Average Age?

Hello guys! What an interesting site!

I'm 52 years old, and I've been in love with Cobras since the early sixties. I used to think one day I might own a real one, but they were always JUST out of reach. I remember test-driving a used 427 in 1971, and thinking, "I'll have to sell ALL SIX of my Mustangs, and drive this thing in the SNOW!"
Another time, I almost had a trade worked out, to trade three of my Shelbys for a 289 Cobra that was an "old race car" sitting in a barn - turned out to be a real FIA car - but Gordon Gimble beat me to it.

I've owned dozens of Mustangs, some early, some late, a couple Tigers, and a Pantera. I've worked at Ford nearly thirty years, and am a die-hard Mustang and Cobra fan. I've been to EVERY single National Convention for SAAC that they have ever had.

Reality caught up with me when my lovely wife died of cancer at age 39 in 1986. She had been a tremendous supporter in my hobby. A couple years after her passing, I decided I'd better do what I want to do, while I still could.

I had my mind made up though, being a hard-core "small-block" guy, I wanted a 289 FIA. It took me a while, but after several years of cajoling, I got Peter and Phil at ERA to do the FIA car.....I got the first one.

My car is everything I dreamed of, fast, beautiful, and fun-to-drive. I only wish Diane were here to enjoy it with me, but I know she's smiling on me from up above!

[This message has been edited by Jeff Burgy (edited 06-16-1999).]

Hi Jeff,

It's good to have you as part of this wonderful site! I am truly saddened to hear about your wife. Perhaps it would help if I told you that my experience is similar but that it was a divorce that took us apart. I've wanted a Cobra since first sitting in a white 289 roadster in a showroom in Santa Rosa, CA in 1965. Always liked the way the 427S/C looked but didn't want the heavy engine 'cause I always wanted great handling; so I'm going with a 351W in a 427 S/C body . Hope to be on the road in August? By the way, I am your age too!
Randy Klein

I just quickly went back thru all 93 posts to this thread and at 56 I may be the oldest member. Kind of scary. I just got my Cobra on the 10th of last month and am making up for lost time. I've put 2200 miles on it so far! I might be the oldest but I'm definately having the most fun. I am glad this forum is available - you great people are making my experience that much greater.
Ps. Happy Birthday, John!
Thanks, Pat

For me its a fever, I called it cobra fever, once you get it ,nothing will stand in your way. I'm 43

Randy - Thanks for the kind words. Diane and I were heavily involved with SAAC, and my "extended family" at SAAC helped me cope. I'll never forget Carroll Shelby walking up to me at the SAAC National in Dearborn and saying "I'm really sorry to hear about Diane...". And Tom Georgalos from NorCal sent me a really nice letter, telling me about his experience, along the same lines as mine. Time helps, but you never REALLY get completely over it.

I've been reading about your car under the "Shop Talk" section. This is a really great forum for getting information, and you can do it from the comfort of home. Great to get input from so many sources, and not just from the folks who want to sell you something. Good luck with your project!

Pat.
It looks like you, Art then me as the sneiors unless some are sandbagging.

Cobra2- you should look at the ages again regarding seniority, but what can we expect out of a chevy guy. Do they allow Ford powered Vettes at the Vette events you attend? How about senior citizens discount? Just kidding, I will be 57 in November and Ken Oikawa is 61. wt

Any newer members care to add to this post - tell us about your Cobra history?

Thanks!

Neal

I'm 36, and just acquired a previously owned ERA 427 a few weeks ago.

I have been a roadster nut all my life with the Shelby Cobra naturally perched at the top of my wish list. In the past I have owned a Triumph Spitfire and a Mazda Miata, both affordable, fun to drive, however as pitifully inadequate in fulfilling the Cobra lust as methadone is to a smack junkie.

Like most folks, the dream of owning "The Car" always took a back seat to more pragmatic considerations. As someone so aptly stated on this thread, we have a way of forgetting our dreams and mine was pushed back to the corner of my thoughts, resurrected on odd occasions when a rare Cobra sighting would stir me to proclaim; "HEY Honey, LOOK!, there goes my dream car!". To which my wife would comment to the effect; “that’s nice dear, are you going to help me plant Azaleas this weekend?”. POOF!, just that fast, as quick as the striped predator itself, the dream retreated back into its cubby hole, replaced by the more pedestrian issues of life.

