How Much $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[sparks]

I was wondering how much you guys accually spent on your cars building them yourselfs minus the engine?Would you do it again this way?After my buddy saw my new spf he is thinking of doing one himself.He thinks he will save alot of money...Any advice on if he will really save much....

[Hal Copple]

about three years ago, i sat down with Bob Olthoff and searched out the answer to this very question. I don't recall now what the installation cost was, but it did include a fair amount of ancillarys, like a drive shaft, hoses, battery, and sundry other items. Plus rental fees for a proper engine hoist, and such, if i had tried to do it myself.

While the SPF dealers are known to be very helpful with instructional tapes and phone assistance, i really think the way to do this part of an SPF purchase is to really consder the engine installation by a new owner as feasible if the buyer is experienced, has a lot of tools, and wants to have some sense of "building his own."

It isn't quite like taking out an engine, and just slipping it back in. Remember, this drivetrain has never been in the car yet. While i know of any number of guys who have "done their own thing", my advice is not make this decision based on cost.

Just my opinion.

[Roscoe]

I guess I've got close to 40k into mine (don't tell my wife). I believe I have gotten more enjoyment out of building it than buying a turnkey. Hard to describe but there is a real attachment you get after building your own car from scratch.

Now there are some who do not have the expertise or space to build a car and buying one, or a turnkey, is one way of getting into a Cobra.

Many people who buy Cobras or turnkey Cobras do not have the same feeling toward the car, it's just another weekend toy. Many people who do not build tend to dispose of the cars quicker than the builders. Now I'm sure I'll get some heat on this but remember that I'm not saying ALL, only many.

Would I build a Cobra Roadster again? Certainly not...I'd build a Daytona Coupe!!

Roscoe

[Wayne Maybury]

I'm with Roscoe on this one. I received a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction from building the car myself. Did I save any money? Well that's another question since I wanted to do quite a few things "right". I don't mean the way it was done in the 60's but rather that I made quite a few upgrades along the way. These little things really add up when all is said and done.

Would I build another one? Probably yes, if I could afford it but here I will disagree with Roscoe since I would like to build a GT-40.

Wayne

[427 S/O]

Roscoe, I couldn't have said it better!!, to know every nut and bolt just feels good, all that fabricating was fun, the UPS guy arriving all those mornings was like christmas, how many times did I hear...how much longer.....no telling and didn't worry about it.
Never added up all those receipts, don't care.
Wayne, I can appreciate your statement.....I wanted it right!!.
A thoroughly enjoyable and educating experience, what I learned along the way is priceless.
For my next project, I picked up a 28' center console hull, looking forward to all those sunrises over the atlantic.

[Doug Axelrod]

Friend of mine figured he could get into a self-built for about $3K less than a SPF, at least the way he wanted it done. Not counting any time, of course. I figure if you're good and have resources, you could come in for tangibly less.

For me, without any mechanical skills or resources, the answer was a turnkey offering professional and close support. I've been happy with that choice.

But I can well understand those that put their Cobras together bolt by bolt and the sense of attachment and connection that entails. I sincerely envy you mechanical guys that.

But on the other hand, putting lots of hours and miles in the cockpit under varied conditions, including 1 degree on Saturday (hard tops help...) and some track time, the connection is different than with other cars used just for transportation.

If I can add to Roscoe's wisdom here at all, it's only to drive your cars. Drive them a lot, even when conditions aren't perfect. That's the only way to feel that extraordinary connection with these beautiful brutes.

[Bob Parmenter]

Roscoe's dollar amount is very, very typical...............for a well done home built, as a basic amount. It wouldn't take much in "extras" to go even higher.

Have known lots of guys who sit down with brochures, flyers, and parts catalogs and a large legal tablet who think they have figured out every possible expense and end up somewhere between $25k to $28K. If they really do build the car and do it WELL they end up in Roscoe-land. And it takes a whole lot longer to get there than they figured. It also takes more space, and tools, and skill, and............... Side note, FFR guys doing the donor thing come in somewhere around $18k-22k, which still grows to some higher number, again depending on the finish quality level.

One notion that could come from this thread so far is that every guy who starts a home build enjoys it and successfully completes the car. Remember, these guys are special people. They have a higher level of determination than the average bear, and perhaps a higher skill level. The odds are higher that the car won't get done. The lower the quality of the initial kit, the less likely it is to be finished because it will grind down the initial enthusiasm faster that a 24 grit sanding disc. And it usually goes hand in hand, the dreamer's lower price is almost always based on the lowest price buy in kit.

