ERA or Superperformance 427 Thoughts and Observations

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Learjockey1

Is there anybody with an ERA in the Jacksonville, North Florida area or Charlotte NC area? I will be in the area for some Christmas leave in about a month.

You'll love the way both ERAs and SPFs look. I doubt you'll be able to find anyone that will give you a taste of 140+mph speeds, even as a passenger (and no one's going to let you take their Cobra out for that kind of highway run). BTW, the "scare" factor in a Cobra is double for the passenger -- I don't know why, but it's twice as scary being the passenger, under the exact same conditions, than it is to be the driver. Maybe even three times. You might want to just grab a quick flight up to Bradley Int'l Airport and visit the ERA folks -- call first and arrange a date because they like to close down for a couple of weeks around Christmas. If you're really going to run sustained speeds in the 150+mph range you'll want the car set up exactly right, starting with speed rated tires at the very minimum. Of course you know that if you make a mistake at that speed, or if something fails catastrophically, you're a goner.

[Chilibit]

The German cars suit the German driving environment. Italian cars suit Italy. A cobra in the left lane is really like bringing a really big knife to a gun fight. You are going to lose. It is ruled by the 200K dollar cars. Think Ford GT or, like someone said, ZR1 from this side of the pond. I have gone down that stretch at 250 kph and been blown into weeds. I could not even tell what country the tags were from he went past me so fast. All of this was in patchy fog and drizzle. If you can do it, you have more guts than I do. My SPF is a driver pushing 25k miles in three years. It is a wonderful car. As is ERA. They would be a blast on the 'B' Strasse routes. There are lots of cobras in Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland. I would go find those guys and have a beer. I would give their thoughts considerable weight. Ciao.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Actually, there's a guy in Germany with a black 427 ERA (571) who tracks his car. His pic is in the ERA website and I think he is (or was) a contributor here, but I don't know his name (maybe somebody here knows). His car is one of the inspirations for my own ERA (718).

[*13*]

Originally Posted by patrickt

As much as I love ERAs, you have to remember that not all ERAs are built by the guys there in New Britain. An ERA built by someone else may be as good, but it will never be "better," and it might not be "as good" either (if I had built ERA732 it would not be nearly as nice as it is now). Just keep that in mind.

I'm not going to argue patrickt's point. In theory he is correct. Having built my own I know first hand that a guy with some restoration experience, familiarity with most parts of an automobile & tools who can follow directions would have a tough time screwing one of these cars up if he is detail oriented & let ERA or a highly skilled individual take car of a few key items. #1. Let ERA Powder & Bond Body to Frame. #2.Buy full rear suspension from ERA. #3. Body & Paint. I am somewhat skilled at bodywork. I took my time & knew that someone else locally would not get the result & was after so I took it on myself. I am happy with it but I now know what it takes to work with a fiberglass body & this particular body in general. If you desire a "show car" finish or know you do not have the patience to get the results you desire, have the ERA friendly paint guy do the work. Fiberglass bodies have certain details that need to be addressed & someone who paints as many ERA's as this guy does will know how to bring out every nuance & address every idiosyncrasy that is involved in dealing with Fiberglass.

[twin turbo]

Learjockey1, based on your requirements of 120 mph cruising and sustained driving at 160 mph, these cars are a poor choice with their open cockpits and poor aerodynamics. Cobra replicas are great for short bursts of acceleration, such as 0-100, not sustained high speed driving in comfort. If you try to use a soft top and have it stay in one piece at 160 mph, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. The aerodynamics really are a big brick in the wind. In my opinion, these cars are rude and brutal sprinters, not highly refined high speed cruising machines. Cheers.

[Mooch]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Actually, there's a guy in Germany with a black 427 ERA (571) who tracks his car. His pic is in the ERA website and I think he is (or was) a contributor here, but I don't know his name (maybe somebody here knows). His car is one of the inspirations for my own ERA (718).

#571's owner is Walter - wkreuchi(at)bluewin.ch and he is in Switzerland, however #652 and #2052 are in Germany. See below.

[marcocsx3121]

These guys are right on. I can relate a snowy morning in 1966 when I was on the Munich-Stuttgart autobahn. The road wasn't exactly snow covered, but there were slick spots, so I was keeping my Sunbeam Tiger (the first of two that I owned "back in the day") to 80-90 mph. I spotted rapidly approaching headlights in the rear view mirror, so being a red blooded young man, I kicked it up a notch or two. At 115, I folded, and let a bright red Porsche 911 blow past. To add insult to automotive injury, it was being driven by a blonde GIRL. If I'd been in the Cobra, I'd have folded just as quickly.

Like the man said, German cars for German roads.

