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!
Maroon 5 is a start. Put them with bigger younger stars and power. Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Miley Cyrus
I've seen Ironman and the Kirkham wasnt the hero car. It was the Audi.
IMO, Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5, is on a successful TV show called "The Voice" and appeals to a younger audience just like the others you listed. At any rate, there are alot of exotic cars available to the music & video industry, and every video doesn't feature a car.
As for the "hero car" in Ironman, I don't think the consolidated marketing budgets of FFR, BDR, KMP, CSX, SPF and ERA is even a fraction of the marketing budget of VW/Audi/Porsche. That's why the Audi is the "hero car" in alot of today's movies.
And one more movie, "Fast 5," used both a Mongoose '63 Grand Sport replica and a RCR GT40 replica, both considered "hobby cars."
IMO, Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5, is on a successful TV show called "The Voice" and appeals to a younger audience just like the others you listed. At any rate, there are alot of exotic cars available to the music & video industry, and every video doesn't feature a car.
As for the "hero car" in Ironman, I don't think the consolidated marketing budgets of FFR, BDR, KMP, CSX, SPF and ERA is even a fraction of the marketing budget of VW/Audi/Porsche. That's why the Audi is the "hero car" in alot of today's movies.
And one more movie, "Fast 5," used both a Mongoose '63 Grand Sport replica and a RCR GT40 replica, both considered "hobby cars."
Audi is a real production car and company. These Cobras are fakes and recreated all over the world.
In Fast 5, the cars were supposed to represent the real cars. That's why they were stealing them. I missed the scene where Dom tell Brian, "Hey, those are kit cars. Be careful."
Audi is a real production car and company. These Cobras are fakes and recreated all over the world.
In Fast 5, the cars were supposed to represent the real cars. That's why they were stealing them. I missed the scene where Dom tell Brian, "Hey, those are kit cars. Be careful."
You're missing my point(s) or I'm not making them clearly enough.
Of course, Audi is a real production car company. And they have a massive budget too. The Cobra and other hobby car companies do not have a large budget. They simply don't make a lot of money. Audi pays for product placement, because they can afford to. ERA, FFR, RCR, SPF, KMP, CSX, etc. just can't play in the same marketing environment as Audi. That's why they're not in more videos and movies. For the same reason, their websites aren't spectacular like a real production car company.
Further, you said Audi is the "hero car" in Ironman. I agree. You said Cobra's (and hobby kit cars) should be featured in more videos and movies. I showed that they have been in some videos and movies. Bottom line is that if you see a car in a movie, say like an Audi, or a hobby car like RCR or Mongoose, the consumer might go out and purchase one. The consumer knows it's not a real authentic GT40 that is worth a $1MM. It doesn't matter what they represent. The idea is that they may purchase one because they like it, it may be affordable, and thus they'll investigate owning one.
When the audience is watching Fast & Furious and it features an old car, do you think the audience thinks it's a genuine priceless '63 Grand Sport where GM only made 6 (might be less, not sure) they're smashing up?
When the audience is watching Fast & Furious and it features an old car, do you think the audience thinks it's a genuine priceless '63 Grand Sport where GM only made 6 (might be less, not sure) they're smashing up?
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.
You're missing my point(s) or I'm not making them clearly enough.
Of course, Audi is a real production car company. And they have a massive budget too. The Cobra and other hobby car companies do not have a large budget. They simply don't make a lot of money. Audi pays for product placement, because they can afford to. ERA, FFR, RCR, SPF, KMP, CSX, etc. just can't play in the same marketing environment as Audi. That's why they're not in more videos and movies. For the same reason, their websites aren't spectacular like a real production car company.
Further, you said Audi is the "hero car" in Ironman. I agree. You said Cobra's (and hobby kit cars) should be featured in more videos and movies. I showed that they have been in some videos and movies. Bottom line is that if you see a car in a movie, say like an Audi, or a hobby car like RCR or Mongoose, the consumer might go out and purchase one. The consumer knows it's not a real authentic GT40 that is worth a $1MM. It doesn't matter what they represent. The idea is that they may purchase one because they like it, it may be affordable, and thus they'll investigate owning one.
When the audience is watching Fast & Furious and it features an old car, do you think the audience thinks it's a genuine priceless '63 Grand Sport where GM only made 6 (might be less, not sure) they're smashing up?
my point is the Cobra replica business will be end up in junk yards if they don't change or adapt to the new playing field.
The computer tablet has been around since the 1980s and it failed in the consumer market until Steve Jobs and Apple reinvented the tablet and made it cool and a must have item.
But I have no dog in this fight. It's financially better for me if the Cobra market falls in 10, 15 years.
