Which is the best Cobra kit?

[briankmagby]

Ok, I hope that I'm not opening up a can of worms here, but I would like everyone’s opinion on what are the top five most accurate and authentic Cobra kit manufactures available? List them in order from one to five, one being the most accurate, and five being the least accurate of the top five manufactures.

Thanks.

[Tongue Pirate]

Hold on I'm getting my chicken wire set up

[xcobraj]

Yea,and I just wrapped aluminum around my head to keep all the voices out!!!

[RallySnake]

Brian,

That's a very funny way to start a weekend! But it's much simpler than that. The more you spend, the better your car will be. When you get to adding mudflaps and curb feelers, you've gone too far.

Paul

[briankmagby]

RallySnake, I understand what you mean about the more you spend the better your car will be, but no amount of money can correct for a body that is not accurate. The question was about accuracy, and authenticity. Pretty straight forward question really, which manufacture’s produces the most accurate body’s?

[valpodoc]

The number one best cobra is the one you own...no doubt about it. Look around go to SAAC or DVSF talk the the great guys who build and drive these cars and spend with your heart. As my wife told me "the looking is half the fun"
Roland

[428street]

I have been lurking, reading, searching and saving my money for over three years. Hands down the best replica (fiberglass) is ERA. Aluminum would be Kirkham (spelling??). There is always Shelby's continuation cars but you are paying for the name. This is totally a matter of worth, your wealth and if YOU feel the Shelby car is worth the money. It really depends what you are looking for, value, originally (as close as possible to the orginal look, feel parts installed), etc. You can get a car for 25k all day long and it will look "like a Cobra" but if you've seen enough of the real ones or the ERA's you can tell there is something different.

Everyone wants something different and has a different budget.

Good luck.

[btsai]

My humble opinion:

1) Kirkham
2) SAI
3) Contemporary (no longer in production)
4) ERA
5) hmm.... after that I think the "authenticitiy" rankings shift a bit...

[briankmagby]

Thanks btsai and 428street. Kirkham and ERA where definitely in my top 5, any opinions on Unique Motorcars Cobra?

[deadwood1584]

I love my Unique !!


www.uniquecobra.com

[casaleenie]

Originally posted by briankmagby


Thanks btsai and 428street. Kirkham and ERA where definitely in my top 5, any opinions on Unique Motorcars Cobra?

It's a proven fact----Unique owners are the most content and satisfied.....

Yep! That's just the way it is.. Swear to G

[Unique580hp]

Love my Unique also.

Brian,

Do you have a budget? If so, you should ask, "Generally what is the best replica under $___________ . That will make a big difference in how that question may be answered.

[Tongue Pirate]

I agree with all of the above Spend some time on these MFG's websites & get out & actually put your eyes on as many of these cars as you can. Your obsessive research & point to point comparisons will lead you to the best car in your mind or for your budget.

You might also seperate aluminum & Glass cars into seperate catagories. Good luck!

[btsai]

Ah yes, I should have included Unique. I especially like their 289 FIA car when done right (like the one on the BF Goodrich banner -- which happens to reside right here in AZ just a couple miles away from my house... )

Ben

[briankmagby]

So you guys would definitely put Unique in the top 5? How about the top 3? Something like:
1: Kirkham
2: ERA
3: Unique

Or wood Unique rate closer to #5?

I like the FIA 289 very much, but after looking at Unique vs. ERA FIA 289, ERA's rear fenders look wider, creating the need for the "Cut Back" doors like the original. Is this just an illusion created by to different pictures, or is there a difference. ERA says theirs was created from an actual FIA 289 car. Is it more accurate than the Unique, or is it again just the difference in the pictures?

The Unique 427 body looks very accurate, any opinions?

[slithering]

brian,

All the cars I've seen listed and talked about, are great cars. The car you eventually buy will be a great car! Because, it's YOUR car. There's blood and sweat all over my car, there are still unanswered questions with my car, but... it's my car. As for as I'm concerned it's the best cobra, because it's my cobra. If having the most original, best hands down, most authentic cobra was my true motive for buying, I would have bought an original.
Having said that ... I'm gonna have a beer and put on my "banana hammock".
Slithering

[Turk]

This is like asking who makes the best PC clone.

CPU, kind of Hard Drivers, amount of memory, and the motherboard you install can make any one of the clones the Best regardless of who made the case.

I am hoping some of my analogy applies to Cobras as well.

We all have seen some real nice SPF's and Factory Fives.

My choice would be ERA.

[briankmagby]

I hear what you guys are saying, and I agree with you 100%. It really is a labor of love, and that alone will make it special, but at the same time, I want to make sure that it looks right, so a correct looking body is very important. I fell in love with the way the original Shelby Cobra looked as well as the way that it performed. I have been waiting for over 23 years to own this car, so for me to build a Cobra that doesn't have the correct look wouldn't really be full-feeling my dream!

So again, I know that the right combination of suspension, frame, engine, wheels and tires and so much more all come together to make a great Cobra, but all that wont amount to much if in the end, the body doesn't have that correct original Shelby Cobra look!

[clayfoushee]

Brian,

To use an over-worked expression, "at the end of the day," it's all about who assembled the car, e.g. built and installed the engine, trannie, wiring, body-work, paint, etc. All of the makes listed above are first-class rolling chassis and quality bodies. It's not even worth ranking them. But, there's a lot of work that has to happen after they leave the manufacturer, and a lot can be done incorrectly.

There are crappy examples of every make, dare I say even......no I won't go there. You should decide what you like the best. You can't go wrong with any of the ones listed above. Some of the most amazing performing cars I've seen are the so-called "low-cost FFRs, "because the people that built them were amazing engineers and wrench-turners.

Yes, I love my Unique too, and wouldn't trade it for anything, but I was also trying to be as objective as possible.

[computerworks]

Brian...

if the question is "which one looks the most original".. then the answer is clear and unemotional. Asking "which is the best kit"...
...w-e-l-l... that can get sticky.

The m-o-s-t faithful to the original look list is short:

1. Shelby (aluminum) - Kirkham (aluminum)
2. Shelby ('glas)
3. ERA
4. Contemporary (used only)

A short list.

it follows with those that are close, with slight design departures:

5. Unique
6. Superformance (not really a kit)
7. Midstates