contemporary 427 s/c

[dennish456]

Any comments on this particular manufacturer? Looking at a car and need some feed back.

Thanks.

[ST]

It all depends on who built the car!!!
I've seen Contemporary Cobras that were very nicely done and others that I wouldn't even comment on. There are several guys on this site that have them, maybe they'll chime in.
The only other drawback is they're no longer in business but I think some builders like Don Borders carries parts for them.

[SCOBRAC]

Most ERA guys won't admit it but they wish they had gotten in when CC was still around.. Among the highest resale and best quality component cars around aside from the alloy cars. Anyone can buy an ERA given enough cash and or time. But there will be no more Contemporary's anywhere ever. Not even the old grouch can claim that.

Parts are parts. Most Cobra parts are replicating something else. Contemporary's mostly used Ford and Jaguar rolling stock and replicated or improved hardware. Look at a Shelby door hinge. Look at a CC door hinge.. You tell me who's is better.. Shelby hinges are made of stamped sheet metal, rough and unfinished. CC used mandral bent 1/2 tube steel.. welded and smoothed. Look at a CC tube frame.. Look at the others.. ERA does a nice job sure.. But Superformance, FF and everyone elses look like they were built in a welding class for 10th graders.. Not that they are all bad but time is money..

I think with the exception of ERA they are all in it for the money. Not that there shouldn't be money in anything done well. But that is why Contemporary isn't here anymore (among other reasons) . Carroll is back in it for the money... What else was the lawsuit about...

I backed into my deal on CCX-3152.. Call it luck, call it good carma. I wouldn't trade it for the next Kirkham or Shelby off the line. I have Contemporary photo's in my gallery as do many others. Bill Malone has maybe the nicest Contemporary I have seen. Search for his photo's. I think you will understand what I mean.

[dennish456]

Thanks for the input. The car I am looking at has only 800 miles on it with a 427 side oiler, jag irs and all the good stuff. What seeme to be the prevailing price?

Thanks

[Cracker]

An excellent Contemporary such as the one you described a year ago would be in the Hight 50's to mid 60's easy. Everything has recently softened and you may be able to get a good deal. Like the previous posts have made clear - it depends on the builder or how detailed the builder was and mechanically how sound it is. Like SOBRAC? noted, a top shelf Contemporary is hard to beat - period! The differences is purely subjective. Once again - best of luck!

Tony Hull
Cracker

P.S. - I recently toured Shelby's personal collection of cars in LA and was astounded that all of the cars I saw (the 1st cobra ever made) was in unrestored normal/not clean condition. The originals are not what you would expect them to be so don't get to carried away. I should say if you do - very few originals are going to be that clean.

[ST]

Most ERA guys won't admit it but they wish they had gotten in when CC was still around..

You're wrong!

[mrmustang]

How much information is the seller giving you. Selling and buying all come down to the same thing....The details.....Such as the following.....

http://www.bills2.us/cobra.html


Bill S.

[bmalone]

Well, most of them have the good stuff already on them--a definite plus. As mentioned, parts available still. I like mine a lot. If the price is right, I would do it.

[Bob Perry]

When the contemporary i bought became available the first thing i did was call Don borders at image auto works in palm dessert. Don took the time to tell me all the pros and cons and what to look out for , he also said he can still get what ever part i needed for the car. which he has proven himself many times. In november i sent a week at dons shop learning all his little secrets and at the same time Bill malones car was there. look at his pictures I sure hope mine turns out half as nice as bills. good luck

[A Snake]

I had the choice between ERA and Contemporary. I went with Contemporary, because it came the closest to an original at that time. No alloy cars were available then either.

I occasionally get arguments from the ERA guys, but one of the things that stopped me on the ERA was that, at the time, they used two round tail lights instead of the rectangular. Sounds picky, but twin round ones were on street cars, not S/C's. Other things like a mixture of Chevy parts in the front suspension colored my thinking too.

A Contemporary is all Jag except that the front A arms are fabricated to duplicate the originals.

FYI SOBRAC, the funny looking stamped hinges on the Kirkhams and Shelbys are as original. Just look at an original. Anything else including Contemporary is nice but not original.

dennish456 it's hard to see in pictures, but have a look in my gallery. That car represents an $80K investment. Sold for $60K in 1999 and was glad to get it.

If the car you're looking at has the details of an original and good fit and finish, 50-60K is probably not out of line. Just depends these days on how motivated the seller is and how bad the buyer wants the car.

If you're not up on Cobras yet and are trying to get near to an original in appearance, you should spend time looking at them before buying a replica. The closer you get to original, the more they're worth and also, they become the most desireable.

Don Borders is indeed a good man. He was the builder of Contemporary's cars. His Image Auto Works cars are just like a Contemporary only better. He's fixed some of the dumb stuff Peter Bayer insisted on. Just don't make the mistake of asking him for Chevy motor mounts......he won't do it.

If you don't mind a little wait, Image would be a really good choice in my book.

Al

[KobraKarl]

Great car, good suspension design, but was modified several times as the years went by ,... none were bad , but some were better than others ,...tell us the details and it will be easier to give a price range.

KK

[SCOBRAC]

Don Borders is a good guy. He is a heck of a craftsman. He actually built my car back in 1988 for himself. Even if he hadn't he is perhaps the most knowledgable CC guy on the west coast. He presently builds what are Contemporary "4000 Series" for Boyd Coddington's customers. ( they aren't called that, but they are essentially Contemporarys continued) I'm not sure how much you will get out of him on the telephone but if you are in SoCal drop by and see him. It might take a bit of patience but it's worth it. If you can do it pay him to give the car you are looking at the once over. It would be well worth the trip.

[SCOBRAC]

I know all about Shelby and Kirkham's "original" shortcuts. It was fine for hack job race cars back in '65 when the goal was to stomp Enzo and win a championship. These cars were never intended to live beyond the next racing season or two.

I rode in a new car the other day, a Shelby alloy car that probably has 120k invested plus a thousand or so hours in additional labor. Anyway if you stand right in front of this car the oil cooler looks like it is mounted crooked. It isn't... It's the "original" body mold that was about an inch out of square with the radiator opening. And yes the door hinges look like they just came off the grinding table.

The thing is these things were done to save time and money, sometimes weight but mostly time and money. There is no excuse for this in a $120k plus machine. I'm 37 years old and as such have been looking at these cars my entire life. I have yet to see two exactly alike and hence every car built in this form are original cars. Including component, continuation or otherwise.

Certainly some (all) early cars have pedigree and are obviously highly desireable. But ALL Cobras are original. I will tell you the 4000 series car I was in was nothing like the "original" cars I have been in. It was way faster, didn't shake or rattle. it's body work is straighter (except for the oil cooler duct) It didn't overheat and It rode better, stopped faster and was very smooth all the way up to 100 mph @3200 rpm in 5th gear and I am sure it would have been well beyond that.. I suspect it may top 165 with 3.54 gears.

Don't get me wrong. It is an awesome car. But when you include the pucker factor of driving a 120k machine, the cost and the benefit, how can you go wrong with a nicer car that is 1/2 the price? Plus I have a CD player.