Potential New Owner, waited. 17Years (UPDATE)

[Laughing_Jakal]

Well,

Based on some advice I got on this site and a couple conversations on the phone, I went down to Unique Motorcars in Alabama and visited the Weavers a few weeks ago and I am glad I did. Unfortunately I was not able to attend their homecoming this last weekend.

Anyway, I decided on a 289 FIA body but will be doing a "street" version more British Sport look than race car.... ...no racing stripe (sorry to the purists out there). I don't race cars and will be driving it quite a bit. Hope it will look less like I'm having a mid-life crisis. I am keeping the roll bar however as I'm only getting older and will.assist in sliding in and out of the seat and keep the occasional passenger from trying to rip the windshield out of the car.

Susan Parham is a delight to deal with and will be providing the 289 based power plant. I gave both Unique Motorcars and Southern Automotive deposits and I've been officially "pregnant" for about a month now. Excited, happy, and glad to be spending $$ on something I want while it's still worth something.

Getting a set of wire Daytons made now. Supply Chain thing is ridiculous and getting worse. Seems a lot like what I remember of the 70's.

Can't stop looking at paint colors on the road now.....Decisions, decisions.

Thanks for the advice/help/ability to lurk. Now I gotta find out where I can rent a car hauler to bring it home to finish it up.

Jakal

[Alfa02]

Congrats on finally pulling the trigger There will never be a day where you will regret owning a Cobra. SPM (Smiles Per Miles) are Guaranteed. You may want to rethink the wire wheel option, as 289FIA Cobras had (Trigo wheels) not wires. A widen Wire Wheel (15X7 Front, 15X8 Rear) to fill the FIA fenders, could be very costly. 15x6 wires (Stock Mk.2 289 street) would not fit the flared fender look of 289 FIA. Food for thought, Cheers Tom.

[xb-60]

Welcome Jakal, and congrats from me as well.
I agree with Tom (Alfa02) regarding the wheels. FIA wheels, 15x7.5 front and 15x9.5 rear, are the way to go. They are stronger than wires, and are appropriate for an FIA bodied Cobra build.
No stripe? Excellent choice. A Cobra doesn't need a stripe (as well) to say "look at me"
You are in the right place here at Club Cobra for information. Just ask, and you will get suggestions/opinions/information.

Cheers,
Glen

[Laughing_Jakal]

tried to include photo but it didn't work

[Harpoon PV2]

Here's an ERA FIA with wire wheels, looks really good! Cheers, Dennis

[xb-60]

Personal opinion here....if you want wires and a luggage rack, you should have a 289 roadster (aka that unpleasant term - "slabside"), not an FIA289

Cheers!
Glen

[289cobracat]

Obviously, I'm prejudiced, but Dayton wires, luggage rack, undercar exhaust, and drop center street dash work just fine on the Unique 289. Daytons are far, far stronger than any wire wheel from the 60s, allow tubeless tires, and are good & true - your 289 won't stress them (my car is running 325 hp at the flywheel on a 351W).

(FYI - I'm not a site newbie; I used to post years ago as JeepSnake, but for the life of me I couldn't get that account to reactivate. Which I guess is just as well, since all the Jeeps are long gone...)

Zach
Unique 289

[spdbrake]

[quote=289cobracat;1506438]Obviously, I'm prejudiced, but Dayton wires, luggage rack, undercar exhaust, and drop center street dash work just fine on the Unique 289. Daytons are far, far stronger than any wire wheel from the 60s, allow tubeless tires, and are good & true - your 289 won't stress them (my car is running 325 hp at the flywheel on a 351W). /QUOTE]

Really a nice looking car. Very clean lines and not in your face. I think the colored (powder coated?) wheels are a perfect complement.

[tkb289]

Jakal,

Welcome to Club Cobra and congrats on selecting Unique Motorcars to build you a 289 FIA, they have an excellent reputation.

