Ok ready to buy, whats the best?

[Excaliber]

Now if you REALLY want to get it right you gotta go with a Kirkham alloy and the OLD SCHOOL suspension stuff. Not this new fangled alloy cnc and Bear brakes and all the modern stuff so many K cars run.

Use them Girling brakes! Throw out that MSD and put some POINTS in that puppy! Iron heads rule, side oiler is a MUST HAVE (no, not that Shelby alloy block, a REAL iron block). Logic be damed, get 'real'.

I couldn't include the CSX cars because, well, there not replicas. Good or bad, vintage specs or modern, there 'real' Shelbys so they don't count.

[rat_rod_russell]

YA, who likes technoligy, or them fangly com-pu-ters.....
o wait.
So giveme123, what kind of AP are you looking at?

[LMH]

I agree with Excaliber, Kirkham is THE replica. Now if I could only replicate my bank account a few more times, I'd be buying one!

Oh yeah, ERA also has suspension towers similar to original.
Larry

[Jamo]

Gents...let's keep it relevant to the thread starter's question, which included some rather specific price and specs.

Your expected cooperation is appreciated.

[Clois Harlan]

Giveme123,

I wish you would jump back in and let us know what you want to do with your Cobra. That way we could perhaps guide you toward the right manufacturer. This is a good group of Cobra owners here and most will do their very best to get you what fits your needs and budget. Not everyone here can or is willing to spend $100K on their Cobra. Given that there are some very good manufacturers out there that can fill your needs quite well.

Go to the Shelby,Kirkham, ERA, Factory Five, Hurricane, Backdraft, Premier, Shell Valley, B&B, Everett Morrison, A&C, Unique, amoung others web sites. Look at their prices and decide how much work you want to do (if any) and remember a good paint job will cost between $4000-$8,000.00, your drive train (less engine) will cost you between $2500-$5000.00, tires and wheels will be close to another $3000.00. By the way you can get into a 427 sideoiler (assuming you need to buy everything and not all new parts are used) for around $15,000.00.


Come back and ask us what we think about a certain package and you will get a much better response. We can and want to help.

Good Luck!


Clois

[mjmacqua]

I saw this one on Cobracountry over the weekend. I am also in the market for a Cobra.

51K for a superformance with ~500miles and a 427 side oiler.
Is there a way to confirm that it is a true 427 SO?

PLease let me know..

http://www.cobracountry.com/cobra4sa...-mi-engine.jpg

For Sale: Superformance 427SC Cobra, SPF#1685, vintage 2004. Indigo Blue/titanium stripes. Under the hood: custom-built Total Performance 427FE (John Vermeersch) side-oiler... the real deal! BIG Picture of powerplant: Click Here! Geartrain: steel Lakewood Blowproof bellhousing, 5-speed Tremec TKO gearbox, turkey pan, MSD ignition array, 295x60 rear. You get all the standard Superformance features, plus Superformance floormats, chromed fire extinguisher, car cover, and more. This Cobra has always been garage-kept, and never permitted outdoors in inclement weather, and driven a grand total of only 550 miles. This gem-perfect Cobra would set you back over $67,000 if you endeavored to replicate it today. It's yours today for $51,500. REALLY BIG frontal shot: Click Here! Contact Bill at (313) 550-0736 email: info@cbdbn.net
Dearborn, Michigan
19 October

[Nor Cal Al]

Lools like the same bag of worms got opened up again!

[Excaliber]

Opening thread statement:
"Looking to spend 35-40K
is that unreasonable. Whats you take on this?: "

I think the comments relative to 'is that reasonable' are not to far off the mark in answering the question. At least, thats my take on this.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by giveme123

Looking for a 427, with a 427 sideoiler, 9 inch rear, 4 speed toploader, softtop with side curtians. Looking to spend 35-40K
is that unreasonable?

Yes (hey, it's a fair answer ).

[Jamo]

Ernie...I guess if you're squirming in your seat like Horshak wanting to give a full treatise on original looking, it would seem relevant to talk about Cobras costing twice as much.

Let's try to help this guy. The comments about a built side oiler maybe being a bit much for the price range make sense, etc.

[Lowell W]

Red Barchetta is right: Yes, that's probably unreasonable, for several reasons, some of which have been outlined above.

