New Wannabe Owner

[ncstanger]

Let me take a minute to introduce myself, My name is Kevin Kintner, I am 21 years old, and yes I know I am young. I currently own 4 late model Mustangs and I am thinking of selling 2 of them to help fund the dream of owning a Cobra. I have done a lot of searching on the net and in magazines for the last few years and also lurking on the message boards. I know I need to vist some factories but based on what I have seen Unique is my top choice. I have considered FFR but, I believe for me to be happy with the car I will spend just as much as if I go with an Unique. I am still undecided on what I want to build exactly weather it be a 289 FIA or a 427. I was just hoping someone could give me some comments on there experiences. I would love to hear pros and cons. What you would do differently the next time. Also if anyone is in the Charlotte, NC area and wouldn't mind showing me their car I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin Kintner

[Hal Copple]

There are many fine replicas out there, some within a days drive from your home. If you live in Monroe, i suggest you also make a visit to the Olthoff's, a Superformance dealer just south of Salisbury, NC, only about 40 miles from your place. You can get their location from perusing the Superformance or Secondstrike web site,

www.superformance.com

http://www.olthoff-racing.com

www.secondstrike.com

best wishes, and have fun.

[excelguru]

Kevin,

Did you get my email? Gimme a buzz and we'll hook up sometime for a joyride.

Keith

[Alex Donghi]

Kevin
go read Tessa's post. The guys were falling over them selves to 'help'

[Excaliber]

Alex,,,I don't think Tessa got any more or less help than anyone else asking the same questions. And she got some bashing along with it, some of it deserved. I think the members here do their best to help someone who appears to be serious.

MOST questions can be answered by doing a "search" and pulling up a chair. I know before I started posting regularly I spent several days (nay, weeks) reading here!

Ernie

Ernie

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Kevin,
First off you need to stand back and be honest with yourself 'what am I going to do with this car?'
Show it, race it , cruise locally, go to national events.
You need to build it differently for different activities. EG; I do some local racing and cruising, so I built my 6 point rollbar to NHRA and SCCA rules. Even if your not going to race it a sturdy rollbar under the dash and a 3 point cobra type rollbar with a 5 point safety harness are the minimum safty items just driving down the street.
Also if it's mostly a street car then it needs pump gas, keep the compression ratio down to 9 or 9 1/2 to 1 for iron heads and 10 to 1 for aluminum heads.Stick with a hydralic cam for the street.Solid or race cams need the valves adjusted and springs changed often.
I've changed my gas tank to a 50% larger one for trips.
Good luck on your build.
Perry.

[427 S/O]

Kevin, the Cobra is a long time love affair
for most of these folks, follow Hal's advice.

[CSX 4039]

Buy a used turnkey for the best build/lowest dollar ratio. Don't buy a homebuilt and don't buy new. IMHO. Why? quality and money.....

[ncstanger]

Thanks guys for all the advise. I am trying to process all of the information I have gathered in the last few weeks. I have been looking for several years now and have finally made the decision to own one of these fine automobiles.

Personally I would like to have a hand in the build process, so for me a used/turnkey car are out of the question. I know what I want and I will have that and only that. The cost savings of buying used is not very important to me. As long as I stay within or close to the budget I am allowing myself and get what I want I will be happy.

I would like to hear what you all would do differently, if they had it to do over again.
Thanks,
Kevin