[Roscoe]

Bob,

You're right on the money. My original homework put me in the 25k range... Then there were those AFR heads...those Harland Sharpe Rockers...Demon Carb...etc...etc.

One benefit is that building your car gives you an excuse to buy more tools!! OOPS! Didn't include my tool purchases in my final figure!!!

The FFR guys that come in at 22k will, over the years, upgrade to Roscoeland.

Roscoe

[Mr.Fixit]

reguardless of what you are talking about, it is almost never cheaper to build it yourself. You can always get a better deal on a slightly used cobra. And a turn key minus is a bargain, once you figure in all the expenses. even nuts and bolts get expensive. Assuming your time is worth nothing and you allready have every tool needed for the job, and the space and an understanding wife. But the satisfaction of knowing every single bolt on the car has it's appeal to some people.

[Roscoe]

If what you are after is a better deal then buying someone elses is the way to go but it can never replace the satisfaction of building it yourself.

You never make money breeding dogs either. Most hobbies are not for the money but for the enjoyment of involvement.

Roscoe

[kountzecobra]

Roscoe, could you clarify what kind of "involvement" you might have in breeding dogs? Some folks may not understand.

[Dan Stryffeler]

As an added bonus, from building my own, I get a Christmas card every year from Summit racing and my local parts/tool guys!

Dan

[Cal Metal]

Buy used.

[CHRIS POTTER]

I built my Lone Star for $23k, but did all the body and paint, as well as all the assembly, and mechanical. Only thing I had done was narrow the rear, as my Ford specialist has jigs, etc to get it just right. My Cleveland isn't anything spectacular, 4bbl heads, 10.25 compression, and port plates. Makes 378 fwhp, and 401 fl lbs of torque. My figures seem a little lower than most, but I finished the car in June of 98. Prices seem a little higher recently. Just my $.02

[Roscoe]

kountz,

Used to raise game bred terriers



Have switched to Jack Russells now. They only think their Pit Bull Terriers.

Roscoe

[Dirty Harry]

I've got $23K in mine. This is somewhat obvious to enthusiasts or if my car is sitting next to a $50K car. The real pleasure to me, though, is that it goes because I made it go. It stops because I made it capable of stopping. It looks sharp because I made it look sharp. Etc. etc. I've never built anything before, and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. If my time is worth anything, I've got a mint in the car by now, but it has been so rewarding to drive it around that it is all worth it. It's low-budget and low-tech, but most people never realize it.

[ENTDOC]

I was only interested in building my own car,it was a project for me and my son to do together and it has turned out to be a great experience, although I am now 8 months past projected finish date.After adding cost of tools and time I am also over budget but not too worried about that as I do not see any of these cars as an investment.Buying used is definitly the best deal if you just want a cobra and if I want another one that is the way I would go. chuck

[BamaBrett]

Finding a slightly used (very low mileage) Cobra is a pretty easy task. Most of them are fully sorted and ready to go.

The original owner usually takes the biggest depreciation hit, too. Bottom line ???? You get damn near a new car, but save big $$$$$. Put the key in the ignition and enjoy the car, plus the money you saved.


My hat is off to the do-it-yourselfers as well. Besides saving money, they can take pride in knowing every nut and bolt on their car. And this kind of knowledge is priceless when it comes to Cobra maintenance.



Y'all take it easy now, Brett

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Sparks;

Workng in a body shop for fourteen years and on my own stuff all my life qualifys me to say you ALWAYS GO OVER BUDGET WITH YOUR OWN BUILD. Now I would not have it anyother way.. It took me a year and a half to do a full blown restoration on my 65 GT-350 look-a-like....For myself,the build was just as much fun as I am having driving it now.....Spent about 50% more than I planned and I know better.....Too many upgrades as the process went along,but I do not regret one minute or one penny spent.....

While working in the body shop we usaully did one "restoration" a year. By that I mean the body and paint work,no upholstery or mechanical work invovled...I have never seen one finished for the original quote....Most times they doubled their original estimate with upgrades and extra stuff they or friends thought of during the process...

If you have the time-tools-space and skill to build one,I say go for it,you'll love it,but if you do not have ALL the above,get a turnkey or turnkey minus car....

As mentioned, right now is a good time for "low mileage used" cars...You can always make a few upgrades or changes to suit yourself,but the market is a buyers market right now....

Hope this helps........

David

[Gordon Claunch]

I've got around 30-32 in mine, I enjoyed building it, I learned a great deal, I did it simply because I could not afford to buy one already done, it took me 18 months of working on it when I wanted to so it would be fun, if not fun I didn't mess with it, with the exception of a 427 and pin drive wheels I got everything else I wanted in it