Fact.
2. No other manufacturer may represent or call their products "Cobras" or Shelby Cobras. Fact.
3. SAAC is the worlds leading authority on Cobras. Fact.
4. A major purpose of the Registry is to identify, catalog Cobras and to establish definitions defining what cars are considered by SAAC authentic "Cobras". Fact.

Your suppositions as why SAAC included some cars and not others remains your personal suppositions....to which you are entitled to have. They specifically and expressly provide definitions as to replica/kit vs. Cobras. You may not like their definitions and position but there you have it. I just happen to agree with them.

I said nothing about collectibility. That's a different discussion. However there is no doubt in my mind that Shelby continuation Cobras have a far better shot at being collectible than replicas and are more desirable finances permitting. That's MY Humble opinion to which I am entitled.

And to the OP, Evan's diatribe doesn't necessarily make them (Shelby) the "best" Cobra replica on the market.

And Evan didn't mention that the Kirkham Cobra is also listed in the World Registry, but that doesn't necessarily make them the best Cobra either.

Now, back to the OP's original question.

In terms of Cobra replicas, "best" means TO ME that a Cobra must be:

1. aluminum bodied,
2. reasonably accurate to the 1960's original (originals were aluminum too),
3. built by a customer and engineering focused manufacturer, who truly desires to make their product better every day,
4. sold only by the manufacturer w/o middlemen, and
5. finished in the USA, in one location (UT) by the same people, since their 1994 beginning (i.e., product consistency).

What does "best" mean to you?

[RodKnock]

And I should not forget to add that but not for #1 in my list above, meaning a fiberglass-bodied replica works for you, then ERA would meet the other criteria.