The MOST ACCURATE REPLICAS of ALL time!

Excaliber · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2003, 10:03 PM

Man you would think we have covered this issue enough! But it is still a little "fuzzy" to me, as I bet it is for others.
"Rate the Replicas" on a scale of 1 to 10?

"IF" a 1962 to 1967 Cobra is "greater than" 10
"THEN" an SAI Alum car is "equal to "10"?
So a SAI "glass body" car is " "?
And the Kirkham is " "?
And the ERA is " "?
And "what car goes here" is " "?

Is there more to it than just "shape"? The frame, suspension, wheels?

Ah heck, maybe you can't reduce it to a "software sub routine".............emotion gets in the way!

Ernie

Jamo · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2003, 10:34 PM

Since Kirkhams made it better by making sure right and left hand sides of the body match (mirror image wise), and therefore "perfected" it as I am wont to say, Kirkhams are at least a 12.

IMHFO

TerrysSPF · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2003, 10:47 PM

I see this thread going the way the ERA vs SPF thread went.....but I'll put my .02 cents in just for kicks. Besides, I did look at almost every replica out there before making a decision, and got to know the shapes of each pretty well; but I wanted what I considered to be the "best value", not the "best exact replica".
Oh well, here it goes:
In MHO I would say you can only give "10's" to SAI & Kirkham. Why? For obvious reasons.
ERA would get about an 8 or 9
Then, I would throw in SPF as a 7 (but I'm partial to them) although there's a lot of others that are in this same range: Coddington; Contemporary; and Unique to name a few.

The Venom 427 by Shell Valley is supposed to be a nice car as well as the new Pegasus Performance. Backdraft, Premier Motorsports, FFR, Midstates, and Pigeon Performance all have obvious differences from the orig Cobra, but still nice rides.

Heck, all this talk about the diffrerent replica's has me wanting to shop around again!
I won't "rate" the last few vehicle manufactures, I'll leave that up to Evan.

KobraKarl · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2003, 11:49 PM

You still have to give the nod to Hi Tech i think after Kirkham then the round tube chassis..............my.01-1/2 cents worth

Back in Black · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2003, 11:53 PM

I vote for Dolly the sheep

Excaliber · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 12:06 AM

Hope Wilf checks in and gives more detail on those "english" replicas.........

Oh Dolly! Now I get it! LOL

Ernie

Turk · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 01:27 AM

ORIGINALS 10.0
ERA 9.0
KIRKHAM-SAI 8.7
SPF 3.4

This could be good!..
Guys... Don;t take me serious. I am just trying to take the spotlight away from all the war talk. I figured above rating should keep you all busy for a while

TURK

GeorgiaSnake · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 05:46 AM

I must put down my french toast and nominate my Unique to the list.

Kirkham (price adjusted 8)
Original (price adjusted 6)
ERA 7
SPF 6
Unique (price adjusted 7)

I'll check back at the end of the day - gotta go to the garage and finish block sanding my Unique

Randy

southernfriedcj · #9 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 06:19 AM

Originals: 5(based on the price to value ratio)
SAI: 9(because of the "value added" markup, would be a 10 if they were the same $$ as Kirkham)
Kirkham: 10
SPF: 9
FFR: 1-9 depending on the build
ERA: 1(about as nice as a Duramax)
IMHO, anything can be a 10 if the price is right.
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.disclaimer: ERA rating is for Turk's benefit only

Dave Crace · #10 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 06:20 AM

When the Cobra's left AC they were a 10. By the time they got to Shelby, they had to be filled with body filler to straighten them out making them a 7. That leaves the Kirkam (9), SAI (8) ERA (6), SPF (5) and so on

DC

petek · #11 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 08:20 AM

Randy,

"I must put down my french toast ..."

That's suppose to be egg-dipped toast...

aumoore · #12 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 10:37 AM

Before you can do this you need to figure out who makes all the replicas. How many manufacturere are there anyway?
SAI
RUCC
Hunter
ERA
Unique
Shell Valley
Midstates
Street Beasts
Kirkham
FFR
Backdraft
Superformance
A&C
B&B
EM(deceased)
Johns Custom
Lonestar
Venom
Classic Roadsters
Johnex

I probably left off a bunch and then you have the manufacturers outside of the USA/Canida.

