Cost for a turnkey ERA slabside?

[fdjake]

OK....I know you can spend any amount of $$$ on these cars but here's what I'm looking for....

*ERA built turn key.
* color solid (non metalic red)
*Black leather interior
*Undercar exhaust (slabside so rear exiting)
* a Reliable , non race, streetable 302 w/a single carb (new crate motor?)
*Tremac 5 Speed
*Painted wire wheels (instead of chrome)

I plan on visiting ERA this week and getting in line (with my $5000 deposit) I'm not far from ERA (45 minutes) and have always been impressed with their quality.

This all started with me ALMOST buying a used ERA 427....The car was beautiful...BUT....man, it was loud, the side pipes made it tough to get out of, the steering was heavy with that 428 over those wide front wheels... and from what I've read here, it seems a lot of former 427 owners are moving into 289 slabs because they end up driving them a lot more. Apparently ERA's backlog is almost all 289 cars these days.

That's all I want....I nice reliable 289 slabside to drive around the back roads of New England and with the 5 speed, hit a stretch of RT95 every once and a while without revving the hell out of the engine.

The 427 is a real RACE CAR...Unbelievable, brutal, BEAUTIFUL!!!

But.....I'm looking for a CRUISER!

Any idea's on costs would be helpful!

Thanks folks.

[patrickt]

Maybe... just maybe... you could bring it in for $75k or so if you watched your nickels and dimes. But that's a guess, and I certainly wouldn't rely too much on it.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Maybe... just maybe... you could bring it in for $75k or so if you watched your nickels and dimes. But that's a guess, and I certainly wouldn't rely too much on it.

Wow! I'm at that for my Kirkham 289 FIA car. That's with a filed body and no paint, but for $75k, go with a Kirkham.

[*13*]

I would think an ERA more the in 50 range, as posted above. Another $20k for an aluminum skin w no paint is a big step for most of us

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Maybe... just maybe... you could bring it in for $75k or so if you watched your nickels and dimes. But that's a guess, and I certainly wouldn't rely too much on it.

Originally Posted by mreid

Wow! I'm at that for my Kirkham 289 FIA car. That's with a filed body and no paint, but for $75k, go with a Kirkham.

fdjake ... Depending on options and being a turnkey car, Patrick's estimate sounds pretty close to the mark. It could vary quite a bit based on what you are looking for, figuring out what to build is half the fun. Before you visit ERA, go over all the options listed on their website as Peter will ask you a whole list of questions to determine exactly what to quote. ERA is great to work with and they build wonderful cars.



Not to hijack the thread, but have two questions ...

mreid ... Beautiful Kirkham FIA

- How much of the assembly have you done and how much was done by Kirkham?

- Your car is the first FIA I recall seeing that does not have the forward brace for the roll bar. Any issues with the support brace going over the fuel tank?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Not to hijack the thread, but have two questions ...

- How much of the assembly have you done and how much was done by Kirkham?

I was going to touch on that myself. If you go to the Kirkhams and ask them to build you a 100% turnkey finished car, with nothing more to build on it at all, will they do that for you? Or do they force you to screw around with the "somebody else has to drop the engine and transmission in for you" crap that, evidently, California is really starting to harp on?

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I was going to touch on that myself. If you go to the Kirkhams and ask them to build you a 100% turnkey finished car, with nothing more to build on it at all, will they do that for you? Or do they force you to screw around with the "somebody else has to drop the engine and transmission in for you" crap that, evidently, California is really starting to harp on?

I don't think Kirkham does turnkey cars for the US market. But I think Keith Craft has dropped an engine/transmission in a Kirkham before and sold it as a turnkey car.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Or do they force you to screw around with the "somebody else has to drop the engine and transmission in for you" crap that, evidently, California is really starting to harp on?

Patrick,

That is NOT "California", that is the Federal law! That some so far have managed to bypass that minor issue is not the point. The law says that a "turn-key" car is a "Vehicle" and thus subject to all fedreral standards of EPA, NHTSA, etc.

Those manufacturers and "dealers" who have flounted the regulations to date are now under the crosshairs of the Califonia authorities and I would suspect the Feds as well.

Having the powertrian installed in the back room of the dealer by a company owned by the brother-in-law of the dealer is not an "Arms length" transaction and does not pass the Feds defination of the "sniff test" (if it smells, it's probably rotten) so anyone who asks for and purchases a "Turn-key" from the chassis manufacturer or dealer is not likely to get a warm fuzzy from the Cali DMV right now. And I would guess the Feds are not far behind............

I only post this on the ERA forum as this is general information and NOT brand specific. I know that ERA does it the right, legal way while some others are not.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Not to hijack the thread, but have two questions ...

mreid ... Beautiful Kirkham FIA

- How much of the assembly have you done and how much was done by Kirkham?

- Your car is the first FIA I recall seeing that does not have the forward brace for the roll bar. Any issues with the support brace going over the fuel tank?

Thanks for the compliment. I love this car! To answer your questions:

1. I ordered it as a roller. I installed the engine and tranny, bolted in the supplied driveshaft, modified the provided cooling hoses as I have a SBF (see picture below), bled the brakes and clutch, filled all the fluids, and fabricated an undercar exhaust (a challenge given I have a dropped driver side footbox), and installed the belts and bumpers.



