kit/project purchase
 

I've been surfing this great site for awhile now, as well as reading every magazine and book I can get my hands on pertaining to cobras. The more I learn the more questions I come up with. I have restored an MG TD and a Healy 3000 and grew up with a father who built class H modifieds from a pile of steel tubing in the family garage, then racing it on the weekends. Thats where I saw my first cobra. I am not trying to brag here, just offer some background. I am looking for a kit/project that offers ALL components other than engine and transmission. I no longer have any interest tearing down an old vehicle to create a new one. My desire is to build a "new" Cobra from all new components as a father and son project. My 15 yr. old son was seriously injured on a Boy Scout road trip being thrown from one of the infamous 16 passenger vans. After spending a year recovering from a broken back he is not able to participate in most activities at school but he very much wants to get involved with me in the building of this project. Any and all advice or recommendations from you guys who have done it would be greatly appreciated. Manufacturers, parts specialists, suspension , rear ends, you get the picture. No, I am not about to turn a kid loose in a cobra. The idea here is to teach him about how an automible works and why it works, like my pop did for me. Thanks for the indulgence fellas, any and all feedback more than welcome.

I have spent the last 2 years building a Hunter 427 cobra.This was started as a father son project and turned into a father ,son,daughter ,wife project.I too wanted something with modern suspension and handling,having built 2 60's era mustangs with my dad that had serious handling flaws due to that era components.We got so involved in the project that I now have a second(Kirkham) car to play with.You could not go wrong with a Unique delux pallet kit,I might also suggest the Factory Five kit;it is very well thought out and if you go with IRS and upgraded brakes you will have a very nice car.Both will go a long way in teaching your son about mechanics. chuck

If I had any skills, space, and time, I would have gone with the Factory Five kit as well. The FFR kit is inexpensive, lots of other builders for help and suggestions, and plenty of aftermarket support. Knowing my limitations, I needed a manufacturer that would provide a good quality roller. They even have their own forum FFR Cobra

I've been looking around at the different manufacturers quite a bit. I heard recently about the Shelby CSX cars and decided "Hey, if it's from Shelby it has to be great" right? Wrong. I found the Shelby CSX site and was very dissapointed. I saw guys on there trying to hawk cars for thousands that are basically in a state where a total restoration etc needed to be done, as well as my jaw dropping when I saw DODGE power? Come on! I am not wasting my time at that site anymore. I think I'm probably going to go with Backdraft Racing's version.

all flavors
 

lineslinger,
Most will tell you, there are so many routes to follow, that may be your hardest decision, trying to pick from buy as you go stage starting at $1900 for a rectangular type frame to $39,000 or so for a 95% dead on original frame aluminum bodied COBRA.
This will be a re-told chapter in your family archives for years to come, glad you are sharing it with your son. Need more like you.
grumpy

Lineslinger, thanks for sharing you story. Why don't you consider jumping the Amtrak with your son and coming to Kansas City on a Friday or Saturday morning? We will pick you up at the train station and give you two the grand tour of our manufacturing facility.

One of the members, Matt762, recently did just that. I believe he will tell you it was well worth the trip. We can show you sights under one roof you will see no where else in the Cobra world. At the least your "learning curve" will be greatly compressed.

Take a look at www.premiercobras.com if you want a teaser. Then we will be pleased to spend a day or two with you.

All the best across the miles..... Bob Lockett

The first thing is knowing your budget & then you can research anything up to that limit. I'll back ERA because that is what I know. ERA makes a great car that you can get in anything from kit form to a turnkey car. A good start is to have the frame powdercoated & the body bonded. From there you can choose to assemble what you like or have them do it for you for a fee.

http://www.erareplicas.com/

Those Cobras on the Premier site look pretty good too. I like Backdraft's guages and steering wheels better though. Too bad there's not some sort of Cobra Manufacturers show every year where examples of EVERY replica can be seen. That would help more people decide what they want. I for instance want a Cobra that I can drop a big block Ford engine into with gobs of horsepower, and a replica that has a suspension to be able to match that. I want a Cobra that is stable at speeds over 160 mph and still has more to go.

Gulp!!

Thats gonna be a challange on ANY budget.

