Hello, new guy here.

[YpsilantiBird]

Hello,

i am new to the cobra world, actually i am so new i don't even own a cobra. i have a couple older fords already but i want something that can perform better, and nothing looks as good as a Cobra. i am saving to buy a kit and was wondering since you guys have real experience with these cars if you have any suggestions on what kit to buy? it will mostly be a cruiser car that i will end up using almost as a daily driver in nice weather. it will probably see a little track time on road courses or auto cross, and will attend local "cruise in" type shows ( i don't want a trophy, just a fun car to drive) i already have a 5.0L with a T-5 so all i really need is a kit to build a complete rolling car. one thing i am concerned with is that the external dimensions be identical or at least as close to identical as a real Cobra, i see replicas of 57 T-birds at car shows and i can tell as soon as i spot them from across the parking lot that its not a real bird because the dimensions are so far from the originals, so far i have not noticed cobra replicas to have that problem but it absolutely drives me nuts with the birds and a few other kit cars i have seen. also what is the ball park price for something i am talking about assuming i can do all the labor my self? any advice or recommendations would be appreciated! thank you!


- Bobby

[olddog]

Welcome. This question has been asked many times and to answer it, requires asking you a bunch of questions. What will you do yourself? You can buy paint for a few hundred dollars and you can spend $3K to $10K for someone else to paint it. Depending of the manufacture, the body prep could cost you a fortune to have someone do it to a show car quality level.

Which body style do you want. I have a 5.0 stroker in a 427 body. Everyone is excited to see the car and everyone who knows anything about them asks "does it have a 427 in it?" It better not bother you cause your going to get asked every time you drive it.

Look at Hurricane. A link is on the lower left side. If your close to Pen. go to Carlisle show this spring. It is likely worth a plane ticket from anywhere.

Consider buying an existing car. You could easily save $10,000 over what it would cost you to build the same quality car.

[LRRCobradreamer]

Factory Five Racing just introduced a exact replica, digital copy of Dick Smith car number 198. But others are also very good.

I bought used and saved at least 10K, but more like 20k if I had a pro build it. I have a FFR with 5.0. You should do a LOT of research and consider joining a local Cobra club.

Good luck and be prepared to go CRAZY like the rest of us.

Lee

[YpsilantiBird]

ok ok, i will probably be doing all the work myself, i might have someone else paint it, that would probably run me about 3-$4,000. when you say 427 body, does that just mean it has 427 badges on the fenders? is there a difference in the body aside from that? i would just make mine appear to be a 289 car, i have a 302 and a 289 i can use. i want to build my own, but if i can save $10,000 maybe i shouldn't, where should i look for a deal on a completed car?

[Ron61]

All of the CWSX 2XXX cars had a transverse leaf spring in the front which the replicas don't have. I think Kirkham made some but am not sure. When he went to the CSX 3XXX series which was the 427 style, they used coil springs, the body was a little longer and I think it was wider by about 2/4". There are other changes that the people who are really knowledgeable can tell you about. Side pipes, & etc.

Ron

[ERA2188]

There are TWO distnict car bodies that are mostly replicated: the 427 S/C and the 289 FIA. These are two completely different looking bodies (front nacelle, slope of the nose, width of the front end, side pipe location on car, roll bar brace direction etc). I personally love the 28 FIA body - I believe it's the best looking body ever built for a sports car. I chose ERA because their body (plus their chassis design and engineering details are IMO the best) is a nuts on 100% accurate replica of CSX2345 (do a google search) which is the only original 289 FIA car that was never wrecked and "rebodied". ERA uses a 3"*4" rect tube for their chassis, with an X member under the passenger compartment for added reinforcement = superior rigidity = rock solid ride and handling. Many other details if you're interested send me a PM and I will gladly respond. Also, definitely worth a visit to New Britain Ct where they are built. Good luck, Rickd

[olddog]

Just bellow where you log in there is a row of tabs. One is labled "For Sale." Click on it. You will then see sections for parts, and cars, and private verses dealers.

For the most part, the cars for sale are by members of this site. You can then do a search on this site for every post by that member. In my case the person was a member of this site before buying the car. I could tell what type of car he was looking for when he bought it. Then I could tell what modification he did to the car and what problems he had had with the car. You can even get to know the persons personality somewhat. Then when I finally contact him, I let him tell me about the history of the car. To my delite he voluntarily told me all the good and the bad that matched what my research showed. At that point I knew I was dealing with a real person and an honest person. I sent him money to hold the car until I could get there. This was about as close to a site unseen purchase I ever did. When I got there the car was exactly what he said it was. It's a shame he lived 1000 miles away, as he was a very likeable guy.

