Kirkham vs Shelby

[Buzz]

The OP started the discussion about two specific slabside replicas (of the the original '60's Cobras). Since the Superformance street roadster is the base for the Shelby 'glass model, it naturally came into the discussion and then the comparision with ERA came up as a natural progression due to similar price point (well below the original two brands in question).
So wtf is the big deal with all the "original topic" policing??! Give the man a break - he came asking for information and the discussion has taken a turn that suits him and his needs. Most of us have been following with interest - why jump in near the end and biatch about the original topic? Go back and read for yourself. Jeezusss

[rodneym]

To answer the OP's thread title:

Is the Shelby in question built by Kirkham?
If not, NO comparison.
Period.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by rodneym

To answer the OP's thread title:

Is the Shelby in question built by Kirkham?
If not, NO comparison.
Period.

I think we need to bring RodKnock back on this. Maybe we can get this thread padlocked yet.

[rodneym]

RodKnock retired and I’m trying to get canceled.

[RUFdriver]

“Kirkham vs Shelby “is the title of the thread, the OP bought up ERA (glass) vs Kirkham ( aluminum) in the first paragraph. So the discussion took a slight detour from the get go. Hey it’s all good, I like discussing all Cobras, replica or real.

[Jamo]

What's really relevant here given the OP's original intent is that Charmin is better than Northern.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Jamo

What's really relevant here given the OP's original intent is that Charmin is better than Northern.

Lately I just get the Costco store brand in the 30 roll pack.

[fordracing65]

Per Kirkham. A new roller starts at $250,000. Complete polished car is $350,000-$375,000.
A completed Daytona is $500k.

[Dominik]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Per Kirkham. A new roller starts at $250,000. Complete polished car is $350,000-$375,000.
A completed Daytona is $500k.

Jeeez, under which rock have I been?

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Per Kirkham. A new roller starts at $250,000. Complete polished car is $350,000-$375,000.
A completed Daytona is $500k.

yes, but with billet suspension and parts, Tremec, and modern 289 or 427.

all parts nut and bolt period correct will add another 100k

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Per Kirkham. A new roller starts at $250,000. Complete polished car is $350,000-$375,000.
A completed Daytona is $500k.

double post, don't know how to delete...

[HTM101]

During the financial crisis of 2008 I remember Kirkham's attempt to stimulate business, and for a while offered their 427 roller for $39.9k. If my date is incorrect, somewhere in the past they offered this great deal.

[nkb]

Status on Sep 6, 2023 at the factory:




A lot yet to get done. Wiring, brakes, hydraulics done. No dash, no steering, no interior, no radiator, etc. Several items I have requested them to leave off (gas cap, mirror, ..) for me to use original or NOS parts. Dash/instruments/lights, washers, wiper motor, bonnet locks, fluid canisters, appearance of wiring/electrical components, etc. to be redone by me for originality. Kirkham diff gets installed back in the US by the dealer (to be carefully checked by me after receipt - based upon previous warning posts). Car is being delivered unpainted. My choice. It will be painted later, locally.

Last update (this last weekend at Goodwood) is that the car is supposed to be done by end of month and shipped. Seems optimistic based upon past history.

[DanEC]

Wow - I remember when I visited Keith Crafts shop for the dyno run on my ERAs engine back around 2009 he had a polished Kirkham in there with one of his 482 engines in it that he was trying to sell. I guess he owned it - not sure, but I remember he said he was try to get somewhere right around $100,000 for it then and I thought man, that seems like a bargain. Guess it was.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Wow - I remember when I visited Keith Crafts shop for the dyno run on my ERAs engine back around 2009 he had a polished Kirkham in there with one of his 482 engines in it that he was trying to sell. I guess he owned it - not sure, but I remember he said he was try to get somewhere right around $100,000 for it then and I thought man, that seems like a bargain. Guess it was.

You do realize 2009 was 14-15 years ago. Houses were 6 times cheaper then also.

