Superformance vs Contemporary

[CobraMike]

Hello All,

I had a nice blue/white contemporary sc with 427 side oiler and had to sell it due to financial issues about 8 years ago. I'm currently looking for a replacement. I had spent a ton of money having the 427 stroked by a famous pdx engine builder and it ended up being a TOTALLY Wicked car. I'm quite familiar with era and contempory's quaility, but now I'm seeing Superformance on the boards and quite a few for sale. I kida like the idea of purchasing a car that is still supported, contempory was already out of biz when I'd purchased.

I'm mildly interested in the following car, but I see a lot of superformance's for sale in the 50k range that are pretty nice.

http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds...uct=1301&cat=2

But I'd like to get everyone's thoughts about how superformance stacks up against contempory and possibly ERA. I know ERA's are wonderful if built by someone good.

Kind Regards,
Mike

[mrmustang]

Mike,

I've owned all three brands your interested in and can honestly say, you cannot go wrong with any of them. Contemporary you will find truer to the original 427SC followed next by the ERA, and then the Superformance. Not really a bad thing to say about any of them, just my personal preference to the body shape and interior design, layout, and some small details that 95% of the people will never see, nor care about........Happy hunting, sometimes that is half the fun..........


Yours In Fords,

Bill S.

[CobraMike]

Hello Bill,

Thank you for your reply, I liked how the rear of the car fit around the tires on the Contemporary better than some others. The tube frame was sure more original than other's I'd looked at and I dug the inboard disc's on the rear. One thing for sure the selection of the superformance is sure good. And a rolling chassy is priced at a point where I'm not sure buying a used one is even needed? Seems for $59k you could build a new one that's pretty darn nice.

TIA for everyones replies
kind regards,
Mike

[Danr55]

Well, I'm familiar with the car you're interested in. It goes like a bat out of hell. It's a great car. I happen to own a Contemporary. Best thing I can tell you is that you have a really tough decision to make. I wish you the best of luck. Like Bill said, you can't hardly go wrong with any of them. Just look for that special car that "sings" to you. Nothing could be worse than to buy a car and then, in a month or two, see that "special" car and wish you'd waited.

[1985 CCX]

I agree with Bill! (I am bias)

CCX then ERA then SPF
Why:
1) For me the CCX tubular frame and S/C body shape edge out the others. In the day they were ERA's arch rival.
2) ERA has time and engineering advantage as CCX cars are usually older. ERA outboard rear is A-1
3) ERA is a great car, especially the FIA, that frame was the stumbling block for me.
4) From a production stand point SPF outnumbers the others. Ie: More at shows/events.
5) I have driven all three as well as an original and CCX and ERA replicate the original feel more closely.
6) SPF uses new Ford parts and power brakes, yes they are more efective but I was after the feel of the original as I was $1mm short when shopping.
7) SPF come complete so those with time issues......SPF
Let the debate continue........

[Silverback51]

When I first started doing my research back in the mid 90's, I was sold on an ERA kit. However it became more appearent that due to my job, I just would not have the time to build a kit myself.

That is when I started looking at the Superformance cars. I was very impressed by the quality of the Superformance and that is what I have.

If I was to do it over, it would be the same again. ERA if I was going to build it, or Superformance for a complete car.

[CobraMike]

Hello All,

Thanks for the posts. After reviewing all of the cars for sale multiple times and having a contemporary before, I just still seem to like the look of the rear of the CCX cars better. The ERA's rear opening just 'doesn't look quite right when held up against the CCX. However there all still on the board for me. Like 'Dan' above says I'm looking for something that 'sings' to me Needs look and run SC !!

It's highly unlikely I'll find one with the kind of motor I had built, but I'm still looking for something in the upper range of crazy again. So the hot superformance is still in the game, but honestly it seems kida pricy given there are a couple of nice 427so CCX's on the board in the 40k range. I guess I'd be a bit worried about resale of a non-427SO, but the handling was nose heavy with the BB. oh the choices ...

We'll thanks again for all the replies, it's most appreciated !!

Warm Regards,
Mike

[Madmiles442]

The Superformance you linked is an outstanding car built up WAY beyond stock by someone who knows his stuff.
And if you're looking for the upper end of crazy, Greg's car has the top's of everything and runs like a bat out of hell.
It's a lot of car for the money.

[Buzz]

ERA's rear end proportions, stance and wheel-to-fender relationship are far more accurate in execution than either Contemporary or Superformance. This is not a critique of their overall quality, just an aesthetic observation. Much is made about Contemporary supposedly having splashed their body from an original CSX and that may well be true, but something went south in the way they set the body - in particular, the rear clip - on the frame.

Looking at the body from the side, there is a much wider gap between the bottom of the door and the bottom edge of the body than you will see on any original - the body appears to sit too high on top of the frame rails. I am not dumping on Contemporary - these are just pet peeves that bug me on an otherwise meticulously crafted replica. For a car that goes as far as replicating the frame so accurately, I just cannot get past the high, perky butt and the body looking as though it sits up high way above the sidepipes.

