Why did you sell your Cobra?

CobraDan · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 05:18 AM

I have owned my Cobra since 1987 and only completed it since retirement; I even painted it my self, and all without the help of the internet. About 7 years ago I got on line and the Deep South Cobra Club started representing 8 of our southern states for Cobra owners. The first year I was the Vice President and the second year President of our club. The people that I have met and now are my personal friends are the real reason to own a Cobra for me personally. Right now I’m installing power steering (getting old) and have a hard top almost ready to install and I will not be selling soon. Now to get back to my original question as I have found out many who thought they had to have a Cobra have a for sale sign or have already sold and moved on. I’m only hoping there are enough followers of clubcobra who sold that will actually take the time to relate why the sold so soon after their purchase. The stories of those that have moved up and into a GT40 or a better Cobra would be nice also but my main goal is to find out about the ones who found out owning a Cobra to them was a big mistake.

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 05:44 AM

Dan,

I built mine in 1996 and sold it early this year. I never regretted a moment of having it and wish I had it back, but my health and the heat we have here in the Summer makes it really miserable to drive any kind of roadster. I made it ok until last year when I started throwing up after driving a few miles in our heat and I didn't want to see it just sit and rot, so I sold it to a cousin in Arkansas. We have a few days that are really nice for driving and that is when I wish I had it back, but overall with my health going downhill so fast I am better off without it and it is now being enjoyed and taken really good care of.

Ron

CobraDan · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 06:17 AM

Ron,
I know all about the heat and normally come October is when we start our monthly cruises with our local Cobra owners but it really hasn’t cooled off at all so far. In fact on my two projects mentioned above I would have been done a long time ago if it wasn’t so damn hot in my garage. It’s really too bad you have to become old to be able to afford your dreams and then find out health wise you waited to long. Well, I have to get back out to the garage and finish as Reptile Roundup is in November and I already bought my tickets and I have to be ready.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 06:23 AM

Dan,

Best of luck and you will enjoy the Cobra more than you ever imagined. I hope that you get it ready in time for your bit Reptile Roundup. My big dream was to go to the Western States Cobra Bash in Reno, but the health problems kept me from going. If I could afford it, I would try to buy a car with a roof and that way I could drive it once in a while. But most of the people here have sold theirs as our 118 degree Summers are just to much for them and they are far younger and in much better health than I am. Two of my friends even sold their 32 Ford Roadsters for the lack of cool enough driving days.

Ron

Rich A · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 06:35 AM

I owned mine for about 6 years.
Some reasons why I sold it:
Only being able to drive it 12 times a year because of work, kids activities and seasonal weather.
Didn't like getting headaches when going on road trips longer than a hour (gas smell and exhaust noise).
So my next replica will have a roof, a/c and some other comforts.

TButtrick · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 06:38 AM

I'll bet the people who bought and sold quickly don't hang around these parts much anymore. The people here have a pretty serious sickness for Cobras. The people who regret buying a Cobra are now watching The Cooking Channel.

rollinggeorge · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 06:57 AM

Sickness??..........Addiction is probably the correct term.

Getting old is a b!!ch......I'm looking for mine now before my hair gets any "blonder".........We all get old and die.......The contest is who will be first....... you or your race car!!!!!!!

601HP · #8 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 07:59 AM

Ron,
Your situation alerts a lot of us to expect changes in life. I read your answer and was moved by it.

I'm 54 years old. Peg and I have owned our car for 13 years, and we still have it. However, I notice it's not quite as easy to get in and out of it as when I was 41 years old.

We have a lot of days in Baltimore that reach the mid-90's and usually have high humidity on top of the heat. There are a lot of weekends the car stays in the garage because of the heat.

When I subtract other potential driving days because of the cold, rain, work and home impact, I find I average just about 1,000 miles a year of Cobra time. On a positive note, I'm still surprised at the slight chill that usually runs up my neck almost every time that 427 lights up!

Sometimes I wonder what the next 13 years will bring.

David

CobraDan · #9 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 08:26 AM

Guys,
I didn’t want this post to bring a tear to any ones eye but since we are running the thread why we bought, I thought those still considering should see both sides of the storey. I do think if it’s your dream don’t keep putting it off, whether you wind up keeping your car or selling within months of ownership. I had two personal local friends, one who waited over 2 years to have his coupe built, but I did make it up to his home and he took me for a ride in his dream car, but he never got to ride with the group because he passed away shortly there after because of a congenital liver disease. Another good friend who got to run with us for only a year in his newly purchased BackDraft passed away in his sleep at age 62. His death really bothered me as we never knew he was even ill plus I’m now 68.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 08:56 AM

Dan,

I couldn't agree more. If you want one and can get it, don't put it off because of what some of us post. That wasn't my intention at all, as I would love to still have mine and be in an area where I could drive it more than 6 or 8 days a year, and have good health. But I just couldn't stand to watch it sit and rot because I couldn't drive it any more. And that cousin is my only living relative that I am aware of. He is a car nut and the first thing he and his wife did was take it to their county car show and got first place and the car wasn't a show car by any means as I drove it hard and raced it at times. But I guess there are only a couple of Cobras back there and that makes it really stand out.

