Feedback

[GeorgiaSnake]

I am in the final stages of selecting a kit. I will either go with FFR (labor and time intensive, but rewarding) and all new stuff (non-donor) or a Unique FIA (on the road quicker). Any feed back from members with experience in either company would be most useful. Either way I will go with a 351 in the 375 to 400 HP range.

[Back in Black]

Unique FIA is the winner easily. I assume that your interest is mostly or all street, and the FIA look is *chillin*

[GeorgiaSnake]

To me the FIA is the Cobra. Small block, light, quick and mine will look good in silver. I don't want to open up the big - small block argument, just curious about the good and bad of FFR and Unique.

[CobraDan]

Ga. Snake you should have been at our meeting in McDonough 2 weeks ago and I would have introduced you to the Weaver brothers. They would have told you all about their Unique Cobra. Tomorrow I'm going to the other coast of Florida to help in another 2 day build of a FFR, owned by John Phillips. Or join the Deep South Cobra Club and see all the Cobra's out there.
http://www.jerryrowley.com/Join_Us/join_us.html

Dan

[GeorgiaSnake]

Dan,
I was going to attend the big fling, the weather and a prior commitment complicated things. I am going to try and visit Unique May 10. I have talked to Maurice Weaver and must say if his cars are as nice as he is I may be a customer very soon.

Randy

[CobraDan]

Randy,
We got rained on and a lot of people didn't make it and like you they lived right in Atlanta. I drove 10 hours each way towing my car, we had a great event for Cobra enthusiasts rain or shine. FFR was invited but no one came from FFR. We had great representation from Superformance with Doug Reed and Dennis Olthoff. Bill Parham of Southern Automotive was our engine rep. and also a SPF dealer. We had about 42 Cobras present and a real alumium one plus a GT40, and a Gt350 Mustang. Everyone has to make a better effort to come when you spend a year planning an event and can't change it because of a little water.
Dan

[Joe Smith]

This is my opinion, but the Unique is a higher quality car, component and
construction wise than the FFR. However.......the FFR if properly built can shave weight as compared to the Unique.
If I was planning on a street / track Cobra, the Unique would win hands
down. If I was building an all out, no excess weight, track car with a limited
amount of street use, I'd go with the FFR.
I have seen good quality build ups of both cars, and like all of the Cobras
out there, you get out of them what you put in to them.

One more note: All things equal: paint, body, trim, and engine.... a used Unique will almost ALWAYS fetch a higher price than a used FFR. By higher
price I mean what the car ACTUALLY sells for, not what the yahoo is asking.


I would also look at the E/M , Hunter, and Midstates cars.....all high quality, and also in the your price range.

You might want to attend our Gainesville FL June 8th, track event....
you'll see excellent build ups of FFRs, Uniques, E/Ms, Midstates,
Hunters, and Superformance in action.

[GB]

Georgia Snake,
I have a completed FFR on the road, if you would like to drop by for a ride sometime let me know. Seeing a completed car might give you some perspective. I live in Kennesaw and I'm always looking for an excuse to take the car out. I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever manufacture you choose.
GB

[GeorgiaSnake]

GB
I would love to see your car and discuss your build. I work in Marietta and live in Alpharetta. Drop me an e-mail and I'll give you some phone numbers. THANKS is advance.
Randy

[excelguru]

Georgia Snake,

We Atlanta-area Cobra enthusiasts try to get together every month or two (weather permitting) for a Cobra luncheon. I will be planning a luncheon for this coming May (I'm shooting for the 18th). You should come and join us! Jason and Chip usually bring their Uniques and Greg might be able to attend with his FFR. Other marques usually represented include Superformance and Everett-Morrison.

I'll be posting a separate thread on this forum for the luncheon very shortly. Be sure to look for it.

Regarding the Unique vs. FFR question... well, take a look at my signature line. I really can't say enough nice things about the Weavers and their cars. I was happy with the following:

1. Quality - 100% hand-laid body, rectangular-tube chassis (very strong), overall fit & finish

2. Completeness - Their Deluxe Pallet Kit (DPK) was extrememly complete, requiring very little time, labor, and parts to get the car done and on the road. Powder-coated frame is standard, leather seats are standard, etc.

3. Referrals - I never found a single person that had a problem with the Weavers or with one of their cars. Despite talking to about 30 owners (including some who were in the act of selling their cars). They ALL had excellent things to say.

4. Value - They're not the cheapest, but I wasn't looking for the cheapest. I was looking for value. I believe that they offer a very good value for the price. Their car's look is very close to the real thing and that's what I wanted. Their pricing is very competitive for what you get.

Have you considered who you will buy your engine from?

Keith

[GB]

Randy,
You have mail.
Greg

[teamfour]

Originally posted by CobraDan
FFR was invited but no one came from FFR.

