Why do people sell their Cobra?

[philminotti]

I was perusing Cobra Country's website last night, not because I'm buying but because I had nothing better to do...

There is an amazing array of Cobras for sale over there...and some one of a kind machines as well. I saw an ERA with a pristine cammer in it, the only aluminum bodied Superformance in existence, a carbon fiber Exact, several Kirkhams and all manners of FF's, Midstates, Backdrafts et al, many with original sideoilers or well built FEs of all sizes. Like I said, some really unique stuff.

Other than the builder who does what he does, that is builds and sells, why do people get rid of what should be their dream car? Is the idea of a Cobra ultimately more attractive than actually owning and driving one? The economy? Just curious.

phil

[RodKnock]

I think "the survey says":

1. I need the money right now.
2. Whoa, that's not the car I wanted or intended to buy, but that Corvette sure is nice.
3. I'm bored.

[G.R.]

Personally speaking, I sold my 289 FIA after moving from Washington back to Colorado for several reasons. Among them, out here there are no tracks in which to put the car through it's paces any where close to me as opposed to living in the Puget Sound region where there were 3 tracks within 45 minutes max. of my home. Here it is almost a 2 1/2 hour min. trip to the closest track that holds open track events. Driving in the mountains here is not really conducive to Weber inducted high performance engines either because of the altitude changes encountered. Webers are touchy.
The cruising season is short when driving a roadster here, even with the joke of top on, unless you like freezing your butt off
I'm getting older and the car was uncomfortable to drive long distances and most of my friends here are not Cobra owners, more into hot rods and muscle cars, so doing a Cobra cruise like we did in Washington was out. Yeah, there are Cobra owners here but those who are really active and do things are all in the Denver/Colo Springs area at min an hours drive south from my home.
I sold my Cobra but not a day goes buy when I wish I hadn't...until reality sets in...I did not want a "garage Queen" that only got driven on warm summer Sundays and I manged to sell it for a lot more than I had invested.

[mreid]

I'll give you another reason. Many people build one and get the bug to build. For years I was a 2/3 build, 1/3 drive. I would build one and drive it for a year or two and then get the urge to build another. All of this working towards my dream originally to own a CSX, but then modified to own a Kirkham. Today, I'm much more about the drive, but still enjoy tinkering and upgrading.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by mreid

I'll give you another reason. Many people build one and get the bug to build.

That's covered under "bored."

[philminotti]

Good answers, all.
I can't help but wonder however, that after spending the better part of five years building my engine from the block up and finally arriving at the point financially that I can make my dream come true, that I'll lose interest or worse, never enjoy the car in the first place. I can't imagine that happening though...

[RON N BKFLD]

We sold the Kirkhams in order to pay off our mortgage. We are now debt free & saved about $60.000. of future interest. Tough decision, but I'm not sorry. Don't feel sorry for me as I still have have a pretty nice 70 SS 454 Chevelle for street & Bondurant Mustang for track.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

That's covered under "bored."

How about "wife made me sell it"? Which category is PW'ed under?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by mreid

How about "wife made me sell it"? Which category is PW'ed under?

PW comes under #2. "I" is a plurality and encompasses "my wife (or ex-wife) is making me do it."

[lovehamr]

I imagine for some it's because once they get it they finally see what it can actually do and it scares the living piss out of them. Then they go buy a vette. You know, for weather protection.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by philminotti

I was perusing Cobra Country's website last night, not because I'm buying but because I had nothing better to do...

There is an amazing array of Cobras for sale over there...and some one of a kind machines as well. I saw an ERA with a pristine cammer in it, the only aluminum bodied Superformance in existence, a carbon fiber Exact, several Kirkhams and all manners of FF's, Midstates, Backdrafts et al, many with original sideoilers or well built FEs of all sizes. Like I said, some really unique stuff.

