Which Company makes "best" replica?

[Naumoff]

Matt,

Unique does turn key cars. I wish you would have talk to me. I have every option Unique offers. My soft top, side curtains and tonnaeu cover were in the boot of my car and I could have shown them to you.

Great quality and a simple car to work on.

[Bill Bess]

My two cents!

Take a detailed look at all the cobras. Make a decision list, (1) must haves (2) Price range (3) body shape (4) Nice to Haves ..features .....cock pit size, roll bars, engine compartment, side pipes, accessories... things like that . Identify the Must Haves, these must be items that are deal breakers, if the cobra doesn't have it, it's a no go.

Next give all other items Nice to Haves, (can be as many as possible) a value from 1 thru 10. When making your decisions give each car you are looking at a value based on what the car has on it.
Total all the points up for each evaluated Cobra. Your total points should identify the Cobra that meets all your expectations, or is best for you.
Last pick the one you like!

Have fun, Bill

[Cashburn]

Matt,
Glad you could make it out to the event. Sorry if I could not spend as much time with you. That event is a very social setting and I get to catchup with a lot of customers in the region so it is hard to talk with everyone in the relatively short time (or so it seems).

Glad you could understand the differences in person. I think we (BDR) are quite a different product/offering than the other 2 you are also keen on, so it may take some more thought as others are pointing out.

Best of luck with your search, it is 1/3 the journey.

[ANB]

Matt,

We had a brief discussion at the revolution as you may recall. I am a very pleased owner of a BDR from Vintage. Something to think about when considering the replica is the people you're dealing with. I cannot speak for any of the dealers in the area other than Vintage and there could be some good ones out there, but I have to say that Jay and Brian at Vintage are on the top shelf. Great support and great guys to deal with. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Al

[Mattnshilp]

Thanks all for the time spent at the meeting. All of your cars are beautiful!!!

I did have Unique on the list as well, but I'm trying desperately to narrow it and no one seams to let me!!!

OK, so here's my list: BDR, Unique, SPF, ERA.

BDR has a more "aggressive" look with more flare to the rear fenders, rivets on the inner and outer front hood scoop and I can get one turn-key to my specs. The BMW innerds would appear to make it a smoother ride (especially with the M3 upgrades) and give it a more modern car feel.

ERA, SPF and Unique all had a very similar more "refined" look (more authentic?) They where all gorgeous and clearly well built. The visual differences between the three where more subtle, but visible. Looks alone would not make me choose one over another of these.

If I like the look of the BDR, that's actually my easiest choice. It's less expensive and the only one with that style.

I honestly don't think that a decision between ERA, SPF and Unique would be wrong with any of the three. Call me wrong (and I'm sure someone will), but I get the feel that an ERA or SPF would hold it's value just a wee bit better and maybe sell more quickly if and when the time came for me to sell.

I'm comfortable right now knowing that I have four choices that are all exceptional and I can't go wrong with any of them...

My purchase is not imminent, so I will wait until the next meet and look again to see if I can find more to stear me in one direction or another. I would also like to find the opportunity to actually test drive each. I know the engines vary dramatically from car to car, but I think driving them would certainly help me to make my final decision.

-Matt

PS - BDR aside (as I said, if I decide I like that look, then it's a no brainer). If I decide between SPF, ERA and Unique I do think I'd go for either ERA or Unique since they are homegrown. I try to support the US product when I can...

[Buzz]

Give plenty of thought to "the look" issue. Look at loads of pictures and do a lot of research on this site. When I was first looking at making a purchase, I too was initially taken in by the stretched and bulged hot rod "cobra-like" concept - in my case, it was the West Coast Cobra product.

I initially liked the cobra-on-steroids idea and had all but decided on going ahead with the purchase when the time suddenly became right for a major relocation.

That put my Cobra buying plans on hold and to pacify my cravings, I immersed myself in Cobra research, mostly right here on this site. I hungrily amassed a lot of information and images, learning more about Cobras in one year than the previous ten years combined.

The more I learned, the less I liked the whimsical, stylistic, almost cartoonish and non-functional bulges of my earlier fantasy and the more I began to appreciate the unfrivolous, taut and athletic muscularity of the original design. A design that evolved out of the necessity of fitting a bigger engine and tires under the skin of an already lithe, handsome sports car body.

The curves and bulges are just right - not a contrived styling exercise - just pure, functional, unpretentious perfection and that look is just as responsible for the Cobra's cult like appeal as is the legendary performance it is famous for.

More is not always better and IMO, the replicas that seek to "improve" and add on to the design miss the whole point by a country mile. While they can look menacing from one or two angles, the big fat -butt-up in the air appearance is generally awkward and reminds me more of a plump, tarted-up, false everything, hooker with too much silicone than the refined, athletic beauty that the original shape invokes.

