The future of Cobras and hobby kit cars?

[OnyxRider]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

Yes, I am curious too. It must be a high end fake. That's like buying a fake Rolex when u already have a real Patek or Jaeger. The stigma is always present inside your mind and among your peers.

It's not a cobra...lol I'll explain later. When I get a chance I'll comment on Jamo's post. I'll just have to remember to bring the wine and Russian stuff when we take the gremlin, marlin, or pacer out. ooops I forgot we used the pacer some time ago for target practice.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

Yes, I am curious too. It must be a high end fake. That's like buying a fake Rolex when u already have a real Patek or Jaeger. The stigma is always present inside your mind and among your peers.

You use the words "fake" and "stigma" and I'm wondering if you really want a Cobra in your garage. If and when you do buy a Cobra, you may find the "Is it real?" question a bit traumatic.

[AL427SBF]

RodKnock, pay no mind, it's just a minor ruckus coming from the cheap bleacher seats

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

RodKnock, pay no mind, it's just a minor ruckus coming from the cheap bleacher seats

the best fans are in the bleacher seats. Apparently, u haven't gone to any NY Rangers or Knicks home games, or to Wrigley Field.

been to owner suites at Staples Center. Wasn't too impressed with the crowd or view, but the dessert carts were delicious!

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

the best fans are in the bleacher seats. Apparently, u haven't gone to any NY Rangers or Knicks home games, or to Wrigley Field.

been to owner suites at Staples Center. Wasn't too impressed with the crowd or view, but the dessert carts were delicious!

I'm sure you know that AL427SBF was using a metaphor that I think meant that owners of Cobra's and/or other hobby-type cars are bigger fans of the those cars than the folks who are just contemplating the purchase. The owners have already spoken with their pocket books. At least two sides to everything nowadays.

But, along the same lines, ClubCobra does get quite a few new members thinking about purchasing a Cobra each week/month/year, but some/many do eventually lose interest in Cobra's and purchase a Z06.

Probably the most famous of which was a few years ago and his CC moniker was "rsimoes." Of course, "rsimones" bought and built a Kirkham Cobra, with the whole nine yards (awesome build), for roughly $127,000 and then sold it a month or two later, after delivery, for roughly $88,000 because it was too "raw" for him.

[dallas_]

One other comment on the hobby aspect of the Cobra (meaning replicas).

I find that a large percentage of the attention that I get in mine is from kids of all ages.

There is just something timeless about the shape and sound of the car that transcends age. So maybe there is hope for the future popularity of this particular model of 'hobby kit car'.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by dallas_

I find that a large percentage of the attention that I get in mine is from kids of all ages.

I'm curious, do you find that most of the kids that you see will cry , if the see a SBF under the hood, as Patrick keeps suggesting over and over?

One of these days, I'm going to test the OP's theory. I've gotta find a "tuner" F&F (Fast & Furious)-type event though. There's a new monthly Cars & Coffee-type event just started in my area a couple months ago. While I haven't brought my Cobra out there yet, it's only a "rich old fart" type deal.

I'd still like to see how my polished aluminum Cobra w/BBF fairs against the likes of the new or newer Ferrari's, Porsche's, Viper's, Maserati's, Lambo's, etc. Will I get a 1st or 2nd look? Also, maybe the CC crowd will stop "giving me the business," or S, about not ever taking my Cobra outside the garage.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I'm sure you know that AL427SBF was using a metaphor ...

yup

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

the best fans are in the bleacher seats. Apparently, u haven't gone to any NY Rangers or Knicks home games, or to Wrigley Field.

been to owner suites at Staples Center. Wasn't too impressed with the crowd or view, but the dessert carts were delicious!

That's my point, you are a spectator in this sport, make as much noise as you like

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

That's my point, you are a spectator in this sport, make as much noise as you like

typical old guy response, very donald sterling.

Father Time doesn't stop for a Cobra

nyg

[Xack]

________

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

typical old guy response, very donald sterling.

Father Time doesn't stop for a Cobra

nyg

You seem to perseverate or have a preoccupation with the word "age." Do you have to be an old person to say that as a non-Cobra owner, you're a "spectator"? What's age have to do with the fact that you're speaking to Cobra owners, and you have never owned one. Money is the issue, not age.

My advice, free no less, is to lighten up with calling people old. One, it's just not nice, a form of bullying, and two, without knowing your age, you may be calling someone old, when, in fact, they're younger than you. And three, if you want people to take you seriously, respect you, then insulting them is not the proper course of action.

[Jamo]

THIS is Club cobra...damn good thread. I'm hoping the mfgs are reading this one.

It doesn't take much time with Leno to find out that car guys are car guys, no matter the economics or culture. Watch the hillclimb event the Top Gear boys had in the foothills of the Himalayas and you quickly realize that cars, like horses in bygone days, just draw folks together, and whenever two dudes end up on a road together, whether on horses or in cars, the shared question will be...who's fastest?

Fresno has a long long history with racing, hot rods and street machinery, and you see all the comments made here coming together. We are probably on par with New York or LA in terms of the various cultures that come together here...it's always been this way. But me thinks the folks in urban areas may have a limited view of what's going on in the heartland.

I have a special affinity for the Hmong folks that live here (I think we surpassed the Twin Cities in terms of their population) and have small farms...reminds me of Armenians coming from a broken homeland and taking stock and working hard. Their Christian center is right next door to us out here in the country, so I do indeed come across and hear their "hot rods" if you will. They are doing exactly what we did...making them look cool and go faster. Technology's a bit different, but the interest is the same. They "get" the Cobra...given a few rides and dusted off a few of the little Hondas and stuff just for fun out between the vineyards and orchards.

