Interested Newbie - Seeking Advice on Ownership

[Rickd]

Great advice by Twojbshelbys on Cobra Country. That is THE web site to really get in tune with what used cars are available. I sold my first cobra .. a used one that I bought via a Hemmings ad .. on Cobra country. I placed the ad with some excellent photo recommendations from the gentleman that runs the site (on Thanksgiving day no less .. he called right after I placed the ad). I had 4 calls in a matter of days, and a gentleman DROVE from Michigan with a trailer and a zip lock bag with cash.

(PS, that is another caveat .. there are a LOT of scammers out there "selling" cobras and Harleys via the internet. Don't send money to anyone without fully vetting the situation. When I sold mine .. I received cash IN THE BANK OFFICE and tendered title. The guy I bought my first used cobra from had "sold it" once before .. to a scammer .. who paid with a fake cashiers check!!).

Monitor Cobra Country daily and use your buddy "Google" .. that is how I found my first cobra just putting in "289 FIA cobra for sale" .. and up popped a Hemmings ad for a Unique FIA car for $28,000. Thought it was a mistake .. but called, got photos, and flew to the Carolinas to see the car. It was real...not original...but real. After driving it for 2 years, I knew I wanted to keep driving a 289 FIA car .. but really had wanted an ERA since the outset and I called ERA, visited the shop in New Britain, CT., and put down a deposit.

A well sorted out car will generally hold it's value fairly well. My ERA was built by virtually one man at ERA who had built ERA cobras for almost 20 years. It's a great car. The Superformance cobras are also built to a very consistent standard of quality and hold their value. I know of one guy who has close to 100,000 miles on one. It's his daily driver, his toy, and his race car .. all rolled into one. I made sure my wife is very aware of Cobra Country .. as I am going on 69 and have no intention of ever selling my ERA .. so I want her (or my estate) to know how to sell it once I am gone. I hope to be driving it 20 years from now .. but we will see!!

I have also seen some beautiful Factory Five cars in Florida. The only issue there is since they are all owner built, the actual quality and reliability of the car can vary with the skill level of the owner / builder. That is a pretty big leap of faith to take .. for me. So I agree with your approach if you are going to look at a FFR car .. buying one built by a racing shop .. so that YOU can present it as a FACTORY TURNKEY car of sorts .. when you go to sell .. is important. Also important for reliability.

If you look at FFR cars and want a builder in the Arizona area, look at LEVY RACING. Gordon Levy has been building race cars all of his life and has built over 100 FFR cars. His company is in Maricopa, Arizona. So he might be able to also put you in contact with someone who is selling one of his earlier cars, it wouldn't be the new FFR body though. You could also get Gordon Levy to build you an ERA, or put the drivetrain in a Superformance roller if you decide to go in that direction. Enjoy the research .. there are MANY options.