Sorting Out Used Cobra's

[frankym]

misfit, it never ceases to amaze how people sprout nonsense, spf a "non car guy's cobra, yuppie snake" with "very breakable t bird rear diff"? I don't think your intention was to insult 1500 people, but that's just plain ridiculous. SPF cars have the highest average number of miles and by far the most time on the track. It may be that the SPF car owners recognize the very difficult task of engineering and building a car or sub component systems, just because someone can, doesn't mean they should be a builder and fabricater. There are way too many places you can do a less than optimal fit, alignment, torque, bolt instead of weld, etc. For comparative purposes, I have seen, driven and owned cobras that were "professionally" built, and all too often, the cars get bastardized with mismatched parts. Usually, at the end of the day, folks that choose to build it end up with a car that cost about the same as a factory prepped car, and only yields 50% of their cash investment and 0% of their time. Maybe a more apt way of putting would be that SPF cars are purchased by folks that want the consistency of design and assembly for a car they intend to get on a track and push it to the limits. ERA is a fine car, but I would rather have one that was prepared by folks that not only have all the equipment and know how for designing and assembling a car, but also the experience. I have seen lots of bolts on the undercarriage of other cobras home built, that were altered to secure critcal suspension components, and why? because the stamped upper control arms don't mate properly to the frame. Consistency, purposeful design, and simplicity attract folks to SPF, not just the turnkey part, hell, every cobra out there can be purchased in a turnkey form. I resent your comments but shrug it off to the fact that your insults were unintended. The moment the posts become insulting is when they cease to be useful.

[misfit41]

First of all,,I didnt intend to offend anyone,,and i didnt direct my thoughts to attack any one ,,
I love the spf cars,,my play was to buy one until I couldnt pass the deal I got on my current car,,I may still do so at a later date,,depending on how my lowly shell valley shakes out,,
I see I need to be more careful,I am accustomed to being able to state my opnion with out offending any one,,at the same time,hearing others opnions with out being offended,,
again,,I love the spf,,I have seen jit cars that are nicer detailed,,but many more that are junk,,thats true with any thing.
As far as the irs system,it is fine for most people,but a high torque motor with slicks will break them,almost on demand,I have seen 2 personally break in ffr cobras,,and have had several broken in mustangs and t birds,,noted it takes some torque and traction,they just werent made for this,,even kirkham makes this statement in some of their info,os they give you a choice of a salisbury which uses a dana gear set,,the ford case just dosent handle extreme stress well.
I was a ford parts mgr,,then a dealer mgr for years,as well as sponser ship on several drag race teams,so this isnt nonsense,,but facts.
that said,,sometimes the written word fails to convey the context in which somethign is said,I said the spf is not a car guys cobra,,meaning it is a cash a carry car,,most car guys I know arent happy with that, taking nothing away from the beautiful car they are,,I still think an ffr roadster is a better design when built right,thing is it would cost more than the spf cost to finish.
and as you said,,wouldnt resale for as high a percentage as an spf,,nuff said

I love them all,,basicly this is like the ford versus chevy argument,but I think we can all do with out the personal attacks,,
happy hunting,,Tim

[vegan2]

Originally posted by misfit41
thankis ,,,Tim

I'm not offended, just happy to hear from anyone that has just about anything to say about Cobra's as the goal is the get the positive and negative at all levels.

[vegan2]

Originally posted by frankym


misfit, it never ceases to amaze how people sprout nonsense, spf a "non car guy's cobra, yuppie snake" with "very breakable t bird rear diff"? I don't think your intention was to insult 1500 people, but that's just plain ridiculous. SPF cars have the highest average number of miles and by far the most time on the track.

ERA is a fine car, but I would rather have one that was prepared by folks that not only have all the equipment and know how for designing and assembling a car, but also the experience.

I actually don't mind nonsense, but please explain how you arrived at the fact (in reverse) that ERA does not have all the equipment and know how for designing and assembling a car or the experience? That is what you said, correct? If correct, why are you jumping on another poster who explained some opinions that may or may not be shared? What would the folks over at ERA say about the sentence posted by you about their Cobra?

[casaleenie]

Is that smoke I smell????? Is someone blowing smoke again???

[decooney]

What's funny to me sometimes is how some people go to great lengths (sometimes spending years researching) to get the last 2% here and there comparing this car to that car before buying one... And, once they do, they end up barely driving their Cobra to anywhere beyond the local show and shine or 30 minutes here and there from their house, stoplight to stoplight. Me included except for maybe on one or two long trips a year really.

I agree, it's great to find a nice car with all the right stuff, but I'd bet 1 out of every 20 members out here ever truly realize the functional or competetive differences on the street or track between brands x,y,or z. Emotion and the hype-factors generated in local circles seem to influence who buys what in most cases if you ask me. SPF, ERA, Unique, FFR replicas... they are all pretty nice cars for what most (19 of 20) people do with them anyhow.

