Central Texas Ride
 

I have been spending a lot of time researching this great site and have narrowed down my search to either Superformance or Backdraft. I cannot find anything for sale in the Austin, TX area and was wondering if anyone would be willing to allow me to ride in theirs as I have yet to go for a drive in one!

I have an Aston Martin Vantage that I will gladly return the favor in and feel the cobra will compliment it nicely!

Thanks,
EBruce

No, that's a contrast, not a compliment. (wink)

I had a '05 SL600 prior to building my cobra, and nothing can be more different than a +100k refined (this may be a little bit of a stretch) European supercar and a nasty, smelly, loud and obnoxious Cobra. I hope you do find someone to at least give you a ride so you can make sure it is for you.

Otherwise, welcome aboard!

I will be visiting my daughter in Austin in September and will be driving the Cobra up. It is not a high-powered model, has the stock drivetrain out of a 1989 Mustang GT, but if you just want to feel the wind in your hair and listen to the sidepipes I'll be glad to give you the ride.

It is a daily driver and looks the part right now, complete with all the warts that goes with driving it in TX...particularly after having the headlight bucket broken out the front of the fender by flying tire fragments when I had a blowout on the freeway in Houston.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...s/101_3435.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...s/101_3432.jpg

Contact me via PM for my phone number, please.

Cheers!

Dugly :cool:

Luce-Thanks for the comments. I can assure you growing up in Detroit with a dad who got me on the car kick with a DeTomaso Pantera GTS that used to set off car alarms that I am used to and enjoy obnoxious cars!!

I can assure you that my Aston drives and sounds very unlike your SL600....take a listen! It is not a pipe smoking and slipper wearing Aston!

Mean Aston Martin Vantage explodes to life - YouTube

In my personal opinion the Cobra and Vantage are two of the most beautiful cars ever penned. I feel the Cobra with its raw power, nasty smells and convertible will compliment and contrast with the Aston nicely....Dr Jeckel and Mrs Hyde!

Dugly, nice Cobra. I would love to take you up on the offer. I am not one for garage queens and can appreciate the fact that yours is a driver!

Not sure if I can PM yet with only 2 posts by will try!

EBruce,

I have also been doing a lot of research on this site and am in your same position. It is difficult to find a Cobra to ride in, much less drive. I am also looking at Backdraft.

I am heading to Vegas next weekend to rent a Cobra for the day. Although it is a low horsepower (250) Cobra and I am not sure of the builder, I fugured this was the best way to determine if the Cobra is right for me (and my wife). I believe it is the only rental Cobra in the U.S. It is a good excuse to head to Vegas for a long weekend.

Robert

Here is a link in case you are interested:

Exotic Car Rental Las Vegas

Guys, there are huge numbers of Cobras in the Austin/DFW area...in fact, so many that if you post your search for a ride on the TCC forum, I bet you'd be inundated with offers (not that I am not willing...got your PM, EBruce, you have a reply :) )

Here's a link to the Texas Cobra Club forum:

Texas Cobra Club - Club Cobra

Be sure to take time to go to the Spring Fling down in the San Marcos area...well over 100 Cobras the time I was there. In addition, the club is active in providing support for Wounded Vets, IIRC there was enough donated to build a Cobra replica for a fund-raising effort (there was an accident in which the body was damaged, burned IIRC, but I think that was sorted, too...not sure if the project is completed).

Anyway, TX is full of Cobraphiles....and we're a pretty friendly bunch down here, always ready to share the joy with "new meat"...LOL!

Cheers! See ya, EBruce!

Dugly :cool:

Thanks Dugly.

I have been checking the Texas Club forum. I have been hoping to meet up with some of the members but have been missing them. I went to Cars and Coffee in July and then realized that all of the members had a breakfast planned that morning. I was wondering why I didn't see any Cobras and subsequently saw the posting about the breakfast.

I'll be in Europe during fall get together. I got excited to see that some members were going to the opening of Johnny Rocket's here in the Dallas area only to realize that I'm in Vegas that day. Things just haven't been working out for me. I'm sure I'll meet some of the folks soon.

I figure the best thing, though, is to rent one and drive it for a day. I don't think anybody is willing to let me drive theirs ;)

You're right...and 250 horsepower is probably right in line with what mine sports. I believe it is a box-stock 5.0HO from a 1989 Mustang GT, converted to carb and running the exhaust through headers and sidepipes. Considering the 5.0 had 225 horsepower to begin with, the intake manifold/carb/header system ought to add another 25, so I figure 250 for mine.