Ron

speed220mph · #11 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 09:11 AM

I didn't sell mine. When I got the GT40 my wife said, "What are you going to do with the Cobra."

I responded, "Sell it!"

Her response was, "You're not selling the Cobra!!"

I didn't and I'm glad. I kept the 1966 Mustang I bought in "66, too. Likewise, I'm glad I kept it. So many people I talk with who sold their cars, i.e. Cobras, Mustangs and the like, are sorry they did so.

Ron61 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 09:21 AM

Tom,

It is nice that you got to keep yours. Believe me I never sold mine because I wanted to. One of the hardest things I ever did was drive it up into his trailer and hand him the keys knowing that I would never see it or ride in it again. But the last couple of years have not been kind to me in many ways, so I just do the best I can. Enjoy your cars because we never know what may happen or how soon.

Ron

imagine2frolic · #13 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 09:28 AM

Ron, and All,

The great thing is you did it, and you have the satisfaction of doing it. At 51 I sold my business, because I hated my customers, Oakland Ca. They were vicious, and cruel.

I traded the business for my dream in the Caribbean. First because I hated my station in life at that time, and second I was afraid I might wait to long, and lose my health. I sailed for 4 years, and didn't have an income except for one thing. I was overflowed with happiness. To many times I met people at the dock that wished they could have just done it, and didn't. You have to not only dream your dream, but you have to live it too. They didn't go because of fear. My fear was that I would never go, so I went while I was healthy.

I have got 2-4 years left here on land. In that time I will fulfill my desire for that open roadster with the V-8. If my health holds out I will then sail away once again, but this time around the world non-stop, and single-handed too. If I can squeeze that into my life. I can die with no regrets at all in my life. Money, and women have come, and gone, but the dream is alive now as it was when I was 12.

speed220mph · #14 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 09:31 AM

Ron:

Even though we sometimes make them idols, bottom line is cars are just "stuff". There are more important things in life and priorities, too. In my case, the Lord has allowed me to keep much of my "stuff" even though I wonder sometimes who belongs to whom.

Be patient. Something better--maybe another Cobra--will come along. It's interesting how things seem to drop into your lap if you wait, unlike the vulture that's about to kill something. Maybe it will be a Cobra with a top and A/C. Good health would even be better.

Madmiles442 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 10:00 AM

I am the car nut of the family. My father was not. But he saw some of the cars I had (musclecars) and said, "One of these days I'm going to get some cool old convertible." I pushed him to pull the trigger, but kept putting if off.
He passed away of a stroke 2 years ago December at 70.
When the estate was settled, I bought the Cobra. A small vial of Dad's ashes ride with me in the glove box everywhere I go. And my racing number is 70.
I like to believe he's looking down with a grin as big as mine.
It was a real life lesson to me - if you have a dream, don't put it off because you really don't know how much time you have on this little earth.

Would I ever sell it? Only for another Cobra.

fsstnotch · #16 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madmiles442

I am the car nut of the family. My father was not. But he saw some of the cars I had (musclecars) and said, "One of these days I'm going to get some cool old convertible." I pushed him to pull the trigger, but kept putting if off.
He passed away of a stroke 2 years ago December at 70.
When the estate was settled, I bought the Cobra. A small vial of Dad's ashes ride with me in the glove box everywhere I go. And my racing number is 70.
I like to believe he's looking down with a grin as big as mine.
It was a real life lesson to me - if you have a dream, don't put it off because you really don't know how much time you have on this little earth.

Would I ever sell it? Only for another Cobra.

WOW...... That's... touching!

CobraDan · #17 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 01:55 PM

I remember one of our members coming to the Double Venom Cobra gathering in Ohio as an enthusiast, talking his father into purchasing a used Cobra and returning home to start and complete his Factory Five Cobra build, even going so far as having a cobra symbol tattooed on his arm but selling his Cobra within the following year. I asked why, and he said it was the most impractical car he had ever owned. I signed up another enthusiast and a few months later was reading the Cobras for sale at cobra country and recognized his name. Here was an enthusiast who became an actual owner and before I found out and could up date his profile to an owner the car was already for sale. Another member had a Cobra built with a lemans hardtop and soon after posted it needed a few creature comforts such as air and a radio. Needless to say it was put into the for sale column shortly there after, I later found out that it was not his toy but his only car. As someone has already stated most of those who once posted here during their build or purchase and have sold, have moved on, but the stories are still interesting to read.

davidlee · #18 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 03:20 PM

I sold mine prox 2 yrs ago. It was a great car and fun to drive. As usual it got a lot of attention every where I went. I found it to be a fair weather friend, in the summer it was too hot and in the winter it was too cold. Also I have two sons at home and it was a problem as which one would go with me so I sold the Cobra and bought another hot rod that we all can ride in. Oh by the way I probably own another Cobra when the boys are gone. They are way cool cars

David