I'll never truly realize the potential of my ERA 427SC, not even close.

[misfit41]

You guys are so right,,we pick these cars to death,,and the worse junker here will get thumbs up,,and photo op's at the gas station,,but I suppose everyone is anal about something,,
I get this a lot in my shop,,I mean the guys who wanna buy a Harley,,and tickled to think he can,,and then the guy who knows everything about every bike,which one is too much,,and which one weights what,,when he finally buys from someone down on their luck who has to sell,,he never rides the bike,,but OH wait,,he is down the street jerking off the mower guy,,{been looking three years}
some of us just arent busy enough,,too much time to think,,
DAMN I love hot rodders,,I'm NEVER bored,,
Lets Roll,,Tim

[vegan2]

Originally posted by casaleenie
Is that smoke I smell????? Is someone blowing smoke again???

casaleenie:

It's in the garage, it's the coolest thing that I've ever owned.

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Originally posted by vegan2
It's in the garage

Congratulations on the ERA. Post some pics when you get a chance.

David

[casaleenie]

Vegan 2

Congrats... Never a doubt in my mind... right...

Now be careful and drive like you have a fishbowl on the passenger seat...

[frankym]

vegan, the post i made was comparing the home built car to the ERA prepared completed roller, and you're right, in New Briton, those guys have all the talent and equipment to get it done right, I think you misunderstood. In other words, 2 home built ERAs will probably differ in some ways, some minor, others potentially much more serious. Hope you enjoy your car, I think everyone is curious to see what a 33k ERA looks like!!

[vegan2]

Originally posted by frankym
vegan, the post i made was comparing the home built car to the ERA prepared completed roller, and you're right, in New Briton, those guys have all the talent and equipment to get it done right, I think you misunderstood. In other words, 2 home built ERAs will probably differ in some ways, some minor, others potentially much more serious. Hope you enjoy your car, I think everyone is curious to see what a 33k ERA looks like!!

I did misunderstand your post.

Anyway, I uploaded a picture of my "new " ERA Cobra - notice the rims!!!! Very Cool Ride!

[frankym]

that's a fine looking car, were there any flaws that justified the seemingly below market ask price? even if it needed an engine rebuild, seems like you're still way ahead of the game!


lots of luck.

fm

[Traveller]

It looks like you got a great deal

Congrats!

[Traveller]

BTW, I'm not trying to stir the fecal matter here, but it might be the gentlemanly thing to do if the person who was inferring that Vegan was full of crap came and posted something nice.......like an apology maybe?

I know it's hard to admit that sometimes we act like an ass, so let me help:

"Hey Vegan, nice ride, sorry I doubted your legitimacy dude"

There, now all you have to do is "cut-n-paste"

[casaleenie]

Traveller,

Quit playing in the feces... Vegen is a big boy.... Sounds like he can take care of himself.... IMO

Vegen, again, congrats...

[mbishop]

Nice ride, what part of Texas did it call home?

[vegan2]

Originally posted by frankym
that's a fine looking car, were there any flaws that justified the seemingly below market ask price? even if it needed an engine rebuild, seems like you're still way ahead of the game!
lots of luck.
fm

Actually, it's just a good deal. The seller had the engine re-done at 8,600 miles, there are some paint issues. The interesting thing is that the seller provided every piece of paper that has been generated since the Cobra was built, including the build specs from ERA, a manual covering the Jag rear-end, all receipts with the mileage noted on most of them, two boxes of extra parts (some new parts included), special tools - like a HUGE allen wrench - it's purpose is to remove/tighten the pins on which the Halibrands are mounted.

The seller was fully ready to deal with a gearhead, as he knew his stuff, but he ended up with a buyer (me) that was simply sold when I heard the sound of the high rise long duration cam (really lopes at idle). To me, that is nothing that sounds better in the car world.

[vegan2]

Originally posted by mbishop
Nice ride, what part of Texas did it call home?

Actually, the Cobra was in Texas about two years ago and the picture is one taken by the seller. It's a California car now, soon to be an Arizona car as soon as I have time to go down to register it in my state. The really interesting part of the registration is that it's registered in California as a 1965 Shelby, so that means that I can easily end up with historic plates in Arizona, no sales tax, and registration at $25.00 per year. Life is good.

[decooney]

...so you bought the Blue/White car from Tustin, CA on AutoTrader eh?

Boy I could tell you some stories about trips around the track and repeated light to light street racing with that car. Holy Cow, I never knew an FE could be revvvvvvved like that, and for hours at a time. It managed to hold up well..., the 5th owner of that car was a crazy guy who really liked to put the hammer down!

Hey - Just kidding.... I think more than a few of us knew which one you were looking at. Looks like a great deal for ya. Good Luck.