Need purchasing advice

[ERA427]

For $25k,

You’d be limited to buying a used car. But that’s not bad since few of these cobras have over 20K miles on them. Building a new one is usually more money than buying a slightly used one that someone already built for you.

For $25k, the only brand that usually comes up in the 20s, used, would be a FFR, and likely would not have a period correct motor – it would probably have Mustang based 5.0FI. ERA, Backdraft, Superformance, Kirkham, and Shelby are usually much more.

There are some trends within the brands:

Shelby’s – very expensive with new Shelby American aluminum 427s (aluminum or fiberglass body). Priced over 100k used.

Kirkham – very exotic and beautiful, but not really authentic as far as a 60s cobra. They usually have polished aluminum bodies with no paint, and exotic new Shelby motors. Price at over 80K for used.

ERA – Very authentic and usually have period correct motors (427 side oilers and 428FE) Fit and finish look perfect inside and out. ERA lets the buyers customize many of the details you can’t see because their customer use the cars for different thing. You can choose upgraded racing brakes, cooling, components, stainless pipes, anti sway bars, rear end, etc. They are build to order and the owners tend to be pretty picky about authenticity. They production volume on ERA is lower than Superformance and FFR. ERA used prices tend to be 50-70k.

Superformance – Very authentic and consistent on the outside but the engines are all over the map. Because Superformance only builds rollers, there are very few options, which is good and bad. The body and interiors are nice, but they all come pretty much the same. Many of their customers put 351W motors in them, mostly souped up considerably. And some have authentic 427s or even new Shelby 247s. However, my research indicates that ERA supplies a better engineered car with greater attention to details and the individual customer requirements. The ERA site has masses of information about their cars and how they differ from the competitors. This is what I have. Yes, I’m bias. There I said it. Superformance used prices tend to be 45-65k.

Backdraft and Shell Valley I don’t know much about these but it appears that they are nice but the builders don’t tend to care much about authenticity. Many of them have bizarre interiors with modern seats, dash etc, and strange roll bars, that for me, ruins any sense of authenticity. I’d at least like for a passer buy to briefly question if my cobra is real, but these brands usually have a dead giveaway. Prices tend to be 40-60k used

FFR –These are all over the map. Many have sloppy looking, or just plain bizarre interiors, seats, and the engine bays usually look all wrong. They rarely have a period correct motor, real knock off wheels, etc. and the subtle details just look off. Many people added modern looking 17 inch rims, strange rollbars, etc. I’d give these lower marks on fit and finish, strange colors, etc. I am generalizing. Some look perfect but some of them don’t “sit” right. If you spend some time on cobracountry.com, looking at all the for sale listings, you’ll see these trends. However, there are many nice FFRs out there and they are fine performers, and importantly are more affordable. I would avoid buying one that is build off a mustang donor car if you can. Prices tend to be 25-45k used.

I’m sure I must have opened up a firestorm on this one.


I would highly suggest trying to drive two different brands. Try to forget about the motor and pay attention to how the rest of the car rides.


BTW that ebay with 427 center oiler (not nearly as desirable as a side oiler), appears to be a very good deal. But the interior looks kind of cheaply done and the engine bay looks so so. Good deal for someone though. But I would never buy a used car of ebay without seeing it. Especially a kit!