Be different - buy a 289 FIA

[MiamiCobra]

Paint was repaired by a body shop here in Miami. Not being a paint expert myself I completely overestimated what it would take to get it done. I was also upset at the less than perfect paint job. The touch ups cost me under 300 and looks spotless. Not worth mentioning.

Obviously buying my car is going to give someone an excellent high mark vehicle for thousands less than they'd pay elsewhere - AND - they can go back to the manufacturer to ask about the quality of the finish and build. I'd put my car up against any vehicle selling for considerably more and feel confident about which would be chosen.

[Tom T.]

Definitely a beautiful car. Best of luck.

TT

[mike55]

why are there always a few that assume the worst, accuse and ask questions later? that sort of ignorance really has no place here. the vast majority of respondents and responses on this site are top notch. we would all do better to emulate them.

this car's travails are well documented on this site. if you don't like the car, move on. i'm sure the well-educated club cobra member/guest can make their own determination and, accordingly, make an offer if interested.

miami, i'd be interested in hearing the weaver's comments. we can continue this off-line.

good luck with the sale.......

mike

[creeper]

I spoke to people who saw this car. BEFORE the paint was fixed they said it was an 8 out of 10..

[got snake?]

WOW that is a sweet looking car...love that top! I wish you the best on selling it. The future owner will be very happy. I know I would!

GS

[Robert Evans]

Just to add my $.02 worth about what I know about the car:
I have spoken to the Weaver's quite a bit about it and trust them to tell me the truth about anything I inquire about. Having said that, Maurice told me today that Alan is very picky about his cars, and he feels that Tom's car is as tight a car as he has ever driven.

Build quality?...that's been taken care of by Unique, and the list of problems may have been embelished slightly. Everything is fine now. Very minor repairs to existing build.

Paint?...small blemishes, and a small 1/4" scratch on the dash which could all easily be fixed with minimal fuss by a skilled painter without a complete re-paint.

Hope this helps a potential buyer, and I have no connections with the seller, but just trying to convey what I know about the car.

[mrmustang]

Want to trade Cobras



Bill S.

[2fast]

I had intended to edit my post and apologize until I went back and read where you edited out your negative characterization of the build quality. However, your own words were:

Originally posted by MiamiCobra
You misread my post. Unique already finished it and shipped it backto me. I got it today. They didn't do the paint because the painter they were using for a while had an accident. He is no longer with us. They suggested I take it now - sue Robby and in a year - get it repainted.

Unique did what they could. They spent 2 weeks of straight work on the car. Can you imagine what a mess it must have been if it takes Alan Weaver 2 weeks to make it right? That guy has more experience in these cars than anyone. Wow. Least its done. I'm going for a drive.

Two weeks by the manufacturer to correct build problems and a suggestion to get it repainted hardly seem like a worry free professional build.

I would suggest that potential buyers read all previous posts about this car, but now you have made that impossible.

And if you wonder why I am criticizing your sales tactics, it is because I feel a Cobra enthusiast considering the purchase of your car should be able to read what you have said about it. Good or bad. You, on the other hand, well good luck on club prowler.

[Rich]

Mike, do you suggest everyone considering an FFR read the 3rd edition of Curt Scott's Cobra Buyers Guide? It's fixed...what does it matter what the problems were?

Rich

[2fast]

Sure, read Curt's guide. More information is good. It will give them more to consider and help them make a more educated decision by determining for themselves what Curt thought were problems and then they can better evaluate the FFR to see if those problems were actually fixed.

[aumoore]

Miami
I was just trying to suggest you consider alternatives to selling your Cobra for a loss but if you have found that the cobra is not for you then sell it.

As to all the other garbage on this thread I just have this to say: If you are not trying to buy this Cobra or have not actually inspected it yourself then quit trying to "HELP?" Miami sell it! OK!


Good Luck Miami hope it finds a good home

[Rich]

aumoore, sorry for the "garbage", thought this was a forum...wait a minute...

[MiamiCobra]

Anyone can go read the posts in consumer section. I left it there because there was no reason not to... My car is an open book. The edits that 2fast infers were recent - were done over 2 weeks ago when the car came back from the painter with the tiny bill. 2Fast neglects to communicate the spirit of the entire thread - and he adds insult to injury by insinuating the car is less than near perfect. I'm insulted at the term "lemon" - my car is no way close. Nothing but new parts and professionally built items. The engine from Don Scott in Minn. ... why - because his work was better than anyone closer according to what I could find. No used chassis' - no rebuilt tranny - no (gasp and god forbid) Mustang parts. I wanted as close to authenticity as I could get for my money. Now - I think FFR's are fine inexpensive racers that evoke the feel of a cobra - they weren't, however, what I was looking for. I wanted an authentic as possible replication of a 64 289 Le Mans AC racer. And I spent through the nose to get it.

As the consumer section indicates - the car was completely tightened and checked out by Unique - the manufacturer of the vehicle. I personally couldn't have afforded that service - but due to circumstances beyond my control - Unique took it in and basically gave me free work. This is not included in the price of my car. Frankly - I took an arrogant stance that since Unique recommended the assembler - they were in fact responsible for his work and responsible to resolve every issue. I'm suprised Allan didn't tell me to go f myself.

I wonder how many self builders owners who mis-drilled a hole - or had problems with rivets - or who overtightened bolts were able to call their manufacturer - b__tch a little - give them the car - and have them bring it all up to perfection?

