And, so...what do YOU drive?

[Dangerous Doug]

Does anyone else get as annoyed as I do with the term "kit"?

I parked at a coffee shop at Seascape (Aptos, CA) and noticed a woman walking nearby who was intensely looking over my Cobra. She seemed to be admiring it, and just as I shut the engine down I heard a man's voice yell out, "It's a KIT!" to which she replied, "Yeah. I knew it was a kit!"

I glanced over my shoulder to where the man was at and he was standing next to an older looking common blob of a SUV. Really? That's what they're driving? I hope he has an original Cobra in the garage at home...

Some people naively ask if my ERA 289 FIA is a "kit", but I usually refer to it as a "replica". This couple seemed to be purposely denigrating it with the term. I've been into Cobras for 15 years, and though I know by sheer probability when I see a Cobra it will likely be a replica, I still give each car a good look over before I decide it is not an original and I would never call someone's Cobra a "kit".

Perhaps it's that VW-based "kit car" stigma that bugs me.

Anyone else cringe a bit on the "kit" term?

DD

99% of the people admire the beauty and styling of my Cobra, and then go nearly orgasmic when I start it up. I like these people. The other 1% I can live without.

[fordracing65]

Mine is a kit car through and through and proud of it, who cares what they call it, you should hear what they call me, do I care, no, and you shouldn't either...

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

Does anyone else get as annoyed as I do with the term "kit"?

Not really, but I sure do freak out people when I come up to their Cobra replicas and say "that is a nice (insert manufacturer here) Cobra replica


Bill S.

PS: I did have a run in with a gentleman with a 32 Ford roadster (fiberglass Speedway motors kit ) that I was parked next to at a charity event who told everyone how my car was a kit, but his was hand built to exacting standards. . He got 10% of the folks to buy in to it, the other 90% shook their heads and walked away. I can only imagine what they were saying to each other when they did

[DanEC]

I can understand it being irritating to someone - fortunately it doesn't bother me much. I basically bought a pallet car from ERA and built it although I bought the rear from ERA and I had Keith Craft build my engine. I figure that qualifies it as a kit in a lot of people's minds. The originals were not much removed from a kit, the chassis and body being sourced from AC and Shelby installing the drivetrain.

Probably the best response is to just climb in, fire it up, and rumble off into the sunset. A big, loping V8 rumbling through a minimal exhaust system will leave the most obstinate of them weak in the knees whether they want to admit it or not.

[sea2jet]

I just tell them I'm blessed to be able to afford the 95K to join the club😁

[Dimis]

You do realise that "they" dismiss it at such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win".

It is what it is.. Celebrate it and above all enjoy.

In life don't let the buggers get you down.

Ps. As to answering your question in the title -- I sold my daily driver & now I ride a bicycle. Yep, a boring, 25year old, 26inch, slightly rusted, well patina-ed bicycle. And yes I enjoy it almost as much as my kit car

[GT Trooper]

I do understand being annoyed with the "it's just a kit" knuckleheads. Sometimes I consider saying something to them but I know they wish they were driving something as nice. I'm certain in most cases they are not.

[LMH]

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Dimis

You do realise that "they" dismiss it at such to feel better about themselves..
& that by you viewing it as a negative, it becomes a negative, and they "win".

It is what it is.. Celebrate it and above all enjoy.

In life don't let the buggers get you down.

Ps. As to answering your question in the title -- I sold my daily driver & now I ride a bicycle. Yep, a boring, 25year old, 26inch, slightly rusted, well patina-ed bicycle. And yes I enjoy it almost as much as my kit car

LOL, you ride a bike...brave man, In AZ you might melt or your tires would...

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Yup, and it's our fault.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Never though about that one...

[joyridin']

For the 1 schmuck that says it is a kit, there are 100 other people that either believe it is real and are in awe, or know it is a fake and are still in awe.

I just ignore that one guy out of a hundred.

[Joe's Garage]

From the ERA website, 289 section -

THE KIT YOU CAN BUILD, EASILY!
KIT PRICE: $19,900

Building any kit replica involves a considerable commitment of money and time. Our personal goal is to protect your investment, as well as our reputation. The result: our standard assembly has almost every part either hinged, latched, or fit before it leaves the E.R.A. factory. The pictures at the right and below show how you really get your standard kit. We don't sell a stripped down kit.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by LMH

Think about how the guys with originals feel when asked if their car is a kit?
Larry

Quite chuffed I dare say..!

Particularly when they smugly and honestly reply -- Nah! It's Real!

[1985 CCX]

Funny stuff
Was at a show the other night with a friend with coupe.
Guy came running up, that a GT40.
He was so convinced he started announcing the car. Lol

Kit is relative term and we all have a definition. A full explanation usually clarifies the cars.

[BADSN8K]

Ha love this..

When someone asks me "Is that a Kit?"

I reply NO..... KIT was the car David Hasselholf drove in the TV KNIGHT RIDER...

This here car is an ORIGINAL Backdraft!

Then the NEXT question "How much does it cost?"

I respond with a lot more than I every dreamed of paying for a fine classic Automobile!!!

[GregAgrest]

Lets face it, they are "kits" when we buy them. Then a ton of blood, sweat and tears go into the assembly of the kits and it's then a "replica". Certainly nothing to be ashamed of nor something to get upset over. It's a simple question by someone who obviously doesn't know the difference.

[LMH]

A few years ago, I was talking to the owners of 2492 and taking photo's of their car. I told his wife that anytime I can study an original, I'll take full advantage of the time. She said "thanks for knowing it's an original". I thought that was kind of funny when we deal with the "kit" question all the time. It really underscores just how oblivious civilians are about the Cobra world.
Larry

[wkooiman]

I mostly get "Is it real?" I guess that's just a nice way to say, "Nice car."

I normally respond with, "A real one is $2M. I'm not that rich."

They normally say, "How much is it worth? or How much did you pay for it?" Once I told a guy, "None of your business." I don't like people constantly asking me that. People treat you differently when they think you are rich. So, I normally downplay it - $40K or about the same as an SUV, but I have more fun in mine or something along those lines.

Nobody has asked if it's a kit.

I get a LOT of positive remarks - thumbs up, etc.

[fordracing65]

Are you Rich, that is a good one, I saw a guy, ask another man that, who was standing next to his McLaren wearing his gold Rolex, lol...