Kirkham Project

[nico55]

Hi Guys,
I can buy locally (Belgium, Europe) a Kirkham 427 body + chassis - that's it, nothing more. Price is 85k euros
Is it possible to build a complete car around it?
Need to buy everything, from wheels, tires, brakes, interior, windshield, gastank, etc etc etc...
Is that possible, and if so, where can I buy the most high end and period correct (new) parts?
A used Kirkham itself is out of my budget apparently, prices seem to be much much higher than 5 years ago when I started looking for one.
My goal is to build a Kirkham based new cobra for a budget under 150k, which is my maximum budget. Seems only a new superformance or backdraft is possible whitin that budget.
Regards,
Nico

[1795]

Nico,

You could probably build a complete car around that chassis and body, scratch builders do it all the time. However, spending 85K Euros on the frame and body and wanting to have the project finish under 150K is not likely. Even if you go with a modest build engine and transmission, you will easily have 30-40K invested in those two pieces alone. Being that you are looking for high end and period correct parts it would seem that you will easily exceed your budget.

I wish you luck, but given how much you need to complete the project it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to stay in budget, and that is with you doing all the work. As soon as you have to pay for a mechanic to start working on it you will be way over budget.

Jim

[1985 CCX]

Nico,

I agree with Jim, tough budget to keep with for a build around frame and body alone. Lots of cash will be needed, been there a few times myself.
Motor (FE must) figure at least $15k, rest with trans est $5k
4 corners $20k
Interior $8-10k
Paint $10k
Do dads $10-15k (jewlery windshield lights etc) ................... $$$$ Already budget buster... $$$$
If you want period replica assume parts will take 24+ months to source as they are not all easily found. Then you can add 30-40k more....

Also, consider does the car have a KMS title? The KMS name carries weight but without it its a scratch build.
Not all alloy cars are KMS, forgive me as I am trying to help if you know this.
The Polish cars are making their way around EU and USA now aday's and also w/o title. They commonly email folks like us on the forum.
There are also UK cars manufactured (Brooklands) that are racing only so there is no title at all.
Just a consideration.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by nico55

Hi Guys,
I can buy locally (Belgium, Europe) a Kirkham 427 body + chassis - that's it, nothing more. Price is 85k euros ... My goal is to build a Kirkham based new cobra for a budget under 150k,

$94kUS and you're trying to put it to bed for another $72kUS. Let's say for easy math you stumble on a suitable and complete engine for $22kUS (which you won't, unless you buy it hot). Then you only have $50kUS for everything else even if you do every lick of the work yourself (and bill it to somebody else). And remember you want high end period correct parts inside and out. Save yourself the trouble, you can't do it... unless you have your own restoration shop and period correct parts flow through you and stick to your fingers from time to time... like, every other week.

[eschaider]

OP, you are attempting the very difficult, if not impossible.

In the US, builders have a continual tug-of-war between the period-correct look and the cost of producing it. You are wrestling with a variation of that contest. In the end, what is going to be most important to you is the ownership of a quality Cobra replica that you can enjoy and drive as a premier attitude adjustment tool when everything else that week went wrong.

If you get stuck in the 'high end, period correct' contest space you could end up spending your entire budget, never completing the project. The next step (after it lays around for a while) is selling the car at a discount that frequently is as much as 50%, possibly more, below what you spent to get to that point.

Build the best Cobra you can with the best components you can afford. Forget about period correctness. Focus on a sound build, vehicle reliability, safety, and, of course, looking like a Cobra. You will be much happier, have more money to spend on other things, and not find yourself in a pit of frustration and depression.

Did I mention you will also now own a very nice replica that will give you years of satisfaction, premier attitude adjustment capabilities, and mental health ...

[eschaider]

Duplicate Post

[twobjshelbys]

You've got a frame and body? Do you have doors and hood too?

You're faced with a very expensive, open ended fabrication task or buying all the missing parts from Kirkham. And they probably don't sell them piecemeal.

In either case, the price is open ended and not likely in your budget.

Then you are going to get into the whole Europe registration thing for age, etc.

It's a big gamble with low chance of success and at the end you're left with a partially completed "kit" (again) that you will sell for pennies on the dollar (however that translates to euros)

Run away...

Sorry.

[1795]

Nico,

You are smart to ask before making the purchase. Unless the seller wants to move significantly on the price it just will not work in your budget. Search online for the parts that you know that you will need and it will become clear, and then there are the parts you did not know that you will need.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 1795

Search online for the parts that you know that you will need and it will become clear, and then there are the parts you did not know that you will need.

Nuisance items like steering, suspension, brakes, differential, transmission, seats, dash, gauges, lights, clutch, cooling, heater, wires, hoses, gas tank, trim pieces, And then you gotta put 'em in, and get them working.

[twobjshelbys]

Oh yeah and if you don't buy parts the cost if the tools that you will need to buy or rent and only use once. Starting with a lift and garage rental if you don't have one

[CSX2345]

Is this the project in question?:

https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Adver...rame-by-kirkha

As the others had stated, this could go well past $150K.

You mentioned that only Superformance and Backdraft are within budget. There are a couple CSX4000s on the market at the moment under $120K. They are used but these cars for the most part have a pampered life with low miles and meticulous upkeep, plus the build issues have been worked out.

Cheers

[twobjshelbys]

The import restrictions to Europe will exclude most cars

[twobjshelbys]

The fact that the body is Kirkham will be lost in the shuffle. There's a reason it's at a parts out store

[nico55]

Thanks for all the answers and info!
Yes it is the Kirkham for sale on racecarsdirect.
As mentioned Kirkham won't sell separate parts. There is an invoice that comes with the body/frame but no title.
I'll leave it and keep my eyes open for a completed build.
Have the impression that prices on the Kirkham cobra's only go up, so I'll start looking to other brands.
Thank's again for the info!
Best, Nico

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by nico55

Hi Guys,
I can buy locally (Belgium, Europe) a Kirkham 427 body + chassis - that's it, nothing more. Price is 85k euros
Is it possible to build a complete car around it?
Need to buy everything, from wheels, tires, brakes, interior, windshield, gastank, etc etc etc...
Is that possible, and if so, where can I buy the most high end and period correct (new) parts?
A used Kirkham itself is out of my budget apparently, prices seem to be much much higher than 5 years ago when I started looking for one.
My goal is to build a Kirkham based new cobra for a budget under 150k, which is my maximum budget. Seems only a new superformance or backdraft is possible whitin that budget.
Regards,
Nico

I would buy a EU road registered Superformance and switch all the parts, should fit with your budget...

[1985 CCX]

Peter

Still gonna be tight as SPF and KMS dont interchange.
Yes, latches and interior stuff but not the $$ stuff like pipes, suspension, pin drive etc.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Peter

Still gonna be tight as SPF and KMS dont interchange.
Yes, latches and interior stuff but not the $$ stuff like pipes, suspension, pin drive etc.

Yep, heartache and sorrow will be his only reward.

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Peter

Still gonna be tight as SPF and KMS dont interchange.
Yes, latches and interior stuff but not the $$ stuff like pipes, suspension, pin drive etc.

I didn't claim that, but you have a EU registered title and that's a huge issue, to fix the suspension to the frame can be solved more easily

[1985 CCX]

Ah, now I follow

[nico55]

This Kirkham is for sale locally: https://www.mecanicimport.com/accobrakirkham1969
It's been for sale for more than a year now so there could be room for negotiation, but I think it has been raced and could have some big costs to bring it back to a trustworthy weekend car?