Average Age?

[SKINNEDR]

I have had mine over two years, however 28 years ago I saw an original, that was being sold for $28,000 and since that it has been my dream to own one. When I got separated two years ago, to ease the pain of my wife leaving after 23 years of marriage, I went out and purchased my car. The day she left was the day I brought it home.
I'm 51 years and I have thought more about this car than I have about anything else in this world including women.
Today I have the car and I don't have a wife. Not sure if I have progressed in life,
the jury is still out there...LOL
Dex..

[decapello]

I am 61, and I knew I wanted a cobra from the time I saw the first review in Mechanics Illustrated. I saw my first cobra at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona. In fact there were a number of them there, 427's & 289's. I went to the race with my dad, it was kind of a going away present, I was headed to the USAF for the next four years.
There was a 289 cobra for sale for $3000. You better believe I have kicked myself many times over the years for not jumping on that.
I started on mine two years ago, and hopefully it we be completed before I go on Social Security.

[tbirdz12]

Originally Posted by SKINNEDR

I have had mine over two years, however 28 years ago I saw an original, that was being sold for $28,000 and since that it has been my dream to own one. When I got separated two years ago, to ease the pain of my wife leaving after 23 years of marriage, I went out and purchased my car. The day she left was the day I brought it home.
I'm 51 years and I have thought more about this car than I have about anything else in this world including women.
Today I have the car and I don't have a wife. Not sure if I have progressed in life,
the jury is still out there...LOL
Dex..

Now get a nice pound dog and youll be set. Women are highly overrated. (As far as Im concerned anyways )

[cobraltd]

Just turned 53, lost my business partner of 25 years, suddenly at age 51 in April. He knew that I had a lifetime dream to own a cobra ever since the day I laid eyes on an original when I was 10 years old. I am know about a week away from getting my car (SPF)completed and I will think of him and his love for fast cars and how he lived his life to the fullest each and every day.

Cobraltd (life time dream)

[snakebitekit]

Age 57, had my ERA FIA delivered 2 years ago this coming September. Should be on the road in August. The build is late because my engine builder stated 8 weeks, turned out to be 8 months. 347 with webers, Tremec, no stripes, chrome roll bar, "knock on wheels" and Micky Thompsona that I am getting anxious to turn over, over, over.
snakebitekit

[hotrodman76]

I will be 33 in a few days. Have wanted a Cobra since I can remember, just ordered my Shell Valley a few weeks ago!
Like quite a few of you I did not want to wait till I retired, but of course had to wait till I climbed the corp ladder enough to afford this car!
can't wait to get this project started!

[pieperz06]

im 18... i feel out of place reading this thread i haven't found any one that is under 30 here. i am in the beginning stages of looking for a donor car to build a FFR cobra. i have loved cobras well since i dont know when and have decided to build one for kind of a weekend car i drive every day. im heading to collage and will have a lot of free time in the afternoons and i should have time to build it while getting my mechanical engineering degree.

[vspeeds]

I'm 39 and gonna place my order on an SPF as soon as I pick a color.

[tchrome]

i'm 64 ad i am just putting a nice beefy 427, 550 h.p. into my north american fiberglass ride.

[209]

Hi guys,
I'm 58 and saw the same HotRod Mag article in '66 and I thought, hey that cobra would be nice. I was given a ride in a replica at Bishop, Ca in 2000 and I guess that was it. Nice gentleman and his wife from around Lake Arrowhead came down for the Bishop Classic Car days the first w/end in October in 2000. All I wanted was a picture but he had to lift the cover off and goes" would you and the wife like a ride?" Needless to say I was stoked! Nice! It was a stunning silver replica with an aluminum body with his son's numbers on the side. Forward nine years and now I have mine, a Superformance 2765 in Galaxy blue w/white stripes. I'm stoked again just had to wait 40+ years! 209

[mdross1]

I was 45 yrs old when I bought my kit in 1993.Ever since I read the Car and Driver article in 1965,the lust for a 427 Cobra was all consuming.Now I own the exact car I always dreamed of.The wait was worth every minute,it needs no more explanation to those of you that know the feeling!

[SPF2245]

Bought my Superformance when I was 29, neighbor had an unknown replica when I was a kid. Fell in love with the sound every Sunday morning when he'd fire it up and tinker with the carbs. As soon as I'd saved up the cash, I ordered the car of my dreams. Funny part, after 5 years of owning it...I've just sold it. It turns out I enjoy Z06s a little more (we all have our issues).

