What other cars should I be considering beyond a Cobra?

[my427cobra]

Snake of a different slither. Yup - a Viper.

I'm in the hunt.

Cheers
Greg

[COBRA427]

I'd build a Gardner-Douglas Lola T-70 Spyder .

[Harpoon PV2]

Back in the early 80s, a friend of mine gave me a Hot Rod magazine with a kit car shoot out. They had an ERA 427 Cobra with a real Side Oiler, a T Bucket, what a waist at Laguna Seca, and the third entry dropped out, so they got ahold of Chuck Beck, and he brought one of his 550 Spyder's. The Cobra did win, but fried a clutch due to the new sticky BF Goodridge tires. They expected nothing from the VW powered 550, and were they wrong. The Cobra was all work on the tight track, where the 550 could go through the corkscrew flat out, as it did on most of the corners. They agreed it was the most smiles per miles of any of the cars that day. I have considered one, the giant SUVs scare me though, though not much worse then my motorcycles!

A friend of mine has the fonts for the decals of the Carrera Panamericana Mexico 550 racer, complete with Fletcher Aviation, and Telefunken Radio decals. Man would that stand out big time!

[86Sebring]

An LS powered Miata is ton of fun, or how about a Cheetah, a chevy powered, gorgeous looking 2 seater, if it gets too hot you can cut off the roof

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I'll double-down with C3 Corvette. They are cheap and plentiful. The right wrenchman could turn a bargain car into a ferocious street or track performer. As stated above, plenty of parts and power options, right on up to a Greenwood Sports Racer (replica).

[Alfa02]

Found two (Daytona Dek) in 2mins on CL right here in PNW. First 1 -https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/mountlake-terrace-1974-detomaso-pantera/7400023860.html and the 2nd one. https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/...407684127.html Cheers TommyRot.

[Daytona Dek]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Found two (Daytona Dek) in 2mins on CL right here in PNW. First 1 -https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/mountlake-terrace-1974-detomaso-pantera/7400023860.html and the 2nd one. https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/...407684127.html Cheers TommyRot.

Thanks Alfa. I searched but couldn’t find any currently for sale but found this right hand drive sold at auction.

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/...era/?lot=53910

I think it sold for a very reasonable price compared against European prices. Maybe that it’s prior race history put some people off or it undersold on the day because it wasn’t a well known auction. Apologies for the thread drift.
Dek

[Harpoon PV2]

If that yellow Pantera had a bullet hole in the left side of the steering wheel, it just might have been the deal of the century!

[twobjshelbys]

The other good thing about Panteras is that parts are readily available.

[incoming]

Early carb Z-cars are a blast to drive.

[Alfa02]

Ok if we're going get into (Bone stock) Japanese Sports Cars, and I've had a ton. All were great cars, fun to drive, track day, auto-X, BUT they lacked one thing HORSEPOWER !! Now again these we're talking about were box stock out of the Factory. Not one of my 240-Z's , Rx-7's, ever made it home the first day without at least a Wheel & Tire package. Over the years, in my 240-Z, RX-7 days, I had BRE, Mazdaspeed on speed dial But even built up, they just were lacking that one thing we all have here (Good Ol'American V-8 ) I just sold my last RX-7 (To buy the Cobra in the garage), but it was not lacking anything, as this one had a built Ford 302 (320-330HP), T-5, (My Porsche Killer) If you find a V-8 conversion Z-car, or RX-7, Miata take a long hard look, make sure the build was done right, that's why it took years for me to find the right one. I already miss mine. My $.03 Cheers TommyRot.