2. I specified the 427 rollbar as I am tall and my elbow hits the standard FIA rollbar when I shift. Also, my wife is tall and her long legs would not like the down bar taking up her legroom. The rear leg does not interfere with the fuel tank. It bolts to two frame members in the trunk:

[Silversmith]

You can have ERA build a complete roller. Minus only engine & trans; just the way you stated for $50k or less. If you stick to your build plan. But it will take over a year to receive from order time to delivery from Peter. As for a very good quality complete turn key engine/trans package. You should get a quote from Mike Forte @ forte'spartsconnection.com He's been helping AC builders for more than 30 years. He offers killer eng/trans combo's! At really good (-14k) prices!! Have Mike send the eng/trans package to (there close) Peter & have ERA drop it in; Turn Key!! I think you could do the whole ride for less than $65k. Like you said; build basic/solid!!, add more later! They really don't come any more solid than a ERA, for the price!!

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by mreid

Thanks for the compliment. I love this car! To answer your questions:

1. I ordered it as a roller. I installed the engine and tranny, bolted in the supplied driveshaft, modified the provided cooling hoses as I have a SBF (see picture below), bled the brakes and clutch, filled all the fluids, and fabricated an undercar exhaust (a challenge given I have a dropped driver side footbox), and installed the belts and bumpers.

Don't you also have to get the car aligned after installing the engine and transmission?

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by mreid

Thanks for the compliment. I love this car! To answer your questions:

1. I ordered it as a roller. I installed the engine and tranny, bolted in the supplied driveshaft, modified the provided cooling hoses as I have a SBF (see picture below), bled the brakes and clutch, filled all the fluids, and fabricated an undercar exhaust (a challenge given I have a dropped driver side footbox), and installed the belts and bumpers.


2. I specified the 427 rollbar as I am tall and my elbow hits the standard FIA rollbar when I shift. Also, my wife is tall and her long legs would not like the down bar taking up her legroom. The rear leg does not interfere with the fuel tank. It bolts to two frame members in the trunk:

I did very much the same with my ERA FIA ... started with a painted roller then installed the drive train & associated bits, exhaust, seats and transmission tunnel. I am tall as well and ERA did some custom tweaks to the car so I can fit.

One of the advantages of working with a company like ERA, Kirkham or others is that little custom changes here and there can make a big difference in drivability, based on the customer's needs.

Interesting about the down bar, I have not had any comments (yet) about leg room on the passenger side. I actually like the down bar, makes getting in and out of the car a bit easier, for me at least.

Bottom line for the OP ... keep doing your homework and welcome aboard !

[Big Oil]

I received my detailed quote from ERA for a turnkey slabside about a month ago and $75K is the starting point...no options, no frills 302, 2 stage paint, etc. I found this a little inconsistent with the guidance on their website, but I guess you have to pay-up for quality.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Big Oil

I received my detailed quote from ERA for a turnkey slabside about a month ago and $75K is the starting point...no options, no frills 302, 2 stage paint, etc. I found this a little inconsistent with the guidance on their website, but I guess you have to pay-up for quality.

Thanks Big Oil. And yes, you get what you pay for.

[*13*]

Originally Posted by Big Oil

I received my detailed quote from ERA for a turnkey slabside about a month ago and $75K is the starting point...no options, no frills 302, 2 stage paint, etc. I found this a little inconsistent with the guidance on their website, but I guess you have to pay-up for quality.

The quote for a custom car like this has a lot of variables, even if "no frills". A big block car was just listed in the ads for what, $45k? With cars still selling in this price range it'd be tough to build new.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by *13*

A big block car was just listed in the ads for what, $45k? With cars still selling in this price range it'd be tough to build new.

But for a lot of folks, it's not about the money. It's about having your Cobra buillt exactly to your specs. Every bolt, every screw, every zip tie -- all, made just the way you want it. And when you take delivery, you know the only butt that's been in that driver's seat was Doug's when he was test driving it for you. If you're looking for a "bargain deal," a Turnkey ERA, built to fit you perfectly, ain't it.

[*13*]

As it was for I, but people here make mention of the price difference between a Kirk & An ERA. If your that worried about price, it seems 45k with a few "Taste" adjustments makes a lot of sense. If you aren't...well, a chrome car is probably what you're going to buy

[*13*]

The details will really drive the price up. Find a nice used engine & tranny. It could cut costs deamatically

[1985 CCX]

Jake

ERA does a great job estimating their car's pricing structure.
Sample costs for ERA slabside kit

Basically $46,500
Plan on:
Motor $5000
Trans $2000
Clutch etc $1000
Add 1000 fudge
Add $500 for oops stuff.........

Est $56,000

[Rickd]

Leather seat package with the 427 style street seats .. as I recall were an upgrade of $1400- Tremec came in at $2250 and a nice 331 stroker from KC, dyno´d, was $11,000. That also needed water pump, pulleys etc. Low $60`s is a realistic estimate .. then add a top if you want one and side screens..