is there any thing that details the +'s and -'s of various mfrs?

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by philip_g

you're right, I always do that with projects. My thinking is I can get the kit and that's the big investment along with the motor, and I cna buy the rest as I need.

As long as you have a plan and you know what you want.

[philip_g]

Originally Posted by Naumoff

As long as you have a plan and you know what you want.

I wish, but I have an idea

[Excaliber]

FFR is hard to beat for the money. Worried about low re-sale value? Turn that around, low re-sale means it could be a terrific buy for you as a used car!

I rarely have a car more than a year or so myself, get bored easy I guess. The Cobra is unlike anything I've even owned, it's a keeper all right! Much of that, in my case, directly relates to the fine friends I've met along the way through ownership of the car.

[Tugboat]

Phillip G.

Make sure you check out the Lone Star Classics LS427 out of Fort Worth Texas in your search. 96", Dropped Floorpans, and you can build in stages! Buy the first stage (rolling Chassis) finish it then go to next one. Takes less initial cash, and more important for some, less room in your garage. They are very competitive in price and do not use a donor.
Main thing to remember is that whatever you budget for on any of these cars be prepared to spend 10 - 25% more! As the car takes shape you seem to decide to upgrade here, change that, etc. That's what makes these so special, they are yours!!!
Take your time, it took me a year just to choose the kit, and I am the instant gratification type.

I agree with MRMustang about the Hunt. Sort of like dating, sometimes the chase is as fun as the catch.

Larry

[Dwight]

Philip G,


Take a look at the Shell Valley. I have a friend who has build 5 or 6 Cobras for resale. The last 4 or 5 have been Shell Valley. We stopped by yesterday and looked at the new kit they sell. Very impressive kit with the new upgrades they have. The bodies are almost ready for paint. I've build or worked on E-M, FFR, Unique, Shell Valley, Hurricane, Lone Star and maybe a couple of more. A local Cobra painter charges $500 less to paint the Shell Valleys because the bodies require less prep work. If you compare apples to apples Hurricane is best buy with the new Shell Valley close IMHO. Both have dropped foot boxes. A lot depends on the options you buy. Both have good resale. We have a big guy that just finished a FFR. He build it to fit his size and did a great job. I build and drive a Lone Star, 94" wheel base with all the extra 4" inside the cockpit. But the doors, trunk and hood are warped a little. I did not want to cut them apart and refit them, so I just live with it.
Each kit is different. Pros and Cons. At the London Cobra Show where we have 300 of them together and it's hard to see the cons. They all look good. If you spend enough time and money you can make a VW look like a real Cobra. If your the type person who want a perfect Cobra, then they all look wrong. But I want a good looking Cobra that I can drive anytime, anywhere, and that I can afford. There are a lot of the kits I can live with.
If you drive in the rain, make sure that the body is sealed to the cockpit/trunk area so the rain does not pour in. Lone Star, E-M and Shell Valley do not have this problem. FFR & Hurricane might. We learned this on our return trip from the LCS as we drove 75 miles in the rain.
Best of luck in your search for a Cobra. Take your time. Sit in as many different Cobras as you can. Don't forget to look at the ones for sale. There are a lot of good bargains out there. Even the worst Cobra is a lot of fun!
Dwight

[philip_g]

well what I'm thinking now is building an FF car, using the donor, they're running a free brake deal so i could get brakes, and run the donor car motor and trans for a year or so then put a 351 or something in it.

In the grand scheme it's not the least expensive overall way to do it, but it sure cuts the upfront costs down.

[Roscoe]

If you like doing 60-100 of body work then get that FFR. You'll have a ball.

If you don't plan to keep the car more than a year or two then why go to the expense of building? Just buy one cheap, make some changes, drive around awhile, and probably get your money back.

Roscoe

[Traveller]

Philip, type "perky butt" in the forum search box.

The answers to all your questions will be found there.

[philip_g]

Originally Posted by Traveller

Philip, type "perky butt" in the forum search box.

The answers to all your questions will be found there.

yeah I've read about that.


Looking at what I want and my finances at the moment I think I'm just going to do a different project entirely.

if I don't build the car the way I want I'll never be happy, then I'll be wanting to sell it in a year and I don't want to be in that position.