Advice Please

[Mike S]

Good evening all,
I've been lurking for a while, time to make a post.
I have been lusting after a Cobra for a while, and have finally obtained in principal approval from the Home Boss to purchase a kit. Hoping to get that delivered by end of next year (let's not rush, eh?). I have some fairly firm ideas as to what I want in the end product - underbody pipes, no roll bars, no requirement for an exact replica (body, wheels, interior, etc). Coyote engine (fairly standard - I can't use that much power, let alone a hot engine ) manual trans. Tonneau cover. Heated seats, air-con, power steering - I want to be able to drive it to work as often as possible. Legal for full rego. Not interested in doing track work.
So the big question - which kit?
With respect to the AP guys - I can appreciate the beauty of their choice - that's not my thing.
I live in Melbourne, and we have a couple of manufacturers here that both have a large number of cars on the road. I've spoken to both Laurie at RCM & Marty at Kenmer, & both seem like decent, passionate guys with good products. I'll make the time to visit & speak to both of them, but I'm really interested in hearing from anyone who has looked at both and chosen one (or neither). What should I look for when I'm checking their cars out? What are the strengths & weaknesses of each?
Of course, I will get to the various club meets as well, but thought I would pose the question here.
Thanks in advance for the input.
Cheers, Mike

[Serpnt]

Hi Mike,

I am in Templestowe so not far from you and have had a Cobra on the road for 11 years. PM me with your phone number and will give you a call

Cheers

[albanycobra]

Supporting local is great. makes it easy when you need advice and if things are taking longer you can just drop in and see for yourself what's happening.

[Aussie Mike]

Going by your spec I'd be talking with Marty at Kenmer. He makes a very good road car. Very solid chassis that will be good for your application. I've also seen his cars with the Boss 290 motor installed so a Coyote will fit no problem.

Local guy with great support for his product and the club. I think he also has the option of you doing some of the build at his factory.

Cheers

[Zedn]

I have an RCM. I bought mine second hand off eBay and didn't have any contact with Laurie for the first couple of years because I thought since I hadn't bought the kit from him, I wouldn't get the support. I couldn't be further from the truth. When I contacted Laurie for the first time he said why didn't you call me earlier. He has been so helpful. My builds in a bit of a hiatus at the moment, but Laurie would call me up about once a month to check up on how I was going and see if I had any questions. I would have no hesitation in recommending them. I am in Sydney so I have fabricated everything myself, but I know Laurie does all the fabrication/modification of parts you need also if you don't have time/skill. The chassis is very solid and there are many of them that have registered so the engineering process should be simple down there. Also the body is accurate. I dont regret my purchase one bit and would probably do it again.

I don't know much about Kenmar but I have heard good things there too.

[letsboogie351]

Hi Mike
I'm in Croydon and have one of Marty's cars. It has been on the road since Sept. 2010 and I have done over 20,000 km.
Like srpnt if you pm me with your phone we can talk. Could also organise a ride

Doug

[stiffy]

Mike,

Welcome to the forum and to starting a build of one of the most beautiful

Cars ever Made.

Other things you should think about before purchasing a kit, look at their

Workshops, their expertise, the finished product.

It would be great to see you at one of our monthly meetings, jump onto

The Cobra Car Club of Victoria website to see what we do. It's updated regularly

And we have an email and SMS updating system that keeps the members fully

Informed.

Stiffy

[Hoity]

Hey Mike s, good luck with the journey. I am a couple of months in front of you.

Marty is, as others have mentioned a great bloke with a great product. He has two cars in his workshop now with coyotes in them. For local support i doubt you could do any better than Marty, you can build it at his factory if that is your choice with access to all the equipment you would ever need. As far as compliance go, Marty is on the committee. Any problem you might face has already been dealt with, Marty is reasonably pro active in progressing his kit to keep in relevant with parts etc as well. If you get the chance, pop in on a Saturday, normally quite a bit of Cobra action.

Not Familiar with Lauries RCM, have heard the kits can be a little tricky to build, when finished a great looking/running car.

As stiffy mentions, CCCV is a great resource for getting the low down on whats really going on and all makes/owners are probably there. I need to get to one as well!

[Mike S]

Thanks for the speedy replies gents.

I think there will be plenty of assistance & advice available - reckon I will be able to make a well informed choice.

Looking foward to catching up with more Cobra folk in person soon.