I will throw my hat in the ring on this one and just give you my thought. I'm 29 years old and 50% of my friends I've asked love the cobras and 50% think they are stupid and way to expensive for a "fake" and would rather have a 68 Camaro or newer Z06, GT500 ect. Personally I really like them.....so yesterday I was lucky enough to catch a ride for about 20 miles of freeway riding in a SPF with a 427 stroker. My initial impression is that I want the car because it is identical to what I would build and just looks absolutely stunning. I'm just not sure about the drive train.....I like the SBF for the single point of they cam and how it sounds at idle. While cruising unless you were at 3000RPM the exhaust seemed to chop and gave me quite a bit of ear fatigue kinda a headache actually. On the other side I'm a roll on speed guy and I really couldn't tell if the 427 had enough power for me......don't get me wrong it was dangerous and fast but you know what I'm saying. It was very raw and felt seat of the pants fast but after a pull or 2 up to 100mph I'm not sure if it was much faster than my mustang but we are talking passenger seat not driving seat which is a whole other ball game when you have to be focused on driving one of these things. These are just all things that were going through my head. Your gut is telling you get a fuel injected coyote car and strap a blower on it if you want...make a 100rwhp more and get double the gas mileage.....then when the SBF fires up you go no way I have to have that idle! I think the only way to do it is almost get the car with the SBF first and then you will either love it or hate It and wish you had a modern powertrain. There will always be classics and period correct importance laid upon these cars.....the growth lies in what Vintage is doing with all the mod motors and fuel injected setups, custom options, non traditional colors.....that is what the majority of new purchases will be. I only think this because if you want a younger demographic we want superchargers, good gas mileage, outstanding performance, and we don't want to work on stuff. There aren't any big power N/A cars anymore on the market besides maybe the viper. If your a 60 year old right now pretend you grew up driving the cars of the late 90's and then turn around and see besides the "cam sound" what is appealing about a SBF that gets 10mpg. I will more than likely end up with the SBF but long term I could see myself doing something else and this will factor into my decision. Either way I have appreciation for these cars but the modern powertrains and options are something that cant be avoided with these cars. Nothing like riding in a cobra though and that alone will hopefully keep them alive. What other 2300lb roadster can you put 600hp into and go make a bunch of racket At the end of the day younger people go what do I get for 60K so options matter more than ever....and then buying a 4K trailer and hauling it to a road course in your 65K ford F250 days are getting farther and few between. The younger people want street cars. Went to the Goodguys national show in Nashville over the weekend.....AMAZING the amount of hot rods, rat rods and just absolutely sick cars were there. The sad part was the majority of the spectating show was middle age and older people. To be fair though it all boils down to $$. I'm extremely blessed and can purchase the car that I want at this point in life.....I still have a hard time justifying the $$ thinking I could be going out and finding a built Z06 with a blower on it making 700rwhp. Just to many options these days!
These two companies took old inventions, promoted them as the must have accessory and young people bought it!
But there are not CLASSICS, nobody remembers these gadgets in 50 years.
__________________
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DRB GT40 MK1 red #49- sold
FF5 Mk4 #7733 302/T5/IRS - dark blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #7812 427/TKO/IRS - Guardsman Blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #8414 501/TKO600/48IDA Ollie the Dragon #91 - sold
FF5 Daytona Coupe 347/TKO/IRS Homage CSX2299 Viking Blue - sold
SPF 2063
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
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Quote:
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.
Wow - not sure how Bob at ERA is going to feel about this commentary on his website? Peter won't care - apparently he can't start a computer.
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
Well, it has been multiple times tried before ---- even by Shelby and AC....
NOTHING, absolutely nothing can beat the original form, performance and feel....
__________________
Scratch build 289 FIA see the Scratch builder forum on CC - sold
DRB GT40 MK1 red #49- sold
FF5 Mk4 #7733 302/T5/IRS - dark blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #7812 427/TKO/IRS - Guardsman Blue - sold
FF5 MK4 #8414 501/TKO600/48IDA Ollie the Dragon #91 - sold
FF5 Daytona Coupe 347/TKO/IRS Homage CSX2299 Viking Blue - sold
SPF 2063
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.
I'm a selfish guy so I say "good"!
I don't want 100,000 more replicas on the road.
16Likes
At the end of the day younger people go what do I get for 60K so options matter more than ever....and then buying a 4K trailer and hauling it to a road course in your 65K ford F250 days are getting farther and few between. The younger people want street cars. Went to the Goodguys national show in Nashville over the weekend.....AMAZING the amount of hot rods, rat rods and just absolutely sick cars were there. The sad part was the majority of the spectating show was middle age and older people. To be fair though it all boils down to $$. I'm extremely blessed and can purchase the car that I want at this point in life.....I still have a hard time justifying the $$ thinking I could be going out and finding a built Z06 with a blower on it making 700rwhp. Just to many options these days!
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