Fiberglass or Aluminium body

fonti · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 04:36 AM

Well...since I can't afford an original Cobra, I'm looking for "the best" from both worlds (originality, price and value).
If I take a good example in fiberglass (Superformance) and aluminium (Kirkham) with similar specs concerning the engine there is a difference pricewise of more or less $30K to $40K.
What do you specialists think: is it worth to spend that amount more "just" to have an aluminium replica? Please don't get me wrong. I'm an absolut "steel guy" - drive hot rods and would never drive a fiberglass bodied 30's era Ford!
The brushed aluminium looks absolutely stunning (there is now an example for sale in Cobracountry for $77500 and a nice example of a Superformance for $46500.--) And the Kirkham comes with a Side-oiler, too...

I know at the end of the day I have to decide and it's my money - but I really appreciate your inputs!!
Peter

PANAVIA · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 05:39 AM

There are also Shelby Aluminumninum cars as well. -

Kirkham, -SPF, _Shelby ,--

- I would go sit in them , drive them and feel which one you are more intune with and go from there.

Go see them, go talk to the people. -- that will help tons!

Ask about living with them. --

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

There are also Shelby Aluminumninum cars as well. -

Kirkham, -SPF, _Shelby ,--

- I would go sit in them , drive them and feel which one you are more intune with and go from there.

Go see them, go talk to the people. -- that will help tons!

Ask about living with them. --

Fonti -- Steve is giving you good advice. Whether an aluminum body is worth $30k to you is not a question anyone on this board can answer. You need to go sit in the SPF, Kirkham, and others, touch it with your hands, drive them, and see what you think. There are honestly a lot of people (a whole lot of people) that can't tell the difference between an SPF and a Kirkham even when they're standing in front of them -- don't be swayed one way or another on that issue by what some of us on this board (including me) might tell you. It's a personal decision and you have to decide for yourself.

Bartruff1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:47 AM

It wasn't worth it to me...not even close.....in addition, I was told that the aluminum was very thin and subject to denting etc ??.... it is interesting to note that Shelby actually wanted the originals to be fiberglass... 30k bought me a pickup and trailer to tow it....BUT...it is your money and your choice and you will find the fit and finish excellent on both of them....welcome to the club....I should add that I always intended to have the car painted...

*13* · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:14 AM

Aluminum is just plain sexy. That said, I have no regrets about my Fiberglass car. It all comes down to your research & what suits you best.

With all the brushed arruminum cars out there now I'd almost prefer a painted car anyway..

RedBarchetta · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *13*

With all the brushed arruminum cars out there now I'd almost prefer a painted car anyway..

I agree. Just leave the underside of the hood and trunk raw, as well as the inner door panels, and there you have it...best of both worlds and it screams 100% aluminum!

-Dean

LMH · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:23 AM

There was an uncompleted aluminum Hi-Tech 427 for sale a couple weeks ago. Of course, I can't find the ad now but it was a great deal. Might look for it if you're interested.
Larry

mdross1 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 01:32 PM

Sounds to me like a lot us felt the same about aluminum.When I was contemplating getting a Cobra,talked to a lot of people, a few with aluminum bodied cars and the rest with glass.For me it was glass,for reasons that made a lot of sense.It has to be your choice,do the leg work,meeting people that love these cars is mostly always interesting.

3KCarbon · #9 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009, 07:16 PM

Just get one of each! Drive the glass one and polish the metal one. There, all settled.

fonti · #10 (**permalink**) 12-15-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3KCarbon

Just get one of each! Drive the glass one and polish the metal one. There, all settled.

thanks! you solved all my Cobra-problems...not I have to go to my bank

Kasi · #11 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMH

There was an uncompleted aluminum Hi-Tech 427 for sale a couple weeks ago. Of course, I can't find the ad now but it was a great deal. Might look for it if you're interested.
Larry

Can somebody link me to the add please

Thanks

Paul F · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 08:10 AM

If I could afford it, I would get aluminum. No question. I don't care about dents, or maintenance, or resell value or any other consideration. It's just the right thing to do. It's the coolest.

RodKnock · #13 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 10:40 AM

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 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 11:42 AM

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 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

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* · #16 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

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 · #17 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

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 · #18 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 03:38 PM

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 · #19 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 03:50 PM

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 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

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.