kIRKHAM Cobras vrs the rest, your input required!

[Bud Man]

Look at it this way-

Instead of breathing all of those noxious paint fumes and resin vapors, its just pick, soap, tap, soap, pick, soap, tap, sand, sand, brush.

Bud

[GOCATS]

I would have to agree SPF, Unique, ERA and Kirkingham have some of the best bodies and age quite well. I chose B & B because the use reinforcing material in the bodies to help and strength and durabilty. I don't think you could go wrong with any of these builders. It is about the company and the people who stand behind the car they build what more could you ask for.

As far a rock damage ask Brent Mills what a rock can do to your car. Actually it was more like a boulder

[clayfoushee]

Jamo, to me it's easier to patch holes from the outside than to pound from the inside....besides, there's all that other important junk in the way in there.....LOL.

[REAL 1]

I think someone here once said it best.

Created by Shelby. Perfected by Kirkham.

Proud owner of a "Kirkham" perfected Shelby Cobra.

[wilf leek]

Evan - why did you have to go and do that? Just when I was beginning to sound like you on the "Did the cobra exist...." thread?

I am gutted.

[Lew Ledyard]

Evan:

I am speechless.

[TheSaint71]

Wow, Thanks alot for the replies guys. I really appreciate it! Helps alot to gather info from people with experience then endless research! B&B adds some strength stuff eh? I've never heard that one, will have to look into those more

Jamin

[Mark Husar]

ROAD GATOR

One big a$$ed piece of tire tread barfed up by a semi. Almost impossible to see at night unless you are really lucky. I wasn't.
The front tire lifted it off the road and the rear tire picked it up and it goes 'round and 'round in the wheel well until it either tears the wheel opening out or it get's belched out under the car.
Not cool!!

[Jamo]

That'll cost ya five bucks, Evan.

[GOCATS]

Jamin-

It a material called coremat. Used in building swimming pools. Used on the space shuttle to help reinforce the outer skin or something like that. Call Brian or Barry ask them anything you want . Couple of great guys who love building these cars.

J.A.

[bckroom]

Jamin,

The 1st cobra owned was a Shell Valley body on a hand built frame by a gentleman near Indy. Fred Hunt as I recall. Nice car. I had l5 years of pleasure from that car.

I do not know if Shell Valley is any better or worse than the other manufacturers BUT I hit a deer at about 45 MPH and did not do any damage to the front of the body. It broke the headlite and bent my antennae. The body did not have any damage of any kind not even a crack. The deer went over the windshield. About a foot lower and I probably would not be writing this.

Point is, aluminum damage would have been in the K's. Glass makes much more sense for everyday use. IMHO


Roger

[RaceDeck]

The title of this thread sums it up pretty well, Kirkham Vs. the rest..
I think that what is more important than anything else is the customer service and support you get after the sale. If you go through all of the threads in this forum you will get a pretty good idea of who the qaulity, reputable companies are...then it will come down to a personal and finanial choice of which company you go with...If you choose fiberglass, you have several great companies, if you go with aluminum, there is only one choice in my book...

[M & M]

This post not only applies to Cobra manufacturers but all companies with web sites.

I have never understood why someone cannot return an email. If they are too dam busy then maybe they should either; not put an email link on their web site, or hire more people to handle all that business that keeps them so busy.

There is nothing more frustrating..... why have an email link on your web site if someone is not going to return the email IN A TIMELY FASHION?

What purpose does the email link serve? To irritate your potential customer.... now that makes a ton of sense.

[Johnnyquest]

I am the rest, Factory Five Racing. Picked it up for a song and pleased thus far.

But, looking for donations from the entire clubcobra.com forum to buy a Kirkham. About a $10 dollar donation from everyone should do it.

Send your donations to:

R. Farnsworth
515 Wesley Ridge Dr.
Spicewood, Tx. 78669

[Bill Wells]

johnnyquest and M/M..i agree..in fact, i sent an email note to m/m's business email address link. wonder how long before i get a response. dont tell m/m though.. LOL...bill.

[M & M]

Billy Bob,

If there is an email link.... you will get a response..... but for you it may not be what you want to hear!

[A Snake]

The question was asked about heat distortion in fiberglas bodies. My experience is as follows.

Everyone knows that Contemporary was one of the best in it's day. Even Contemporary had some interesting problems with the body though.

In their case, the tops of the front fenders developed interesting little ripples when they got hot in the sun or even just a lot of engine heat.

The rear quarters also developed waves and I learned from my painter whose cars regularly win at Pebble Beach, that it wasn't the glass itself, it was the way the body was built. Improper joints and bracing which caused "stress risers".

These imperfections were taken out of my car at considerable expense and I did not get any of those distortions. What I did get, was the hood, even with it's integrated steel tube frame, developed a twist. This twist caused it not to seat perfectly when latched down. I know this to be heat related as it occurred after a day of very hot and heavy track time on a 90 degree day. Up until that time, it fit perfectly.

Bottom line is that fiberglass will move around and nothing can really be done to prevent it. The better the body is built, the less distortion will occur, but it will occur.

As to buying a Cobra, I'd first ask do you want a pretend car that resembles a Cobra from 50 feet away or one that takes a real expert to tell it from an original?

Any old kit will do if it is the former. If you want it spot on, get a Kirkham and tell them you want all gennie original type parts....right down to the Serck tag on the radiator and the Beclawat emblem on the windshield frame. And then tell them that you want an original rear diff with outboard brakes. Getting really serious, they will even furnish original Girling brakes!

Yes, Kirkham has upgraded the brakes and I applaud them for their effort. However, if I were buying one....and I may, it will be as close to an original as it can be made......lousy brakes and all!

BTW, the Girlings work fine once you get them hot.

A last note for our young Cobra enthusiast:

Jamin, sometimes the "racer types" can get kind of arrogant and standoffish and so can the builders of specialty cars. In more than 40 years of playing with cars, I've never figured it out, but I've developed a strategy that works well for me, when I encounter it......just walk away, they're too stupid to know any better.

The good ones like Kirkham, Image, ERA, etc. all know better and will treat even the most casual inquiry as though you were ready to write a check.

And last Jamin, don't let your age bother you as you nose around. When I was in highschool, one of the guy's dad bought him a brand new Jag XKE. The boy was 18 and the car cost $5,800 when a new 1964 Mustang was well under $3,000 and a 'Vette sold for $4,500. In today's money, that lad's XKE price tag would buy you a Kirkham finished and ready to drive.

A smart businessman won't let your age get in the way. Have fun dreaming and planning. That's what really cool cars are all about.

Al