CSX vs. Kirkham

[alpace@pacificp]

Trying to make a final decision. Specific advantages and disadvantages of either? Have heard both positives and negs about CSX as well as the 'lack of pedigree' of the Kirkhams.....

THis is the very best venue I have found to answer this kind of question. As I refine my decision, would appreciate your input!

THANKS,

AL..FUTURE CSX OR KIRKHAM OWNER.

[jperickson2001]

Go to both factorys. The Kirkham factory will impress you. More of a finely built machine if you ask me. And you don't have to wait years for your car after they cash your checks! -John

[Murphy]

If you are considering a plastic Shelby compaired to an aluminium Kirkham it's a no brainer. Kirkham all the way. Hands down better product. I considered the Kirkham rebadged as a Shelby but could not choke down the extra cost and time not to mention the lesser suspension. Kirkham all the way.

[Fox]

I would like the large combo... buttered popcorn and a diet coke... This might be a long one

-John

[RedBarchetta]

Oh, just buy the Kirkham and pay Carroll $250 to have the glove box door signed. Best of both worlds...done.

EDIT: Seriously, I don't own either but the engineering and attention to detail that goes into the Kirkham is quite impressive. And you don't have to go with all their billet upgrades either...the base car is quite nice. If you build a nice car with the right components, I believe that many will overlook the pedigree issue and buy the nicer of the two cars. That being said, I know that Hillbank had several CSX rollers available recently and they all looked quite nice (and in the $55-60K range sans drivetrain).

-Dean

[Murphy]

I took me this long to stop laughing. Going for 1000 posts. Should I throw in "is it real or not?"

[alpace@pacificp]

Hello all,

I posted the following last night...I have visited both Kirkham and Shelby Las Vegas.... Here goes:

Continuing affirmation of the terrific Cobra/Shelby/Kirkham social circle. As I finalize my search for the car that fits me, I have had the opportunity to work Frank Liautaud of Superformance, Gary Patterson at Shelby Las Vegas, Ted at Roush, Keith Craft at Keith Craft Racing, Don McCain at Shelby Engineering and Joe Weight at Kirkham Motorsports. Everyone has just been informative and helpful; the real benefit is that NO ONE has been pushing Shelby over Kirkham over Superformance. In fact, everyone has been helpful and appears to be genuinely interested in my getting the car that is right for me.

Today I had some business in Salt Lake and had the opportunity to carve out a couple of hours to drive to Provo and meet with Joe Weight of Kirkham. Like everyoe else I have met in this arena, Joe was terrific, toured me throughout their shop and took me for a test drive in a beautiful mirror finish 427 style body with Keith Craft 600hp engine. Screamer. More impressive? Their shop. Quality througout. As the son of a man who spent 50+ years running his own machine shop, I have a distinct appreciation for what I saw at KM...and it was impressive. They fabricate knock off spinners from solid blocks of billet..detents on the hubs so you do not have to wire the knock-offs...just lots of cool details. Acknowledging some of these changes might not be viewed as improvements by some, their dedication to the product was evident. No doubt many other manufacturers bring quality to their game, but I must say the Kirkham attention to detail and dedication to improving the product was something to see.

So it is down to the CSX and the Kirkham. Love them both. No downside here. All good stuff.
If anyone has final thoughts on the subject, would appreciate hearing them.
Thanks!

al

[PatBuckley]

Oh please!

Do a damned search!

There is more than enough information on this subject here......

[computerworks]

Pat is dead-on correct, Al.

Search thru the KMP and the Shelby forums here for scads of comparison threads...

No more popcorn threads on this topic.

Objective answers and valid opinions will keep the thread open...
...BS posts will surely get it closed down.

thanks
ron
ClubCobra Moderator

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Murphy

If you are considering a plastic Shelby compaired to an aluminium Kirkham it's a no brainer. Kirkham all the way. Hands down better product.

Pretty bold statement.

[Tony Ripepi]

Pat & Ron,

I do not normally engage in negative input but, you guys are out of line in my opinion. All of the information in the old threads is relevant..... as history. Business in transition makes the new guys information more relevant. Things change; Kirkham has more options in their portfolio of products and SAI has rollers sitting in stock in their dealer network.

Please allow the free interchange of information with a look toward the 2007 - 2008 market for the Kirkham vs Shelby comparison without jeering from the sideline.

Tony R.

[computerworks]

...misread my objective, Tony.

"...Objective answers and valid opinions" are and always will be encouraged...

Emotional BS that get threads sidetracked, and subsequently useless, will not.

