Current lead time to get ERA 427

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Mooch

As my turnkey 427 #783 is currently up on the lift at ERA and looking to get delivered in the next few weeks, here's a rundown of how things are currently:

ERA Build Timeline

6/10/2009 - Mailed 1st deposit
8/13/2009 - Body finished
8/26/2009 - Received letter assigning chassis #783
10/29/2009 - Car received at CT Custom Car for bodywork and paint
12/17/2009 - Body work finished awaiting paint
1/6/2009 - Car painted
1/13/2009 - Car returned to ERA
3/9/2009 - Looking to have delivery in the next few weeks!

So I would say about 10 months for me for a turnkey.

That's more like it -- and those last three dates are really 2010, I take it.

[jagxjr5012]

Whatever the wait is..........worth it for sure....

[cscobra]

Patrickt:

I would have been happy to have had my kit sooner--I didn't ask for any delays. The facts I quoted in my message may have led to some degree of delay. However, I strongly believe that the increased number of turnkeys that were ordered just before I ordered my kit was the biggest problem that caused my delay. Bad timing on my part! I do, however, like having all of the latest design features, so I'm not complaining.

"In the long run, things tend to work out as they should"--(Author unknown)

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If you get the car in 'kit' trim (which is actually a bit misleading as the kit is semi-assembled in the fab shop), your Cobra bypasses the final assy shop (Doug and Rob) and you may have it in as little as six months (exactly my delivery time). I sent my car Tony's after delivery and he finished the paint work in six weeks.

[cscobra]

Then why did mine take so long?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Originally Posted by cscobra

Then why did mine take so long?

Timing is everything.

[cscobra]

Can't argue with that.

[Grubby]

Thanks for all of the input.

Peter quoted the car and estimated lead time at 4 months.

I will likely place the order in the next 30 days and ask for delivery no sooner than December.

Looks like this Summer will be a no Cobra Summer.

John

[LodiWino]

Think that's long? The deposit for ERA#773 is dated 12-11-07. Peter said rollers would take about a year, maybe a little longer. Rollers take longer than kits, and I ordered mine when the economy was still good, so I would imagine the lead time was out farther than Peter imagined.

I paid Tony Stefan the final bill for paint on 3-26-09, but no progress on the car until last month when I finally got a confirmation on the build spec.

Hopefully this is a sign that some progress will be made in the near future.

I have thought about looking elsewhere for a Cobra, but NOTHING compares to ERA. So I will continue to be patient. I trust Peter, he has a dedicated crew, and I know when the car finally arrives, it is going to be worth the wait.

Look at photos of the shop floor, and there isn't a square inch of space to put another car. No recession at ERA! I would imagine the economy has significantly reduced the lead time on rollers ordered now, compared when I ordered my car.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by LodiWino

I have thought about looking elsewhere for a Cobra, but NOTHING compares to ERA. So I will continue to be patient.

Dang. I love my ERA almost as much as I love my dog, but two and a half years might have me shopping in Provo.

[RodKnock]

Two and half years and I would have been shopping for a bridge to jump off of. Oh that's right, the Golden Gate is nearby.

[cscobra]

An ERA is definitely worth the wait.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by cscobra

An ERA is definitely worth the wait.

It is once you have one snuggled away in your garage, but the wait is tough. Especially if it goes on for years.

[Rickd]

I paid my $5000 initial deposit in mid January 2007, had a chassis number in a few weeks, and paid the second deposit. Car went to paint in June - to Tony's - which was the big delay - spent 6 - 8 weeks there and had to go back - Peter found some 'orange peel' and told Tony to get it right. So it was September when Peter got it back. I received the turnkey in my driveway in January - total turnaround - with about a 6 week paint delay - 12 months. They had some delays in getting differentials at the time - Shelby had preferance at the factory and that was holding ERA up from finishing a couple of cars. This is my second cobra - and my dream was to order a turnkey ERA FIA. Just came in from a Starbucks run in 2117, and the wife and I are heading out for a little run in a bit. Love it.

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by Rickd

I paid my $5000 initial deposit in mid January 2007, had a chassis number in a few weeks, and paid the second deposit. Car went to paint in June - to Tony's - which was the big delay - spent 6 - 8 weeks there and had to go back - Peter found some 'orange peel' and told Tony to get it right. So it was September when Peter got it back. I received the turnkey in my driveway in January - total turnaround - with about a 6 week paint delay - 12 months. They had some delays in getting differentials at the time - Shelby had preferance at the factory and that was holding ERA up from finishing a couple of cars. This is my second cobra - and my dream was to order a turnkey ERA FIA. Just came in from a Starbucks run in 2117, and the wife and I are heading out for a little run in a bit. Love it.

I can very much understand what you are speaking about with Tony - my 427 was there for 6 months - then had to go back to have a blemish fixed which added another month. That had to be the longest 7 months of my life. Most all the other delays were due to availability of parts, although I will say I never put pressure on ERA to finish the car, as I'm a nit-picker and would prefer they do their best than do it fast.

That said, I am quite happy with the final paint finish, and am thrilled with the attention to detail that an ERA build provides. Every time I go up there, I look at their work and how every part matches perfectly with the surrounding parts and could not ask for more. I am glad that I have waited; not that I'm in the "home stretch" Yes I would do it all over again, without a doubt.

Oh and one other thing - They are great people to deal with and go out of their way for their customers, a rarity in today's world. When I talk to any of the people at ERA, it's more like I'm speaking to a close friend than anything else.

-Ray

[FrankJohnson69]

ERA is worth the wait and everyone there is a stand up and looks out for the customers. But, I wouldn't let Tony get within 100' of my car again. Period. It's just not worth it.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Interesting that you mention Tony. I've waited two years for him to make good on a small repair to the paint work he did for me. He just didn't have the time...but kept promising me he would fix it. I've held my tongue long enough. Tony's a nice guy, but he just takes on too much. I cannot recommend him to stand behind his work.

[WarrenG]

Tony painted my FIA and did a good job but I certainly wouldn't go back to him after witnessing Frank's experience. Tony also held up my car for several weeks when he had it. At first he was too busy prepping his own cars for the Hershey show (3-4 week delay). After it was complete he was too busy to get it back down to ERA (another 3 week delay). Better to go to Connecticut Custom.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Tony is producing the former ERA Corvette GS cars. No time for taking care of his former customers.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Tony is producing the former ERA Corvette GS cars. No time for taking care of his former customers.

Really? Jeez, I would swear that I remember Bob telling me that there was some sort of legal thing that put the kibosh on that at ERA. Maybe I'm mistaken.