But out here, there is going to be a large group of folks that live and die with American iron. Farmers drive American pickups, and their employees do too. You can look under the hood of a farm labor contractor's pickup, adorned with all the goodies from aisle three at Pep Boys (the shiny mud flap chick, the bulldog hood thingy with the lighted eyes, the lightbars and window curtains along the interior ceiling, etc.), and find K&N air systems, headers, bigger carbs on the old stuff, etc. And they race as much as my dad and the boys did back in the 60s with their pickups "built up" by Boghosian and others. Hell, you'd better check that lowrider out before taking him on at the stoplight...just as easy setting up a nitrous system as it is hooking up a major sound system playing War and definitely easier than the hydraulics...those folks know their stuff. We've got some of the best 4WD builders in the country here...lots of early Broncos, Scouts and jeeps with nasty motors in them (still have my own 76 Bronco sitting out back waiting for some TLC). We even have a wicked local Meyers Manx with a blown Corvair hanging out back that will kick some major ass if you ask nicely. Then again, you can hear my friend Phil's F40 light up from his house a couple of blocks away when he takes it out for a little drive into the canyon...screaming louder than our hawks could ever hope to.

My rambling point is that I suspect the interest in cars is not going to go away soon out here in the outback, and the American V8s are always going to have a leading part. There be a mess of Cobras here in the middle of California/nowhere...cruizes always seem to involve 6 or seven different ones, and we do tend to have more than a little presence at the local car shows and gatherings, or carving through some sierra canyon road mixed in with bikes and sportscars.

Kids interested in Cobras...yup, and a few younger folks are building some kits right now with dads and friends, just like we used to do when hoping up dad's old pickup or putting together a dune buggy. SB100 is always going to be a draw for folks not wanting to deal with the expense and hassle of smog stuff...not sure that's promoted enough by the mfgs here in the important California market.

...back to work.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by Jamo

THIS is Club cobra...

Excellent post Jamo, right on the money imo.

[4pipes]

We're waiting.....................

[kevins2]

My 21 year old son bristles whenever I use the words "resale value" and "Cobra" together and reminds me that I'm never selling it - it is his when I'm done with it. So, there's one cobra replica that will be around for a while. He likes the tuners and exotics, but likes the cobra better.

I recently had paint protection film put on my car and the installer's 15 year old son had just gone for a ride in another customer's McLaren. So, I followed suit and gave him a ride in the cobra. On a return trip to his shop a couple weeks later, his Dad told me he still talks about the cobra ride and liked it better than the McLaren. So, what's been said about the appeal of these cars is absolutely true. Nothing like it.

[Jamo]

Hold on my friend, when did being old become an insult? I pride myself on being a miserable old SOB. Me thinks that folks that point out our advanced years are actually trying to excuse their own lack of assperience just like Justin Bieber when he pled "I'm just a kid!" to excuse his childish antics.

We may be getting so old that we may forget and end up loading our pants, but when we do remember to go, we at least know front to back is the bestest way.

...just sayin

[OnyxRider]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

I think the Cobra makers have done a poor job at marketing the car for younger buyers. I looked at the websites of JBL, ERA, SHell, Hurricane, Kirkham, FFR, BDR, SPE and they all suck. The websites feel and look old as the cars they are selling. Use social media sites! Young people are over these sites and they have money to spend! The cars need to be in movies, music videos, sporting events, video games. Celebrities need to be seen driving them, get arrested in them. The cars need a makeover, pimped out with modern comforts- auto trans, AC, Heat, Nav system, traction control, bigger wheels, and engine choice, whether it is a Chevy, Ford, Electric, turbo, etc. These cars can be hip again. History has proven that everything old is new. Sell/Market/promote Cobras like fashion accessories. Look at Apple tablets and Dr Dre headphones as examples. These two companies took old inventions, promoted them as the must have accessory and young people bought it!

Why don't you offer some detailed advice or ideas on improvements to website.

Thing is you can pimp out your cobra with all that stuff but isn't the main draw the rawness of a cobra? That authentic sound, the look....does anyone actually have an air conditioner in one? As far as the automatic is there one that would fit in a cobra similar to the high end ones. Those dual transmissions ..one taking care of the even gears and the other the odd gears.

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I'm quoting myself so I don't pass along bad info.

There were five (5) 1963 Grand Sport Corvettes. Two (2) of them were roadsters.

002 is at my friends place in Philly. Has a duplicate body and engine too.

Originally Posted by Jamo

Hold on my friend, when did being old become an insult? I pride myself on being a miserable old SOB. Me thinks that folks that point out our advanced years are actually trying to excuse their own lack of assperience just like Justin Bieber when he pled "I'm just a kid!" to excuse his childish antics.

We may be getting so old that we may forget and end up loading our pants, but when we do remember to go, we at least know front to back is the bestest way.

...just sayin

You know I was describing a movie "Bingo Long and the Traveling All Stars... and the response I received was Oh that old movie!

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by OnyxRider

Why don't you offer some detailed advice or ideas on improvements to website.

Thing is you can pimp out your cobra with all that stuff but isn't the main draw the rawness of a cobra? That authentic sound, the look....does anyone actually have an air conditioner in one? As far as the automatic is there one that would fit in a cobra similar to the high end ones. Those dual transmissions ..one taking care of the even gears and the other the odd gears.

more video, audio, better scanned pictures. Add 3-D build graphics so the buyer can see how the car will look. Checkout the corvette stingray website. That is an excellent website design.

I think Vintage is the only Cobra maker that shows High Def videos of their new build cars on the road and it is exciting to see and hear the noises these cars make.

[NewYorkGuy]

If any makers/dealers want to share their opinions about the future of Cobra replicas, please chime in.