Aluminum 289 Slabside Question

[CSX 4027]

What do you think?
If you could get a 350hp daily driver with top, side curtains, heater, wire wheels or kidney beans and the look of the car that began the Cobra revolution.
You could always keep the 427(if funds are availble)as the weekend car.

[John McMahon]

Don't forget them American Racing mag wheels!

I prefer the wire wheels and the subdued look of the English roadster. Vineland Green with matching wire wheels. Black interior.

If done right, I would pay up to $55 complete.

[CSX 4027]

I guess I am a little surprised that a third of those that voted do far had no interest in the car. If you could have a dead on 289 for less than a glass replica 427?
I would like some verbal input of what would be the ultimate Cobra in detail and at what price.
It appear that most seem to have gotten excited at the 39K Shelby deal and at the 39K Kirkham deal. We all know the 427 drivetrain can cost another 20-25K and then some and so many have mid 50's in some of the other kits with 351 power.
I am sure ther are many with FFR's and and the like that start out inexpensive and end up in the 30's and 40's. Then the question is of course, will you ever get your money out when Shelby and Kirkham have come down to a more comfortable level that have attributes that are un matched in the industry.
Shelby in glass has their everlasting provenance with CSX designtion, registry, backup and support and Kirkham has their aluminum bodies and the ability to deliver an accurate reproduction as per the era for a great price.
Inquiring minds want to know. Plural(not just me)

[Specialk]

Steve,

Very few people want a 289. I bet every company that makes a 289 model sells quite a few less of them than their 427 models. If I was offered an exact 100% clone of a street 289 or 4027, I wouldn't have to think twice! I bet the ratio of people who agree with me is probably 50:1 or better.

[CSX 4027]

I agree with what you said but, the reality of driving the 427 on the street can sometimes be less than rewarding if you really want to drive the thing with the big block. I think every guys fantasy about one is somtimes better to be kept as a fantasy. I just thought the reality of driving a small block car that looked like it was suppossed to have a small block in it made some sense because lets face it, there are a lot of kit car guys out there that drive 427 body cars with small blocks. At least with the slab side small block you don't have to make too many explanations to the public when you open the hood. It is what it was in '62.
Just thinking overtime...

[Anthony]

As with any size engine, a BB can be made to be as tame or as wild as you want it to be.

I don't think Kirkham sold their hybrid 3002 copy for 39,900, but I believe they have sold alot of their 427 bodied cars for the same price after their 3002 car was offered on ebay.

Even if you have a BB, at a show, you still have to explain that it isn't an original car from the 1960's, which is what most people are interested in knowing anyways.

Kris said the demand was 50:1 . I would say that it is even more, comparing a 427 to a slabside 289. Most people would not be able to tell the difference from a 289FIA and a 427SC car, I know my wife couldn't, unless they were painted different colors.

[RACER X #99]

Steve,
It is more fun explaining why I have a sb in a 427sc body than it is for the guy with the 427 engine trying to explain why he can't keep up with the small block.

Cranky

[MysteryTrain]

I think the slabbies are gorgeous. Although I dream of having a 427 replica with a sideoiler, I see so many 427 replicas on the road that when I see one, I almost never consider that it might be an "original" vintage 427. But what do you think when you see a 289 slabside on the road? Especially if the car has correct details (wheels, vintage tires, correct bades, etc.)? I know I assume it must be original, since there are so few replicas out there. The scarcity alone makes it somewhat more desirable in my eyes. And since I don't plan on drag racing on public streets, the 289 seems like a sensible, classier choice. The guys who race their 427 replicas on the track at least get the concept of what the car was originally for. As a daily driver, the 289 would be a great choice!

MT

[grumpy]

RACER X...
Here we go again, cubes will never be beat, and ya know it. Dollar for dollar you cannot beat a big block with a small block, quit trying to cover up the insecurity of your having a small one. LOL
grumpy

[CSX 4027]

Just to divert from the topic for a moment. I will be in NC this week with some Cup Teams selling Life Insurance. I am bringing my car home with the neww little Winston(Mine ain't Nextel)Cuppy motor. In only made 781 on the dyno. We'll see about that power to weight thing this year for sure. Remember, I'll have big balls for turn one at The Glen.

[RACER X #99]

Grumpy,
Here's a question for you.