[RodKnock]

Al, I recently went through the exact same decision. A fibergalss CSX versus an aluminum Kirkham. They're both priced similarly. I didn't go to the respective factories, but I did drive both cars. It was a very hard decision. I wanted the CSX # and I also wanted an aluminum body and I had/have a budget. As Pat and Ron have said, search through this forum. I searched through this forum for months (and months, and many more months) looking at everyone's opinions and gathering info, but only yours counts when you're spending the money. They're both great cars, both have really nice owners that will help you. You can't go wrong with either one of them, but obviously, they are different cars from different companies. At the moment, I'm searching through this forum to get a handle on what engine to install in my Cobra. There's a plethora of great info on that subject as well. I hope that it won't take months to decide that piece of the puzzle.

[Tony Ripepi]

Ron,

I too am at a cross road to making a decision for another Cobra in my future. Shelby CSX7000 or Kirkham Aluminum bodied car. This would be my fifth Cobra roadster and evaluating the product mix as it stands today, budget and the intended use of the car are all elements that are shifting as time goes forward. I am anxiously awaiting the completion of my SPF GT40 to see how that drives and if it will change my mind about an additional stable mate for the CSX.

I pay attention to people like Al and Rod that are making the decision now and closely evaluate the information they offer.

My apologies for missing the intent of your input.

Tony R.

[Power Surge]

Tony, one other thing to mention... we JUST went through this same exact thread, in the recent past. So a quick search would have turned up all the answers, with current info.

Here is what I wrote from that other thread (which was from this month also)....

Here's my view, for what it may be worth...

You have to ask yourself several questions in deciding what you want.

First, if you want an alloy car, do you want a Shelby, or just an alloy car? If you want an alloy car, and don't care about the brand, then a Kirkham is the way to go. If you want a real Shelby, then obviously it's either a glass or alloy CSX.

Second, are you looking at future resale value (always smart to keep in mind)? Both glass and alloy CSX cars have gone up in resale value. I don't think one has an advantage over the other. Obviously alloy car bring more money, but they also cost more money. As far as worth goes, my feeling is that the period the car was built, adds the value. Older 4000 cars are worth more than newer ones, mainly because of age, just like anything of value.

Third, you have to weigh the pros and cons of the body material. It's nice to say you have an alloy car, but once it's painted, most people won't care or know the difference. Part of the Kirkham mistique is leaving the cars unpainted, which makes people ooh and aah over the bare alloy. Then you have the material itself. I don't think Jay's comment is fair, because he's got an original car. Original cars have aluminum that's about as thin as a soda can. It dents VERY easy. The aluminum used on the newer cars is much thicker, and while I don't suggest doing it much, you can lean on a newer alloy car's fender (within reason of course) and not damage it. As far as damage goes, alloy cars are very forgiving and easy to repair, by someone who knows aluminum work. At the 05 Kirkham Summit, they had a car that hit a deer, and one of their guys spent the day working the body with hammers, picks, and files, and when he was done you couldn't even tell the car was hit. A glass car can take a harder shot, as far as rocks and stuff go, but when something major DOES damage a glass body you are looking at a lot of body work, and sometimes even section replacements. So both have pros and cons.

I guess that's the major things to consider. I wanted a glass car, wound up buying an alloy car, then went back to a glass car. I would love to own an alloy CSX, but I feel much more comfortable driving my glass CSX.

Just my 2 cents.

[Murphy]

My strange sence of humor sometimes gets the best of me. Did not mean to offend.

[RedCSX1]

Contact Tom at Tom's Motorsports. 702-651-0708 in Las Vegas Get his input. He completes both in large quanity. Also very good at dialing in the suspension.

[jdog]

Nobody else wants to say it, buy the Shelby!

You'll always have the CSX number and you can add the shinny alum. body later if you really want to.

How much do you have to spend?

Hell, buy one of those $60,000 Shelby's and send it to Utah. Turn it into an alum. car for another $25,000. That's only $85,000 for a alum. CSX roller!

You could drop a dressed-up 390fe in it and have it on the road for $100,000.

Think of it $100,000 for a turnkey alum CSX Shelby. I think you could make $40-$50k profit at Barret Jackson!

If a guy could flip about 3 or 4 of these a year he could retire.

jdog
P.S. Also pay the $200 for Carroll's autograph on the dash!
Good luck!

[rdorman]

Poor Al. Asking this question here is like asking who's wife is prettier. Of course there is lots of info and if folks stick to the facts about their Shelby or Kirkham, that will help him make his decision Please do read all the other threads and comments on the cars. Both cars are very nice!

[Excaliber]

There seems little doubt that the Shelby's retain their resale value better than a Kirkham. Of course there are always exceptions, but that general rule sure seems to hold true, and into the future even more so favors the Shelby, glass or alloy.