Sorting Out Used Cobra's

[vegan2]

Originally posted by ac andy
Vege, have you bought the car yet?

Thanks for asking.

No, but this next week a final decision will be made - actually I'm having a house built with four garages with the fourth one specifically reserved for whatever toy I decide to buy.

I'm actually waffling back and forth in that Cobra's are so not practical, but oh so cool. I live near Route 66 with all the happenings relating to old cars, especially hot rods, so it's part of a lifestyle around here with great people participating in all age groups, plus the Harley group. If I take the plunge, I will post that fact here.

[decooney]

Want-items are not usually practical.

...it all comes down to what life is worth to you and what you do while you are living. Anyone can save, wait, and wonder about resale, etc. It's the few that have stepped up to the plate, or taken that chance, that actually know today what the real value is.

[casaleenie]

Decooney,

Don't waste your breath, it ain't gonna happen!!!!

[Excaliber]

Yesterday I bought back my Excalibur. Fits me like a glove. Good to have my old friend home again. It's not the "best" Cobra around, but I like it a lot! Enough to cough up the extra dough I had to come up with to get it back!! ANY Cobra is WAY better than NO Cobra. I don't think someone who has never had one can really appreciate that statement.

Ernie

[KobraKarl]

Ernie.!!

You GOT to be kiddin me ! after all that?.........and you lost $$ doin it ?!! .............let me be the first to say , congrats for takin your baby back........I hope that in time ,she will forgive you

KK

[casaleenie]

Ernie,

Congrats... It sure sounded like you missed it and you did the right thing by getting it back...

Party on!!!

[Traveller]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I did see someone mention "resale"

I'd rather see someone make a decision like, 427 Side Oiler or 351 Winsor, based upon what jazzes them rather than economics.

I equate this to the "Harley vs. Honda" syndrome.

If you've always wanted a Harley Superglide don't buy a Honda Shadow. The latter may look like a Harley and make more economic sense, however, an hour after you drive the Shadow off the showroom floor you'll either be kicking yourself in the ass or rationalizing you decision until you sell it and buy the Harley.

Harleys, Cobras, et al are toys with little practical value other than providing pleasure to their owner.

Research the history of the original Cobra, identify the reasons why you really want one (like having a big nasty 427 stuffed into a ridiculously small car ) then find the kit / options that match your expectations.

That's it.

[vegan2]

Originally posted by Traveller
If you've always wanted a Harley Superglide don't buy a Honda Shadow. The latter may look like a Harley and make more economic sense, however, an hour after you drive the Shadow off the showroom floor you'll either be kicking yourself in the ass or rationalizing you decision until you sell it and buy the Harley.

That sounds right to me.

I see you have an ERA 428 SCJ and I'm looking at an ERA 428 FE. Was the engine exactly what you wanted, or would a 427 have been the first choice? Bandit I has a Super with a 460 stroked in it - is that even better than a 427 or 428 or does the fact that the 427 and 428 engines were actually used in "real" Cobra's a big after purchase satisfaction factor??

[Traveller]

Obviously, I can only give you MY opinion of "better".

I love the FE engine. I like learning about it. I like fiddling with it. I like the way it looks between the fenders. I like the way it sounds. And I really like the way it moves my car down the road!

The only reason I have a 428 instead of a 427 is because I bought my car used and that's what was in it, however, I'd be just as happy with either. Each has it's pros and cons.

As far as the 385 series engine goes, again, its more a matter of what you're after.

A 460 can be bought new, delivered to your house in a crate. Parts availability really isn't an issue with plentitful goodies to be had for both (the block not withstanding....until Genesis starts making production level quantities of FEs). You can probably squeeze a few more ponies out of the 460 due to the extra cubes and 30 years of technology (better flowing heads, etc.).

However, It looks different and it's not an FE.

If you consider the Cobra as a kind of time machine back to a golden age of automotive performance, and everthing else on your car, -by necessity- is a "copy", why not have the main component (i.e. the engine) be from that period?

I just find it cool that Ford won the LaMans with the same motor that Granny could get as an option in he '66 Galaxy.

If it was good enough for Granny AND Gurney, it's good enough for me!

[HIQ]

Originally posted by Excaliber


Yesterday I bought back my Excalibur. Fits me like a glove. Good to have my old friend home again. It's not the "best" Cobra around, but I like it a lot! Enough to cough up the extra dough I had to come up with to get it back!! ANY Cobra is WAY better than NO Cobra. I don't think someone who has never had one can really appreciate that statement.

Ernie

Excaliber; Glad to hear you got your car back! Other than the profit he made on the deal, why did the guy agree to sell it back to you?

[Tongue Pirate]

Originally posted by Traveller


I didn't read the entire thread, but I did see someone mention "resale"

I'd rather see someone make a decision like, 427 Side Oiler or 351 Winsor, based upon what jazzes them rather than economics.

I equate this to the "Harley vs. Honda" syndrome.

If you've always wanted a Harley Superglide don't buy a Honda Shadow. The latter may look like a Harley and make more economic sense, however, an hour after you drive the Shadow off the showroom floor you'll either be kicking yourself in the ass or rationalizing you decision until you sell it and buy the Harley.

Harleys, Cobras, et al are toys with little practical value other than providing pleasure to their owner.

Research the history of the original Cobra, identify the reasons why you really want one (like having a big nasty 427 stuffed into a ridiculously small car ) then find the kit / options that match your expectations.