I always draw angry responses when this topic comes up, but just look at the cars from the side, rear quarter or front quarter and compare to any original Cobra you choose. The low slung sleekness is captured beautifully by ERA while the Contemporary misses the mark in that regard. If you absolutely must have a round tube frame, then the CCX is the way to go. Personally I care far more about how the car looks overall than what kind of tubing is hidden under the skin.

I hope nobody takes this personally and gets all upset - just discussing my observations, that's all.

[madmaxx]

Look on ebay right now. There is a SPF in Houston, Texas. Anyway he has a buy now price of $56,500, add up his reciepts which he has posted and they total 66,800 not including his divinci carb. This is a smoking deal, 900 miles. It is 3 miles from my house and I beleive him when he says it is new condition, very very very nice neighborhood.

[CobraMike]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply, that's what I'm looking for ! I purchased the original contemporary car because it was a good deal...only to find the motor wasn't assembled properly and lost oil pressure a few days after I'd got it running.

I'm gonna try to find some good pics of the originals and see if I can see what you mean. Thanks again for your thoughts and all the replies.

I'm gonna take my time this go around and spend a bit more if needed to get it right the first time. After waiting all my life to get one, then getting one, then having it break....the time it took to get the motor rebuilt was agony that I cannot describe.

cheers
Mike

[1985 CCX]

Buzz
Here is my Perky Butt:



As I stated, as did you, Look at old ERA's as they too have the space issue which benefit from time and revisional changes. CCX are correct for S/C body as they are off CSX3045 while ERA was patterned after CSX3252 a street car with wider rear lowers and no S/C lip. This is a debate that can go on and on! Not all 3000 cars are the same as they were hand built and changed with time.

CSX3035 an S/C = http://www.csx427sc.citymax.com/albu...26/3402785.htm
Tighter wheel opening and tighter ass than street cars.....

[CobraMike]

Hello Jeff,

I'm embarrased to say it, but I like your butt . I really like the look of the big letter Good years on these cars! Thanks for the photo.

Cheers,
Mike

[cobrakidz]

Check out this SPF car, I saw it this summer in Santa Barbara, beautiful and very well built. I was very impressed with the way they make their cars, solid. It was posted in the for sale section today.
http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds...p?product=1432

[1985 CCX]

Thanks Mike, I do too.......

FFR's perky butt keeping it down?

Great debate earlier.......

[wtm442]

Profiles of various bodies

http://erareplicas.com/427/profiles/index.htm

[Three Peaks]

I've seen several very nice Contemporary cars and never noticed the "Perky butt" referred to. Obviously, if the car may be set up to each owner's preference but I've never seen one with a stance other than shown above- which I really like and I know is very accurate to the original CSX cars.
The CCX cars I've checked out were very, very solid in feel - though I've never personally driven one.
The Superformance cars I've seen are also very nice and have a high level of fit and finish, however something about the body just doesn't seem to match up to the originals quite right. When touching and prodding, I've never felt they were as solid as the CCX cars- probably due to the thickness of the CCX body layup.

Either one is a very nice car as is the ERA, but the CCX is about the best deal going these days if you find a nice one.
Just my 2 peso's worth.

Bob

[bmwdb10]

Taking no offense to the "perky Butt" statement... thought I would add a couple more pics to rest the case.

Knowing what I know now and having the choice of the three cars, CCX, ERA, SPF... It would again be CCX for me. It has been an awesome car!


With GY's

Before GY's

[CobraMike]

Hello Warren,

Thanks for the link to the profiles. In the first photo I see what I like. The back of the rear well opening is more rounded and stays with the profile of the tire. The Shelby and Era pics 2/3 are cut more open at the back. I see Kirham (too much $ for me), contemporary and superformance are more like the first picture. The backdraft looked like it was originally more open and then they added a rather 'straight' closure to the end of it, maybe it's just the photo?

We'll thanks again for all the posts everyone!!

Cheers,
Mike

[CobraMike]

Hello Brent,

I'm thinking I should try to locate my orginal car. Hopefully you know the owner of my first Contemporary. I sold it to a guy in Salem, OR if I remember the OR city correctly. He bought it with his brother to take his pretty wife crusing on the strip. So I'm not sure he'd of gotten involved in the cobra club and I cannot find any posts from anyone with a car like I had built in the NW club section. Damn I wish I could remember the CCX number and my single post from years ago are gone along with the Ad's from that era. It's a blue with white strips contemporary, without pin drive wheels, setup SC style with quick jacks. It would be very difficult to miss, it would still have to be the meanest contemporary you'd ever seen in the Northwest. 427SO stroked to around 482 by Aldredge Motorsports in PDX with a money no object and had to be the best requirement .

Kind Regards,
Mike