New Guy Looking For Advice

[twobjshelbys]

You posted this within another topic. Thanks for making a new topic from it. I'll post the link to your first post there and then repost my comments:

Link:
Where is everyone?

your first post and my reply. There are others that have also responded, read them at the link above.

My name is Dennis and this is my first post. A friend and I have been talking of a Cobra for some time now. We have debated buying verses building. We have to admit we have never driven or even sat in a Cobra before...so we are open to any and all advice. Please be kind. Everybody has to start somewhere.

My Response:

Kindness is not what you need. Brutal honesty is what you need. So I'll try to be brutally honest in a kind way.

Some people want to build a Cobra because they think the some-assembly-required like a Heathkit will save them money. It rarely does.

Buy it. There are tons of completed cars that have been sorted out. Find one you like and drive it. Then if the COBRA PASSION persists, and you still want to be a fabricator/manufacturer, feel free to build one. If you're into fabrication that's OK, but you don't want to put all that time and money into a project only to find the Cobra is not a match. They are powerful nasty smelling machines that want to kill you every time you get in it. It would be a shame to invest two years into a project only to find that combination doesn't agree with you.

Based on what I see here, I'd guess maybe 50% of the "kits" are actually completed.

Good luck.

I stick by all of what I said. But to summarize some of the finer points from others:

1. You should find a local car show that the Cobra owners frequent. If as you said you haven't even sat in a Cobra you need to start talking to owners in person about the cars. Car shows will also likely be attended by owners that cover a good many of the manufacturers so you can compare models.

2. Building a kit is a passion in its own right and since you haven't ever experienced a Cobra the general advice given to everyone is that you should buy an already sorted out car and drive it for a year or two. If you are still a Cobra fan and want the experience of manufacturing one, then go for building one yourself. On the other hand, if your primary motivation is building something, almost anything else will be better for you than tackling a Cobra as your first build.

Cobra kits end up in one of three states: 1. Builder/Owner in 7th heaven. 2. Kit languishes for years and is sold for pennies on the dollar. 3. Kit is finished and builder/owner figures out after the first front/rear exchange event and underwear cleaning that the Cobra was the wrong car. Understand them before tackling the project.

Anyway, read the other responses over there too.

Good luck.