Average Age?

[walsh]

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.

[davids]

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

[Scott S]

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?

[This message has been edited by Scott S (edited 02-11-99).]

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

Scott S

[rooster]

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

[Bryan Wilson]

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

[lonestar #024]

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

[Tails]

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

[nater]

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

[udxcob]

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

[Hammer65]

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.

[spookypt]

I'm 36 in 5 days. Bought my first Cobra at 33 and now putting another one in the garage (1/2 owner) to keep the first Cobra company at 36yrs.
SpookyPT

[jagxjr5012]

I had my first Cobra (ERA) at age 28.....now I am 41 and I am on my second Cobra (also an ERA) ....I just love the car. I can have a great day just backing it out of the garage and cleaning it over a beer with my dad !! Priceless !!

[FIREMAN]

I have loved these cars since I was a boy, I am now 53 yrs. young and only 7 mos. from retiring from the Houston firedept. I have decided that instead of a gold watch of which I would have to buy that I will purchase a new BackDraft Cobra. I can't wait to see it setting in the garage or better than that to see me looking into the rear view mirror.
Great thread and some good reading! Have been lurking for a while now and enjoy the the good posts and all the great info on the cars.
R.G. Chandler

[601HP]

Recently turned 55. Have owned this car since 1994. My wife has and still does fully support this toy. Both of us decided in 1992 to work toward buying, building and driving a Cobra.

I'm still mildly apprehensive, maybe excited is a better word, each time I start the engine.

We'll probably keep it until getting in and out of it is too much of a challenge physically. We hope that is a long time from now.

David

[Bluesman]

I bought a rolling chassis from Butler Racing Inc. when I was 38. After two years of on and off interest, I completed the project. Put 10,000 miles on the car in the 1st ten months. That was in 1991. I have 17,000 miles on it now.
Don't drive it very often anymore.
Only had one "owner caused" breakdown. After 18+ years of owning this car,
I still love it like the day I first put the rubber to the pavement.

[michel schryer]

I'm 46,no kids,one dog, a very nice wife and all the time in the worldto build my cobra.

[BRSIII]

Money is certainly an issue, but I managed to get my kit when I was 30. Seems I was always fascinated with Cobras. Got out of the Navy in May 95 & landed a decent job with HSB as a boiler inspector. About a year later I ran across a deal from a guy in Vegas that had purchased the kit from CR a few years earlier, but never built it. Been working on it since. 42 now and still not finished!!! pic's at flickr.com crclassic427build

[stretch]

i am 32. got my 1st kit on valentines day (2008) finished it at the begining of april.
already bored and want somthing different. it is fun to drive, took it to the dragstrip and got kicked out for running 10sec. passes with not all the correct safety equipment.

after i sell this one i think i see a coupe future.

[Chaplain]

I'm 58.......rode in an original when I was 19 and always wanted a Cobra. Unfortunately it had to wait until later in life because of other financial priorities. I have an 90" wheel base BBF Everett-Morrison. An IRS wasn't important to me, it's so stiff I don't think I could tell anyways. Driving and working on it is pure fun; but just walking out to the garage, taking the cover off and looking at it and knowing it's mine is the fulfilment of a dream.

[linklaw]

I'll be 48 next week and bought my AC MKIV in the summer of 2005. I had looked at a new one, on the Woltz & Wind Ford showroom floor, in 1986, but had neither pot nor window at the time. My friend bought one in the summer of 2003 and I started to look. I eventually sold three other cars, a Healey 3000, E-type Jag coupe and 1963 Comet convertible, to buy mine. I have never regretted it one bit. John