The accolades for Unique products are true...very well engineered, quality fit, and in the years after you buy one, the factory has an annual "homecoming" weekend. Unique owners from all over the country come to the factory for this event and long-lasting friendships are formed. The Weaver family has a well deserved excellent reputation for customer service! Their forum is very user-friendly and fully open.
I, myself, am a fan of the Hurricane products, but I must admit that I am quite disappointed about one of their forum practices. While their product seems to be quite straight-forward to build, the forum has a "Dark Side" to which ONLY Hurricane owners are granted access. To me, this smacks of "We don't want the general public to know what kinds of problems they will encounter with our kits. so we'll keep that a secret until we have their money." Sorry, Hurricane....I've always championed your products, but I've always been quite honest about the "mistrust" that the "Dark Side" access issue creates. Hurricane does not, to my knowledge, make a 289 body model, although I do know that at one time they had a 289 project mule. That car used the same chassis as their 427 model, just a different body.
If you have the $$, you'd be wise to check out the ERA products. Great bodies, excellent reputation for reliability and longevity...but a fairly long wait was the norm in the past (although I have heard that they have managed to shorten the time somewhat). The ERA 289FIA would be my dream car if I could afford it.
The advice to buy an already completed replica should be given serious consideration. I am VERY happy with almost everything about the replica I bought used. I paid $18.5K and drove it home, got 25 miles per gallon on the highway, and have had only what I would consider "minimal" problems with it so far. However, you should keep in mind that NO component car is ever truly "finished"....for the previous owner or for you. They are like pre-owned houses, you'll find things you want to change about them as you are looking at them, and the previous owner will have made adaptations to make the car fit their idea of what it should be, not yours. Just a word to the wise, in case you think you'll be able to buy one and "drive it and forget it".
Cheers, Dugly
Threaded Mode