The thing is - I may just not be a good cobra owner. My idea of buying a new car was that it should be equivalent in quality and finish to a new porsche - ferrari - or any other fine marque. I expect no maintenance the first year or two - and don't want to worry about anything but a spotless vehicle. I would return a new car if I found so much as a discoloration in leather seating because I PAID for a new flawless car. Let someone less discerning take the car with the mismatched leather. It won't be me. That was the standard I used when I had difficulty with the assemblers efforts.

So - when I got the car and found a paint drip on the passenger side on the underside of where the body meets the firewall - I was pissed. When I found the brakes were not adjusted to my liking - I took a kanipshun. And - I'm still not happy the the BF Goodrichs were mounted with the white lettering facing in instead of out. Someone should have asked me first.

I didn't like that there was play in the spark plug wires beyond what I found acceptable - each wire should have been hand cut and placed for my engine - Unique did that for me. The original assembler had placed the spark plug wire so close to a header that it melted on a drive - anyone using store bought Ford spark plug wires for the engine of their choice should be flogged! This is a HAND MADE car and requires that attention to detail. You woulnt buy preformed brake lines - would you?

And although technically - you could put the plastic filter on the fuel line under the hood - I didn't want it there because I find a plastic part in a virtually all stainless compartement to be under my standards. I wanted all superior parts - and was willing to pay for them. I have that now.

And - the steering was not to my liking. I wanted it tighter. And the guages - when I spend this much on guages I didn't expect any difference in the brightness of the guage lights - you might laugh - but I had Unique and Robbie go through three separate guage installs until the set in place had exact equal luminescence. Exactly equal - I love it when people gasp as I turn on the engine and the lights and the interior lights up perfectly evenly. Its beautiful. No spacers or single backlight for my dash - that wouldn't be near authentic.

And where the carpet met the body - I expected to see no glue remnants - Unique removed them. I could go on about other things - but primarily - my assembler in an effort to get me the car on time - neglected to install the brake cooler ducts and the side number lights. Unique installed those.

I also didn't like the bolts on the trunk interior - thought they were cheap looking (although authentic) so I had them upgraded. Even after getting the car from Unique - its first drive was to a race shop run by friends of friends who went over each detail. Frankly, I was pissed to find dust on some of the beams under the car and had them wipe them down. The car is also washed and waxed weekly using specialty wax for clear coats and fiberglass cars.

You get the hint here - I'm a picky s.o.b. who really feels that no ONE person could ever build ANY cobra to perfection. Why - because there is no such thing as an expert mechanic, upholsterer, painter, sheet metal worker, et.al. (although Enzo comes close).

Yes - I had loads of problems with my assembler - or - as Robert and others indicated during the process - I'm just extremely picky. If I do it myself - I wouldn't mind if some of the powder coating comes off on a bolt. If I pay someone to do it - they better look flawless. After all why should I pay you or anyone else to do a job I could do myself with some caution, patience, and the right tools? I paid an assembler because I wanted perfection.


I love the car. It does, however, sit the majority of time in the garage. My wife is sick of taking me to work on rainy mornings - and frankly - in my line of work - I wouldn't feel comfortable driving down to the financial district in a car that doesn't represent the type of success I need communicated to my clients. Therefore - since I like different cars - its either a Mercedes (boring) - or a Lexus (Not my style) - or a Prowler (acceptably elegant - yet still different - with AC for the wife - and radio as well.

[Bill Wells]

well said Miami...the car should be judged for what it is TODAY, and NOT yesterday !! that was then and this is now ! all of us have had evolutionary changes to our cars: upgrades, repairs, 'sorting out', tweaking etc on our cars, engines, fit/finish, options etc etc. What it once was in my case (my own cars) is not what it is today and it appears from Miami's posts and others that have seen the car that the NOW is a far cry from what it was !

Hey , the guy wants out of the deal...marital harmony prevails...a car with warranty coverage for needed repairs is not all bad folks compared to what I pay for retail shop labor rates for any of my toy cars .

Certainly not intended to be a battle of 'brands' here by me, or who built it or who got it turnkey...I have bought them both ways with my 3 toy cars and have rebuilt turn key cars as well as someone else's put togethers...and learned that they are easy to buy and hard to sell. And I haven't had one yet that didn't need some kind of repair, rework, customization etc including a frame off restored show car by a national judge and impeccable restorer...and what it is today is not what it was...guess the same is true with Miami's unique Unique ! As I said in another post, I have not seen the car so can't pass judgement...but he seems to be getting beat up more for what it was per his 'watch' postings vs what it is today.

Just my $.02 worth again....sorry folks, I just think it is time to give the guy a break ...let him sell his car , get a new one with more creature comforts and (gasp) WARRANTY coverage.

Regards, Bill.

[snakeeyes]

Hey Miami,

Regarding the "Viper for $52K" comment, if you are interested in them, go to www.viperclub.org and click on "Classifieds". You might find a happy compromise waiting there once a lucky new owner takes possession of your Unique--

Regards,
Bob

[poorboy]

To All:
i just read in another thread that Tom's Cobra is no longer for sale. He decided to have A/C insalled and keep it.
Poorboy

[MiamiCobra]

You got here first - but yes - its true - its off the market - off Ebay - off everywhere. I like it too much. Plus - when I got my first offer - I just couldn't do it.

So - now its at Pikes automotive getting some new bits and pieces instead - and yes - A/C. A philistine - I know - but hey - its MY car!

[FIAFRED]

TOM,

If I have a weak moment and get A/C, can I borrow your hard top sometime?

[MiamiCobra]

Of course you can - but then you have to paint your car either silver or black so that the hard top will look right on it.

[snakeeyes]

Now you can honestly tell everyone you have an "A/C Cobra"!

Bob