You won't be disappointed with 250 horsepower...in fact, I can attest to the fact that friends who have big block Cobras have a much harder time getting off the line than I do, so I watch them burn rubber in my rear view mirrors while I am grinnin' and gittin' it! Of course, once they hook up they will blow by me, but I'm past the finish line for the 1/8 mile by then, so I'm off the throttle and on the brakes. Sure, mine won't smoke the tires if I floor it at 60 MPH on the highway, but that's not what I want to do, anyway. I drive mine as a daily driver and except for a tricky problem with a headlight issue my car is as reliable and docile as the Mustang GT from which the drivetrain was plucked.

IIRC Keith Craft has a shop in Plano...ought to be near you. They set the ride height on mine...before I bought it....installed the roll bar, too. You might get a ride there, or maybe get to drive one. If we were to meet, I'd do the burnouts for you, but would not mind letting you drive as I rode along. I really believe mine is pretty indestructible...but they can be tricky to drive, as I said they switch ends VERY easily and I am often left wondering how it happened. They don't drift very well....damnit %/ !!

If you get down toward Huntsville or Houston, send me a PM and I'll be able to meet up with you.....even as far south as Galveston, Wharton or Victoria would be OK.

Cheers!

Dugly :cool:

EBruce,
Where are you located? We have quite a few Cobras around Austin. I'm in Creedmoor southeast of Austin, but we have guys all over the area. We haven't been doing much because of the heat, but I'm up for a ride if you are around here. PM me if you are interested. I can also give you some other Austin Cobra Club members in other parts of the area. The only Backdraft I know of around here is back at Vintage for some work. Not sure if it has come home yet.
I have done a few things to my car lately and it could use some miles to be sure everything works the way I think it will.

RLS

I have a BDR in Lewisville. It's currently in the shop getting new mufflers welded into the sidepipes. I probably won't have it back till later next week. I would happy to give you a ride. But only my son and I are allowed to drive it (wife's) rules :D

Dubgly, thanks for the offer. Yeah...I figure 250hp is enough for me to get the experience while keeping me out of trouble. I didn't know Keith Craft had a shop here. I'll have to check them out.

GLS, I would love to come check out your Backdraft and talk you about it. I will PM you when I get back from Vegas. We are going over Labor Day weekend. Thanks!

This is a great idea.....would be amazing if we had this close by. There are a couple of exotic rentals, but they dont have a cobra. Perhaps I should make the recommendation. Its a great Texas car!

Seagull-
Thanks for the message, I just sent you a PM. I am always looking for an excuse to go for a drive....perhaps tomorrow?

Erik,
Sorry we didn't hook up. I was out for a long drive today. Up to Round Rock and back. What part of town are you located? It was really hot and the traffic in downtown was Hell, as usual. Creeping along all the way through town. I was totally soaked by the time I got home. So you didn't miss much. Go here and join and the group. This is where we line up what the Austin Cobra Club is doing. You don't have to have a Cobra to join in. Just the love of these cars.
Austincobraclub : Austin Cobra Club
Almost all our cruises have empty seats available for folks to ride along. Post up on the Group if you want to join in and ride along. I sent you a PM with my phone number.

LOL!!!

No sir, that is not the smoking jacket car where the owner is not allowed in the front seat that I was thinking of. I guess I was thinking DB9. Nice car, though not as nasty as straight through 3" side pipes. Sounds like some real fun rowing through the gears.

If I could get it with a stick AND a clutch pedal, I might still have the SL. There's something special about 725 ft lbs (Renntech) of torque from 1200-5600 RPM straining your neck without downshifting.

Hi Steve-
I am up by the 360 bridge. Wife and child are up in Michigan for the weekend so let me know if you want to take the cars out for a run!

I will join that club as well!
Thanks!

I sent Tom an email and he should be contacting you. He is really near you. I might be able to go for a ride this weekend. I'm not sure if I am headed to Fredricksberg to help a friend with a GT40. That might be on Monday. Give me a call.

Will do! Thanks for sending him the note.

What a great car to work on. My dream car is still the Ford GT....only issue is prices keep going the wrong way. Cant think of another modern classic in that price range that keeps going up......