78 Miles

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think the build job by ERA and my engine maker was absolutely top notch. BUT, it's taken me close to five years to get it to where I could even think about driving for, say, a couple of days straight without it breaking down.

I wonder why that is so commonly accepted in Cobra circles. If your car is some clunker kit assembled from rusty, greasy junkyard donor components, I can see that; but a top notch build from a top notch company with a top notch drivetrain?

The very simplicity of (most of) these cars alone should make them less prone to gremlins and the hand-built nature I would think should guarantee some measure of quality control. Our pushrod V8's and manual gearboxes are hardly new tech - the stuff's been around for generations. None of my old hi-po muscle cars were especially unreliable or prone to breakdowns.

My Cobra was a quality brand amateurishly assembled and neglected for years by the time I got it, and then I set about rebuilding it with new parts, wiring and components. It's had its issues as a result and I've learned as I went, but at this stage I expect my car to be reliable and driveable to a reasonable extent - given the heat, vibration and g-forces that come with the Cobra territory.

I would have the same expectation if I had purchased a high dollar turnkey with brand new components from big name suppliers. Yes/no?