purchasing an unfinish project?

[olddog]

I am considering a Cobra that is unfinished. As I understand it, some friends helped start the project, but for various reasons are no longer helping and the poor fellow didn't really have the skills and tools to finish the build on his own. The friends were skilled and experianced and built the frame from scratch, but patterned it from an actual B&B frame. It is lacking mounts to install the drive train, radiator, etc. Quite a bit of extra parts, but missing a few as well. From the pictures I have seen it does look like good welds.

One thing that concerns me is the ability to get such a car tittled, when finished. Am I right to be concerned?

The body is B&B the frame although hand built was patterned off of an actual B&B frame. What is the good, the bad, and the ugly with B&B body and frame design. I'm not asking to slam the company, but some fair and factual evaluations would be helpful.

[SantaFe66]

I understand your trepidation. I bought one of those. No numbers, no Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (In fact the Mfg. has been out of business for more than a decade).

Just finished it this year and got it titled and registered in New Mexico as a 66 Cobra Replica. They gave me a number to stamp on the frame and a sticker to affix. Couldn't be more pleased with my dealings with the New Mexico DMV and the State Patrol that inspected it.

Don't know what you might encounter in your state, but it worked for me. I'm sure you can get the hoops defined that you will need to jump through before you have to go through with it by talking to DMV. Unfortunately, they don't see many of these in New Mexico so I didn't get good answers. When I actually went in to do the deed, it was simple. I don't think it is as easy in California though. Horror stories!

Don't count on getting it registered as what it is a replica of. Many states force you to register a replica as the year it was completed. Whatever. You just want to drive it, right?

Paul

[fasterpatrick]

Talk to your local steetrod bunch they seam to know those kind of things. Round here I hear that I may be able to write my own manufactures certificate or cretificate of origin how cool is that. I could title it as a 200?Pats piece of crap. Other wise if it looks like they knew what they were doing and it's resonable go for it. Patrick

[496fe]

The B&B is actually a good chassis design if you want strength, safety, and ease of assembly. You can add some reinforcements to the bumper mounts and you've got a car that can take a real shot. Probably more than the occupants could take. This all comes at a cost - weight! I don't know if it is the heaviest frame, but with all the supporting and strengthening steel, it's gotta be close.

[BMK]

Yes I agree with 'fastpatrick' your local Street Rod and Street machine friends would possibly know as much as any one on what can be done and far the elastic can be streched legally..

Of course local Cobra enthusiasts on site here will have some good input. Even on your potential purchase... Perhaps someone may be able to check the unit out for you.

Good luck

[Clois Harlan]

The B&B body and frame are probably one of the better kits out there. I have had my B&B almost 8 years and have not one complaint. I have some B&B motor mounts and a pedal assembly as well as other components you my want. Barry McGill does a beautiful job on the frame; so as far as I am concerned that would be the very least of my concerns.

Let me know if I can help and also you can call B&B and they can tell you more about the frame and will probably be glad to offer any advise you may need.

Clois

[olddog]

Thanks Clois.

The frame of this particular car was not actually built by B&B, rather patterned from an actual B&B frame. Not exactly the same, but may be just as good. From pictures the welds looked like they were excellent. I do think the builder of the frame knew what they were doing. But I will have to look at it up close and take some measurements to verify that.