Starting a few months ago, I began contemplating the trade in of my 95 Buick Riviera. The only new car that had a suitable combination of style, performance and price was the C5 Corvette. With lackluster support from my wife, I plunked down a $750 deposit and ordered a 6 speed coupe.

On the eve of the vette’s delivery, I was net surfing for car reviews when the search engine popped up an obscure hit on a Car and Driver review of the 1963 Shelby Cobra. I immediately changed the search parameters from 1999 Corvette to 427 Shelby Cobra. The dream, again finding its way into my conscious thoughts. After hopping through a few links I find myself in the Cobra Country’s for sale by owner page.

I began to re-think my position. I was going to get squat for my trade-in, and put down $45 “Large” for a new vette. Thus I began to rationalize . Even the most exotic car, driven daily, soon becomes just transportation and in time the vette would be no different. Practical? Please. And what’s wrong with the Riv? It’s a great car, capable of racking up 200k miles without a whimper or complaint. All of a sudden, the dream inched closer to attainability. And wonder of wonders, THE WIFE REALLY LIKED THE IDEA!

A few phone calls, some creative financing and two trips to Dallas later, I have a Cobra, PARKED IN MY GARAGE!! SOMEBODY PINCH ME!


[This message has been edited by Traveller (edited 05-24-99).]

I'm 34, and have wanted a cobra for A VERY LONG TIME. When I was 15, I wasn't interestd in cars at all, after all, they were only for transportation. I can remember a single conversation with my dad and some of his friends, one of whom worked in a GM assembly plant, about the high perf cars of the 60's, specifically the Daytona's and Superbirds. I couldn't believe cars like this were made. This single conversation sparked my interest into cars, and soon after that I was buying car magazines investigating automotive hi-perf history. I realized I was born 25 years too late. It didn't take long for me to determine that the car I wanted was a 427 cobra. As a highschool kid, I obviously couldn't afford one of these, so I did the next best thing, I bought a cheaper muscle car, my first car, a 65 442 conv. 4 spd, in pretty nice shape for $1000. I have alot of good memories with that car. I had the fastest car in school. I still have the car. I still didn't have my cobra, but I wanted something still faster, so I found a 1970 Mach 1 428 SCJ 4 spd which I quickly purchased from a guy who needed the money for his marriage. I don't know if he is still married, but I still have the car. Finally, I wanted a car to race, to have fun with, and not for just cruising or for car shows, but I didn't want to race the 442 or 428, as these had the original engines, so I bought a 1970 440 Roadrunner(non-original engine), which I've since dragged only several times, and I still have the car. Finally, with a real job, I think I can afford a cobra, but I can't bring myself to sell any of the other cars, although my dad wants me to get rid of the 442 and Roadrunner, as they are at his home, taking up his space. My family is also sick of me talking about cobra's non-stop for the last 2 years, and I'm sure they will get some relief once I purchase my car, hopefully very soon. I've already bought an enclosed car trailer and my engine, both at my dad's, Ha Ha Ha..

I hope I will have a lot of fun with my cobra, spending time with my dad, meeting new people with similar interests, ENJOYING LIFE. My cobra will be not just for cruising or car shows, but also for some racing, both drag and road racing. I'm sure glad I live in the US.

I'm 53 going on 23!! i just today discussed my plans for the Cobra with my wife. She understood. Of course the suttle hims of pubs in my office and on my desk plowed the road a bit. I first saw a Cobra back in '68. Corvettes of Mass. ran Autocrosses in the parking lot at Salisbury Beach, MA. (don't snicker-back stretch of 1/4 produced some sweet speeds). I used to run my triumph Spitfire with the funny swing axle set up in the back. Fun by not effective. Well 31 years later its happenin! 14 year old son will be a part of this also. Oh yea, 1955 chevy, 265, 1965 Chevelle-327,350HP. Now a Ford guy with Cobra etched in my brain. Thanks for this opportunity to mention all this.
Hank

I just turned 30 and have tried for 8 years to build a car.

5 years ago I made a promise to myself that regardless what happened in the future, I would have the car started by the time I turned 30. Try explaining that to a new wife as one of the conditions to getting married... I am not sure if she just loved me enough not to say "no" or if it was the fact she saw how many GUYS look at the car at every turn (hence, she may be driving the car more than me)...Luckily I have a great wife.