*Well the way I figure is this- Many of these Porsches and Ferraris are reaching speeds well in excess of 160 with less horsepower than most of the Cobras I've seen here on this site and other sites. If the right combination of gearing is set up, it should be easily attainable. Yes the body styling isn't as up to date, but then take a look at the Porsche, it's nothing new either. Besides that, the Cobra was bred a Race Car, not a street car. Heck, even the BMW M5 "Family Sedan" can reach 190 mph. I've seen the speedometer on one pegged at 190 on the Gumball 3000. There's no real reason a Cobra can't do 200 mph.

:D

I thank all of you very much for taking the time to respond, I will try to contact you individually if possible. Please keep the info coming!!

lineslinger, You may look at my note on the string above about "visited Premier Motor Sports". I own a PMS car that is manufacturer right here in KC. I had a great experience and have a great car. I have driven it over 4700 miles in one year. None on the race track, but for enjoyment. My son and I worked on this car together. It was an invaluable experience. one I will never forget.

Now its drive it and occasionally show it. I have never been to a show that the car did not get a lot of attention. Have a look at August Kit Car Mag. Front page pic of a PMS car that was built same time as was mine. If you have any questions about the cars or the people, contact me directly.

Brian

Rallyracer,
There is a good reason that Cobra's with all of their horsepower are not particularly good at attaining the real big velocities and it has nothing to do with the chassis not being able to handle it.

AERODYNAMICS...the Cobra has none...zero,zilch,nada.

This is not saying that a cobra can not do 200mph but it takes an awful lot more horsepower to push the wall of air that a Cobra is pushing than it does to push the wall of air that a Ferrari is pushing.

The Cobra was bred as a race car and it did its job well, up to a certain point. The reason that the Daytona coupes were made was BECAUSE the roadster was not good at higher speeds and could not keep up with the Ferraris and what not on the longer tracks.

so as Jschiller alluded to you could make a Cobra able to do the big numbers all it takes is $$$$;)

Have a good one,
Dan

Like I said, the Cobra is no more/ less aerodynamic than the BMW M5, yet the M5 does 190.

What IS the fastest speed anyone has had their Cobra up to? I know I have seen at least one up to 160, and I find 160 conservative.

Great to hear about the project. I sure it will be one of the experiences you both always remember.

You need to know (and we do if you would like a specific recommendation):
- time commitment
- budget
- desired use

These are the very minimum. A number here have mentioned some very good cars that come as rollers to almost a complete turnkey minus type of car. Sounds to me that you are looking for more of a 'car in a box' type of car. True kit car. The kind that shows up in a bunch of boxes!

I don't beleive any of them any more require extensive fabrication.

All of them can be built with all new parts even though many are designed and marketed with donor parts in mind.

There are MANY out there. Of the ones that you can get in kit forum(you can also get them complete) you may look at Factory Five, Unique and ERA. Those are all popular manufacturers of good reputation that offer a fine product. They are in order price wise as well.

Enjoy the time with your son...... and the build of course!

Rick

The M5 will be much more stable at speed than the typical Cobra. Much more. Yes, you can attain the speeds you mention in a Cobra. Not with me in the car though;)

Take your time there hot shot!

Rick

Linesslinger: This will be a great project to share with your son. You two are going to have challenges, but you'll also have a lot of fun. I bought a completed Contemporary Classic because of its reputation of being very close to the original and my desire to get driving my Cobra right away. Unfortunately, the 428 FE broke soon after I purchased it, so I eventually went to Shelby and went with his modern version of the 427 FE sideoiler. But I regress. If I were to build a car as a kit, I would look first at an ERA. They have an excellent reputation and you can get it partially built as far along as you desire. Of course if I had the money, a Kirkham would be my first choice.

By the way, I don't know why some of these folks are talking about speeds above 160 MPH. If you aren't going to Bonneville, who cares? I'm more interested in autocrossing right now, and handling is more important than top speed. Of course, with 560 HP, brutal acceleration is kinda fun as well! ; ) Rich

I would bet that a cobra is substantially less aerodynamic than a BMW. The roof on the BWM will help "smooth out" the airflow around the car. Isn't that what led to the Daytona- which is essentially a hardtopped cobra- the need for a car with better aerodynamics?

About 55 on a trailer, Does that count?:LOL:

My time on this project is not really limited by anything other than sticking with it. If it takes two years, so be it. My budget is 35-40 k for a completed project. Desired use would be basic cruising along with some brutal acceleration. I haven't gotten to expereince that since my wife made me ditch my motorcycles.