ERA or Superperformance 427 Thoughts and Observations

[JWilly]

Learjockey1, for the most part, I am only repeating what others have already said, but a Cobra replica of any build is not the car you are describing. I love my SPF and it is a well built, solid car and I know of numerous, much older SPF’s than mine that are still amazingly solid cars. ERA kits are also amazing cars, but I would not call any of these cars “refined”. It’s loud, smelly (gasoline), the whole car shakes at idle, not easy to get in and out of, and if you push the gas pedal down in 1st, 2nd or the low end of 3rd gear; you damned sure better have the wheels straight (God, I love these cars!). If you go to Cobra Country, there are numerous, very low mileage cars for sale and my guess is that most of the people selling those cars are not selling in order to buy another Cobra. Also, remember, most of the people on this forum are out-right addicted, non-repentant, incurable Cobra-holics who cannot live without a regular Cobra “fix” (I plan on being buried in mine). If you are planning on running the autobahn with the Porsches and Ferraris and pulling over for a bit of wine and cheese…definitely wrong car!

[TerrysSPF]

I have to agree with the majority of the responses here. You will not be comfortable at 140-160 mph in these cars - no matter which one you pick (both are great cars, btw).

If you really want to surprise some of those German vehicles out there, go with a Daytona Coupe (SPF builds a nice one). At 140-160 mph the car just glides. With the right engine and trans combo, they are good for 200+mph, and you still get 0-60 sprints in the low to mid 3 sec range.

They ARE a little harder to find on the used car market (I've been looking for one myself) but that's the route I would go if I were you.

Have fun!

[lloyds1]

I would go with the SPF GT-40 for sustained high speed highway fun. Or a Viper.

[RodKnock]

Eh, as usual I'm DWIP (Dead Wrong In Public). D-Cel has Kinsler injection. Still beautiful.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Eh, as usual I'm DWIP (Dead Wrong In Public). D-Cel has Kinsler injection. Still beautiful.

... and I'm sure he is proud of them.

[RodKnock]

Makes my engine look and feel a little inadequate.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Makes my engine look and feel a little inadequate.

Deep down, you're quite the softy....

[Got the Bug]

Maybe we just need a thread where Patrickt and Rodnock banter back and forth...endlessly tossing their wit and sarcasm that floats above the heads of all others.

I can hear the announcer now (with music)...."it's that wacky drive time duo patrickt and rodKnock....in the morning."

[patrickt]

I'm starting to think of RodKnock as a "kinder and gentler" patrickt.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by patrickt

...a "kinder and gentler" patrickt.

It would be easier to split an atom than to find such an animal.

Looking good, Stentor, looking good.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

It would be easier to split an atom than to find such an animal.

Ahh, but there is one....

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Maybe we just need a thread where Patrickt and Rodnock banter back and forth...endlessly tossing their wit and sarcasm that floats above the heads of all others.

I can hear the announcer now (with music)...."it's that wacky drive time duo patrickt and rodKnock....in the morning."

Sorry Doug, we don't take requests.

[D-CEL]

Patrick,

No introduction is necessary. I am familiar with both of you.
Proud? Of an intake manifold? I wouldn't say proud,
Excited by its potential.
Not Proud.
Again, comment on what you know.


Thank you Rodknock,

Yes it is a Kinsler manifold.

Jason

[patrickt]

OK, not proud. Dang.

[RedBarchetta]

Some people should not be allowed to reproduce.

[Learjockey1]

[quote]

Originally Posted by D-CEL

I always think of us, the Cobra guys, as hammer fisted, gun toting, red meat eating, Cigar smoking, tough F'ing bastards.
You have to be, if driving a Cobra is your choice.
These are essentially old race cars on the street.
Am I the only guy that read that page in the book?

I was on a drive with a with my local Cobra group one day and somehow, I ended up the last car in a 20ish car string.
We limped laboriously down a long, dead straight two lane road, surrounded by farm land, stuck behind a old jeep going about 40mph. Nobody around us in any direction, yet the leader wouldn’t lead the charge.
I grabbed second gear, stepped out and dropped the hammer. The big drag radials hooked, the 4.10's let the motor spin. Shifting at 6800, the line of cars trailing behind me.
With the motor screaming I flashed by the lead car in fourth gear at about 6500rpm. (To this day, the driver of that car says to me as he points "I'm deaf in this ear because of you"...Yea, sorry about that.)

I thought to myself, "This is a car! This is what Cobras are for!"
I shifted into 5th and held my foot hard on the pedal. I watched the tach needle climb and climb. At 5900ish rpm I lifted.

Noisy: Yep
Windy: Yep
Complete concentration: YES SIR!
Scary: Nope
Capable: Yes
Lots of cars that can run at these speeds with less effort. Cars with better aero, a/c, quiet comfy cabins with radar assisted parking.

If those things are high on your priority list, a Cobra is not for you.

The wind, the heat, the smell, the roar..that is the Cobra, less than that is just that. Less
These cars are capable of incredible things, they just require a lot. Input, muscle, concentration, skill..
Doing it the hard way.

That’s what makes us Cobra guys

Jason

This is where I am, Just looking for the most solid car while doing it.
A car that shocks, stirs and may frighten the emotions. I can see why my Porsche engineer friend bought the SPF Daytona with the speeds, he has a Cobra as well. However, the Cobras still speak to me. I can see the streetfight has to happen early in the game. Easy
Thanks

[patrickt]

This is where I am, Just looking for the most solid car while doing it.
A car that shocks, stirs and may frighten the emotions.

If you're "hooked" on getting a Cobra then, when you are in the states, schedule a time to fly up and visit ERA and also schedule a time to see an SPF. The cost you spend on airplane fare will pale in comparison to what you end up spending on the car. And if you find that a Cobra really isn't what you thought it was, the money will have been really well spent.

[dcdoug]

Or just call Pat. I am sure he won't mind if you take his on a beat, I mean test run.

[madmaxx]

SPF and ERA have the designs down. So in the end it is up to how much you want to do. I really dont know how much more an identicle powertrain equipped ERA is relative to a Superformance. I am confident the quality control will be better on the ERA. So you may wait 6-8 months longer to get an ERA or you can sort your SPF out in the same time period.

If possible buy a lightly used one under 1K miles. No secrets, you can touch it, smell it, drive it, look at, not guess how it will turn out etc, what will and will not need chased out of it.

[madmaxx]

In the end if you do not know how to work on cars or the passion to learn with the associated growing pains you will not be happy with any Cobra. If you like to test, fiddle, educate yourself, lay on your back, bump your knuckles, drink a little antifreeze and gasoline on occasion then it may be for you but probably not. Definetly worth finding out though, because if it is, there is nothing better.