289FIA vs. 427SC

[kingbone]

I realize everyone might be getting tired of my asking this question, but I honestly respect the opinions I get on Club Cobra.

So, I will bring this subject up again.

I have an undeniable desire for a FIA289 Cobra. However, with my owning my own business and the fact that I may need disposable cash at a moments notice, I must respect resale value. I currently own an awesome Unique 427SC but am aggresively looking at a 289FIA. Can anyone explain to me why 289's do not sell well? I love the look of the 289, but lets be honest, they are tough to sell. Whats Up?
Thanks.
Jeff

[Randy Resetar]

Jeff. I think when people think of a cobra they think of a 65 427 bigblock bla bla bla. I love my Fia car and the what's really cool is their are only 3 in Arizona. I go to a big cruze on saturdays and love to hear the cobra experts pick apart my car. Then I burst their ego and say it's not a 427 car. Their are a couple of good deals on cobracountry. Check them out...RR

[Cal Metal]

I don't know where you are getting your data, but you might want to check with Unique and ERA about the resale issue of the 289FIA since they have produced the greatest number. We have built and sold five Unique 289 FIAs. Two of them we sold for more than what we had in them after 1-2 yrs. The other three were sold for 5-7% below our investment. I don't think that is unreasonable.

I would be more concerned about the quality of the build and the manufacturer than the difference between the two body styles when considering the resale question.

[HIQ]

I don't understand this as well. I can understand that guys like the torque and sound of a BB in a 427SC, but I don't understand why most guys would prefer a 427 SC with a 351 than a 289FIA with a 351. The sleek lines of the 289 car are great.

That said, if you need a liquid asset - DON'T BUY A CAR!

[Excaliber]

HIQ,,,I can understand the need to "liquify" should the need arise and I to am "concerned" about potential re-sale. My gutt tells me that certain "options" just naturally make a car "easier" to sell. Not to think your going to get "all" your money back, but push come to shove, you hope to get most of it back!

I suspect the 427 body style will enjoy a larger re-sale market than the 289FIA style body. If your looking for a "quick" re-sale thats where I'd go!

Depending on the car (ERA, FFR, etc.) some engine selections will KILL re-sale! ERA 427 body and 302? Not good! FFR and a 302, it's a "natural". 289FIA with a 460? Questionable! With a 302 or a 351, OK. Can you imagine a Kirkham 427 body with a 302? Talk about HARD to sell at anywhere near a decent price!

You have to think about the whole "package". I'd go with a 289FIA car with a 351, I suspect re-sale will be "adequate". But for QUICK sale, hard to beat a 427 body with a 427SO, IF the price is right. And you WILL loose money if you build it yourself!

Ernie

[decooney]

Kingbone,

just a thought...

excluding original Cobras, IMHO - I believe that 1st time replica Cobra buyers go straight in looking for a 427 body style Cobra, regardless of engine size; either big block or small block. New buyers help to contribute to the supply vs. demand vs. price factor. And, most newbies don't know much about FIAs, other than they look a little different than a 427SC, narrower, etc.

Think about it when you were first looking, what did you buy and why, the first time around?. Me too. 427=Big/Wide flares, menacing look - at a first glance. (Early Perceptions right?)

Then like fine wine and as you develop your taste, the FIAs, Slabsides, and others become much more apparent and you learn more about them. The history and the appreciation for the FIAs sort of wins you over vs. the in-your-face 427 SC.

I think there are fewer 1st time buyers for replica FIAs vs. 427 style replica Cobras and this "could" be at least one contributing factor as to why we see such incredible deals on ERA FIAs, Unique FIAs, Kirkham FIAs, etc. But this is good news for those buyers with fine tastes, and you too.

So, take advantage of this and have fun. I plan to build an ERA FIA or a Slabside car in the future when I'm done with my 427 SC down the road. If you buy it right, and build it right, with the right components, there should not be a problem with resale later. If anything, the FIAs are getting to be more desireable now because there are so many 427 style replicas out there.

Good Luck. Let us know what you do.

[CSX 4039]

It seems the resale value of either style is the pits. I don't know if this is permanent (i.e most of the guys who were cognizant in 1965 are now beyond the age where they want a Cobra), or market saturation, or if it is temporary (economy, sentiment, etc.)

[Edley Rondinone]

On the FIA cars, where the front roll-bar leg goes into the passenger compartment, does that affect passenger space or comfort? If the Cobra did not have that front bar, but the "427" style bar, would that still be an FIA Cobra? Aesthetically speaking, I prefer the "427" style rollbar, IMHO.

[Bumpster]

Kingbone - I honestly don't see any lower resale prices for the FIA style than the 427. I also don't see the buyer's market that I read about on this forum lately. Properly built Cobras with the desirable equipment are being advertised at what I would consider to be strong prices. I've been shopping for an FIA for some time now and I can have a turnkey FIA built exactly the way I want (which is most important to me) for little more than I see good, properly built ones advertised. As for resale value, I really couldn't care less at this point. I plan to keep this car that I have lusted for until I die, so I don't care how much anybody else thinks it's worth. It's going to be exactly the way I want it and nobody has to like it but me.

Bumpster
Soon to be the owner of the first FIA style Hunter Cobra replica.

[cobrakit66]

hey bumpster, when are we going to see some pics of this new ride, glad to see you made your mind up. maybe your first trip should be to upstate new york, must be a class reunion or something coming up. good luck with your new car,i think you you made a good choice. ron

[Tongue Pirate]

I think most of the important issues have been addressed here! If you allready have a 427 he 289 car is the obvious choice but for me it is the history & it's raw appearance. Plus it's nice to know you have something a little differen't. It's funny how most people react when you tell them that you are going to build a 289 Cobra. Usually the first think out of their mouth is "Didn't those have a 427?"

[Excaliber]

I think the forward braced roll bar is a big part of the "look" of a 289FIA. I've heard comments that people were surprised the forward bar had little or no impact on passenger comfort.

Ernie

[Tongue Pirate]

Comfort? Who buys these cars for comfort?

[Excaliber]

Comfort? Good call, maybe the comfort is:

They have something to hold onto when the car launches! ha ha

Ernie

[Bumpster]

Hey Ron - It's good to hear from you. My car should be ready by September and we would love to cruise up your way to see the leaves change. It's one of the things we have on our list, but I don't think we'll make it this year. It would be a definite blast to arrive at a reunion in a Cobra, wouldn't it? We both have one coming up in a few years, in 2006. That's something we will just have to do. Thanks for remembering us and we'll be seeing you when we make that trip back home.

Bumpster

[JoeLafives]

I never really considered the 427 car. It's really a great car but I wanted the sleekness of a slabside or FIA. BUT since it's MY car I went for one with rear braced rollbar. After all I'd seen 427 with a front brace and considering that you can probably find an original with most any kind of customization out there I said what the heck. I mean, who am I trying to "fool" anyway, most folks can't tell the difference between a 427 and a 289.