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CSX4000/6000 Vs. Superformance/ERA/Kirkham
Still on the hunt for the right Cobra. Had my mind set on a Superformance, but then of course questioned my better judgment and thought maybe a CSX car may be a better investment. Then I heard that some of the CSX cars are built in Mexico. Are there quality issues with the CSX cars? Are they a better investment than a replica such as Superformance, ERA or Kirkham? Need a little help with all this from you folks out there on Club Cobra.:confused:
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Although I am not a fan of ol' Shel, himself, I do know that there are an incredible number of people who think he can do no wrong.
To that end, there will also be an incredible number of people to whom the CSX serial number will mean something...and that something may well translate into additional $$ at resale time. IMHO, the ERA kits are the gold standard in our industry, not the Shelby products. I have seen one up close, it has some very nice features (one of which I particularly like is the way in which they finished off the cutout for the headers at the bottom of the front fender), but in the end it is just another replica in my eyes, even if it does carry the Shelby name (that doesn't mean he necessarily has ANYTHING to do with the production of the cars, other than perhaps selling someone the right to use his name). You're wise to do some research....good luck in making your decision! Cheers, Dugly :cool: |
Some fiberglass CSX cars were built by HST International in Mexico, but they went out of business about a year ago. Some builders (Becker, Denbeste) considered the HST cars to be of higher quality, although I don't think a mere mortal could tell the difference from a HiTech car.
HST built a handful or two of carbon fiber cars. Mine is one. |
If you are looking at aluminum Kirkham and Shelby are the only game. The Shelby aluminum cars are manufactured by Kirkham but, just like HiTech and CSX and SPF, there are no interchangeable parts. Both are different and unique and have their own pluses and minuses. Shelby does still make a rolled aluminum roller that starts life in England but they are at the very top end of the pecking order and the price shows it.
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If you are looking at a Cobra replica as an investment, you are going to be disappointed. These cars are for personal enjoyment and should be treated as such. All of the manufacturers you listed have good things and not so good things about them. You need to decide what is important to YOU. Make a list of what you want and expect from a high end toy like this. Then see which of the manufacturers most closely meets that list.
Personally I am on my second Superformance car and could not be happier BUT that does not mean they are the BEST solution. Superformance quality and reliability are awesome if the car is prepared properly. In my opinion, the builder/assembler is more important than the manufacturer. I used Olthoff Racing for both of my cars and they created a top notch product for me. Superformance was the car for me after careful analysis of what I wanted out of my Cobra. Good luck in your search, that is half the fun! |
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Everyone here on ClubCobra has an opinion about which is best, but each manufacturer that you mentioned is a great car. They're just different in many ways, which is where the research button comes in handy. |
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Bill S. |
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Bill S. |
As eveyone else has said, you need to buy the car that fits you and your style. Some of the 60" wheelbase cars won't work for tall people, so you need to look at what else is available. What extras do you want? Look on Cobracountry, there are a lot of different makes on this web site. I bought a Backdraft after looking at SPF and some others. Why did I buy a Backdraft? one reason was because I could not fit in the other cars. the BD has a 62" wheelbase and the price for what you get was great it also sits on BMW suspension which is easy to replace if needed. Look at all the cars and drive as many as you can to see which one feels right for you. Good Luck:D
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90" .... 92"
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Again, I think they're all great. Some are more (and less) accurate to the original. We all love what we bought. |
I have driven all and they are all fine. In my opinion the spf is the best driver, easy to get in and out of, they have opened it up a bit more than the others to allow for the bigger driver, of course the kirkham is a piece if art, and the era looks awesome and drives just as good.
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I would agree with those that suggest NOT to buy one of these cars as an investment. That said, I think you would do OK investment-wise with any well-bought example. Of course, what that means is up for debate.
I will say that I think you would generally have a better chance at retaining value with the upper end cars (Kirkham, CSX)...fewer out there, and perhaps fewer buyers...but the buyers in that range typically have more disposable income, and will be willing and able to pay for what they want. I think your most valuable asset is patience. OK, money first, then patience. But patience is a virtue, especially when shopping. Take your time, and get a feeling for the market before making any firm decisions. Just my opinion, and probably worth what you paid for it. |
The CSX, SPF, and Kirkham cars are built in a semi-factory environment, so you do have a quality control system that ensures a certain level of build quality.
The majority of ERA's were built in someones garage, and the quality can be either outstanding, or crap. The first ERA I looked at for sale was from the lower end of the quality spectrum. It was truely a POS, and I would not have felt comfortable driving it 5 miles. Now with that said, I don't believe you will run into that many ERA's in that condition, but they do exist. |
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