The future of Cobras and hobby kit cars?

[OnyxRider]

Now I'm depressed, lol old fart....lol

Dam well someone like me still knows Morse code, uses vinyl records when I can and still has old MacIntosh amps with tubes in them. Hell I still have some old Plush amps I stole from Beck when he use to drown out Rod Stewarts vocals. Someone has to know the analogue stuff, the new kids know little of it.

[4pipes]

I agree, digital can't move air.

[Silk]

I actually find NYG’s viewpoint in this context refreshing. I’m not sure I agree with everything he says, but a digital perspective on what’s largely an analog hobby/business makes good food for thought. The corporate world is seriously challenged today as it tries to figure out how to capitalize on social media and understand what makes Gen Xers and Millennials tick. Those that figure it out will prosper and those that don’t or refuse to will stagnate. Perhaps not a direct translation to the future of the Cobra/kit car industry, but certainly worth considering. Please carry on.

[OnyxRider]

Originally Posted by Silk

I actually find NYG’s viewpoint in this context refreshing. I’m not sure I agree with everything he says, but a digital perspective on what’s largely an analog hobby/business makes good food for thought. The corporate world is seriously challenged today as it tries to figure out how to capitalize on social media and understand what makes Gen Xers and Millennials tick. Those that figure it out will prosper and those that don’t or refuse to will stagnate. Perhaps not a direct translation to the future of the Cobra/kit car industry, but certainly worth considering. Please carry on.

I would like to know if Surface pro 3 Tablet/laptop is going to succeed.

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by OnyxRider

I would like to know if Surface pro 3 Tablet/laptop is going to succeed.

no. They make tablets.

Apple makes lifestyles.

[dallas_]

This thread has made me ponder what (if any) will be the collectable cars manufactured today?

What car of today will our kids desire enough to pay big dollars for when they are our age?

Certain Shelby Mustangs? Corvette Z 06's? GTR's?

Scarcity does not always equate to future value, but mass production certainly does not either.

I expect it partly depends on what is available in 30 or 40 years and there is no way to know that. If quality continues to improve as it has over our lifetimes the cars then should be fantastic.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

no. They make tablets.

Apple makes lifestyles.

That right there is funny.

[4pipes]

That right there IS funny.

[rodneym]

One of my salesmen has the 2nd GTR that came to CA (been a while now).
To this day kids follow him home and talk to him. We even get little crowds of kids at work that just want a close up view.
Personally, I dont see it with the GTR but all he talks about are missed opportunities with old Mustangs, Camaros, etc.
I keel telling him, if you want an opportunity, keep the GTR.

[NewYorkGuy]

The Run, is that Need for Speed? Never played Need for Speed. When I feel the urge to 'get away", I turn on my Playstation, sit in front of the 50" TV, put on my Dre Headphones, grab my steering wheel with paddle shift control and I am at Nurburgring, at Spa, wherever.

It's just better than sweating in a car with no roof, no AC, no radio, no cup holders, inhaling gas fumes and stuck in New York City traffic.

[Dominik]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

The Run, is that Need for Speed? Never played Need for Speed. When I feel the urge to 'get away", I turn on my Playstation, sit in front of the 50" TV, put on my Dre Headphones, grab my steering wheel with paddle shift control and I am at Nurburgring, at Spa, wherever.

It's just better than sweating in a car with no roof, no AC, no radio, no cup holders, inhaling gas fumes and stuck in New York City traffic.

Not quite the real racing, isn't it? :-)

I was 23 when I finished my first (Phoenix) Cobra. What a POS. The RAM in '93 was many times better.

I could have never built the first one if my dad had not given me the funds for the kit. Could have bought a new eco box (OPEL Corsa 1.2l) for the same money!

The future in the kit car industrs lies in financing. But who finances a kit, if 85% of them are unfinished? Complete cars have a better chance to get leasing or financing. We offer such for the GT40s we import into Germany. Leasing, Warranty and offer to buy them back after.

If you trade in expensive cars, on the level of Porsche, AUDI R8, Ferrari with a "Replica" you better offer comparable service.
I am generally of the opinion that Cobra "replicas" (you know what cars I mean) are way too expensive. But maybe only because I know what it costs to build them.

[buddyg]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

The Run, is that Need for Speed? Never played Need for Speed. When I feel the urge to 'get away", I turn on my Playstation, sit in front of the 50" TV, put on my Dre Headphones, grab my steering wheel with paddle shift control and I am at Nurburgring, at Spa, wherever.

It's just better than sweating in a car with no roof, no AC, no radio, no cup holders, inhaling gas fumes and stuck in New York City traffic.

Not even close to getting out on a track with a real car. If you haven't tried it you should it is totally addicting!

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by buddyg

Not even close to getting out on a track with a real car. If you haven't tried it you should it is totally addicting!

I was into F & F street racing in LA and Mexico.

Now I race online. Doesn't matter if u win by an inch or a mile, paypal is real money!

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

I was into F & F street racing in LA and Mexico.

Now I race online. Doesn't matter if u win by an inch or a mile, paypal is real money!

Interesting, you actually have losers sending money to winners via some sort of "honor system"?
That's funny, different internet speeds, cpu power and graphics cards makes for a playing field about as level as the grand canyon.

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Interesting, you actually have losers sending money to winners via some sort of "honor system"?
That's funny, different internet speeds, cpu power and graphics cards makes for a playing field about as level as the grand canyon.

Nice to know when I take a poop, someone is there to clean up.

best,
nyg

[AL427SBF]

I think I found your ride should you decide to take the plunge.

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

I think I found your ride should you decide to take the plunge.

Nice. For 2 years ago.

I'm getting a VR headset. Sorta like adding a supercharger to a tired engine.

[Mark Brye]

In another 20 years, I think performance cars will be AWD Electric with each individual tire turned by its own engine. I also think they will have triple the power of todays performance gas engines and be lighter and better balanced vehicles. IMO there will be a new breed of car enthusiasts.

[NewYorkGuy]

Originally Posted by Mark Brye

In another 20 years, I think performance cars will be AWD Electric with each individual tire turned by its own engine. I also think they will have triple the power of todays performance gas engines and be lighter and better balanced vehicles. IMO there will be a new breed of car enthusiasts.

The supercar makers, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, BMW, Audi, Tesla, are all in on electric power. F1 Racing has an electric racing series.

In 60 years, car enthusiasts at Barrett-Jackson auctions will say there is nothing on the road (assuming that cars are not flying yet) that drives and feels like a gasoline engine GTR, LFA, Z06, 911, R8. Maybe these cars will become the fiberglass, carbon fiber, alum kit cars of the future?

As for the Cobra, it has survived over 60 years in continuation, replica, kit car, fake, tribute, whatever u call it. 60 years is a long time and nothing human or man-made lives/lasts forever.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

nothing human or man-made lives/lasts forever.

Really? Tumulus Saint-Michel 4500BC and counting.....