I want to build a cobra... Where to start?

[yakfish]

I guess this is the best place to start as far as looking for information. I just came across this forum and there seems to be a lot of very good info here and some good people too.

I have always loved the shelby cobra ever since I saw an original sitting in a showroom for sale for more money than I could ever afford to spend on a car or even a house!

I have some questions before i get started on this. I am at the saving money stage and am still a coulpe years away from really getting going.
first, what are some good companies to consider getting a kit from? they can't all be good. Who has the best quality products, the best customer service, engineering, ect. I have heard about people getting a donor car for part like a wrecked mustang. What about running gear? I will be going with a manual gear box prefferably a 5 speed. are the big block ford engine very hard to fit under the hood or will a small block be a better option?
I have been looking at the factory five MKiv kit looks like a fairly resonable option. any reviews on this particular kit?

This will be slow project that I want to do right. so any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks

[RICK LAKE]

yakfish Way too much info to type, The best thing is to go to a show like Carlisle Kit car show or the London show that is coming up soon. 200-500 cobra will be there. This is a grat time to talk to some builders and get all the info you need. You can also go through old threads on this procedure also. FFR, SPF, Backdraft, and a few others all make good cars and have kits with different completions done. Good luck and welcomw to the party. Rick L.

[Eljaro]

I would start to think if maybe it would do better buying a used Cobra (see the Cobras on ebay post) and improve it. You get many finished cars for less than the cost of building.
From there on you can change whatever you want.

[mdross1]

Things have changed a lot since building my car.There are a lot of good sources for info when it comes to choosing a car.This forum is certainly a good source to help in your decision.Seeing a few different examples would help maybe.Car shows,talking to different owner/builders,use Google or other search engines find all you can,hopefully you will find exactly what your looking for.In the end with dedication and perserverence,you can have the car of your dreams.Good Luck

[IndyCobra]

My web site walks you through these same questions step-by-step. It might give you some ideas. Every model has pros and cons and it really depends on what YOU want, not what someone tells you. BTW, Eljaro is correct. If you are not into building one, you can most certainly buy one for cheaper than it takes to build one.

My web site is Red Venom Cobra

[Jackalope]

Originally Posted by IndyCobra

My web site walks you through these same questions step-by-step. It might give you some ideas. Every model has pros and cons and it really depends on what YOU want, not what someone tells you. BTW, Eljaro is correct. If you are not into building one, you can most certainly buy one for cheaper than it takes to build one.

My web site is Red Venom Cobra

Thanks for the information IndyCobra, and thanks even more for your website. Tons of information there.

One thing I didn't quite get from your writeup though was your reasons for going with Lonestar rather than some of the larger manufacturers such as ERA, Unique, Kirkham, Superperformance, etc. I can certainly understand the need for the extra room, good customer service and so forth, but I didn't get a good feel for what you considered to be the pros and cons of each of them. In my case, resale will be a major consideration and I want to make sure I pick the kit that's recognized as a quality manufacturer. Certainly Lonestar appears to meet that criteria, but it's not as well recognized as the ones I've mentioned. Can you comment on that?

Thanks,
Jack

[Dwight]

I visited Lone Star and Unique before I bought my Lone Star back in 1999. I did buy from a dealer ( ? long story but not important at this time) in Tenn.
The Lone Star factory is as large as any, larger than most. They sell so many other kit and I don't think they push the Cobra kit as much as their others. They have a good product and are priced competitively.
I liked the interior tub, trunk tub and fender wells molded to the body. I consider this rain proof. My longest ride in the rain was last June returning from the London Cobra Show, 310 miles. Nothing in the trunk got wet. My windshield post did leak but beach towel handled that. Re sealed them last night so that might not be a problem anymore.
I like the longer interior (doors are 4" longer) more storage room behind the seat, slider on the seat so taller guys can drive my car with easy. I'm 5' 10" and fit in all Cobras.
The looks are close enough that "Most" people do not know the different in the body, even if I'm park in a roll of ten Cobras.
Resale?
What I noticed about resale of Cobras over the last 4 years is SPF sell faster and for more money than any of the others.
A guy that does not want to build his Cobra want a known quality. Something you can not be assured of from an unknown individual builder.
I have worked on a lot of Cobras (15-16). I have seen some amassing things. Sometime I wonder how someone has not been killed or how the car even runs.
I have bought a Cobra in 03 or 04 build poorly. I reworked (and repainted) to made it safe before I traded it for my 06 Mustang. I bought a finished Gt 40 last January (very long story). I have worked on it for 6 months and then let it sit while I compete other projects. I should be back on it next week with a vengeance.

My advice if you are going to buy used, take someone you trust, who has build several Cobras and let them look at the car before you pay.
I have a B&B in my shop now that had a couple of major problems. The car is well build, high quality but the front end needs replacing / redesigned and the drive shaft bolts where 7/16 but should have been 12mm. One was missing and the other three where very loose, two I removed with my fingers. The new owner picked the car up and drove it 600 miles home. The car is 9 years old and had two previous owners that I know of. I do not know who build the car. The other problems where just poor maintenance over a lot of years. Still a nice car.

I drive my Cobra a lot and fast if I can do it safely. Good brakes and better tires are more important than horsepower. These car a 1950-60's design and do not do that well in a wreck. We need to make them as safe as we can.
I will own a Cobra till the kids take my driver license away from me.