The ones who have the best look (not frame design suspension etc)to me are that I have actually seen with my own eyes:
1. ERA
2. SAI
3. Unique
4. Superformance
5. Hunter
6. Midstates
7. EM
8. Backdraft
9. B&B
10. FFR
11. Classic Roadster
12. Elegant Motors

There are many cobras that I have not actually seen in person but they may have a better shape than the ones I have observed. I am not saying the ones at the bottom of the list are ugly just they are not correct looking for some reason. Some have funny trunks, perky butts, longer wheelbases or funney dimensions or details.

Basically what I am saying is you usually get what you pay for.

Tom T. · #13 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 11:17 AM

my Contemporary, Old Red, 38,015.7

Kirkham, 41,034

Streat Beast, 6

TT

Tom T. · #14 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 11:18 AM

Ay carumba, Street, not Streat. More coffee.....

TT

CSX 4039 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamo

Since Kirkhams made it better by making sure right and left hand sides of the body match (mirror image wise), and therefore "perfected" it as I am wont to say, Kirkhams are at least a 12.

IMHFO

It is my understanding that absent the main frame rails, you would be surprised how thin the frame pieces on a Kirkham are, additionally the roll bar downtubing is welded seam not solid. Something about all tubing over 3/4" not being superior D.O.M. (drawn over mandrel) mild steel tubing....Or, so it is my understanding from someone who works at SAI.

Excaliber · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 11:38 AM

What about those newer AC cars? Are they true to frame and suspension setup? I think replicas in the 9's is very short list! Arntz-Butler? But if they got a Chevy motor, instantly a 4 or less! What about Unique? What kind of frame\suspension they got?

I think to be an "exacting" replica you HAVE to look at all the parts, body, frame, suspension. And that opinion comes from a guy who wants a Classic Roadster, ha ha!

Wether or not the originals were better or worse than what's out there today (or yesterday), they are still the STANDARD to measure against. While I may want something different, I will always look to the "standard".

Ernie

casaleenie · #17 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 12:32 PM

#1 ERA
#2 CLASSIC
#3 SUPERFORMANCE
#4 UNIQUE
#5 AC

I based my selections on cars that are affordable and attainable for me....Aluminum bodies are probably nice but not of any concern to me.... I don't put that much of a premium on metal and actually prefer the glass... Just a personal preferrence..
I don't know if I could pick a metal car out of a bunch of replicas.
I've never seen a Cobra I didn't like...

After I win the Kirkham 289FIA at DVSP lll I'm sure I'll be editing this post and touting the merits of aluminum.... I'm very adaptable..

There is a green ERA on the market on the west coast. No roll bar and no side pipes or hood scoop... The best looking car on the market right now....

petek · #18 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 12:58 PM

casaleenie,

Quick, is it fiberglass or metal?

casaleenie · #19 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 01:14 PM

I stand chastised!!

I told you I was flexible and fickle...

Very pretty car.... UUhhhh, possibly metal????

David Kirkham · #20 (**permalink**) 02-15-2003, 02:36 PM

Brett,

Thin frame pieces...

All of our frame brackets are as thick or slightly thicker than an original car. The original control arms were 0.063 tubing. We make them out of 0.080 tubing (2mm). Talk about original sag--the original control arms were lucky to make it through a season--no kidding. The original frame tubes were 0.095 and are well know to sag. Ours are 0.125 thick. If you are complaining about the thickness of the brackets--you are essentially complaining about the thickness of the original brackets.

If you are surprised about the thickness of the frame pieces--just look at an original and you will leave skid marks in your shorts. We did have some roll bar down tubes escape with welded tubing. I thought I caught all of them and THREW THEM IN THE DUMPSTER. I just walked out and checked all of the roll bars from the cars in the last shipment...NO EBW TUBING--all DOM. If there are ANY roll bar down tubes out there that are EBW (electron beam welded) I will replace them...no questions asked.

Nevertheless, the original car's roll bar was made of 1 3/8 OD x 0.095 wall tubing. Not much more than a wet noodle. Ours, even if they were EBW, are vastly stronger than the original car at 1 1/2 OD x 0.125 wall.

As for your understanding from someone at SAI...I am curious if they have cut apart one of our cars to find that information out. If so, I would be the first in line to do the inspection. SAI has not cut one of our cars apart to the best of my knowledge. All tubes are welded shut on the car and you can't see inside them. Interestingly, all of the tubes on the original car were EBW, including the control arms (which I have personally disected).

DOM is really only needed on the roll bar and suspension control arms.

David