Complete Domination?

[bobcowan]

Hi, my name is .boB, and I own a Factory Five Roadster.

This is the second car I built. The first was a Classic Roadsters, with the extended wheel base. After I finished it, I wasn't happy with it. I decided to either tear it apart, or sell it and build a new one. So I sold it.

in '02, I was lucky enough to be on the east coast for the Kit Car Nationals. I had a list that I wanted to look at - ERA, Kirkham, FFR, and a few others. I had the oppurtunity to put my hands on each product, and and talk extensivly with each company rep. Every company rep said the same thing: "Our car is better than Factory Five because....." The FFR rep said, "We have a great car because...." That tells you a lot right there.

After taking a very close look at each frame and suspension design, I went with the FFR. There's nothing wrong with Mustang parts. There are millions of Mustangs on the street using them without any problems. Replacements are easy to come by, and inexpensive. BMW and Jag parts, not so much. Look at the price differance between ball joints. Look at the performance differance.

as for performance, again it's what you make it. Most of the time I drive my car on the streets. We cruise with club, take drives through the mountains, and generally enjoy the car. But when I take it to the track, there's nothing faster in the price bracket. It's fun to see people with expensive sports cars get beaten by an old guy who built a car in his garage.

It's been said that FFR owners don't have a sense of history. That's just silly. How can you build a mid 60's race car and not have a sense of history? If you didn't, you'de simply buy a porsche or viper. My sense of history is just a little bit differant than yours. My car is a more modern iteration of the 60's car: small block, 5 speed, EFI, custom wheels, etc. It's my vision of what a Cobra would be if they were building them today.

I also chose not to use old and rusty parts. I did a "non-donor" build, with all new parts. Have you ever seen a '66 Mustang rebuilt with old junk yard parts? I have, more than once. It's not a pretty sight.

Some people are crappy builders, and that's a fact. Doesn't matter what the name of the kit is, some builders just don't do a good job. And we've all seen the results. I have seen a BB non-FFR car with a MII front suspension, 4 lug wheels, and tiny MII brakes.

FFR has sold more than 7,000 Roadster kits. 7,000. That's reported to be more than all other kits combined. And that's just roadsters, doesn't include any of their other cars. What does that tell you? That's it's the '82 Escort of the Roadster world?

Certainly, build quality is more consistant in a Superformance, for obvious reasons. Some FFR's are better, and some are worse. Mines a better build than a roller, becuase it's not a Superformance, ERA, etc. It's a Bob Cowan original. But, some people are builders and some are buyers. Dropping in a drive train into a roller on a Sunday afternoon and saying, "I built that" is like putting a chrome air cleaner on a BMW and saying, "I built that". If there's a bolt, nut, or rivit on my car, I put it there; often more than once.

Is FFR the top of the heap in innovation and quality? I'd have to say no, they're not. But they're not at the bottom, either. But they are certainly the most successfull company in the history of kit cars. You've got to wonder why that is.

If you look down your nose at an FFR simply because it's an FFR, then maybe your eyes are closed. And when you finally open them, you'll bee seeing tail lights and a perky butt.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by bobcowan

FFR has sold more than 7,000 Roadster kits. 7,000. That's reported to be more than all other kits combined. And that's just roadsters, doesn't include any of their other cars. What does that tell you? That's it's the '82 Escort of the Roadster world?

How do define success? Numbers of units sold? Net Income Before Taxes? Net Income After Taxes? How much you give back to the environment? How much you give to charity? How many years you've been in business? Do you define success by the level of accuracy to the original? How many happy customers in total? Happiness as a % of kits sold? Etc., etc., etc.

I can keep going, but ERA has been in business for a very long time and they appear to have a lot of happy customers. They've been quite successful. FFR by the shear number of kits sold is a success. SPF is a great success as well. In a short amount of time, they have built many GT40s, Cobras, Daytona Coupes, etc. and now they have a licensing agreement from GM for a Grand Sport Corvette. Kirkham, their customers as well as others just recently raised a ton of money for hospital charity by auctioning off one of their cars and it wasn't the first time they have raised money for charity. Not to mention all the Tea Party stuff.

Anyway, success can be defined in many ways by many people.

[Cashburn]

Does anyone know how many Street Beasts have been sold?

[RACERAL]

You guys must be bored to death.

[Jamo]

Cobra Lite

Look, you didn't have to start a thread to gain support for your consideration of a Factory Five once you decide to move up from...well...you know.

It's ok.

[Gunner]

You can always footnote the following to these kinds of discussions:

"It's your ride. I assume you chose it, built it and made all the choices to suit your taste and your budget. Enjoy it. I wouldn't think of saying anything that detracts from your enjoyment of it. BUT if you're going to raise the question, I will respond with my opinion, and my opinion is likely to be that I value one maker over another, one engine over another, one set of build choices over another. Don't make an opinionated or chauvinistic post to which you expect nothing but agreement."

