The History of the Red Headed Mistress

[Thor maine]

My Contemporary is from 1980, Contemporary, ERA, Artnz/Butler are the best of that (or any)era.

[Grubby]

How long before the really early ERAs become collectable?

I had 178 and now 755. ERA has made impressive improvements.

John

[750hp]

Originally Posted by Grubby

How long before the really early ERAs become collectable?

John, I think they already are. Any vehicle that you can own for 5, 10 or 15 years and that is worth than you paid for it seems at least an acceptable investment. Certainly better than a new can dropping 30% value as you drive away from the dealership!

[lamaluv]

John I think that I agree with Craig. Of course I am a little prejudiced. The new ERA cars are great and are better engineered than the original Cobras. The first four ERA cars were all EXP designated as they were all "prototypes or experimentals " according to Peter. Bob did all the welding himself on them. This alone makes these 4 cars unique among the ERA cars.

[DanEC]

I have a brochure from ERA that I believe I ordered in 1980 - apparently one of their very first ones. It consisted of a letter, a price list, an ERA business card, three sheets of black and white photos of an 427SC ERA and one color photo of it (red). It has street roadster dash, grill splitter and sunbrust wheels. It has an FE with dual quads and aluminum valve covers and air cleaner. It's marked 92580 which I believe was Sept 25, 1980 and aligns with my memory of receiving it.

I wonder which car is pictured in the photos - EXP001?

[lamaluv]

Dan if you go to the ERA web site and click on the 427 picture then page down to Customer image gallery and click there it will take you to "see the ERA427" then in the upper left corners see a small picture of Car #1. Click on it and you will see a good picture of EXP001. It sure looks like the car that you describe in your brochure.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by lamaluv

Dan if you go to the ERA web site and click on the 427 picture then page down to Customer image gallery and click there it will take you to "see the ERA427" then in the upper left corners see a small picture of Car #1. Click on it and you will see a good picture of EXP001. It sure looks like the car that you describe in your brochure.

Yes - that looks to be the same car in the 1980s literature. I don't think I realized at the time I ordered that material that ERA was so new in the Cobra replica market. But I think I had already read some magazine articles that were very positive about the car. Who knows - maybe Peter and Bob were changing the paint on Car #1 every few weeks like Caroll Shelby - trying to give the impression they had more cars on the road than they really did.

By the way, I enjoyed reading your history on car no. 2.

Dan