Reasons for sellin cobras

[Dave Wilson]

I have been researching the possibility of building a cobra replica and am in the final stages of making my decision. One question that I have is "why do people sell their cobras" There seem to be quite a few on the market and I was wandering why. Is it because for many the fun is in the building raher than the driving? Is it that they dont' find the car very driveble or practical or is it that they can't afford to have that much money tied up in a toy. This is just a curiosity, and I know that each individual selling his/her cobra will have their own uniques reasons and so I am merely looking for some generalizations.

Thanks

Dave London, Ontario

[nester]

I can only give you the reason I was available to buy my slabside from an aquaintance, he simply never drove it. It sat in his garage and gathered dust. His wife wasn't that comfortable riding in it and I said I would be interested if he wanted to unload it. I'm glad he did.

[427sharpe]

Dave, I can tell you from a few I have seen that a lot of people sell because they build a car totally unsuited to the real intended purpose! They put in a suspension that will knock fillings out of your teeth, and stuff a motor in that can't idle, gets 2 MPG and runs like crap at anything below 5000 rpm! Now a car like that is fine, IF that's what you really want! I think most people really want a street car, and a Cobra with any decent engine will fill that bill in spades. If you plan rationally, you can have a car that will go like greased lightning, and be virtually maintenance free. Second, a lot of people love to 'tinker'. Always looking for the next horsepower tweak, or visual cue. After awhile, they are bound to change cars when they run outta stuff to do! Lastly, and unfortunately, there is always the 'downturn' financially. When that happens sometimes it's hard to justify the expensive toys. Same reason so many boats, luxury cars and expensive homes hit the market in bad times.

[Excaliber]

I bought my Cobra from a guy that had put about 5000 miles on it in something like 6 years. Same problem as above, and the wife was tired of having to park HER car outside the garage.

So why didn't he drive it? One reason was he never drove it in the rain (and it rained a lot where he lived). If he did drive it he would wipe it down and baby the fine paint every time he took it out. I found myself doing the same thing when I first got it. Then you think twice about "driving" it because it's such hassle to take care of when you "get home".

Now? Heck with it, I DRIVE it! Got some chips in the paint up front, it might stay "dirty" for a couple of days, whatever at least it is no "garage queen". My friend drives his Cobra DAILY. Yup, it looks like it too. I ADMIRE him! The car has a certain personality, it says, "I'm a REAL car, drive me". Nice paint? Get over it and be happy!
Ernie

[Ed Csoltko]

Currently I have my FFR up for sale on the CC and FFR forums, but I have not advertized in the papers. The main reason I'm selling is that I have a bad back (pintched disks) and it's really hard for me to drive a Cobra on long runs. I do make the local car shows and drive in a 25 mile radius from home without taking drugs. I'm not really wanting to sell my FFR, I really enjoy the car and the attention it gets. The TCC members are also a great bunch to hang with as a bonus.

[decooney]

Dave,
interesting question. I've thought about it myself several times. For me, I had a Cobra that I loved, but could not justify keeping when I had lost my job and a guy came up and wanted to buy it from me during the same month. My car was not even for sale at the time, a guy saw it at an event and asked about it. So for a few weeks I battled in my head about selling it or not after getting the car the way I wanted it. I thought I was suppose to sell it, feeling guilty running down my savings account while being out of work. As soon as I sold it I thought, "oh crap", what did I just do. So, the moral of the story for me is, if you really like the car, don't sell it if you can figure out how to keep it. I told the new owner several time that I missed owning and driving the car. Once he had it for a while, he stated he ended up having some problems with it and seemed almost disappointed in owning it. So, each person has their own reasons and level of excitement, but what I can tell you is this... I am working to get another one, and it is one of the funnest cars I've ever had. I miss having the car in the garage and being able to meet my friends out on drives. For now, I'm in the passenger seat, but I'll get another one. One of my other friends sold his Cobra to try a Viper, now he is back looking at Cobras again - it's only a matter of time for him too. The term, "Bitten by the Snake" is appropriate for those who always wanted a Cobra and could visualize owning one. I'll be getting another one on the road...

See Ya.
Duane

[Turk]

I guess I am one of those people selling their car, but don't seem to fit the mold.

Yes the building was fun but hardly anticlimactic.
I did put in a big engine, mostly rode it on the highways. I want a bigger engine and an aluminum car.
The car is anything but practical as a car to travel by. Still managed to put on 9000 miles in as many months.
It is a blast. If you know what you are getting yourself into they are not dissapointing at all.

