I'm ordering an ERA! Seeking your experienced opinions

[sea2jet]

I believe that was ERA 675 that was listed a few years ago. 427 side oiler, 7000 miles, Richmond 5 speed, BF Goodrich tires. He was asking 56K. Someone got a great deal on that car. He had it up for sale on the Ford GT website.

[Ron61]

I just read the complete thread and there is a lot of very good advise here. With your budget I think I kind of agree with the ones that suggested you look at some that are already built and consider getting one of them, then if you want to upgrade something later on you could do so. And a well built ERA is one of the best cars out there with the exception of the Kirkham and Shelbys which cost a lot more.

Ron

[Detroit Bill]

I know you want an ERA and that is certainly a good choice but this car

Superformance MKIII For Sale, lots of extras

Is a great deal and leaves you lots of money to make it the way you want it.

Good luck!

[DrivinWest]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

I believe that was ERA 675 that was listed a few years ago. 427 side oiler, 7000 miles, Richmond 5 speed, BF Goodrich tires. He was asking 56K. Someone got a great deal on that car. He had it up for sale on the Ford GT website.

That's the one. It was a beautiful car. Do we know where it ended up?

[sea2jet]

No I don't. Sorry....

[DrivinWest]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

No I don't. Sorry....

I just asked the prior owner. ERA #675 is in Texas City, southeast of Houston.

[madmaxx]

I cant say enough about Richie. I had everybody and their mother tell me with the hood between the fenders it would never match, or they just wanted to due a little blend and clear half. I searched from Galveston to Houston, and finally figured what other cars are made of fiberglasss, voila corvettes, hit some corvette forums and bingo.

There is an ERA on Cobra Country. Looks close to what you want if not more on the engine side. What is your logic for not saving $15K and getting more than you want with used? Builiding from scratch is the most expensive avenue and these thing have SO MUCH SORTING even if it is turnkey. I have owned new and used. Warranties are absolutely useless unless it is a Lexus warrranty. If the builder is not within 15 miles you own the problem. I got so fed up with "approval process" its easier to buy used save $15-20K and do your own repairs for $1K.

Originally Posted by DrivinWest

If I can get what I want without having to redo stuff like paint, I'll very seriously consider used. There was a black ERA with a 427 S/O that sold for $50K here in Houston not long ago. I saw the car, and while not Guardsman Blue, it was great. I'm kicking myself.


That's GREAT to know - thank you! I had thought about Naber's Motors in Belaire, but glad to know there's a place in town that's actually worked on a Cobra.

[66gtk]

ERAs are great. I sold a 2001 turn key ERA built one in october with 9xxx miles and 390 FE for $49,900. The price was great, but it didn't stop the low ballers on this forum from trying to steal it from me. I also sold a 1996 built one with 18K miles last year. Had a 427 side oiler and was mint. Sold it for $55K and the buyer thought the price was HIGH - wonder what he thinks now? ERAs are GREAT Cobras. Once I find the exact one I want, an ERA is what I'll eventually end up keeping.

[sea2jet]

I owned a 4000 series cox continuation car with an aluminum Shelby engine and personally, I like my ERA better than the CSX car. The ERA feels so solid. No squeaks or rattles, it drives wonderfully. That, and being 6'3" and all legs, I have plenty of room in the ERA compared to the CSX cobra.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

I owned a 4000 series cox continuation car with an aluminum Shelby engine and personally, I like my ERA better than the CSX car. The ERA feels so solid. No squeaks or rattles, it drives wonderfully. That, and being 6'3" and all legs, I have plenty of room in the ERA compared to the CSX cobra.

Straying a bit from the subject but I have to agree about the ERA. My prior experiences with small roadsters has been riding in friends Triumphs, MGs and a couple early Corvettes - all of which shook, tramped, and rattled when ever in motion. My ERA, for an open top, ladder frame car, feels like it's one solid chunk - no shaking, vibration, rattles - just solid. I have a steering column squeak sometimes when it rubs against the side of the dash opening in a left turn and my fairly rigidly-mounted undercar exhaust system has some tinny-type noise when first started but other than that - solid, rides comfortably, and has plenty of leg room length. By comparison when I climb into my 66 Corvette I feel like I need about 3 inches more leg room and that I can barely get my foot up on top of the clutch pedal.

[*13*]

Glad you are looking at ERA seriously. Every time it drive my car, I am happy with my decision to own an ERA. It's a great looking car & the details really set it apart from most other replicas. Mine is obviously an FIA car, so it's generally unique in the crowd anyway.
I'll agree with most of the above. You will set a budget & exceed it, if you build the car new. There are upsides to that! If you want to meet that budget, often you will need to compromise your time & do some of the work yourself, as some of us have.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by *13*

Glad you are looking at ERA seriously.

We really need a nice, long, detailed, ERA turnkey-build thread. But, I don't think we're going to get one here.

[*13*]

I will suggest... An FIA car. The motor ,alone, can be quite a bit less expensive. Everyone loves the 427 body style. That's where we are first hooked into these cars. They are brutal & beautiful, perfectly combined. However, a history lesson & some nice examples often open the eyes to this amazing beast that kicked everyone's butt out there on the road course.
Being in a remote part of the country, up here in VT. All the guys in our club have 427 body styles. It's nice to be the one FIA guy. & though I don't have the most wicked sounding monster in the group, the Webers on a 289 have a distinct note that is equal in many ways. & No one gets to go all out, on the road. These cars are far too overpowered to do that on the street. Given the perfect situation, I'd have an FIA & a Comp 427 car. Which would I like the most, who knows. I do know that Shelby's favorite was the little Slab Side with skinny tires.

[sea2jet]

I had a 600HP ERA 427 and, for me, was a bit much. I found myself dreaming about a small block cobra for the street. Nicely behaved, reliable, but quick with great handling. I sold that ERA and picked up another with a 500HP side oiler and find that a nice compromise between the two.

[Hotfingrs]

When I go trolling for dollars, I take the EM. When I just want a nice drive I take the ERA. I don't think the close ratio gears can be beat for the street, seems to be about a 500-600 rpm difference in gears.

[ersatzknarf]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

I had a 600HP ERA 427 and, for me, was a bit much. I found myself dreaming about a small block cobra for the street. Nicely behaved, reliable, but quick with great handling. I sold that ERA and picked up another with a 500HP side oiler and find that a nice compromise between the two.

Not an experienced owner, but my dream car is an ERA Street/Narrow Hip (Eddie's car) with a (big) small block, same wheels/tires on the front and rear, and "AC" badges on the front and rear; an updated "AC 289"


From even back in July, 1983, when Peter and Phil came to SAAC-8 in Dearborn, I have heard that the small block in a big block (ERA) car makes for a really nice arrangement.

Guess it is probably heresy to say this, however

With the advent of the Boss Z351 block, it seems that and a TKO600 with a Jag XJS outboard brake rear suspension and under car exhaust would make for a really nice driver.


Just $0.02 from the peanut gallery

[*13*]

Sounds to me like you are trying to start a war

[ersatzknarf]

LOL ! Sure hope not.

Lemme know if I did and I can remove it...

[jetblue69]

Originally Posted by DrivinWest

Shame about the color . But it is very close to what I'm looking for.

I wouldn't worry about the color. That Eagle crankshaft is enough to make me walk away.