That's it.

Exactly the way I feel! I considered a number of manufacturers before I decided on ERA. In the end it will cost me more & I will not have it on the road as soon as some of the others would have been but I will not be dissatisfied or regret my choice. I personally do not think anyone makes a better looking FIA car & mechanically I have heard nothing but good things. I know I have made the right choice for me & in the end it should cause me nothing but

[vegan2]

Originally posted by Tongue Pirate
[/b]

What engine are you stuffing in the ERA?

[Excaliber]

HIQ,

Maybe his garage was a little crowded?

I mean, what with the Rolls Royce, the Boxster, the 32 Ford Coupe he was "forced" to sell the 36 Dodge to fit the Cobra in. Now he's got that XK120 Jaguar coming home soon and where would he park that?

Whatever the reason, I was GLAD to give him a few THOU more than he paid to get it back! Such is love after all, there is no "logic" for it.

Ernie

[mikiec]

Vegan2

Look for some of us AZ Cobra guys this weekend. We are doing the Fun Run. Hope you come by and chit-chat.

Mike

[vegan2]

Originally posted by mikiec
Vegan2
Look for some of us AZ Cobra guys this weekend. We are doing the Fun Run. Hope you come by and chit-chat.
Mike

Thanks, Mike - I will be at the Fun Run in Kingman.

[misfit41]

If I wanted to buy a reasonable used cobra now,,and had no motor experience,,it would hands down be an ffr small block,,prices are good,,and I think the car may be the best one if properly put together,,For my own opnion,,I wanted a cobra because I have loved 427's for years,, with out a heavy,,over powered fe,,it's just another high revving plastic car,,to me at least,,I would stay away from any altered wheel base car,,and make sure the stance is correct,,you can fix a good car,,paint,,motor,,w/e,,but junk is always junk,,
I bought my shell bacause it has a fresh,,16k 427 and top loader,,I may sell the car and keep the drive train,but the more I fool with it,,the more I respect it,,with the right details,,and suspension,,it is a great car,,
ffr can be built the rivel the best,trouble is,,you will have enough $ invested to have bought the best, I dig the superformance,,but the design isnt as good as ffr,,,and it has a very breakable t bird rear diff,,you pay fpor great detail,I think ,,it is a non car guy cobra,,"yuppie snake ?"I need to check out era,,never realized they were as good as it seems from the post, Tk

[vegan2]

Well, Saturday is just around the corner and I'm off to California to pursue a Cobra - the plan is, if everything checks out, to haul it back on Saturday. It's an ERA, it's within my budget, it appears to be a real cool ride.

[misfit41]

good luck on the era,,,it seems to be a great car,,I have been reading on it lately,,I am second guessing my shell a bit,,I love the power train,,and it will be a great car,,but for the work,,and all the cash on parts {they add up}I am close to an spf with a small block,,but oh well,,it's in my garage,,but I should be under28k,,done and pretty correct {lookswise at least}with a wicked new 427,,so it is what I am willing to spend now,,
happy hunting,,Tim

[vegan2]

Originally posted by misfit41

good luck on the era,,,it seems to be a great car,,I have been reading on it lately,,I am second guessing my shell a bit,,I love the power train,,and it will be a great car,,but for the work,,and all the cash on parts {they add up}I am close to an spf with a small block,,but oh well,,it's in my garage,,but I should be under28k,,done and pretty correct {lookswise at least}with a wicked new 427,,so it is what I am willing to spend now,,
happy hunting,,Tim

So, are you saying that you are ending up with a 427 engine? If that is true, under $28K seems very reasonable.

I just don't have the skill or talent to put a Cobra together, so I'm just a buyer. I do wonder if there is more joy in ownership when you put a Cobra together yourself, but we all bring what we can to the table and we are only here a short time anyway.

[misfit41]

Yes it is a 427,,68 side oiler,seems to be a good one,,never blown or sleeved,steel crank turned 20,,,new dove high rise heads and dual quad intake,I was estatic when I was able to get the air cleaners on with out a taller hood,,I have the receipt where the seller spent 16k on the engine last fall,,500 miles ago,the car was pretty nice,,but not perfect,,i am not building it,,but decided to go ahead and make it as right as possible before I getr used to driving it,,and befor eany one sees it,paint was ok,,but viper red with white stripes,,guages were sw and mis matched,,seat not correct,,I also got two sets of wheels and tires,,compomotive with good goodyear eagles{they are for sale}and torque trust with hoosier comp tires,,I bought a set of trigo knock offs already,,I am doing rangoon red with proper dash,shifter {its a top loader ,,YA!!!}and doing vintage decals and meatballs,detailing under the hood,,quik jacks in lieu of bumpers,and basic detail,,as the seller put it,,the car was built to go fast,no win shows,,that it does well,,so,,I am happy with it,,,for the money anyway,,It was a lucky deal I ran across,,the guy had money and lots of toys,,it was just a business expense to him,,
as far as building your own,,I think there is some satisfaction,,but then again,,I have wanted one for 30 yrs,,and didnt have it because I wanted to do it myself,,so,,maybe I would have enjoyed it more,,if I had just bought it,,refinaced the house or something,,,20 yrs ago,,its all good I think,,enjoy your car,,the way i see it,,it may not be perfect,,nor the best,,but it is paid for,and in my garage,,my cobra,,lol,,,enjoy yours,,
thankis ,,,Tim