Why buy a Factory Five?

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by enyawix

The look of a cobra is pointless, if you twist the frame beyond repair.

What is the point of getting a Cobra if it doesn't look right?

You can stiffen a frame, you can't make the body right.
Besides that, FFR boast a very strong frame and when they offer the Dick Smith 198 body the FFR would be put back on my short list of Cobra kits I would buy.

[enyawix]

The Factory Five frame looks strong so it is one of my top picks

[fsstnotch]

Another note on forum.. Hurricane has an owners forum as well. It's not a public forum like FFcobra, you have to be an owner to join. Lots of build info there as well. They also have great customer support, but the forum comes in handy "after hours."

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by enyawix

The Factory Five frame looks strong so it is one of my top picks

Not to stir the pot, but I've seen some horrific crashes involving FFR's, SPF's, EM's, CSX's, ERA's and a few that I was unsure of the make and model due to the type of damage and quality of pictures sent to me over the years.....Don't just believe the hype involving round tube vs square tube main frame rails as both style are engineered differently but have the same type of built in "crumple zones" (at least those listed above) that protect the passengers equally. Also, do not think that those tiny little 1X1 cross tubes will do you any good in a crash, same goes for the .020-.030 non structural aluminum panels that you pop rivet in with what else, aluminum pop rivets with a sheer and break force that would really surprise you after an accident. Don't think I'm bashing FFR (Dave Smith and I go back to almost the 2nd month he was open for business), as if you dig deep enough you'll find out I've owned over 15 of them (along with ERA,Contemporary, and SPF) to date and will more in the future (and the others as well).

Bottom line, instead of searching the forums, you need to go out and see each brand of cobra replica in some form or another, make sure you bring someone along who knows what they are looking at, and then make up YOUR own mind based on what you have personally seen and touched. Keep an open mind to everything you see regardless of who built it or what kit it is, as you might be very surprised at what you find out there right now.


Bill S.

[Tallguy]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Not to stir the pot, but I've seen some horrific crashes involving FFR's, SPF's, EM's, CSX's, ERA's and a few that I was unsure of the make and model due to the type of damage and quality of pictures sent to me over the years.....Don't just believe the hype involving round tube vs square tube main frame rails as both style are engineered differently but have the same type of built in "crumple zones" (at least those listed above) that protect the passengers equally. Also, do not think that those tiny little 1X1 cross tubes will do you any good in a crash, same goes for the .020-.030 non structural aluminum panels that you pop rivet in with what else, aluminum pop rivets with a sheer and break force that would really surprise you after an accident. Don't think I'm bashing FFR (Dave Smith and I go back to almost the 2nd month he was open for business), as if you dig deep enough you'll find out I've owned over 15 of them (along with ERA,Contemporary, and SPF) to date and will more in the future (and the others as well).

Bottom line, instead of searching the forums, you need to go out and see each brand of cobra replica in some form or another, make sure you bring someone along who knows what they are looking at, and then make up YOUR own mind based on what you have personally seen and touched. Keep an open mind to everything you see regardless of who built it or what kit it is, as you might be very surprised at what you find out there right now.


Bill S.

Very well said Bill! I have been researching my kit choice for months, and while each kit is different, crash protection is very poor in all of them, compared to modern day standards.

FFR makes big claims about their frame, but this is really due to the stiffness for racing, for which I have heard it is fantastic Stiffness does not equal crash protection IMO. Just look at the FFR rear. The gas tank has virtually no protection. When I was at FFR two weeks ago, I asked, and they said it is designed to shear off and go under the car in a rear end collision. Great, that's what I want is to have the tank expode under my seat! I am not trying to bash FFR, but I think that their frame is a bit over rated with respect to safety. I know Dave Smith rolled and walked away which is a great testament, but I worry more about impact from another vehicle.


FFR rear

For side impact, every Cobra I have looked at is very poor. Think about any modern SUV or truck. Let's just say you are just a bit better than a motorcycle in that situation. My 5800 lb lifted Avalanche is well....a scary thought.

We have to treat these cars like they are motorcycles and try to avoid accidents.

BTW, FFR is still on my short list, as is ERA, Kirkham, and Hurricane...

Mark

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Not to stir the pot, but I've seen some horrific crashes involving FFR's, SPF's, EM's, CSX's, ERA's and a few that I was unsure of...

Bill, were most of these accidents "driver error" or were a significant portion the result of a Cobra being hit by the "other guy?" I ask this because it is my experience that people tend to know where I am and to stay from me in traffic, plus they tend to give me a wide berth at stoplights, etc. Would there be any truth to the statement that "Cobra crash protection should be analyzed, if at all, with an eye towards a greater likelihood that the driver will cause the accident, rather than the driver being the victim of someone else's carelessness?"

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Bill, were most of these accidents "driver error" or were a significant portion the result of a Cobra being hit by the "other guy?"

Both, as I've seen what happens with these cars in a chain reaction where they are caught in the middle, or sometimes are the fifth or sixth car in a chain reaction. I've seen cars that have rolled over, spun and hit things while going backwards and forwards (trees, parked cars, guardrails at Watkins Glen , telephone poles, etc and so forth) with some truly horrifying (and some surprising) results. As stated elsewhere, the wrecks I've seen of these cars in side hits anywhere near the drivers compartment scare the living cr*p out of me and I'm thankful that they were all passenger side hits without any passengers in the cars when it happened. I have yet to see a side hit on the drivers side of any Cobra replicas (again at the drivers compartment), although I do remember one original Cobra from back in the early 80's that was hit by a 77 or 78 Lincoln Versilles (think Ford Granada with extra bling attached) where the driver spent three weeks in the hospital, and the car to the best of my knowledge is still sitting in his garage awaiting the day he expects to restore it (no it is not for sale, but when it becomes available I have first dibs )......

Bill S.

[redss454]

please tell me why this kit is not the best price it cost $19 k.complete.
also the body is finished and painted the color of you choice.
the color is in the gel coat.www.acautos.com

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by redss454

please tell me why this kit is not the best price it cost $19 k.complete.
also the body is finished and painted the color of you choice.
the color is in the gel coat.www.acautos.com

Check the other thread you posted the link in 'hurricane vs shell valley'

Plain and simple.. that frame looks like it'd flex with a 5hp briggs and straton!

[GlynMeek]

No cross members at all in the middle part of the frame = a) HUGE flex of the chassis and b) NO protection from a side impact...

Glyn

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by GlynMeek

NO protection from a side impact...

Glyn

Just as a point of clarification, no cobra, real or replica (street cars only) has protection from a side impact unless of course you are being hit by a Fiat X19, or a MG TD as everything else sits higher, therefore causing damage higher up than any outriggers or "X" members I've seen to date.......


Bill S.

[enyawix]

I do not want crash protection! crash protection adds weight. Weight adds time to my 1/8th and 1/4th mile times. Less weight is like having more horsepower.

[DTurnbull]

Race bred. Track proven. Solid build. FFR was the only choice for me.

My two cents,

Dave -