I had ERA build me a 289 FIA in sort of a 'street' trim and I would imagine that Weavers can customize your Cobra in just the way you want it. I went with the ERA 289 FIA, but with no hood or oil cooler scoops and no trunk bumps, the FIA dash, a grille and quick jacks. If you are interested, details are in my build thread.

ERA 2136 Build Log

Lots of great advice in the comments above and it sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to build. I would encourage you to continue to look at what others have done, to help you decide what features you want and just as important, what features you don't want.

When you really get into the nitty gritty of all the decisions you need to make for your build, it can be a bit overwhelming. Take your time, ask questions and even solicit opinions & suggestions, but in the end it’s your car and build the Cobra of your dreams. As the others have noted, when it’s all said and done, you will be so happy with your Cobra, there is nothing else quite like it.

Last but not least, one of the hardest decisions will be color but fortunately that just about one of the last decisions you will need to make, so you have time to ponder.

Have Fun!

- Tim

[Buzz]

Rock solid advice and wisdom from the people who posted above. All I can add is that you will never go wrong dealing with stellar and stand-up people like Susan Parham ( Southern Automotive) and the Weavers (Unique Motorcars).

In a business that has attracted its fair share of shady opportunists who prey on people's dreams, they and others (including top tier replica manufacturers and engine builders) who maintain a level of integrity and humanity stand out like lighthouses in a storm of scammers and well-intentioned but ill-equipped entrepreneurs who jumped on the Cobra replica bandwagon

[Harpoon PV2]

Wow, what a nice car! You even have the correct AMCO 356 Porsche luggage rack! Plus a cigarette lighter, and is that an Austin Healey ash tray? You have me rethinking my build. Again WOW!

[Harpoon PV2]

I am reminded of how hard it was for Alan Mann to get rid of the Daytona's and some of the FIA cars. If he could have done what you did, it might have been easier! A really nice car you have there!

[RAZOR]

Good on you Jakal, I too ordered a Unique and can't wait to get it delivered. You have come to the right place for advice and information, theirs a wealth of knowledge and experience here. Hope this ridiculous supply chain issue doesn't cause too many delays. Keep us posted on the progress.

Rex

[incoming]

You'll love this car. especially with the dropped floor box for the driver. I have a very early FIA car "#6"and it's a little cramped down there.

I once sat in a later car and could probably drive it with my wife in my lap.

I've thought about going "gentleman's car" with mine but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Mine has 7? holes to fill? Full race cage in a former race car.

[Sargie]

Congratulations you’ll enjoy that car more than you can imagine. I’m an FIA race style 289 owner. I settled on an ERA. The Unique is a beautiful well built car. I recently saw the green ERA slab side in Harpoons post in it’s owners shop. Gorgeous car although I prefer the style of the FIA / USRRC body. Welcome and enjoy every second of anticipation and ownership.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by Harpoon PV2

Wow, what a nice car! You even have the correct AMCO 356 Porsche luggage rack! Plus a cigarette lighter, and is that an Austin Healey ash tray? You have me rethinking my build. Again WOW!

Congrats Jackal! You won't be sorry. Welcome to the madness!

Zach's car is even nicer in person! It is a spectacular creation, and a well executed product of his personal vision of a street version of muscle! There are several more great photos of it over on the Uniquecobra site... look under the thread heading Unique sightings.

[Laughing_Jakal]

Thanks all! I've been out of pocket for a while training on a new aircraft. Nice surprise to see all the replies when I logged back in. I am truly excited.......

[Laughing_Jakal]

Originally Posted by Harpoon PV2

Here's an ERA FIA with wire wheels, looks really good! Cheers, Dennis

I love that color! I may have to steal that.......color code? I also need the luggage rack!

[Harpoon PV2]

Zach's Unique 289 has the correct luggage rack, AMCO made to fit a Porsche 356, they come up for sale occasionally. Not sure what the color code is, ERA might tell you? Cheers, Dennis

[Laughing_Jakal]

Weavers have broken ground on the car and I am picking out little details like air cleaners and valve covers.....Torn between Viking Blue and BRG at the moment....will need to make a decision prettier soon. Gonna have them paint it!