[mdross1]

The bottom line here is everybody has an opinion,some are more vocal about their choices of kit cars.For instance my CMC car is everything I ever imagined a Cobra could be,bar none.That being said,opinions are like what we all sit on.Everybody has one.As long as a persons choice on their means of transportation satisfies them,what difference does it make whose name is on the kit?

[Dangerous Doug]

To me, though I admire the original Cobras greatly, a Cobra (replica) is a Cobra (replica). I had my reasons for purchasing ERA, and I'm sure everyone else has reasons for whatever brand they chose. I hope everyone enjoys their Cobra as much as I enjoy mine.

However, if we meet up and you're a brand-snob or think you're smarter than I am because you bought a different brand, well, I'm going to think you're a dick. If you find your Cobra friendships are getting thinner or only with people that have the same brand as yours, get a clue.

DD

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

To me, though I admire the original Cobras greatly, a Cobra (replica) is a Cobra (replica). I had my reasons for purchasing ERA, and I'm sure everyone else has reasons for whatever brand they chose. I hope everyone enjoys their Cobra as much as I enjoy mine.

However, if we meet up and you're a brand-snob or think you're smarter than I am because you bought a different brand, well, I'm going to think you're a dick. If you find your Cobra friendships are getting thinner or only with people that have the same brand as yours, get a clue.

DD

Alright then. At the next BACC breakfast, we're going to organize ourselves by manufacturer. However, all "dicks" must sit at the same table, no matter what brand these "dicks" drive.

We're going to further split our "dick" table into two sections. Those "dicks" who built their cars and those "dicks" who just wrote a check for their car.

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

To me, though I admire the original Cobras greatly, a Cobra (replica) is a Cobra (replica). I had my reasons for purchasing ERA, and I'm sure everyone else has reasons for whatever brand they chose. I hope everyone enjoys their Cobra as much as I enjoy mine.

However, if we meet up and you're a brand-snob or think you're smarter than I am because you bought a different brand, well, I'm going to think you're a dick. If you find your Cobra friendships are getting thinner or only with people that have the same brand as yours, get a clue.

DD

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Alright then. At the next BACC breakfast, we're going to organize ourselves by manufacturer. However, all "dicks" must sit at the same table, no matter what brand these "dicks" drive.

We're going to further split our "dick" table into two sections. Those "dicks" who built their cars and those "dicks" who just wrote a check for their car.

Ok ... well since I don't even have a car yet ... I'll just hang out in the parking lot while you guys compare your ...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Ok ... well since I don't even have a car yet ... I'll just hang out in the parking lot while you guys compare your ...

Tim, since you're in the middle of a ERA build and are clearly not a "dick", thus you'll be directed to the ERA table of "no dicks." Nothwithstanding your ERA's current state, since you own a beautiful TR6, BACC has a clear policy of not discriminating against owners of fine British automobiles, including those owned by "dicks."

Doug, BACC should have a "make peace" table where, for instance, ERA owners and FFR owners, "dicks" or not "dicks", can speak in civil terms and discuss the history of Cobra. Just in case one or the other doesn't have the proper appreciation or knowledge of the Cobra.

Finally, BACC should always have a policy of "getting to know and appreciate the dick" so that we all can try and get along. One day we may be able to attain a "dick-less" society.

(I have to stop posting late at night, my humor, or lack thereof, becomes more acerbic).

[Doug I]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

.... owners of fine British automobiles....

Owners of ...... what's that again?

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Alright then. At the next BACC breakfast, we're going to organize ourselves by manufacturer. However, all "dicks" must sit at the same table, no matter what brand these "dicks" drive.

We're going to further split our "dick" table into two sections. Those "dicks" who built their cars and those "dicks" who just wrote a check for their car.

Our BACC motto is "no dicks allowed." Unless of course your name is Richard and you go by Dick. Even if your name is Dick, you're not welcome if you are a "dick."

[Jamo]

Someone please take a video of that...please.

[Dangerous Doug]

So, simply put, Cobra owners can be categorized into two distinct groups: "dicks" and "everybody else".

It will be interesting to see what table I'm directed to at the next BACC...

DD

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

So, simply put, Cobra owners can be categorized into two distinct groups: "dicks" and "everybody else".

It will be interesting to see what table I'm directed to at the next BACC...

DD

At the South Bay BACC breakfast at Baji's, we usually have one long table that accommodates the entire group. So, there's really no "dicks only" table...anyone who belongs at that table just doesn't show up again.

[Dangerous Doug]

Policy of "getting to know and appreciate the dick"????!!!

Must...resist...the...temptation...to...post...the ...obvious...connotative....response...

DD

[Frank Messina]

Gunner's still gonna need a table all for himself though.
Frank

[Hexnut72]

Too much talk about dick, lets stay focused on the FFR issue please.

[Frank Messina]

There is no issue with FFR. Boorish snobbery however is an issue if you want to start a topic on that. Not too sure how long it will stay open though.
Frank