Was 35 when I bought my kit in 1985 - took 6 years to finish it - mainly due to financial constraints - still have it. It's growing old with me.

age
 

im 53 i fell in love with cobras first time i heard one hopped on bike and headed for sound and there was cobra guy up the road that was 66 0r 67 not sure i do remember he went by name of just doc. He road raced at mid ohio wow been dreaming of oweing one all these years . 1972 did my time in navy got married raised family seemed could never afford one .Family came first house etc . just got ffr mk 3 roadster efi 5.0 ho t5 spd 3 link boy im in heaven. life long dream in garage .800 MILES

I'm 67 years young, have non-hogekins lymphoma which is almost gone now , have uncontrolled diabetes and having gastric bypass surgery in a few weeks so that I can lose 100 pounds and not have any of these ills any longer...I've always been into sports cars owning 4 Corvettes many years ago and all new too...Had an FFR roadster in 2000thru 2005 raced it and then sold it and bought a partially done FFR coupe at the end of 2005 ...It's my pride and joy infact Bob Bondurant had it on his track about 5 months ago and loved it so much that the car is going to be shown at his 40 anniversary party on the 14th of this month...I'm extremely proud that Bob would honor me and my Daytona in that way..I truly love my FFR coupe and all of the fine people that I've met over the years that have either been into racing or just showing cars....Dave

Good luck getting well Dave.

Scott S

:)

Dave,

Best wishes and I hope that everything turns out well. Congratulations on your Coupe. It must really be something.

Ron :)

Has anyone run the numbers to get the average age?

:)

Dan,

I doubt it. When they saw my age they didn't want to know. My age would make the average more than most people are old now. Being ancient has some privileges. :LOL:

Ron :JEKYLHYDE

Dave- Bob Bondurant is still kickin' a$$???

I took his course in 1978, mandatory at that time for my SCCA go-ahead.

Very spendy for a dumb-shi+ kid in his 20's.

Get well, my Brudda, my prayers are with you.

I'm 62 and bought my cobra last year. Since 1966 I have wanted one off these cars. Back in those days there was nothing but the real thing I was too young and they were real expensive in 1960's dollars. My car is not perfect but it takes me back to memories of the 396 chevell I had.

He's the greatest guy Todd..He's been super nice to me..I'm giving him a 50mm chronograph watch with big numbers on it for his anniversary..That's what I think of him..I know that if we'd put an event he'd speak at it for us...He really has some great stories..He just came out with his book....BOB BONDURANT AMERICA'S UNCROWNED WORLD CHAMPION....Some fantastic racing pictures that haven't been seen in years in his book...Written by Phill Henny foreward by Carool Shelby and Introduction by Dan Gurney.. A good one to buy..it'll go up in value....you can buy it from Bondurant Racing or any book store.... Dave

I will be 50 this year, wow this thread has been incredible!

Scott S

I'm 54. Back in 68 I worked at a Standard gas station. I was a young punk. A blue with white stripes Cobra would come in for an oil change and I would do it and never touch anything other than what I should. I was in awe. He gave me a ride one day and went to 100 and stopped before I knew what happened. Don't forget I was a 15 year old kid. I got Cobra fever. I never forgot that day but I also liked Chevys and went on to build a narrowed small block Vega like Bill Jenkins and did pretty good with it. Well I got my Cobra from Shell Valley but I just had to stick a small block chevy in it and it is one fun ride. Forget the resale crap, Whatever makes you happy-makes you happy. You guys are cool. Russ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott S
A question from my wife. Is building and owning Cobras an adult thing or just a mid-life crisis kind of thing?

I'm 40, how about the rest of you?

My wife says midlife crisis I say getting to the time of life when one can fulfil their dreams.
The Cobra was a 50th birthday present to myself I am 58 now.
Cheers,
Bryan

This club and it's members are so amazing. This is my first post as I am a new member/owner of a Lonestar 427. I have been reading past threads to try and learn about this club and the people in it. I've noticed that of all topics discussed here the one thing agreed upon is the love for the Shelby Cobra. I know that having a original Cobra is very important to some. But to me the most important thing is to live your dreams the best you can.
I personally have had the dream since I was 9 yrs old putting my first Cobra model together while it rained outside. The love for the car has grown from there. I, just like a lot of others, are hard working people, and I know that as for me if it was not for the "kits", or "replicas", I would never be able to live my dream. I am now 46 and got my car in Nov. 07. It was the happiest day of my life. Sometimes I feel I am not worthy of owning my Cobra, as I did not build it, and it is not a original. But when I fire up that 428 ci, and lay on the throttle, it does not matter. I have owned several cars in my life, and some pretty nice ones, but they were not Cobras. I am living a dream! And I am sure that if you think back before you got one of your own, and was envious of the guys that did. At that time did it matter.
The other thing I have noticed is other clubs are so negetive about EVERYTHING. This club is always tring to help each other with problems. The excitement is shared when a newbie is waiting for his car to show up. There is so much support when someone gets stuck with a problem. How most of the opinions are positive. That is the kind of group I want to be around.

THANK YOU to all who could make my dreams come true.

Tom

Let's see I'm 32 now. Having a Cobra has been a dream of mine since I was 6. My dad and I were at a dragrace back home and there was a guy there with one. The owner was nice enough to let my dad sit me in the drivers seat. I remember when he started it up, I fell in love immediately. My dad always tells me my eyes were as big as dinner plates and I had the biggest grin on my face... :)

My wife messes with me all the time saying my midlife crisis has come early. I hope so, cause if not it's gonna be really expensive if it ever hits. So now I'm impatiently waiting on my car to get here so I can start on it... :)

Tails

I was 24 when I ordered it, and I will finish it this year at 26

I was 21 when i got my kit, it took me 5 years to build (weekends only) and i have had it ever since, i am 41 this year.
udxcob

This entry may push up the average.

While a senior in college studying engineering, I was accepted into the Navy flight program and entered in August of 1964 and was commissioned in January 1965 to begin flight training. While on Christmas leave, I stopped by a Ford dealer where my Mother worked and. to my awestruck eyes, saw my first Cobra. I believe it was a 289 green dream car. My uncle was also a Ford dealer and I asked him to see if he could get one for me. Unfortunately, it was too expensive and I bought a 1965 Mustang 289 4-speed convertible which I drove all over the country from base to base. Eventually spent 5 years flying jets in the Navy and, at the time satisfied my "need-for-speed". Graduate school, jobs, children, career and now grandchildren have filled my life. Retired in 2002.

So, I've loved this car for 43+ years and am getting one in about 3 weeks. My children have pushed me to pursue my dream and I am. Mine will be a Superformance MKIII, Tinanium and Black, with a Roush 427SR. I realize the economic timing may not be the best. I look at this as either an expensive rental or part of an estate.

Been on Social Security for over a year. You can do the math.

Age?
 

I saw my first one when I was eight on Grassy Key FL with my father. I will be picking up mu Unique 427SC this May. It took me 40 years.

Dreams come true
 

I am 56. When I was a kid eveyone else had hot rods but i nor my folks had the means. I survived. My brother and some friends had 'Vettes but they never did anything for me. I always thought that the Cobra was the biggest and hairiest set of balls in the world. Last summer I bought a Contemporary from a childhood friend who had one built with a side oiler. He had taken it out onto the highway here in Maryland and "gave it some gas". He did a donut on a 4 lane highway in HEAVY traffic. :eek: After recovering from a near coronary on the side of the road, he drove it home and never drove it again. I bought it for a song. It has 1147 miles and has not been started in 17 years. I am very close to cranking it up. Life is good. Pictures in the gallery.
David