[rohach30]

Welcome Learjockey1, My name is Mike Rohach, I own ERA 760. This is my second cobra build. ERA 591 was the first venture I made into the componant build hobby. Much like you, I spent a great deal of time pondering the purchase. I can honestly say that there is a huge range of cost and quality differences out there. First, research every maunufacterer you can find,visit their production facilty if at all possible, compare built in quality, fit and finish, and over all value for the money. Decide what you are willing to spend. Then decide how long you are willing to wait. As far as comparisons go, both vehicles retain the original 60's vibe while transmitting new tech performance. The major differance would be attention to detail. ERA produces a very precisely detailed replica with extreme attention to fit and finish. SPF cars are well built but they truely lack the period correct detail. SPF does however market their product much better. After all that is said and done, you should most likely find yourself in an ERA. Now, if you are not interested in waiting 18 months for a factory prepped and painted car. I might be able to help you out. I am selling ERA 760 to make room for my next project(CAV gt40 coming in Dec.). I am not happy about having to sell, but I know that a divorce would be the result of keeping both. I can give you some insight on many of the different choices out there and hopefully point you in the right direction.

Mike Rohach
era591@rock.com

[RICK LAKE]

learjockey1 If you are looking for 140-160mph car, a SC COBRA is NOT what you are looking for. GT-40 or a Daytona coupe would be a better car for what you are looking to do. I think if you got a ride in a cobra in the 140 mph range you would not be thinking doing this with out a front chin spoiler, rear wing and high speed tires. ABS brakes, Power steering, and traction control you might want to add to the options list. If you are looking for a cobra that is safe at your 140+ speeds and up, Either look at Morris or CSX-3170 pictures of cobras that are capable of SAFETY traveling at your warp speeds and alot more. When you get to the US send a e-mail and would be happy to talk to you about high speed driving. Rick L. Ps yes I do have an ERA, #428 Very happy with it. Fast, heavy, power steering and stable a high speeds of 138 mph. Rev limiter is hit at this mph. Fast enough for me.

[PANAVIA]

Well - my personal preference is SPF , the ERA is a fine car and a nice piece of equipment. But an SPF is a very drivable piece of equipment.

For the high MPH cruising I would opt for a 6 speed and the 17" wheels. In that way you can get modern High-Perf VR/ZR rated tires at any reasonable expense in a 15" tire.

For ease of use you may want to consider a 351W based engine. --

My 0.02.

[PANAVIA]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

At 115, I folded, and let a bright red Porsche 911 blow past. To add insult to automotive injury, it was being driven by a blonde GIRL. If I'd been in the Cobra, I'd have folded just as quickly.

Like the man said, German cars for German roads.

Sabine Schmidt >?

[CowtownCobra]

If I had a choice to replace my car, it would be the ERA. But I'm a hands-on tinkerer, the SPF is a showroom type car, the ERA takes some work and you can build it your own way. Add to that customer service second to none.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by marcocsx3121

These guys are right on. I can relate a snowy morning in 1966 when I was on the Munich-Stuttgart autobahn. The road wasn't exactly snow covered, but there were slick spots, so I was keeping my Sunbeam Tiger (the first of two that I owned "back in the day") to 80-90 mph. I spotted rapidly approaching headlights in the rear view mirror, so being a red blooded young man, I kicked it up a notch or two. At 115, I folded, and let a bright red Porsche 911 blow past. To add insult to automotive injury, it was being driven by a blonde GIRL. If I'd been in the Cobra, I'd have folded just as quickly.

Like the man said, German cars for German roads.

Like the man said, German cars for German girls.

[WarrenG]

Can't speak to either of the 427 cars, but I know that my ERA FIA is quite happy at 115 mph. It actually seems to get "tighter" to the road at that speed. Not sure it would be comfortable noise wise for too long though without earplugs. I'd think you'd be going deaf quickly just from the road noise.

Supposedly, these cars, aerodynamically, are like a brick when they get up to around 150 mph. Not sure sustained 140-160 is a realistic expectation. But then that's what everybody said about the F-4 Phantom originally also and they just put bigger engines in it!

I would expect the ERA 427 to be similar not sure about the SPF but one thing the SPF has over the ERA is that it would be a much faster lead time for a new one.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Not sure sustained 140-160 is a realistic expectation.

Realistic? Arguably.

Nucking futs? Absolutely!

-Dean

[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.

[750hp]

Originally Posted by Learjockey1

I was once breaking in my Ducati 1098 and had to keep it under 5000 rpm and that was at 120 mph.

You might want to check your speedo or tacho, because something doesn't add up. Here's a datalog from a 1098S...

[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