Joining the NorCal Ranks...

[Gunner]

It's mine! It's mine! All mine! Bwah-ha-ha-hahhh!

Ahem.

I've been a lurker on the various Cobra sites and forums for quite a while, but I finally get to step up as - let me say it for the first time - a Cobra owner. If you're among those watching current listings... sorry, you're too late. ERA 707 is *mine*.

Building or buying a Cobra is probably the culmination of a dream for most of us. In this case, it's the fulfillment of nearly 35 years for a car-crazy young teen who was sent over the edge by his first viewing of Gumball Rally. ("Yeah, yeah, Ric, that is a nice Ferrari. But it's in the way of the Coooobraaaa...") My lust for various cars has come and gone over the years, but a Cobra was always the real goal.

There was a time I planned to build one, but I've reached a stage where I have somewhat more money than time (as well as a '68 Mustang I have yet to finish reassembling!) so I have no shame in buying my dream instead of crafting it.

The details on 707 are still out there for the looking, but it's a factory-built ERA, sold turnkey to a buyer who told Peter and Bob "Build me the best car you can" - and they did. Every option on the list, a Richmond 5-speed, and a Danbury 428.

Now all I have to do is wait for it to get trundled across the country from NY to Sacramento, and freshen up my SB-100 dance steps.

And get this mad chortle under control before the men with the white coats come take me away, ha hahhh...

[RodKnock]

Alright! Congratulations! I feel and felt just like you, but I waited too long. I'm going to have to look at the ad now. ERA is a great brand, now where's Patrick, to give you the big "Harumph!"

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

... now where's Patrick, to give you the big "Harumph!"

Right behind you, stiletto in hand. Mucho congrats, you've made an excellent choice. What's the link to see some shots of it?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Right behind you, stiletto in hand. Mucho congrats, you've made an excellent choice. What's the link to see some shots of it?

http://www.prestigemotorcar.com/comp...showEO/id,190/

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

http://www.prestigemotorcar.com/comp...showEO/id,190/

Say, that's a beauty. It kind of looks like RodKnock's car but doesn't glare as much.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Say, that's a beauty. It kind of looks like RodKnock's car but doesn't glare as much.

I paid extra for the chrome paint.

Your new ERA "sure is purty."

[RodKnock]

Now Gunner needs to move from the 916 or 530 area code to the 707 area code.

[patrickt]

What is a 2BB Gear?

ERA Special Rear Outboard Brakes, 2BB Gear.

[FIA Mike]

Gunner,

Welcome to the brotherhood.

One bit of advice:
When you go to the DMV to title and register it, under SB100, do NOT tell them it is/was a turnkey car. Turnkey cars are NOT eligible for a SB100 title.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/spcnsreg.htm

FIA Mike

[Gunner]

FIA Mike: Thanks for the tip. I talked with ERA and *technically* it's not a turnkey; they simply arranged for the driveline install for the buyer.

And thanks, RodKnock. These do look outstanding in some shade of silver. I really, really considered a Kirkie, but besides the higher cost I wanted something just a tad more durable and streetable and kid and dog safe (= fiberglass). Maybe next time... the satin finish with the sanded stripes is just effin' deadly.

There are a number of oddities in the listing, most of which I clarified with questions. Hey, does YOURS have a 2BB gear? Didn't think so.

The chassis number has special significance to me (not that I would have bought an inferior car with it, or passed on this one without it) - a figure of great significance in my life was born on 07/07/07, so "707" is a nice little gloss on the transaction.

Yeah, all I think it needs is some ghost stripes and my butt in the driver's poz. I'm thinking that the first time the clutch needs work I might swap the Richmond for a well-chosen toploader. A five-speed with a top gear of 1:1 is wasted in something with a torque curve as wide as this, unless you like to row to your destinations. :P

Maybe a full fire suppression system. Hmm.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Gunner

FIA Mike: Thanks for the tip. I talked with ERA and *technically* it's not a turnkey; they simply arranged for the driveline install for the buyer.

Congratulations Gunner! Was the car previously registered? If so, you shouldn't have any problems.

If not, you know the drill...separate receipts for the car and engine/drive train. Like FIA Mike said, don't ever utter the words "turnkey" car to the DMV.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Congratulations Gunner! Was the car previously registered? If so, you shouldn't have any problems.