Other than the builder who does what he does, that is builds and sells, why do people get rid of what should be their dream car? Is the idea of a Cobra ultimately more attractive than actually owning and driving one? The economy? Just curious.

phil

Phil,

As someone who has bought and sold his fair share of Cobra replicas I can tell you some of the top ones I have run in to:

1: They need the money to pay off debts
2: They need the garage space for other projects
3: They purchased and got in over their head, the car now scares them or they thought it would be a more practical car like a late model Corvette
4: Divorce (more times than you would think)
5: (usually mine) Boredom (nothing let to tinker with, usually a great thing for the next owner as all the bugs are worked out). Also as Mark R stated, the seller enjoy the build/tinkering.
6: Kids in school/college (again, happens more than you would think)
7: (another of mine) The grass is always greener syndrome (IE: There is another collector car out there I want more than my current Cobra)
8: Wife does not like the car and won't ride in it
9: Owner had a near miss and wet his/her pants and will never get in it again
10: Wife burned her leg on the side pipe and threaten to leave you the owner unless you sell the car (again, I've bought three cobra replicas due to this very reason).

Each one of us who sells a car (any car) has a reason for it, some times the situation changes and the car is a must sell, some times it is a want to sell situation.

Hope this answers some of your question.

Bill S.

[lovehamr]

I think PW'ed falls into the "testically subdued" category.

[RodKnock]

BTW, all (or nearly all) of Mr. Mustang's reasons are covered under my three reasons: Need money, not what I (or my wife) expected or boredom.

[fordracing65]

Im selling mine, have another project on the way.

[RET_COP]

How about "Old Age" sad to say, and this is a forced event that we can all see coming. I believe and hope , but not looking forward to, that I have to sell my Cobra because of this [not something that will derail me sooner]. At 53 I hope I have 15 quality years left where I WANT and CAN drive it. I have to push the thought out of my mind.
Can anyone with experience chime in on this.
Lou

[Bill Hughes]

When I got mine on the road, after 5 years to build it did scare the crap out of me.

I have two bad knees, a mild case of MS, but I will never sell mine. I'll turn it into a planter first.

[Ant]

I think people find that they look good sound good etc, downside is road driving they aren't great and this can depends on how the driving position is optimized. There are much nicer cars to drive available but they are not a cobra and don't have that appeal.
Regarding racing a lot of cobra enthusiasts think first time up they are going to play merry hell at the racetrack with all the hp etc and fall flat on their faces, these cars can take a lot of work and development to get doing good lap times. I guess thats par for the course for any car speed costs.
I am on my fourth cobra and have unfortunately sold previous cars and am now finding it harder to complete my current and last build.

TO ME THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN SEEING A COBRA CRUISING DOWN THE ROAD, THAT SILHOUETTE IS SOMETHING ELSE.

[c6ae]

I have built several cars through the years and am old enough now to realize that quiet and smooth running are a big part of enjoying the car.
A moderate cam, under car exhaust, insulation under the floormats etc all contribute to make an enjoyable ride for me.
That's not to say my car is "quiet" my wife can hear me coming home about a mile away. The noise just goes out the back of the car and I don't hear it so much...

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by RET_COP

How about "Old Age" sad to say, and this is a forced event that we can all see coming. I believe and hope , but not looking forward to, that I have to sell my Cobra because of this [not something that will derail me sooner]. At 53 I hope I have 15 quality years left where I WANT and CAN drive it. I have to push the thought out of my mind.
Can anyone with experience chime in on this.
Lou

Personally, at 61-1/2 I'm hoping for more than 6 or 7 more fun years enjoying my cars. Those are going to go by too quick. But I think I do fit in with the group that probably gets more enjoyment out of the build and repair side than just driving.

[REAL 1]

I'm sure some build and then want to sell because they accomplished what they set out to do. Build it.

From a perspective of someone that is not a builder my read on it is that most sell because they "think they wanted a Cobra" because of it's iconic status and performance. Many who buy are not really into Shelby's or the history of the Cobra, Carroll Shelby and Shelby American i.e. not true Cobrafiles/Shelby fans.

They buy the car, find out it is hot, uncomfortable, loud, smells of exhaust, requires regular mechanical attention, wife/girlfriend doesn't like it and it's a 1/2 hr to 1 hour car at best before most want to stop and get out.

In short it's not in their blood and they would now rather sell and buy something more civilized and practical with great performance such as Z06, Viper etc.... In most cases it's alot of money to have tied up on a car with limited use, practicality and narrow marketabilty.

I have owned my Shelby for 12 years now. She's officially an old girl. It's half way to being a "antique" in N.J. as far as license plates are concerned.

It's still loud, raw, hot, smells of exhuast and it's always "something". My wife still hates it. I'm am now in the process of rebuilding both carbs and constantly tinkering..but.. I still love it as much as the day it arrived from Shelby. I guess it's in my blood.