NO car I ever owned has been as much fun as this. keep your cars. You'll miss them when they are gone. Just like a boat.

TURK

[Alan Vanhollebeke]

When I built my FFR, I had no intentions of ever selling it. (which is kind of weird since I"m in the car business).

This was my living out of a boyhood dream, and I built it as a driver, with power steering, EFI etc.
I had no complaints at all about the car. It could beat a new Z06 in the 1/4 and still get 20 mpg on the road.

Anyways, long story short,,,,,, someone owed me a serious amount of money and it was putting me into a bind.
I sold my cobra with the intent on building another one again as soon as I could justify it.

I went through a few weeks of cobra withdrwal and still miss it.

The good news is that my financial matter has been mostly resolved and I did get my asking price for my cobra,,,,,soooooo it was time to start shopping.

All in all,,,,the selling of the car has kind of made another dream a possibility for me, because I recently decided to just "go for it" ,,,,and build a car that I had never thought "I" could possibly own.

I now have a GT40 replica on order from New Zealand ,and hope to see it in the next 4-5 months.

My only problem now,,,is to try and keep from going nuts while I wait!

[Jamo]

Since I will be selling mine in the near future, I thought I'd respond...

I love my Butler--best damn car I've ever owned: strong, reliable, fun and everything it should be. But I'm getting an aluminum car with an aluminum BB for Xmas (or thereabouts). So--it's not because I don't love the Butler any more, or need to get away from having a Cobra--it's just time for a new model.

[Gordon Claunch]

Dang, I just hate you rich guy's!!! here I sit in the refinery control room on a holiday no less, but thanks to a fine union, {sorry Jamo} I do at least make $678.84 for the day, Jamo, Perry Mason, Barnaby Jones and Matlock all had sidekicks you sure you don't need one???

[casaleenie]

Great question Dave.....All these posts were of great interest -
I think Excaliber summed it up nicely - "no garage queen".
Drive and enjoy..... That's the road I'm taking.... A few creature comforts with some wifeability built in.....

[Jack21]

Like the above, the builder didn't realistically approach building his car to his driving needs. He built a race car, and what he wanted was a street car. I've seen this a million times in all kinds of cars, and Cobras are no different. It rides like a logging truck, gets 2 MPG, overheats, and is tempermental. Driving it is a disappointment so it's for sale at a low price.

Building a Cobra really shouldn't be someones first hot rod. As much as the kit car manufacturers like to make a prospective builder think that this is a walk in the park, it isn't. If one has limited mechanical skills and automotive savvy, and experience, the builder will become overwhelmed quickly and not finish the project, or do a mediocre job. A Cobra is a good project for someone with 10 or more years of car crafting/hot rodding experience under his belt. Has built and changed engines, installed transmissions and brakes. Knows electrical wiring and automotive circuits. Has a thorough understanding of the subsystems of what makes up an automobile. It is not a project for a beginner.

In this vein, kit car manufacturers are proponents of donor car procurement from which to build ones kit. This is where the newbies get sidetracked. If you build your car with junk Mustang parts, you'll have a junk Mustang when you're finished. It performs like a junk Mustang, with associated mechanical problems. The builder becomes disenchanted and sells it.

How much originality? To what lengths does one go to duplicate the original car? Separating the myth from the reality as it applies to the builder/driver/owners needs is a tough one. Read what Shelbys' drivers had to say about original Cobras, and ask yourself, "Is this what I want"? Original cars are so expensive today because so few of them were made. There weren't many made, because they didn't sell. And originals could be had at any Ford dealer. Howcum? If they didn't sell then, why would you want one just like it today?

The Smithsonian has some perfectly restored combat aircraft of WWI, and WWII using the technology available when the airplane was built. But they are for display only, and will never be flown. The Confederate Air Force has a collection of the same vintage aircraft that are flown regularly. And the similarity is barely skin deep. Inside these things is all modern stuff.

To answer your question, why do most (not all) people sell their Cobras? In more cases than most are willing to admit, the builder either overbuilt the car (race car), or underbuilt the car (donor parts) due to lack of experience in car crafting. Tipoffs. Low price, low mileage, obvious donor or mismatched parts, sloppy work, and lack of knowledgible answers from the builder/owner. Or second owner who knows nothing about how the car was constructed. These cars can be bargains if the new owner plans on rebuilding the car.