Yep, it has 6k shakeout miles in the hands of the original owner and was/is registered in NY for at least two years. That should smooth the process a little. I'll know more when I get all the paperwork around Monday.

Like FIA Mike said, don't ever utter the words "turnkey" car to the DMV.

"Turnkey? Turnkey? I said TURKEY. Turkey pan. C'mere, I'll show it to you."

[tcrist]

Gunner,
Welcome to the insanity. 07-07-07 has some significance to me also but I am guessing not as good as it is for you. Needless to say that 7 is not my lucky number. Glad it is yours though.
Great car, Have fun with it.
Terry

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Gunner

There are a number of oddities in the listing, most of which I clarified with questions. Hey, does YOURS have a 2BB gear? Didn't think so.

No, can't say it does. Maybe it's a 2.88 to 1 rear end and that's just another typo. Let me add a little insight in to the oddities.... Joe L., your engine builder, uses blank form build sheets that he has photocopied over the years. They are fraught with typos. Those typos then get "re-published" by sellers who simply can't recognize the mistakes. Joe will also occasionally "reverse" his letters and numbers -- once you get used to looking for this, things start to make sense. Your engine was put together with really good stuff. SCAT, WiseCo, Elgin, all very good stuff and it looks like your cubic inches are just over 445. That's a build that is similar (size and component-wise) to mine, although I have a solid, flat tappet cam. That engine should be nicely broken in now and, most likely, runs like a top. A very, very fast top.

[Jim Norris]

Congrats Gunner! Welcome to the club. She's a beauty.
That grin on your face will never go away. Trust me.
Looking forward to seeing 707 in person at one of our monthly get togethers.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I really, really considered a Kirkie, but besides the higher cost I wanted something just a tad more durable and streetable and kid and dog safe (= fiberglass). Maybe next time... the satin finish with the sanded stripes is just effin' deadly.

Yeah, all I think it needs is some ghost stripes and my butt in the driver's poz. I'm thinking that the first time the clutch needs work I might swap the Richmond for a well-chosen toploader. A five-speed with a top gear of 1:1 is wasted in something with a torque curve as wide as this, unless you like to row to your destinations. :P

Maybe a full fire suppression system. Hmm.

I think you'll probably like the Richmond with the 2.88 gears. I have a 0.82 5th gear with my TKO and 3.42 gears, so on the freeway, we're about the same. To me, it's perfecto.

The only thing I would change would be the red spark plug wires.

Otherwise, I wouldn't change touch a thing.

[patrickt]

Just take it easy for the first few months. I really like the specs on your engine. That cam is a beautiful street cam. The duration you see on the ad is seat-to-seat, the duration at .050 is 230 degrees for both intake and exhaust, with a .554 lift and a lobe separation angle of 109 degrees. I think that's a pretty nice hydraulic cam. A lot of guys around here go nuts on their cam and then they regret it.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The only thing I would change would be the red spark plug wires.

No argument. They look... wrong. Pretty, but wrong.

I have always preferred Mallory ignitions - for one thing, their history goes back to the Cobra era and beyond - and don't really understand the attraction to MSD, which is both a very recent brand and, um, I dunno, kinda Ch*vy.

I have a Mallory on my 347 stroker '68 Mustang and it looks right. I may not switch out the MSD on this car, but I definitely think I'll go to black or Ford blue wires. I think I can get a black cap, too.

I'll live with the Richmond for a while. I stared at the gearing for a while and with those 2.88s (pardon me, 2BBs) the 2-5 gearing is close enough to a toploader so's not to matter.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think that's a pretty nice hydraulic cam. A lot of guys around here go nuts on their cam and then they regret it.

Yeah, I went back and forth on the cam specs for my Mustang (347 stroker, Performer heads and intake, full roller) and let the builder talk me into a very strong but not overbearing street grind. I wanted a decent idle and strong power across the band, not something optimized for the quarter. Maybe one day I'll get it installed and see.

I'd live with a little more radical grind for this car. From all the specs, it looks like Joe L. did me good.

[doug cords]

As you navigate through SB-100, know that the DMV Office in Stockton is really helpful and well prepared. It is worth the drive from you home on 2 January. Please call me at 559-439-1483 with questions? I'd love to help!

Doug