Be ware my experiance may not be what everyone gets.

[olddog]

Oh by the way, I started thinking I wanted to build the car myself. My mind was made up it was a fact, I was going to build the car. Slowly as I read on other peoples builds, I realized that I didn't have the time to put into a complete build. I also realized that I could not make up my mind on many decisions as to what I wanted to build. So I started watching for a build that was partially done that someone was giving up on. Then I saw the car I purchased. The rest is history.

Some how I talked myself in a circle here, but the point I wanted to make is: There is no better way to figure out what you want in a Cobra than to own one or two or maybe three. Then build your dream car. Buying used, keeping a few years, and selling will loose the least amount of money. I would hate to spend $30K and a years worth of work to find out I didn't like it after all and then take a $10K loss to start over.

[wtm442]

List of Manufacturers

[cobrajeff]

Bobby -

If you are in Ypsilanti, Michigan, you should come by some time. I have an extensive library of brochures of different brands of Cobra kits, and pictures of many, many Cobra replicas. I'd be happy to share my thoughts with you.

I know what you mean about the T'Bird kits - most of them can be spotted a mile away. There are some Cobra kits in that category, too.

I'd be happy to show you the details on my ERA FIA, and, BTW, there are two '57 T'Birds in my garage, too. I'm in White Lake Township, about 45 miles North of Ypsilanti.

regards,

Jeff

[trularin]

YpsilantiBird, ypsilanti, like as in just outside Ann Arbor? Bird as in T'Bird?

This car is a matter of what you want and what you can do. You want a 427 SO with a TKO600, that is going to cost. You want ceramic pipes, that is going to cost.

There is an event in Ohio where more cobras can be seen than anywhere else. Check the London Cobra Show for info, but you might want to attend it before you purchase anything.

Hope to see you there.

[trularin]

Now I know I type way to slow, Jeff posted and left in the time it took me to write my post.

Good morning Jeff.

[BDHE]

Bobby;

If you get a chance, take a trip down to London Ohio for the London cobra show June 17-22. You will find almost every make/engine/color/transmission combination you could imagine done there by someone. The people that put it on are wonderful.

Take a look at their web site:
London Cobra Show - The Ohio Cobra Club

Good luck with your decision -- everyone here knows how difficult all of this can be.

Bryon

[YpsilantiBird]

thanks for the replys everyone, i will be going to as many ford shows and swap meets as possible this year, hopefully i will see a car i really like or at least that can give me some more ideas, as far as the drivetrain, its going to be cheap, i already have a 5.0 roller motor and a T-5 WC, so all i would really need is a driveshaft and a rear end, i have a 9" that im not using but its from a 65-66 mustang and there somewhat rare so i dont want to narrow it, if its too wide ill just get a 8.8" i am leaning toward black or silver paint with no stripes but i will change my mind at least 500 times on that.

Originally Posted by cobrajeff

Bobby -

If you are in Ypsilanti, Michigan, you should come by some time. I have an extensive library of brochures of different brands of Cobra kits, and pictures of many, many Cobra replicas. I'd be happy to share my thoughts with you.

I know what you mean about the T'Bird kits - most of them can be spotted a mile away. There are some Cobra kits in that category, too.

I'd be happy to show you the details on my ERA FIA, and, BTW, there are two '57 T'Birds in my garage, too. I'm in White Lake Township, about 45 miles North of Ypsilanti.

regards,

Jeff

cool! i go to the bakers car show up in the wixom area on sunday nights in spring and summer, your probably not too far from there? looks like you have good taste in cars, is that your mustang also?

[cobrajeff]

Yes, that's my "K" code GT convert that was featured on "My Classic Car" a few years back.

I make it to Baker's a couple times each summer. I figure I'd better be finishing up this T'Bird for my friend instead of out cruisin' all the time (and I need that stall in my garage back).

regards,

Jeff

[Dwight]

Someone posted this link a week or two ago. Maybe it will help you.


Era Replica Automobiles - 427 and 289FIA Cobra and Ford GT40 kits and replicas

Dwight