Gee....maybe it is because FFR is around a thousand miles away I was hoping the DSCC wouldn't become biased against FFR like the whole of Club Cobra is. I am very happy with my FFR. I built it, I am happy with it. I have ridden in a great Unique (Jerry Rowleys') and was way impressed. I guess like Joe said, "like all of the Cobras out there, you get out of them what you put in to them."

[CobraDan]

Lee,
I have nothing against any manufacturer, My comment was that they were invited. I was at John Phillips new FFR build yesterday with nothing but FFR guys. FFR supported John because of all the guys that he has gotten into the FFR Cobra. He lost his car in February and his new one came in the next month, they bent over backwards for John because of all the good will from John. We at the DSCC support all Cobras or Snake Roadsters since were not allowed to use the word Cobra.
Dan

[teamfour]

Please ignore my previous post. I think driving over 150 miles in one day in my FFR with 90 degree heat and unsealed footboxes fried my brain.

[excelguru]

And as far as my previous post is concerned, I hope that nobody misinterprets what I was saying. I've seen several FFR's and have been impressed with all of them.

Choosing a manufacturer is tough when the field is laden with numerous high-quality picks. But I guess that's a good thing, when you think about it.

Keith

[CobraDan]

We have so many Cobra enthusiasts in our club that FFR will be asked again to come to our 3rd. annual meeting, I hope they can send a rep. down to see their product all put together and Lee yours better be one of them. If I knew the time and place I would tell you to set up some vacation time now. You missed out on some Cajun food from Doug Reed and SPF. I don't know what type food FFR puts up.
Dan

[teamfour]

FFR probably serves up come of that chowda and steamed seafood with the spices on the outside of the crabs Don't worry about me missing Doug's Cajun food. My wife was born and raised in New Orleans; I eat like that every day!

[CobraDan]

You know I have to ride your butt until the 3rd. annual. Who do I see to get a Miller poster when I get to Ohio? I saw your other buddy Dino and got a ride in the BEAST this past weekend. I also saw that your dad was on the list for DVSFII. I'll see both of you in Ohio in June. Your buying, for me and dad.
Dan

[Gatorac]

Here's my worthless opinion.

My first build was FFR. I had a blast building it. It had some issues. The body was not the greatest but came out good in the end. The hood and hood hinge just plain sucked. The rest of the car was awsome. I like the looks of a round tube frame better than the square. The aluminum panels instead of fiverglass sealed the deal when I was shopping. I sold the car for more than what I had in it (money wise not time wise) in about 24 hours from posting it for sale. The support you will get from other FFR owners is 2nd to none!

It's now time for another Cobra build. I got bit hard in Atlanta and at John Phillips build. I have looked real hard at the Unique. Anyone who says it cost a lot more, hasn't done the math. If you add up everything in the deluxe pallet kit and compare it with an equally optioned FFR, including donor parts that are included with the Unique, the Unique is only about $2k more. I have never talked with anyone dissatisfied with their Unique. Now the down side....It comes almost all the way together!! That's great if you don't like to build. I have to build mine. The build is the goal for me, not the finished car. Does that make sense?

Mick Mack at Tristates Motorsports has appeared to level the field. He has a new body that he is producing that is far better than the FFR body. It includes hidden trunk hinges, lined hood, hood hinges, rolled edges and, from what I hear, a less "perky" butt.

I can find no reason for me not to build another FFR.

You may want to try here for some more info. www.ffcobra.com

Have fun in your search.

[Joe Smith]

Originally posted by teamfour


Gee....maybe it is because FFR is around a thousand miles away I was hoping the DSCC wouldn't become biased against FFR like the whole of Club Cobra is. I am very happy with my FFR. I built it, I am happy with it. I have ridden in a great Unique (Jerry Rowleys') and was way impressed. I guess like Joe said, "like all of the Cobras out there, you get out of them what you put in to them."

I am not biased against FFR Cobras. An opinion question was asked, and
I gave my opinion. Do I think there are higher quality cars than the FFR?
Sure. I also think that there are higher quality cars out there than my own
brand of replica! I own a Midstates, I think that the Unique, ERA, Superformace, and
Kirkham, cars ALL hold an edge to the quality of my Cobra. I have seen some excellent FFRs that I would proud to own....I've also seen some dogs of every other marque out there. I viewed a brand new CSX last year that had a Shelby "factory" paint job on it that looked like a Macco 199.00 special. (The new owner had been hornswaggled to say the least.)
Again, you get out what you put in to the machine. I was on a budget too,
that's why I purchased a partially completed car. I figure my total cost to
finish up was about what a guy would spend on a sharp FFR, and I'm happy
with my machine. Are there nicer Cobras than mine? Yes. Are there
Cobras that I feel are not as nice ? Maybe....
I think you'll find that the DSCC welcomes all marques of cars, and I'm
biased, on this....I think we prove it in our membership. You name 'em,
and we've got 'em! Please...don't think the DSCC has an axe to grind
against FFR, or any type of Cobra. All are welcome, and I think that I can
say that for everyone that I've met at ANY DSCC function.