Work another year and buy a Kirkham or Retire?

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by FatBoy

No, Dave Brookes (DB) makes his own cars and they are very, very good. They're not quite to Kirkham standard, by his own admission, but you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

Kirkhams have become more of a "custom" Cobra in recent years, whereas Dave stays true to the original. He is also a really decent and honest guy. I know a number of people with Dave's Cobras and they love them.

I've never understood the "delicate aluminium" comments when it comes to Kirkhams. Mine is over 10-years old and done well over 30,000 miles and I think the bodies are very tough. The front apron on mine has a good smattering of gravel rash, but then so would anything. I've done a good number of charity track-days on an old military air-base with concrete runways that are constantly shedding grit, which has caused most of the "rash".

If you really want a Kirkham and if you can afford it, I'd say go for it and give that particular itch a good scratch. You can always sell it again later on. You don't want to be saying "I wish... or "if only..." in later years.

ATB
Paul

More memories, fewer regrets.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by monster7

Nevertheless, not a good ride for your wife at all...

This is the key point.

[520SC]

If you really want to buy a Kirkham and need to work one more year to make it happen, then do it. Those are terrific cars.

I chose to retire at age 56, in March 2015, after I reached my minimum service time and minimum retirement age for a full pension and lifetime health insurance coverage. These past 3+ years have been the most enjoyable of my entire adult life. I certainly don't miss the hustle and bustle and emotional stress as a nuclear engineer. It used to beat me down, and it sucked the life out of me for 30 years. My home mortgage will be paid off in 3 months. I'll be free at last.

[Dwight]

check this out

PhotoPost Classifieds - 427 Cobra replica, Aluminum body - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

[tortuga]

I am turning 58 this year and plan to punch out at 62...I would murder a kitten with a spoon to retire any earlier...Work is called work because its, well work...so many things to do and see, places to go as you quickly wear out and hurtle headlong towards your demise...A year of your life for a car?

[DesertMK4]

I was in a similar situation three years ago. My solution was to build my own Cobra (FFR) and drive it with about twenty other retired guys. The build was a mental challenge, ate up a lot of spare time. The driving and car shows are just FUN as hell.

[Bartruff1]

I retired from my dream job when I was 57.....21 years ago and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.....you can never get that year back....time is the most valuable thing in the world.... I wouldn't give up a year of my life for a 75 million dollar Ferrari GTO....are you nuts ???

No one is promised tomorrow...I make 5 to 10 times as much as I made working as a Engineer but I would rather live in a single wide without air in Baton Rouge than go back to work....

[Anthony]

Yeah, if you want a kirkham, then i would buy one, used maybe, as time is money. If/when you sell, maybe you may lose a little, break even, or even make a little profit. If you buy a new vette, keep it 5 years and sell, you will lose.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by Anthony

If you buy a new vette, keep it 5 years and sell, you will lose.

That is the one fact that I see clearly. Almost all cars depreciate rapidly. Some start to appreciate again, given time, but not all. You are not going to do well investing in Vegas, Chevettes, and Pacers. Muscle cars that have a nostalgia to them have gone up in value.

Kit cars and replicas, as a whole, have not been as successful as Cobra replicas, and the Kirkham is the top of that heap. When a Kirkham sold for $50K you could drop a nice FE drive train in one for less than $15K. It was not all that hard to finish one with nice upgrades for less than $75K. Go find one of those cars for sale today for less than $75K. I haven't found any. You will find them for sale asking north of $100K. As I said earlier, they are more like a house than a car. They are definitely keeping pace with inflation. I do think a big part of that is because the price of a new Kirkham has went up so much.

When the Kirkhams get old and decide to retire or sell or close shop, as inevitably will happen some day. What will happen to these cars value? When all that will ever be built, has been built?????

[Turbonut48]

Buy any good running, well assembled. Cobra. Needs sidepipe covers ? get them. Different seats ? Ge them.

Drive the dog**** out of it.
To the store. To church. To work.
It ll make work even more enjoyable to go to.

Good Luck.

The Nut

[Phx Mike]

Even though the Kirkham's have seemed to hold their value reasonably well I would not count on it as an investment. It seems to me that most folks interested in Cobras are 55 plus today and the market for these cars is going to start getting smaller in the next 5-10 yrs. Most folks under 35 that I run into at car shows don't know what a Cobra is.

Buy the funnest car to drive that you can afford (and still retire) and that your wife will ride in, and then have fun. At the end of the day it's about the driving and friendships (and a happy wife!) not the car.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by Phx Mike

It seems to me that most folks interested in Cobras are 55 plus today and the market for these cars is going to start getting smaller in the next 5-10 yrs.

Agreed, but also realize that 50ish is the magic age. It is when the nest is empty, people are making the most they have ever made, and the house is paid for. So after making all the sacrifices for the kids, they are finally free to buy and do what they want. If you would have asked most of us, when we were 30 or 40, what we were interested in, most would not have answered getting a Cobra. We had other priorities.

Originally Posted by Phx Mike

Most folks under 35 that I run into at car shows don't know what a Cobra is.

True, but I have seen the eyes light up when they see my Cobra. From 6 yrs old on up, people who have no idea what it is, instantly fall in love with this car. I never had a clue how many women are actually as much car guy as any man, until I bought the Cobra. How can you look at Cobra and not fall in love at first sight? If I Cobra doesn't float your boat, then no car ever will.

All that said yes it is not an investment.

Oh yea one more thought. The super muscle cars being built today, and even 20yr ago, will not be operable, when they are 50 yrs old. They are piling so much technology onto new cars that is obsolete by the time you pay them off, it is mind boggling. See if you can get someone to fix an Atari (a video game made in the 80's). In 2068, you will be able to buy parts for a Model A Ford, before you would be able to make a 2018 anything run again. At least that is my prediction.

[RockBit]

I see the value of these cars driven higher by Shelby American with the continuation cars, not Kirkham. SAI will continue to do this. A rising tide lifts all boats.

[Bartruff1]

Well, I have a couple teenaged grandsons and their friends and the other boys that I might encounter all know what a Cobra is....because they have seen it in a video game or games that are very popular.

It is very surprising , at least to me, that only about 30% of 16 year old's have a drivers license . How do they expect to get laid without a drivers license.....???

I will add that some of you "kids" in here need to show some respect for your elders....and get the hell off my lawn !

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by Bartruff1

How do they expect to get laid without a drivers license.....???

The better question is how do you get laid IN a Cobra?
Maybe I'm asking for too much. Like George Constanza flying too close to the sun on wings of pastrami.

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by rodneym

The better question is how do you get laid IN a Cobra?
Maybe I'm asking for too much. Like George Constanza flying too close to the sun on wings of pastrami.

That would not be a problem for a sixteen year old.....heck....I had a 41 Jeep..

[rodneym]

Hopefully you did't damage your Willys.

These jokes write themselves.