New Cobra buyer - Questions - Driving Them...

[Jim Vander Wal]

OK, I'll try to not get in too much trouble.

$65k is probably high but I haven't been watching in a few years since leaving the SPF community and moving to FFR.

Price. Have you priced a new SPF? With FFRs you have time, parts, body work & paint. Both assuming new builds.

At one time the larger percentage of SPF owners installed a 351 based motor often at 400+ c.i. rather than the 289/302 based motors. There's a huge group that have 385 series 460/520 and larger motors with a bunch of FEs of various sizes.

Better than a FFR, now that's a really loaded question and I'm not going there. What I will say is that the SPF build quality is more consistent and the general parts used are consistent within the chassis number ranges.

You didn't indicate the original year of construction and chassis number, it's located on the front upper crossmember for most cars; possibly harder to find on early ones. SPF owners use this to identify the build series and it turns out to be important.

A SPF will have IRS, coilovers, leather seats, carpet in interior and trunk. Wilwood brakes were used on cars after the first few (100 or so, not sure). Again, after the first few they had pin drive & spinner wheels, 15" standard. All were factory painted and usually included top, side curtains and tonneau although these may be options on newer cars. The trunk on a SPF is larger than in the FFR.

SPF cars are heavier than FFRs, due partially design and heavier (thicker) bodies.

FFRs have many good points. Generally less expensive, lighter, easer to adapt to personal preferences, a good chassis and suspension design according to the owners choice of the components. There are many owners that build exceptional cars but skill and attention levels very.

Find a car that meets your criteria. Purchase price is just the beginning.

Jim
Former owner of SPF 1855 & 2584
Current owner (under construction) of FFR 8885