You may locate such a car in your price range and then find you have to put more money into it to correct some problems or make upgrades. Or, after further research, you may decide some of your criteria aren't as important as you first thought and your money could have been better spent on other options.

Right now you're looking at a buyer's market so don't be in a hurry. Studying the cars for sale on CC and Cobra Country will give you a feeling for how much car goes for how much money. Order Curt Scott's book: "The Complete Guide to Cobra Replicas". Study that. Then ask yourself whether you REALLY want the sideoiler, the toploader and the 9" solid rear. You can have a lot of Cobra fun with $35-40K without having to include those items and you just MAY decide one or more of them is something you don't want, after all. Check the threads regarding tops to help you decide how important a top is (very important to me but not to everyone).

You're looking in the right place. You need to establish your priorities, look at lots of cars and ask lots of questions. Plenty of people will be eager to make decisions for you, if you're willing to let them spend your money. The information's all here but it's up to you to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Good luck.

Lowell

[dlang14]

giveme123,

if your budget can go up to 47K you should take a hard look at the ERA mrmustang has for sale.
427SC ERA FS in NJ

If I didnt already have a car I'd be on a plane to see the car. Good luck in your search.


Daryl

[Ital-cobra]

Check out the backdraft thats up for sale looks great...

[Lowell W]

Mr. Mustang's car looks great if you can cough up $47K and here's another one to check out:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...057#post681057

Looks like a lot of car for the money and right in your price range, if you can tear yourself away from the 9" solid axle.

Lowell

[Three Peaks]

Great deal on a terrific Contemporary with the 427 Side oiler and most everything you were looking for. Better not pass this one up you won't find another like that in your price range!

[LMH]

Mr. Mustangs car is a steal at $47,000! If going a little higher on your budget is possible, you should look hard at his car.
That's my $.02
Larry

[giveme123]

Well I Guess I have Unreasonable dreams. I am looking mostly for a weekend car, something me and the young lady can take weekend trips in. I am not looking to race it maybe a 351 would do. I have always liked the styling of the cobra body, I think it is one of the most stunning looking car bodies out there. So maybe I need to rethink what I want in this car not looking for new under 10,000 miles would be nice. Not looking to spend more than I can afford right now. I really thank everyones take on this thread and hope I find and awsome car.


Thanks
Giveme

[giveme123]

Ok back to my question: What are the differences between the kits out there? I saw someone say a IRS rear is better than a 9" ford is this true and why? Who makes a better body? Is carbon fiber better than fiberglass? As for the rolling chassie, what type of supension is better handling, can one have more control than others? Has anyone had problems with a cobra what and why.


Jerry

[Tommy]

Jerry -
There is such wide variety in how Cobra replicas are made that it's hard to generalize. But as it seems you want easy answers to difficult questions, I'll try. There are fundamentally two type of replicas. Some like Superformance are factory constructed with everything except the engine, transmission, wheels and tires. There is good consistency in the quality of these cars. Others like Factory Five are true kits that can be constructed by the owner, someone hired by the owner, or small businesses that build and sell the kits. In true kits, the builder decides what types of components (e.g., new or used brakes) to use. There is great variance in the quality of true kit cars. You should have any car you may buy throughly inspected by an experienced mechanic familiar with kit cars.

Several people who replied to your initial question asked how you intended to use the car. They did that because it will help determine whether or not you should spend extra for features like carbon fiber (lower weight), road racing suspension (IRS and/or adjustable suspension), drag racing suspension (9" rear axle). As your plan is to go weekend cruising, it probably doesn't matter if any of these features are on your car as long as the price is right.

Owning a Cobra replica is very different from owning any conventional contemporary car. Cobras are not as reliable and trouble free as a Honda Accord. The amount of trouble depends largely on how well the car was built, how much you abuse it, and how often it's driven. Seldom used cars seem to have more problems.

One question you didn't ask is what you, the driver, has to learn to safely operate a Cobra. In my opinion, these are very unforgiving cars. Light weight, high power, short wheelbase cars are very tempting to drive hard and fast. Every year several Cobra drivers die in accidents resulting from loss of control. And these cars have few of the safety features common in modern cars. I hope you have the self discipline to save your aggressive driving for the race track. .. Good luck with your search.