I agree with the others who said it depends on your budget and what your priorities are.

One other factor to consider if you are building is a good forum for support from others who have built whatever brand you ultimately choose.

You will find a variety of opinions on which is 'best'.
It's more, which is 'best for you'?

Good luck on whatever you choose.
It's a lot of fun to build one of these whatever brand you choose.

John

Well Said !!

Buy the best one you can afford to complete. Not just afford to start.

That's some excellent advice right there. I wouldn't want to guess how many builds stalled and then died due to lack of funds to complete.
Frank

If I were you I'd get a "turnkey" car (Backdraft, ERA, Superformance (alphabetical order)). You get to pick the engine, the transmission, the rearend, the color the options (maybe an ipod hookup) and so forth. The guys who build it have probably done it before and you will be on the road much sooner.

Just my $0.02

Bob

If the guys who build have done it before then who built their first one???? I never built one before either.

Advise,
Roscoe

You may want to check out B&B. On their homepage, they have the following. It is normally $27,495! You sure can't get it to a turnkey stage for 25k!

Turnkey Minus Cobra
B&B is now offering a turnkey minus cobra for sale for $24,995 - just add your own engine, transmission, tires, and wheels and B&B will do the rest.

http://www.bandbroadster.com/index.html

Welcome to the madness!

My experience........I had an excel spreadsheet with all the mfgr's listed and links to their websites. I had "pros & cons" listed (strictly MY opinion of my preferences), 4" round tube vs 2"X4" tubing, wheelbase (90" original vs. stretched), base price, upgrades, donor/non-donor, etc., etc.; all listed in columns. I agonized over that spreadsheet for more than a year trying to make up my mind. When all was said and done, what was right for me was; #1 choice, Hurricane, when they were still in the Kansas City area. I was ready to place an order, got on their website, and found out they had quit accepting orders!!! So, that was '07? or '08? Wow!! I was so let down!!

Then, a member of this forum (B&B owner) called me and put me on to a terrific deal that he knew about on a Factory Five. Original owner had purchased a MK3 and had accumulated a lot of very nice parts, then had a change of plans, and wanted to sell it. I picked it up for the right $$'s, and haven't looked back since. I'm in the go-kart stage now, and I'm very pleased with what I've got so far.

Bottom line, you've got to figure out what you want and how to get there. What is best for you or me is going to be different for someone else.

Enjoy!!

Gosh!! I am really impressed at all the great and many answers I got. Thanks To each and every one of you.
I am an experienced experimental aircraft builder with 5 airplanes under my belt. Getting dirty and working hard does not scare me. I do like quality and looks more than racing. Kirkham starts out at 60k and I think a finished car would be close to 100k and that's more than I want to spend.

It sounds like you are pretty much in the mode of build it yourself. I would also suggest you visit the factory(s) on your short list ,if at all possible. That way you can see first hand and talk with the folks face to face. That's what I did before I bought my Hurricane. Obviously, I would add my second to the above recommendations for the Hurricane. I have the "original" generation Hurricane, but stopped by the factory recently while in Iowa and saw the updates and future projects. Steve and Monty and are great to work with. Best of luck.

Regards, Sam

First and foremost, welcome!

I was faced with the same question over two years ago. I was really close to buying a FFR, BDR roller or BDR - Turn Key. What it really came down to is with my job building would also mean no life until it was done. I am the type if I have a project I cannot leave it alone until it's done. I saw that building what I wanted would be in the neighborhood of 45k, buying a Turn Key would be at least 50k minimum. With the current state of the economy, I saw there was many very nice Cobras with low miles for sale at 10-15k less than building without considering state sales tax. I was fortunate by finding a car (the same color scheme I envisioned). I was enjoying ownership within a week and spend my time driving my Mustangs and Cobra. Although I do understand the satisfaction of building it yourself your way. Nevertheless, at the point in time with my job and the amount of free time it was a good choice for me. Of course, if it were not for my job I would never be Cobra shopping anyway. Maybe in 10 years when I think I will be able to retire I will consider building a car.

This is just my $0.02 to help you consider buying an option.

Good Luck!

Roger

$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000


It's only a number, but one that can and will affect the quality of what you can build for it. Again, you can build a car for $25,000 if that is what you have to spend, but you can also build one for more. It helps to have that number in mind before you start in on your quest for a kit or a finished car.


Bill S.

From what I have seen so far, Hurricane is at the top of my list for now. I do think I will go visit at least 3 kit makers early next year.

Thanks for the input!:)
Keep me in touch please. Risalinas1@mac.com

I've built 4 airplanes and now a Lone Star. You can check out my website for photos of all. (Web site removed. Damn hackers. One day after listing my site, it was hacked and re-directed.)

What kit should I buy?
 

I am in NZ and the kits here are bread and butter and represent good value but are a bit off the mark for originality or racing, so I imported a UK RamSC, which apart from JBL probably has one of the better chassis for racing designed by Reynard engineering, BUT the body came twisted plus I have remade all the hinges, done hundreds of hours on the body and on and on it goes it has cost me a lot of time for something that I have already paid for.
My car is custom built compared to most with very $$$$ parts for racing everything including IRS is custom built, in hindsight I would have bought a US kit, Kirkham, ERA, Hurricane, JBL, SPF, so I could buy the things like door opening trimming etc as these things are all very time consuming!

To be honest a lot of cobra's look weird with high backed seats, low exhausts which make the car looking like its pregnant, stupid late model style wheels and on it goes, some are so far off the mark with bodyshape etc. This type of car is obviously in the low end of the market!

1. Do you want to build a car or buy one and if building how capable are you in building and fabricating? (building a car is a lot more expensive than buying at present in my opinion)
2. How much money are you prepared to pay for this work because you may never get it back or want to for that matter?
3. How fussy are you with workmanship and originality?

Me being fussy and liking a fair amount of originality I would do a Kirkham 289 with the addition of the enhanced chassis for racing, I am impressed with ERA and Hurricane cobras, I would listen to Dean Lampe as he has produced some nice examples of GT40 and Cobra cars.

for sale

Hurricane with KC 428 stroker,

$37,500

Hard top available at extra cost

Dwight
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...17-06-1_5_.JPG

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d..._17_08_10_.JPG


http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...m/DSCN0758.JPG

Dwight's Hurricane is a deal..even better if you get the hard top too.
Good luck to whom ever buys this gem.
Bill