Fiberglass or Aluminium body

[RodKnock]

Well, you know what my vote would be. First off, I would disagree with the comment that brushed aluminum Cobras are running around cities like water through the city main. (Hyperbole). Just using our local club BACC as a sample, there may be 1 in 20 (or more) that are aluminum. The preponderance of Cobras are painted. Polished aluminum Cobras are even fewer.

Having an aluminum body was important to me, since it approximates the original more than a fiberglass body. So the "originality" spectrum needle moves closer to the "almost authentic" side.

Aluminum can dent, though the Kirkham alloy cars use thicker aluminum (.059" versus .050"), but fiberglass cars can crack or break and paint chips. Pick your poison there.

As Lew said above, the aluminum body was worth it to him, and me as well. Also, as Patrick said, only you can answer the question for yourself. Come to think of it, I think you answered your own question. You said you wouldn't drive (own) a fiberglass 30's era hotrod. I know what that sounds like to me.

BTW, nothing screams 100% aluminum like a fully polished aluminum Cobra body. No ifs ands or buts. Nothing.

[REAL 1]

Aluminum dents. Fiberglass crackes and is forever curing causing possible paint issues later. Paint on both scratches. Small dings are easy to fix on aluminum. Call the Dent Wizard. They fixed a few dings on mine over the years. No problem.

An aluminum car just feels different to me. It is more "authentic" for sure. As between a SPF and a KMP, no contest....hands down KMP for a 100000000 reasons. SPF are nice cars but not in the same league as a KMP.

Besides you said your a steel/metal guy or whatever.

Period. Game over.

[franklin]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Aluminum dents. Fiberglass crackes and is forever curing causing possible paint issues later. Paint on both scratches. Small dings are easy to fix on aluminum. Call the Dent Wizard. They fixed a few dings on mine over the years. No problem.

An aluminum car just feels different to me. It is more "authentic" for sure. As between a SPF and a KMP, no contest....hands down KMP for a 100000000 reasons. SPF are nice cars but not in the same league as a KMP.

Besides you said your a steel/metal guy or whatever.

Period. Game over.

I agree!!!

[*13*]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

. First off, I would disagree with the comment that brushed aluminum Cobras are running around cities like water through the city main.

. That's stretching what I said, just a bit just pointing out that they are becoming incresingly more like the blue & white stripe cobra. When I first decided I had to have one there were only a few aluminum finished cobra's on this site & on the road. Now there are quite a few. I love the look, don't get me wrong. I just like to be a little different. I like the idea of the painted car with aluminum undersides.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by *13*

. That's stretching what I said, just a bit just pointing out that they are becoming incresingly more like the blue & white stripe cobra.

I know I stretched and I indicated that it was "hyperbole" or an exaggeration for effect. Sorry.

While there are more of them, since Kirkham is still in business and still producing them, the aluminum cars are still few and far between in my estimation. Kirkham makes the bodies for Shelby and Kirkham has only produced about 600 +/- total since the mid-90's. Also, CA is the biggest market for Kirkham, so being in SoCal, the most populous portion of the most populous state in the union, I've got to assume you will see more than anywhere in the country.

[Clayboy]

IGOFASTR...Ron,
Congratulations on the new car. i just saw your header, hope you bring it to the NorCal toy drive on the 19th. I would love to see it.
Bob

[REAL 1]

While SPF are nice to me there is no comparison to the CSX 6000 Cobra for many reasons including but not limited to accuracy and authenticity. They are not in the same league in my book.

Flame on.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by *13*

I just like to be a little different. I like the idea of the painted car with aluminum undersides.

It's interesting that two reasonable people can see something entirely opposite. I see painted Cobras as being far more common than naked alloy cars. And polished alloy even less common. Between the fiberglass offerings from CSX, BDR, FFR, ERA, SPF, Unique, Arntz, and the many others over the past 30-40 years, I would think the 600 alloy cars, some naked others painted, scattererd across the US would be uncommon.

Tim (tkb289) is right. You could buy a lot of things for the extra $30K or whatever the amount. In fact, you get a Cammer engine for your fiberglass car, but then, you wouldn't have an alloy car either, if alloy is important to you.