Looking for Advice: First Cobra Kit Build

[Mr Jody]

I’ll second Dwight’s note on Unique. And with you being in the Atlanta area, you owe it to yourself (and your wife…and maybe your father-in-law, too) to make a day trip over to Gadsden, AL to check out their facility. With originality sounding like it's high on their list, they will appreciate a Unique. It is also one of the few that has an independent rear (Jag type) as standard equipment. A plus for your wife in originality, and for you in tracking. And the Weavers at Unique will work with you to give you what you want.

A somewhat local (McDonough) 427 FE engine builder is Southern Automotive. Or, if you and your wife want more of a hand in building your own, and a possibly less expensive option, you could use a 390 FE block with one of Barry Robotnick’s (Survival Motorsports) stroker kits to give you 445 cubic inches. The 390 blocks are easier to come by than 427s, but the power potential for you to play with is still there, and they will look the same in the end.

While I seem to be leaning in the direction of originality to keep your wife and her father happy, the Unique with one of these engines can give you all the best of both worlds….and be close to home if you want to drop in and check on progress, and an easy trip when it is ready to pick up.

Here are some links to the above, and a couple of magazine articles featuring Unique.

Unique Motorcars

Southern Automotive

Survival Motorsports Home Page

Unique Motorcars Kit Car Shop - Featured Vehicles - Kit Car Magazine

What Makes Unique Motorcars So Exceptional - Kit Car Magazine

[Bill E]

Everyone here has a car they are loyal to. And that is as it should be. I don't sale kits. We hand build all our cars here with the customer. That is why you don't see our stuff for sell every where. I pay a lot of attention to other cars so mine can be better. So I can offer a semi un bias opinion on the competition. This will offend some that is not my intention. Ther are no bad cars just bad builders. If you spend some time at the track, like we do you will see a pattern emerge. The FFR is the most prevalent car then Superformance. Then just a scattering of everyone else. For the money FFR is a good choice and the Hunter is good to. If money is tight. If you wont to level up the Kirkum and ERA are hard car to beet as a kit car. Then you have to decide how authentic looking do you wont the car to be. Both are very authentic the Kirkum is aluminum . If this is not as important to you as having a safer better handling easier to get in and out of car then you need to look at the extended wheelbase cars. JBL is at the top of that list in a new kit. If you can find a Classic Roster and tear it down and rebuild it. For the money spent and performance it beats all of the above. If you are going to track any of these cars then stroked 351 is a better choice than a big block. A lot of guys here can tell you why.