[nkb]

Status as of December 6, 2023

Almost to the day, 2 years after placement of my order, my CSX alloy roller has just departed Hi Tech in South Africa. Headed east with stops in the UAE, India and China before arriving in Los Angeles. Seven weeks in transit with 3 different ships. In a 40 foot container with another CSX 8000, a CSX 7000, and a GT40.

Current position by satellite on the open sea is between Mozambique and Madagascar.

By the time the car gets to me it will have more than circumnavigated the earth. Poland to Provo, to Norfolk,VA to South Africa to India to China and back to the US. Well over 30,000 miles before it ever hits the pavement.

I don't know exactly when the body/frame was created by Kirkham in Poland as the roller already existed in Utah when I placed my order. But, from scratch it has probably been on the order of 2.5 years and counting. By the time it gets here for finishing (including drivetrain, paint, SB 100 registration) it will easily be 3+ years in the making.

The current process to supply an alloy Shelby CSX is incredibly inefficient and time consuming. It took 7 months alone to accomplish shipping the already partially assembled roller from Utah to South Africa. Then another 17 months on site in South Africa.

Along the way I was promised a much, much shorter time frame by the powers that be. Still to go, 7 weeks transit to the US and then further outfitting in Irvine of the Kirkham diff, wheels/tires, seat belts, etc. And then finally to my garage in Northern California where I can get to work fitting the drivetrain and finishing everything else.

Carroll accomplished the production of an original alloy Cobra much, much faster 60 years ago! Incredibly, the entire production of 655 original leaf spring CSX's took substantially less time than my single car!

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by nkb

Status as of December 6, 2023

...
In a 40 foot container with another CSX 8000, a CSX 7000, and a GT40.

Current position by satellite on the open sea is between Mozambique and Madagascar.

I'm having visions of the ship getting attacked by Somali pirates and seeing 4 Shelbys sprouting sand roostertails driven around the desert.

Patience is a virtue!!!

[nkb]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I'm having visions of the ship getting attacked by Somali pirates and seeing 4 Shelbys sprouting sand roostertails driven around the desert.

Patience is a virtue!!!

I did in fact think about Somali pirates as the ship will be off that coast. I quickly determined that the piracy has been sharply curtailed over the past 2 years. Hopefully that holds.

But I did also determine that the current ship was involved in an accident in August and taken out of service. Now recommissioned with the cars onboard. Also, hopefully all is ok.

It’s a fraught world.

[CSX2345]

Houthi Rebels are going after cargo ships as well. Multiple commercial ships have been hit with cruise missiles recently.

Hopefully yours stays clear of the Red Sea.

Your aluminum 289 looks great, btw.

Why did it need to ship to Hi Tech?

I would think the good folks at Kirkham could have brought the car up to a full roller state in considerably less time and keep it somewhat local.

Cheers

[nkb]

Originally Posted by CSX2345

Houthi Rebels are going after cargo ships as well.
Why did it need to ship to Hi Tech?

I would think the good folks at Kirkham could have brought the car up to a full roller state in considerably less time and keep it somewhat local.

Cheers

These were my thoughts as well, to have the car done by David Kirkham. I made the same argument with Shelby that the car did not need to go to Hi Tech. Especially since I was not having it painted. But, I could not convince them in the end because apparently it would cut into (possibly wipe out) their margin. Production at Hi Tech apparently being less costly.

I will say that I believe that Hi Tech has done a nice job on the car from what I can tell from afar. I chose not to paint the car there although they are known for excellent (and reasonable cost) paint. I didn't want to choose the color yet and I also have an excellent painter local to me. Kirkham also recommended painting the car after my assembly to avoid likely blemishes from the installation process. I will be drilling/modifying holes in the body for various original items not included on the standard roller (Ceandess gas cap, correct central mirror, NOS screen jets, grab handle, Talbot Berlin Jr side view mirror, Shelby teardrop bonnet locks, ...) .