Some people like that look and love their cars and that is all that matters. I know that it would have gone sour for me over time in the same way that I am glad I did not marry the one or two over-the-top, B-movie queen type women that very briefly rocked my world and my waterbed (hey - gimme a break - it was the eighties!).

What really defined it for me was reading and re-reading the words of Lee Iacocca (or it may have been Bob Lutz ) who drove an AC Cobra at the time. He said something like:

"There's something really special about a car with an engine too big and a body too small, causing it to arch and bulge over the mechanicals."

This long diatribe was meant in no way to denigrate anyone's choice of Cobra or Cobra-like replica. I'm just sharing my personal experience and food for thought relevant to my time in the exciting position of choosing a brand that you are now lucky enough to be in.

For what its worth, I like the ERA and SPF products and I also highly recommend that you take a good long look at Unique Motorcars. Have fun and good luck.

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Give plenty of thought to "the look" issue. Look at loads of pictures and do a lot of research on this site.

Buzz wrote some really good words above.

It's great to see the cars side by side, as I think it can be hard to do a comparison without that. But once they are side by side, things to "jump out" at you. Like you, I had it narrowed down, and decided to go for the ERA as my first choice.

Good luck to you, the people on this board are a great resource!

Ray

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

Good luck to you, the people on this board are a great resource!

Ray

Well said, Ray! In all my long windedness, I neglected to mention one of the most important things of all - the people part of the whole Cobra experience. Starting right here on CC, along with whichever brand you choose, you will also gain access to a huge group of friends and allies willing to help you through all the things that they've already experienced.

[Excaliber]

I'm on my third replica, I finally settled on ERA as I wanted to get more accurate primarily in the 'look'. Throw in that 427 side oiler and I just HAD to have it!

[RalphSchmalph]

Here are my two cents: I'm so new I haven't even taken delivery of BDR #688 yet (July 10th maybe) but I have driven a couple and decided, after doing some research that I liked the muscular looks of the BDR and liked dealing with the people at BDR. ( I was talked out of some expensive options because he said "I didn't need it" and that impressed me a lot.) I'm not as mechanical as I should be and as such thought it'd be a good idea to find some reason NOT to buy from a company 30 minutes south of my home. I could find no reason not to buy from BDR. I guess that's approaching from the issue from the "back end" but the logic worked for me after I saw that so many of the major manufacturers (pure kits were not considered) were quality operations making quality products. Furthermore, I love the BMW suspension because for me it's going to be a daily driver and after owning a few Beemers over the years I know what a great driving car it can be.

[ENTDOC]

this should all be perfectly clear to the person that started this thread by now

[ANB]

Ralph,

You will not go wrong with your decision on the BDR. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I do. Great handling and looks and something that will put a smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel.

Side by side with other replicas you may see subtle differences. Stand alone it is hard to tell. I can say that at a recent cruise night my BDR got as much attention, if not more, than another replica parked not too far away, a Continuation CSX.

Enjoy the ride!

Al

[CSX 4039]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

OK, I will bite.

1. Csx 4000 aluminum car

2.Kirkham

3. CSX fiberglass car

4. ERA

5. SPF

6. Unique

7. FFR (if new body style is available)

8. the above are "money not in the equation" picks

An older CSX is hard to beat. They've got all the original brand OEM stuff, body and frame made in America, before it became too expensive and was placed as expensive options...

[Excaliber]

An 'older CSX', interesting point, older like when Kirkham as well used to build to 'em 'right', before the 'new age' billet this, modern that, yeah, whatever. Older IS better!

There are a few replicas that you can spot as to make pretty quickly. Classic Roadster/Excalibur, West Coast/Stallion, FFR come to mind. Certain body styles are a dead give away. Others you have to get a little closer but still there fairly easy to spot. Aurora, BDR come to mind in that regard.

Park a continuation CSX, Kirkham, CCX, ERA, Hi Tech, CSX original and others together and it starts to get tough who's who!

[CHRIS DAMSCH]

There is one I forgot about. The Hi Tech. Those are some nice looking cars. I think somebody just listed one for sale here also.

[jbrianboyd]

Kirkhams dent like a ping pong ball!

[Excaliber]

Just blow hard on the tail pipe and those dents pop right out!

[HI Cobra]

Thanks for the hot tip Ernie - I'll remember that one!

[Buzz]

Don't forget to let the car set a while afore you git to puffin' on them pipes otherwise "hot tip" will take on a whole new meaning.

[REAL 1]

Correction to ENTDOCs list.

Remove the Continuation seires. Its not a replica of a Cobra it is a Cobra.

Thank you.