As with most things, the longer you wait, the more you learn. I must say, though I normally have the patience of a 10 year old, I am glad I have waited until everything was was in place.

Collecting a piece here and there while waiting for my ERA to be produced, I should have it finished by the years end.

Thought it was time to respond to this post since a large majority of our members have responded as well. I am 42-years old, and have also been chasing the fantasy of owning a Cobra for quite some time. This goes way back, but my first knowledge of this car came to me from a friend playing a Bill Cosby record as Bill explains his rendition of his Cobra experince. It was the funniest thing I had ever heard of when I was just a kid.

Now the kid is older, and I will finally get my chance to own a Cobra this year. - Bill -

Im 23 years old and have always liked old cars from the 60s.My first car was a 69 bug that I bought when I was 13 with money earned from my paper route.I drove it for a couple of days before I took it apart with the intention of restoring it. I didnt know much about cars back then (I now know why I kept rounding off bolts back then, vw=metric tools..duh) , and needless to say, the project overwhelmed me and I eventually got fed up with it and it sat in my driveway mocking me for a couple of months.A bunch of neighborhood teens rang my doorbell and offered to buy the car for $500 bucks and I accepted.1 week later I saw my car running in the streets, I asked the kid driving it how he got it running again,He said all it needed was a cheapo carb(I thought it was some type of ignition prob, I guess those left over parts I had when I tried to rebuild the carb were important...damn) I vowed from then on that no car repair will ever defeat me again...ten years later,I have self taught myself the art of auto repair.I have owned numerous disposable cars during high school but I fell in love with the ford engines when i bought a 1965 raven black mustang with a straight 6 when I was 16, the engine ran flawlessy for over 4 years of owning the car with an average of 20k miles a year.I have never seen such reliability in a motor before,I thought to myself if their straight 6s were this good I wonder what a v8 would be like...The v8 went in and I finally knew what I was missing...numerous mods later to my "low tech"65 stang, I started wondering what it would be like to own a later model 5.0 stang with fuel injection and an overdrive tranny, hmm...I know have a 90 isuzu pick up a 68 firebird and my stang collection an 87gt convertible stang an 89 gt hardtop and a fuel injected 5speed 1965 stang with modified suspension...Im now wondering what it would be like to own a fuel injected twin turbo'd light weight shelby cobra with super car handling, hopefully this doesnt become a pipedream, but I did promise myself 10 years ago that no car repair will ever defeat me again.

Any new members care to add to this thread?

Thanks!

Neal

I just got my Cobra 2 weeks ago. I had been looking for months. For me it is a combination of mid life crisis and a desire to go fast. I'm going to be 44 in July.

I am 44 years old and has been a 20 year dream! Dreams can come true!!!

First shot at a Cobra, seventeen years old, living at home, going to school, saw wrecked Cobra in news paper, I was $1000 short ($3000), couldn't talk Dad into loaning me the difference, boy have we had some fun dinner conversations about the one that got away. Since then, MGA, MGB, Triumph Spitfire, TR4, TR6, Mini Coopers, Datsun 240Z and 280 Z, Porsche 924, Porsche 911, Jaguar XKE wt chevy 350 in it, and now finally a Cobra in the works, bought from private party, not sure what it is, had the money in my pocket and I could have it in my garage that day, so I jumped. Most beautiful Cobra I ever saw was shooting rockets into the jungle about 500 yards in front of us. Wayne, 51

I was bitten over twenty years ago in Europe. Young kid from New York and saw my first AC while stationed in Germany. Had no idea what it was, but I knew that I had to have one. About ten years ago, coming back from another (25 yrs, Army) overseas assignment , now very aware of the complete Cobra story, I visited Unique and almost wrote a check. Since I was still moving around, no Cobra. I retired last year and told my wife that it was time. Took delivery of my Midstates in January. I plan on slow and easy. (Yeah, right! allotted two years for the project, lack about six months before paint.) By the way almost 43.
Carl Felix
Frankfort, Kentucky (Yes, New Yorker who calls Ky home!)

I'm 52, but on me it looks good!

After 10 years of restoring old Corvettes, I have seen the light. No more crumbling 35 year old fiberglass. No more parts that are more rust than steel. No more searching for NOS parts with the correct date code.