How many unfinished cobras are out there and why

[Tony Ripepi]

Hello All,

Interesting question and not an easy answer.....

I have been building, buying, selling and driving Cobras since 1989. I have had four roadsters, One Daytona and a GT40. I built the first two from scratch and hired out the things that were needed from craftsmen that had the skills i.e. painting, machine/engine work and some specialized metal work. Bought two turn key an SPF, a Shelby and recently started on a new project.

I helped to start the BACC ten years ago and have seen group grow from 8 guys to over two hundred + today.

When you start the build it is a journey and I have seen other peoples journey last from 6 months to over twenty years. The process gets complicated by life, wives, children, shifting goals and manufacturers coming up with new products.

When I started my first car the concept of a "Roller" either unpainted or complete roller (Plumbed, Wired,Painted, upholstered, Soft top, heater etc. etc.) did not exist and when it was available you as a home builder could almost not do better on the fit/finish than what was available on the complete roller. Additionally an Aluminum car similar to what the Kirkhams offer was not anywhere on the Radar screens.

As time has moved on there are some of the builds sitting in peoples garages that have been passed by either from the industry, over estimating skills, cost, life changes etc. etc. you can fill in the blanks.

The key ingredient is that things change...........

Tony R.

[63mercury]

I have been at my build almost 2 years and the big stopping blocks for me are money and parts, (the money to buy needed parts). The big thing I am doing is working on it at least a couple hours per day off, other than that I have no excuse not to finish in less than 2 more years. For those who don't know I am scratch building mine. Carl

[sllib]

Mine is mocked up, runs, everything works. I am ready to tear it down and send the body to the painter but, once again, I'm out of the country for a few months. If everything goes well and I can hang around the US for a while I'll have it on the road next year. I got it in late 2003.
Bill Stradtner

[khansmith]

Mine has taken over 3.75 years and I am now just finishing up (final details but she is registered and road ready). My issues were that in these three years I have moved twice, held 4 different jobs, sold/bought 3 houses, remodeled 3 houses, got married, had two kids, built two motorbikes...did I mention the two kids? Funny thing is that paint took forever!

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by 63mercury

For those who don't know I am scratch building mine. Carl

Carl, you bring a whole new meaning to the term "scratch-built":

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83291

[Dwight]

The manufacturer tells us we can complete a kit in 160 to 300 hours. Not so for the average guy. It took me over a 1000 hours to finish mine but that was before Club Cobra and FFR forum. If you take 300 hours and divide it by 4 hours a week, it takes for ever. It's hard for a guy with a family and working to put in 20 hours a week on a hobby. I remember my buddy calling me up and asking if we were going to work on the Cobra today. I would get up and go work for a few hours. Those hours add up and after 28 months I had it on the road. I did work out of town 14 months of the 28.
The best thing you can do is find all the Cobra guys in your area. They will keep you motivated.

After you finish it you can go back and spend 2000 hours changing everything

Dwight

[rustyBob]

If a guy was welthy and didnt have to work 8 or 9 hours a day he could spend all of that time building his car but if you were welthy you could have someone build it for you.

[charles roybal]

Working on my FFR for 5 yrs....due to $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!! This Friday I’m towing my car 14 hrs. to Temecula CA. to the “The Bat Cave" (Jeff miller). Hope to get it back by Thanks giving weekend and should have it completed by Jan 2010.

[Michael4yah]

Bought my Hi Tech Alum in 2006. I started gathering parts and then had some health issues. Now I have a business opportunity that needs the funds. My car and a long list of quality parts and is for sale in the CC classifieds. Good luck to all that can see the end of the tunnel. Enjoy and be safe.

[frdfver]

I bought my North American Fiberglass project in 1989 as body and frame for the on sale price of $3995.00, Been collecting and buying parts ever since. Have built other cars and done lots of other projects since but all the time fitting the snake in when I could. Right now helping my sons restore a 1959 Willys pickup and a 1960 Willys wagon. Made many mods to the car, Moving the windshield and rollbar forward for top install, changing front suspension to tubular control arms, changing rear suspension to satchell link style, cut off molded hood scoop for bolt on one, widend drop floor, dropped floor in trunk, just to name a few. Building most everything I can and all the time enjoying every minute I get to work on it. Getting close enough now that I am really looking forward to driving it. Never even thought or considered selling it all these years.

[1985 CCX]

Still collecting parts, drawback to a build without the boxes from a kit manufacturer.

[rustyBob]

hunting down the parts makeing modifactions is half the fun.......the other half is enjoying the finished product........a Cobra............

[Tugboat]

Ordered my Lone Star Kit on the way home from seeing the Texas Cobra Club Rally in Austin Texas March 2007. Picked up the Kit April Fools Day. My wife gave me the look when I told her my plan was to have it finished in a year or so. Then she just outright laughed at me. My patience isn't my virtue!
Started with the plan of a couple hours a day after dinner, Once the rolling chassis was together (about 2 weeks) it sort of started looking like a car so then I started working about 4 hours a day after dinner. Dropped the engine in and started it up and that fired me up! I own my company so I started leaving work early after the first month and started putting in 4-6 hours a day, sometimes just skipping dinner. Body goes on at 2 months and then I drive it around the block without doors, hood and trunk. UH OH! Now I start leaving work at noon, working thru dinner, and car is Titled, liscensed and on the road (without paint) 4 months from the day I brought it home. PAINT THEN TAKES 4 MONTHS!!! AAAAGHHHHH! There were times that I would just look in the garage and find something I thought I could do in a few minutes and end up spending hours! I enjoyed the build so much I had seperation anxiety after finishing. I tell everyone that the build was as much fun at times as driving it. I have a 2005 Ford GT that I think is the most incredible car in the world. Yet, I am taking the Cobra to Cars and Coffee this week.

Larry

In the Houston Cobra Club I have a friend that built his in ONE month!! Complete, no paint. Also we have a member who has been working on his 6+ years.

[lnfletcher]

Time and distractions! Oh, and the big drag, money!
I began with the idea of 2 years and it turned out to be 4 to get to the "95%" point. Just like Larry above, with each part that I finished, I would spend more time each time I went out to the shop. My big drag was after I had it driveable, I didn't want to tear it down again to paint it and finish the inside! Now I would love to find one that is sitting unfinished and get it for a good price to start all over again. (I hope my wife doesn't read this forum!)

[mdross1]

While I was looking for a kit to build,found several around here.Non that appealed to me.Some of the cars were being butchered.Finally found exactly what I was looking for in a CMC kit (new I might add).Except for the customer service while building the car,I could not be happier.