Happy motoring and see ya on the road.
Dwight

[vatdevil]

Find a local Cobra club and evaluate what cars they have, most owners are very helpful. There are clubs pretty much all over the country. IMHO, I would seriously consider a used car, especially Superformance.

[vatdevil]

I see your in Ohio, message me where and Ill get you in contact with one of the Ohio clubs.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by yakfish

I guess this is the best place to start as far as looking for information. I just came across this forum and there seems to be a lot of very good info here and some good people too.

I have always loved the shelby cobra ever since I saw an original sitting in a showroom for sale for more money than I could ever afford to spend on a car or even a house!

I have some questions before i get started on this. I am at the saving money stage and am still a coulpe years away from really getting going.
first, what are some good companies to consider getting a kit from? they can't all be good. Who has the best quality products, the best customer service, engineering, ect. I have heard about people getting a donor car for part like a wrecked mustang. What about running gear? I will be going with a manual gear box prefferably a 5 speed. are the big block ford engine very hard to fit under the hood or will a small block be a better option?
I have been looking at the factory five MKiv kit looks like a fairly resonable option. any reviews on this particular kit?

This will be slow project that I want to do right. so any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks

Tough question(s) need to be asked before a real response is warranted:

What is your budget like (add at least 10%)
What is your intended use (IE: 10% track car, drag racer, show car, street cruiser, drifter, auto cross, etc)
Do you want a 289FIA, slabside, or 427SC (427SC is the most popular)


Respond to the above if you really want a qualified response (we like spending other peoples money).

Finally......If you have the time,space, and skill set, building can be very rewarding. If you lack any and all three, buying a turn key might be a better plan.


Bill S.

PS: Welcome to Club Cobra.

[Don]

yakfish:

" ........and am still a coulpe years away from really getting going."

** Availability, models, options, etc and price when comparing the build vs purchase alternative.

PhotoPost Classifieds - Main Index - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

427 Cobra Country--Ford AC Cobra replica manufacturers SUPER-SITE

** You missed the Carlisle show this year, but since your a few years away, for next year

Carlisle Events - Collector Car, Bike, Truck, Import Shows and Auctions in Carlisle, PA

** The annual London show, this year on June 23/26

London Cobra Show - The Ohio Cobra Club

[yakfish]

Wow... thanks for all the replys. You have giving me alot to go thru already. London is less than an hour away from me so I will definently go check out their next show!

I want a car that is streetable that will be the primary use but I have a drag strip close to me as well so I would take it to run the 1/4 a few times in the summer as well just for kicks. there is also Mid ohio that is about 2 1/2 hours from here so I would like to go there at least once a year to run the road course. as far as engine size I'm not too sure about what to put in it yet but bigger is better!

Thanks

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by yakfish

as far as engine size I'm not too sure about what to put in it yet but bigger is better!

Thanks

If you plan to take it on a road course, bigger is not better.......Same goes for horsepower/torque. Keep in mind, that no matter what other cars you have ever driven, they are nothing like a Cobra, which if you do not learn it's characteristics slowly, can (will) try to kill you.


Bill S.

[Don]

Originally Posted by yakfish

but I have a drag strip close to me as well so I would take it to run the 1/4 a few times in the summer as well just for kicks. there is also Mid ohio that is about 2 1/2 hours from here so I would like to go there at least once a year to run the road course.

For either a buy or build, need to know the track safety requirements such as functional roll bar vs cosmetic, etc and inspection/tech check list.

[rodneym]

You started in the right place.

Make use of the Search function. It's ALL been covered many times before. Tons of info here. You could/should spends a couple weeks alone just reading up before anything and get answers to your basic questions.

This is a fun time believe it or not. Enjoy it!

[olddog]

Check out the information on the London car show. Friday night there is a gathering at the Quaker Steak and Lube (hope I got that name right) near Polaris. You can come by the Hotel and hang out in the parking lot. More people and time to talk to owners there than at London sometimes. Also the Auto-cross is fun to watch and time to talk with owners too. You will never have a better opportunity to compare so many makes setting side by side. Its like drinking out of a fire hose!

Oh yea. For a $10 donation to cystic fibrosis you can take a burnout ride ~ 1/8 mile.

For $20 ticket you might win the raffle car (Cobra).

You do not want to miss this!!!

[vatdevil]

Personally, I went to the London show for several years before buying. Learned a lot, talked to the manufacturers and other owners. Join the Ohio Cobra Club, it's free. And most of all, have fun in the decision making process.

[Dirty Harry]

If building it yourself is important to you, I totally understand. I wanted to do all my own, too. It was my first such project. Get a welder, grinder, drill press, hand drill, rivet gun and lots of assorted other tools. Get a couple car guys to take interest and check in once in a while. Do go to London weekend after next. Bring a lawn chair and spend the evening chatting with others who built their own. You'll be glad you did.

[mkassab]

Call Unique Motorcars.... Ask for Alan or Maurice. Read my build link @ Mark's Build - Unique Forums

Like the others said... it's your car..... your build..... so "pick" wisely. For me, Unique was a wise choice.

Mark

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

If building it yourself is important to you, I totally understand. I wanted to do all my own, too. It was my first such project. Get a welder, grinder, drill press, hand drill, rivet gun and lots of assorted other tools. Get a couple car guys to take interest and check in once in a while. Do go to London weekend after next. Bring a lawn chair and spend the evening chatting with others who built their own. You'll be glad you did.

I was concerned about the lack of welding skills before my build. Not sure about others but not needed with FFR.