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Ok if we're going get into (Bone stock) Japanese Sports Cars, and I've had a ton. All were great cars, fun to drive, track day, auto-X, BUT they lacked one thing HORSEPOWER !! Now again these we're talking about were box stock out of the Factory. Not one of my 240-Z's , Rx-7's, ever made it home the first day without at least a Wheel & Tire package. Over the years, in my 240-Z, RX-7 days, I had BRE, Mazdaspeed on speed dial But even built up, they just were lacking that one thing we all have here (Good Ol'American V-8 ) I just sold my last RX-7 (To buy the Cobra in the garage), but it was not lacking anything, as this one had a built Ford 302 (320-330HP), T-5, (My Porsche Killer) If you find a V-8 conversion Z-car, or RX-7, Miata take a long hard look, make sure the build was done right, that's why it took years for me to find the right one. I already miss mine. My $.03 Cheers TommyRot.

A Scarab Z car is the best! I got to drive one not long after I drove my first late model, small block Cobra, the Scarab was what the Cobra should have morphed into! I was going to use their kit on my 71 240Z, but life got in the way.

[Alfa02]

@ Harpoon PV2, that was my intro. into the whole V-8 Z-car thing. (Oct./Nov. 75 ?) R&T had a small article on Brian Morrow with Scarab inc. I called, got the $9.95 VHS tape, and written specs. Spoke with him at length about my build (72 240Z) we came up with a DZ-302 Chevy (Alum heads, revier motor) instead of a cast iron 327 and an Alum case T-10, rather a than another cast iron T-10. Everything light weigh, since I tracked, Auto-X and DD. Everything was going Swimley, my little bank in town would loan me $11,500 on my $4000 Z-Car, my loan officer sold Sunbeam Tiger back in the 60's, he got the whole V-8 thing. So, they were to Paint, reupholster in leather, Koni shocks, BRE springs, Adcco bars, (Basically rebuild the car) for the $11,500 (Lot of money in 1976 LOL) Good to go, till I got home, as I explained to her (The WIFE), I would have the ultimate Z-car (Porsche killer) and for 1/2 price of said Porsche. Sorry to say, it never happened (the Motor & Gearbox ended up in Car #188) and I really showed my Wife by buying a new 1978 911SC for $23,500, in late 1977. I would (Possibly) still have that Scarab. Cheers TommyRot.

[sunman]

Healey Sebring
LS-1 version under construction
Roll up windows and all the fiberglass and lots of parts available again
Ya know these make Donald smile, this is how we do it in the USA

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Biggaluut

Or is Cobra really the cream of the crop when it comes to a 2 seater open top/convertible sports car with looks and power? Miata's need not apply.

From the OP's post. He's looking for a 2-seat roadster/convertible

[86Sebring]

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/cheetah...133046337.html

[srisk]

These are all good suggestions & we'll be interested in what direction you go. I've owned a over 20+ hot rods, muscle cars, & exotic's. All of them have been different & antique in there our right. But of all over them the Cobra stood apart. Now have my 2nd Cobra. Just great fun to drive for a reasonable price.

[Tremelune]

One option is a modified MGB. There are several kits that make it easy to install a Rover V8 (the UK SBF/SBC) or a 60° GM V6 out of a 90s Camaro. They don't have the grunt of a modern 302, but you're talking costs on the order of $20-30k, not $50k+. There are coilover setups for sale that bolt right in.

Get yourself a '67 with wire wheels and you have a gorgeous, fast Miata that can keep company with a Ferrari 250 in a parking lot.

[Jim Vander Wal]

If you'd consider a MGB with a V6/V8 then a Miata with a LS/T56 could be an option. AND, and it would have a top that works.
My Superformance tops kept you "less wet".
The LS/Miata package can be very effective.
The Honda S2000, either gen 1 or 2 is a great car.
Jim

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by Jim Vander Wal

If you'd consider a MGB with a V6/V8 then a Miata with a LS/T56 could be an option. AND, and it would have a top that works.
My Superformance tops kept you "less wet".
The LS/Miata package can be very effective.
The Honda S2000, either gen 1 or 2 is a great car.
Jim

From what I understand, you would want a 77 or later, since the firewall is already for the Rover engine, and the motor mounts are better. Then lower the car, and put chrome bumpers on, and you have a great car. Oh, the Rover V8 weighs roughly 40 lbs less then the iron MG 4!