new to forum, few questions

[thelampshade]

first off, glad im on here knowing all of you are proud owners of cobras. recently my wife gave me the go ahead to start looking for one as i have been waiting to finally purchase one for the last 25 years. recently paid off my cts-v and also own a 2012 raptor. now its time for the real dream car. i have more of a personal question as in what challenges i may face, i am going to buy complete from someone, but the reasons why i might not want one? this car will be driven, not sitting. basically finishing this sentence..."i love my cobra but..."

thanks to all that helped and look forward to your answers. love all the pictures and super jealous as i look forward to being a part of the community

[LMH]

When I'm asked by someone interested in buying one, I ask them what their budget is, are they originalists and I tell them to get with some owners local to them and talk to them. Go for a ride in a few different cars from different manufacturers. There are lots of differences in them. You may find you like one over another. Then start looking.
Larry

[twobjshelbys]

The first question is what is your budget? If you're looking to spend 25K, I wish you the best of luck and suggest that a Cobra isn't what you want because if you can find one it'll be a severe disappointment for that price. If you're looking to spend 100K there are tons of quality cars that can be had for that price. This is a car that truly is you get what you pay for.

Look on www.cobracountry.com for the definitive "Cobra for sale" site. All flavors (manufacturers) and colors

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by thelampshade

first off, glad im on here knowing all of you are proud owners of cobras. recently my wife gave me the go ahead to start looking for one as i have been waiting to finally purchase one for the last 25 years. recently paid off my cts-v and also own a 2012 raptor. now its time for the real dream car. i have more of a personal question as in what challenges i may face, i am going to buy complete from someone, but the reasons why i might not want one? this car will be driven, not sitting. basically finishing this sentence..."i love my cobra but..."

thanks to all that helped and look forward to your answers. love all the pictures and super jealous as i look forward to being a part of the community

Shamelessly stolen - but still valid.

I think you need to read this. If you don't want a Cobra by the end, then you have your answer:

Driving a Cobra Replica

"If you want to just gas and go, and never have to worry about replacing an alternator, or snugging down the header bolts, or getting a wet leg driving in a rainstorm, or learning how to set your carb float level, or driving in traffic on a warm winter day with "winter gas" in the tank, get a Corvette."

With a Cobra Replica you have to remind yourself that you are driving a hand made race car on the street. There is no compromise for anything other than pure speed. These cars are brutal and unforgiving, with all the refinement of a medieval battle ax. Like being in a relationship with an exotic dancer, you can never take anything for granted. These cars don't have millions of miles of testing refinement before you get yours. For any trip longer than an hour, you need earplugs, and goggles, and carry Advil and eye drops. You will need to learn to "read" the clouds for rain in your path, and have experience in unwrapping your frozen fingers from the MotoLita. You will experience lady passengers "wetting" the passenger seat when you merge into traffic from an on ramp, and then nearly burn their calf getting out of the car.

You will have all the invisibility of a burning Hindenburg, and flee from underground parking lots when uncountable car alarms are screaming your departure. When you shop, you will remind yourself that these cars get more attention than a dead body in a parking lot.

With a power to weight ratio better than almost every super car, you will find your 1/4 mile times traction rather than power limited. On the other hand, when you stage, out of the corner of your helmet's visor you will see almost the entire audience lining up at the fence, most with cameras up. If you track on a road course with a Porsche club, owners of expensive German machines will come to the fence to watch you power out in smoking oversteer. You won't even try to start your engine in the garage, but push it out onto the driveway, else your loyal watch dog will croak from the exhaust fumes. If you idle next to other "sports" cars at a traffic light, by the green, their girlfriend will be coughing green phlegm into her hanky, yelling at her date to just go! When you refuel, you might as well prop the "bonnet" open, because you are going to have to show your motor to just about every other guy there. When you order your wings at Hooters, your waitress will whisper in your ear "take me for a ride." When you stop at the red light, the girl in the convertible next to you will invite you to "take my top off too."

When you slowly pass a troop of Harley riders, they will look over and give you thumbs up. When you want to ease out into traffic, other cars will immediately pause to let you go ahead of them. When your engine has its hot, crackling, intimidating exhaust side pipe aimed right at the flank of the GTO, or the Z28, your exhaust pulsation's slowly unscrewing his lug nuts, the other car will remain motionless, as if the slightest quiver of his car will cause your car to stomp it dead. When you leave it open in a parking lot, and come back to find your sunglasses and cell phone still sitting on the tunnel, it is because your car has sullenly warned those who came over to admire it "touch me and I will rise up here and kill you dead."

When you put that tiny silver key into the ignition, and begin your start countdown, your car will whisper "take me for granted, and I will kill you."

When other drivers just hop in and snap up their belts while backing out of their parking space, you will still have two more minutes before you even get all the Simpsons properly on and snugged down. Pulling up in a Cobra Replica is like landing an F4U at an ultralite convention.

In summary, very, very few drivers want this kind of attention, or can tolerate all that a formidable Cobra Replica demands. These cars are intolerant mistresses.

But remember, there will come a day when you have to hang up your car keys for the last time. And perhaps you want to say then "I did it."

Advice on Which make & options I should Buy?

[t walgamuth]

Good article!

[TLHanna]

As a fairly new owner myself, I think that says it all.

[lnfletcher]

I love my Cobra but...

I wish I had more time to drive it!

[1985 CCX]

BUDGET! #1 in buying one.
Pick a well known company ERA, SPF, SAI, HT, CCX, UM etc..... yes there are more
Lots of kits that may not be a good pic.

[Tom Wells]

cycle,

I believe that paean to the Cobra originated with Hal Copple

Tom

[twobjshelbys]

It goes without saying (although I am) do not buy a kit unfinished in someone's garage. It'll be money pit worse than any boat. Buy a finished sorted out car built by a major supplier and that includes both car and power train

[incoming]

I personally own a Unique FIA and love it. The different companies and their products are very different. This is my opinion and i'll stick with it. Everyone's tastes are different.

They are all a copy of a rather crude sixties race car. I owned a '72 Vette Convertible with a 350 automatic and air as a fun car when dating my wife twenty years ago. It was a weekend car.

Fast forward twenty years,,,Vette long gone. She rode in my Cobra once and hates it. No top, no windows, no air, no heat and no radio.

Again, IMO, small block car is more driveable and more correct for a winning car in racing. Mine was tracked for over twenty years.

[thelampshade]

Excellent. That makes all the sense and I believe I have read that or something similar before.

[thelampshade]

If any of you read this that have replied, thank you. I was wondering because of what I need to “fix” or prepare for ahead of time. Nothing will deter me at this point. My goal is to go to Naples and pick a backdraft put from their stock of cobras. Going to walk right past the ferraris, lambos and straight to my dream car. I love the originals and appreciate the ones that look super close to those eras. For me though, a complete, professionally done car is what I’m looking for. Obviously this means spending 70-90k. I love the sweat some put in them and love all the other makers, but backdraft has lured me in that direction. A lot probably because the wifey is way on board with that style over others. You guys are the best and thanks for giving me your 2 cents and I’m hoping to be in y’alls category sooner than later.