Why don't you see many BB's at the racetrack?

I'll save you the trouble of trying to explain that.

Because BB owners know better.

Cranky

BTW why do they call you grumpy?

BTW II Why are guys spending 15-20K on big blocks to try and beat 10k smallblocks?You got yer dollar fer dollar mixed up.

[RACER X #99]

Steve,
Turn one should be easy for you. Let's see you flat foot it thru the esses. And I'll have my camera ready when you bounce it off the curbs in the busstop.

Can't wait to see and here your new ride.

Cranky

[John McMahon]

Steve,

Just don't pull a "Dale Jarrett" in turn 1 at the Glen in the kitty litter first time out. I'll be bringing you a special present for your "inauguration ride":



Grumpy,

You just ain't been to the race track since the 60s have you? Just a note, they have stopped using BBs.

[John McMahon]

Steve,

Very few people want a 289. I bet every company that makes a 289 model sells quite a few less of them than their 427 models. If I was offered an exact 100% clone of a street 289 or 4027, I wouldn't have to think twice! I bet the ratio of people who agree with me is probably 50:1 or better.

Kris, I'd agree with you in the statistics, but more and more folks (I feel) as they have owned a Cobra (usually start out with the 427 SC) revert back to the original lines of the original car, myself included. I think as the market gets flooded with 427 replicas, you'll see more people moving to the 289 car for a unique approach to Cobra envy.

[CSX 4027]

Cranky and Grumpy;
My point...
Why not have an gorgeous alloy replica on the money in every way with the small block. The old Road & Track tests proved to be fast in the day on bias ply tires. I am sure the "Hey Little Cobra" will probably smoke most on the street in an unassuming way with its wire wheels and sliding windows..
The only difference will be that the car will really look original and you will be way south of the current market price of $230,000 for a well restored one.

[RACER X #99]

Steve,
If I wanted a nice street cruiser that would be a great Idea. I can't ride in my car for more than 30 min without my back killing me. I'm thinking maybe the new Mustang in a year or two.

Cranky

[Satanpez]

I can't afford anything from Kirkham besides a T-Shirt.

That being said, I'd love a 289 style car from someone like FFR. Something as more than a casual weekend driver, but for more every day driving. Undercar exhaust, small block.

There is something unappealing to me about sitting in traffic with a BB and sidepipes next to my ears.

Cranky:
If I win the lottery I'm spending it all on a big block cobra and driving lessons. Just annoy the NJ crowd!

-steve in nj-

[RACER X #99]

Satanpez(Steve),
I eagerly antisipate your arrival at the Club Cranky driving extravaganzas.
You will be accepted weather you got a BB, sb, Chevy, Dodge, Rolls Royce, We don't give a crap what you drive ,JUST SHOW UP.
Partisipation is not required. Attendance is.

Good luck with the Lottery.

Cranky

[Anthony]

Santapez,

you could build a 427 body car with a small block and under he car exhaust.

see the current thread. http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...025#post428025


If you want the lines of a slabside, buy an AC ace or such, and you could put a small block in it if you want to, or just keep the 6. After all, at Run and gun, theres a guy with a V-6 that beats up on all the winston cup V-8's.

[Satanpez]

Well, if I was truly going for a Track car, I wouldn't be going the Cobra route. I've got my rust free '82 mustang with 34,000 miles on it for that future project. But enough of the thread hijacking!

I wouldn't mind the 427 body with undercar exhaust. But it would be nicer to have the body FIT the engine. I like period correct, but I don't like hunting down rare and expensive parts. I'm not into show cars, I'm not in the point in my life where I can afford $60,000 for a kirkham. If I can't use it as my main car during good weather, it's not useful to me.

Maybe I'm not the usual Cobra Market, which is why there isn't a plethora of 289 style bodies. But the majority of Cobra builds these days does seem to be biased towards the small blocks.

I bet if Factory Five came out with a 289 style car, it would sell in good numbers. I'd be willing to bet they wouldn't make money on it, as their normal buyers would just buy the 427 and stuff in a 302/351.

If Kirkham did it, a lot of people who would be buying more inexpensive cars would make the switch to them. And it's different. The 427 style is becoming "common". You don't see them every day on the road, but they're popping up more and more at car shows. I never see 289 cars.

-steve in nj-