Need help choosing the right Cobra

[DRafalske]

High guys, first post here... got some questions I hope you can answer.
I will be in the market for cobra kit hopefully within the next few months, and I need help chosing the right one. From what I've seen, just about all the manufacturers are pretty close as far as drivetrain options, interior options, wheels, etc. I'm looking for overall quality with the chassis parts and fiberglass. Oh, yeah, one other thing, I read about a certain manufacturer a while back that offered a longer wheelbase to accomodate taller drivers, I'm 6'2", so that would really be nice, but I can't remember who that was. Anyone know, or have any experience with them?
So so many questions, I just wanna make sure I get a good one, ya know : If a deal seems to good to be true, it usually is.
Thanks
-Dave

[rdorman]

Welcome Dave. This question has been asked hundreds of times here (I asked it once upon a time). Do some searches on the topic. On the surface it may appear that these cars are all very similar. But they are not that alike. If they where very close to one another there would be no need for the 40 or so manufacturers.

Stick around, do lots of searches and reading. Narrow down your needs, desires and budget. Talk to the manufacturers and visit them if you can. See as many cars as you can in person. Don't rush the process and in the end I think you will be much happier.

Rick

[RaceDeck]

Check with Robert Evans ( he is by the tallest Cobra owner in the world!) you can do a search by user name "Robert Evans" he know every trick in the book to may you fit nicely in your car....I am 6"3 @ 225lbs and fit is not an issue

[DRafalske]

I have been doing a lot of research on this. I've had this fascination with Cobras since the first time I saw one, I'm sure you all can realte. Now that I'm in a position to actually own one, well, I gotta make sure its PERFECT.
I've been looking most closely at Factory Five, Backdraft (thanks for the PM Doug, thats who I was thinking of), and Superformance. From what I hear, Superformance makes an excellent car. What are y'all's opinions?

Oh Yeah, how much of a no-no is it to put a screamin' small block CHEVY in one of these cars?

[Zoom This]

When it comes time to sell your car, many prospective buyers view a Chevy motor in a Cobra as no motor at all. Resale deflated.

[Doug I]

It's your car so you can put whatever engine you want in it. Build your dream your way - not someone elses. It's your car and if anyone tells you they don't like somethign about it - well it's their problem not yours.

In reality I don't think anyone would tell you anythig like that. They'd note the difference and ask how it works and all that and be happy that there is another owner they can get together with to enjoy drives to places of interest etc .

[Hal Copple]

there is no best Replica, only the best for you. As for the SPF cars, i am 6 feet 2 also, and have a later model with the dropped and extended footbox, and run with my seat one or two clicks up from full rear. No problem with fit for me.

I have not heard of any replica owner being disatisfied with their particular variant. Once you have yours, you will love it dearly, and likely wouldn't trade it for any one elses.

Probably the best advice is to start buying your wife expensive things now, and visit a Replica gathering near you.

I have put some pics of my car in my photo album you can click on next to my name.

Owning and driving a Replica is a pretty singular experience. Sorta like having a seat on a Space Shuttle.

[charles reber]

hey dave,welcome. I have a lonestar that sits just right,the
proper ground clearance and stance is important. the engine
is a stroked 351 built with a wild loping cam but driveable on
the street. at idle im all smiles as i am going threw the gears.
its important that you invison what you want before you pick
the manufacturer. check cobra country foresale and look a the
different companies styles.my lonestar is 92 inches, im 6ft 2
and theres plenty of room. good luck!

[tfarhood]

You stated that you wanted a Cobra Kit. You also mentioned Superformance and Backdraft, as well as Factory Five. Factory Five is the only Kit of the three mentioned. Superformance and Backdraft come as Turn-Key minus only, and a dealer can make it totally Turn-Key if you wish. Factory Five is a build it yourself only option (or pay someone else to build it), But FFR does not do any assembly as an offering.
Do you want to build, or go Turn-Key minus/Turn-Key? After that decision, then you can start narrowing down the manufacturers.
As for long legs:
Long wheel bases, The new Everett Morrison, Excalibur, Classic Roadsters*, Lone Star for kits; and Backdraft and Team-C for Turn-Key minus. Other kits/replicas offer dropped floor pans for extra leg room, but still have the 90" wheelbase; Superformance, B&B, and others.
As the others said, the right choice is simply to get the one that has what you want in a car. Chevy is certainly not a Shelby type product, but you can build twice the Horse Power for half the cost of a Ford engine. Re-sale will be lower with a Chevy though.
Check out www.cobracountry.com and read, read, read. You will change your mind many times as you learn the differences in the cars. Budget and purpose of the car will often be the biggest influence on your decisions.
Have fun and keep asking questions!

[Jack21]

Agree with the advice above. You have to decide realistically what you want your car to look like, feel like, and drive like. Do you want a sports car that can be driven daily with no more maintenance than a restored '66 Mustang? Do you want a barely street legal race car that you only take out on weekends?

Is this your first musclecar, or have you owned others? Is this your first build up, or have you built other hot street or race cars?

What kind of a driver are you? Do you like smoking the tires at every stoplight, or do you expect to get the usual 40,000+ miles on a set of tires? ? Do you expect your normal driving habits to change any? How?

You have some serious decisions to make early on because with a Cobra, one size does not fit all.

Do yourself a favor. You live in Kentucky. Take a cruise North around the end of June to Dublin, Ohio to DVSF IV. Look for other posts on this forum for all the gory details. DVSF is to the Cobra community as Sturgis is to the Harley Davidson community. 300 Cobras and their owners invade the town for a long weekend. And don't forget camera, videocamera, and notebook. And spouse, or significant other.

Then decide where to spend your green.

[Lew Ledyard]

I am 6'4", 235 lbs with size 13 feet and there is room to spare in a Kirkham that has the dropped footbox and the seat moved back with the tracks deleted. The pedals are adjustable and they were actually too far away for me when set in the furthest forward position.

[Tinker51]

At 6'5" I fit fine in my SPF. The others are right though. You need to sit down and really think about what you plan to use the car for. Do you really have the time/money/knowledge to build one (keep in mind that significant others are sometimes not that understanding when all the spare time and money goes towards building a car) or is the turnkey or turnkey minus best for you. Read read read, follow the posts and try and get to a gathering to see the various makes side by side for quick and close comparison. Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear you have been bitten by the snake, it is an all consuming illness.

[Loadmaster]

Welcome Dave, I have 1800 trouble free miles on my Lone Star Comp 427 and it has a 94" wheelbase with 4" drop pans for tall guys like you. Check out their web site. http://www.lonestarclassics.com/

Steve will treat you right all the time and their tech guys have always taken time with me anytime I ask. I built mine from the ground up, every nut and bolt. Wouldn't have it any other way. You don't have to be a "Master Mechanic" to put one together. All you got to have is, “the dream" and a little time.