[RET_COP]

Yep, 51 here, started drag racing out of high school and built up to a 67 z28 camaro running low 10s all steel. Sold everything in 85 when I started a family. All my time, energy and $$ went to the family plus some bumps in the road. Now everyone has graduated HS and I have a wife who supports me getting back into rodding along with a garage!!! I've always wanted a cobra, I love the European style with American muscle, I need the solid feel and no top, unless I want to put it on. I love the hot rodding circle, going to cruises, shows and fun runs. The Cobra guys look like a tight group. So, I finally made it!, and I still have 26 years left, according to statistics
Lou

[twobjshelbys]

56, 57 in Nov. My Cobra is my dream car.

[Argess]

I am ....er.....just a few days past my 50th b-day. I ws probably 17 when I saw Gumball Rally at the theater and was thoroughly impressed with the Cobra. At age 23, I was given a copy of Kit Car magazine and of course, it was filled with Cobra stuff.

Being rather poor, it took a while, but jsut before I turned 34, I manged to get my kit ordered. Had it on the road in 1996 just before I turned 37.

There was no "magic age" where it suddenly became "attractive".

So, to answer the OP's question, it was never a mid-life crisis. It was a passion for all internal combustion and all things mechanical. For me, the Cobra is the epitomy of the passion.

[48ford]

I got mine when 57 1/2. I know now I waited to long. Don't wait folks make it a priority sooner. When you get my age it is not as easy to crawl all over and under a car to complete it.
My grandson is probably the youngest owner. I gave him the first one I bought it when he was 12 years old. Yea when I bought the second one 10 days after the first one I had to think quick to get the wife off my back. That way I could keep both around
Rip

[LodiWino]

I'm 67 and anxiously awaiting ERA 427SC #773 to be delivered in (hopefully) 3 months. The long wait for the car's arrival has given me time to meet fellow enthusiasts at Rockhouse breakfasts in Livermore, and time to learn more about what I have got myself into. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. Cobra Country has been a valuable resource of information, so THANK YOU to all who have made contributions to various topics. My Cobra library is now 4- 2" binders thick on just about any subject you can think of.

My wife is supportive of the project, she got a new kitchen out of the deal! But she also said I have just one chance to get "it" right! Her warning was to research the alternatives well before settling on what its going to look and behave like. I have been looking at Cobras for years, dreaming about the day one would be part of our lives.

I had a TR-4 when we got married, then kids showed up and we traded the sports car for a station wagon. Our boys started racing boats, and the Cobra project was put off for a an indefinate period of time. I have always wanted a Cobra, and finally all the forces converged at one point in time to make it possible.

The engine is being built locally by Neil Ruegsegger, who is held in high regard by many local Cobra owners. He has taken the time to build the engine to suit the intended use as a weekend driver, but with enough giddy-up to keep up with just about anything on the track.

Is 67 too old to be getting into something like this? Certainly 67 is on the right side of the Cobra owners average age. Remember the movie "The Bucket List"? There's just some things that need to be done while you still can. The other movie that comes to mind is "The Worlds Fastest Indian" Old is an attitude not a physical condition, unless you let it be...

[tkb289]

Here is my take on this ...

I am 54 ... soon to be 55 and soon to have my Cobra!

(ERA FIA 2136 ... build underway)

It's been over 40 years since I saw a GT350 and a Cobra parked side by side ... I loved them both ... still do. But, like a lot of us getting the 'disposable income' together took quite a while. In the interim years ... I have had some interesting & fun cars along the way ... (2) '65 Fastback Mustangs, (3) '74 TR6s, 70 Formula 400 Firebird with RAM Air III, '72 Capri V6, '78 Tans Am T/A 6.6, 2001 Cobra Mustang, (8) Volvos, (2) Suburbans, a '62 Rambler American ... and the list goes on ...

I am fortunate enough to be happily married, my (2) older kids are done with college, are both working and off "Dad's" payroll. Our youngest just started college ... so it's (2) down and (1) to go!

Do I wish I had done this sooner ... well sure, but timing was not right for me. At long last, I have the resources to put this project together and will soon be rumbling down the road with the rest of you guys. !!!

tkb289

[Badman]

Guys,

I'm 39 and holding!

[mdross1]

Bought my Cobra kit at 45 yrs old.After owning it 16 yrs still love the rush every time I climb behind the wheel.