Cars that were built by a knowledgible builder will be higher priced, and not a best offer deal. There is no Bluebook for these cars. It's all in the little details of the quality of the build. Try to armwrestle the guy on price, and he'll tell you to kiss off. Ask him to tell you about the car, and be prepared for a lengthly disertation on what went into the car. Who did the engine, who did the paint, special features and upgrades, how the car performs, any maintenance issues he has. The car may have higher mileage because the car is driven. And if it is driven, it is like to be fairly reliable. Then, there is the implied warantee. Granted, you have to accept the car as-is, because unless he owns a shop and does this professionally, it's impossible to offer a warantee on the car. But, although you may be buying it, it's still his baby (like marrying his daughter). Expect free lifetime tech support because he knows every nut and bolt on it.

These cars when built properly, and realistically, offer performance unobtainable from any factory built car, and are easily maintained. And don't depreciate with age.

[TurboVenom]

I agree completely with Jack21 above...he sums it up very well. But you have to WANT no other car where only a Cobra will do. I saw my first Cobra in a Ford showroom when I was 12 years old, and just had to have one...one day. I built mine as an extension of my creativity, installed a six cylinder engine (went the other extreme) and have driven it almost every day, at least from April to November, here in the midwest. I originally built it as a driver, but once I broke the engine in (about the length of my driveway) I headed to the local quarter mile track and pounded out an 11.80 ET...I was hooked. Although I built it to drive it on the street, it's seen an awful lot of track time over the years. I now have almost 42,000 miles on the clock and it just keeps climbing, as I enjoy each mile (or quarter-mile increment) immensely. There is no other car that can even compare and if I sold the car, I really don't know what I'd replace it with...so it stays. Anyway, I'm gonna build a racer this time - a Daytona with a roll cage - and already have the engine/trans ready to install. Yes, another six cylinder too.
Just Do It

-John Spina
http://www.casperselectronics.com/cobra.htm

[CRZN427]

Dave,

I built an LAE in '94 and drove it over 40k miles in seven years. really loved the car, and so did the wife. We took several vacations in it and about a dozen car shows per year, many an over night trip.

I sold it to buy an FFR. The FFR owners have a shown higher interest in my convertible top, than owners of other brands.

When I build my top I need the car, or one like it, in my garage to do the fit up. Buying the FFR was just the way to achieve that goal.

Now I have been about a year with out a Cobra to drive and really miss it. I'll get it done soon and then have the "grin" come back.

[ERA535]

I sold mine because I wanted an aluminum bodied car that was even more true to the original than the ERA I had (until this morning).

I loved building the ERA and loved driving it even more.

I now have a Contemporary that I am going to sell because it was traded in on my ERA - theres another reason why people sell I guess

(See pics in my Gallery later)

[casaleenie]

Thanks Jack 21 - perfect
Turbo- Venom - No other car will do

[Evan H.]

I was briefly thinking about selling my car. The thought was based on practicality. Was considering a 360 Modena. The 360 is more practical, air conditioning, real windows and you can drive it in the rain.

Reasons for deciding to keep the Cobra. 1. This is not the time to sell. 2. In the end, while the Cobra has its draw backs (hot, cramped, loud, smelly, vibrating bare fisted brute) there is nothing, repeat nothing that has as much character and raw charisma as the Cobra. There is no car that can match its legendary status. IMHO.

Turk: I didn't know you were selling your car. Have you decided on which al u mini um Cobra yet?.

[bonyhadi]

sold my contemporary to get a bb era....needed torque and a more comfortable ride.
now I am waiting for LNP to get his Kirkham, build it, run it for a while and sell it, I hope I get first bid.

[Turk]

Evan,
I give you two guesses!
First one does not count.

Is it true SAI made a lot of imrovements to the cars 4100 and up?

TURK
I think mine will be Realerer

[Evan H.]

Turk: I vaguely remember something about some improvements from CSX4100 up. I think the glass work on the glass cars was improved for sure. As to any other improvements I'm sure Kris would know. I sure whatever they were if anything it was nothing dramatic and it was probably limited to the materials used rather then as to the design since they are all identical to original specs and remain so.

Are you buying a roller? Painted, unpainted? Are you buying it from Finish Line? What color? What engine? Aluminum block or iron? Single or dual quad. Rivets?

I can tell you that the CSX is a terrific car. It does have a different feel & drive different than an ERA. I found the CSX to be quicker steering too. Have you driven one yet? When you do let me know what you think.

For your use I might consider glass. You tend to drive more and drive harder than I do. Just a thought.

So many questions.