Average Age?

I'm a young 48, I got snake bit at a local show, looking for a '70 1/2 Camero to rebuild. After researching for 2 years, and visiting various car and engine builders, I made my purchase in January of this year. I have time now to work on my car, as my kids have gone off and ones in College. Only problem is not having enough space in our garage, as wife likes to park her car there!! In either case, owening a Cobra gets lots of conversations at parties and at work. I recently moved to Lanett, Al., and my neighbor is a street rod builder, talk about tools and shop, unreal!! He's got three street rods, two of the kits! Dedicated to the cars, its his stress relief!

When looking for a Cobra Kit, remember, not all the manufactures are reliable, as I have found out! Get as many references as possible on either the car or engine builder! Visit there place of business's, and don't get hoodwiked by "Big Advertising Budgets".

Bringing to top.

Brent Mills
Club Cobra

I've plotted my age vs. I.Q. and the lines intersect at 50! Arggggh.

These are great stories, and for me embody what's best about these wild and crazy cars--friendship. I've met a bunch of terrific folks through SAAC open track events--what I've found that's especially heartening is the "we're all in this together" philosophy that's usually evident at the track. If you break, someone will always try to help you out. When someone else breaks, you try to help out. I've only been doing this for a few years but I've made friendships that I hope will go on until I kick the bucket. This site does much the same thing--it's fantastic to be able to give or get advice with guys you never would've had the chance to meet otherwise.

I'm 49, and got bitten by the cobra bug in 1967 in my hometown of Erie, Pa. Saw and heard(!) a real 427! I didn't know what it was at the time, but I loved it! Have always been a car nut, subscribing to Moore's law of horsepower...if more is good, too much is just right! I ordered my kit in Nov of '97, and was driving my 30 year dream in June of '98. I always loved the look and sound of a Cobra, but, I wasn't prepared for all the attention! A quick gas stop sometimes turns into a half hour question and answer period! Anyway, my wife loves the Cobra, too, but to date, she hasn't driven it. She says it's too much work on my part to take a chance. She is happy to ride, and enjoy all the thumbs up, horn honking, etc. We live in the heart of Nascar country, so are surounded by car people, most of whom don't ask: what is it? Every time I drive the car, it's like the first time! regards, Chris Potter

50ish. Actually got wet over my first Cobra (the real thing) when working at a Sunoco station in high school. A rich, idiotic guy several years older'n me bought one, a 289. He came into the station one day with a set of street slicks to put on it. They didnt fit, so he borrowed a rubber hammer and promptly hammered out the fender wells a bit. One of the advantages of aluminum. True story. I nearly cried.

Thanks for bringing this thread back to the top, as this has been very interesting reading while waiting for the outside temperature to hit the magic#(for me-above 42). I am 52, with 53 coming in the new milennium 2/24/2000-wow!
My lust for a Cobra first started in West Texas in 1965 ( I grew up in Lubbock, then moved to Dallas in 1972). I was a senior in high school when a guy about 2 years older named Kent Clark got his dad to buy him a sports car- a black 1965 Cobra- 289 hi-po with 2-4's, chrome wire wheels. One day I finagled one of his famed " $100 bill sticking half out of the passenger floor mat, if you can pick it up as soon as I drop the clutch-it's yours- rides". Bang,smoke, 0-120, eyeballs embedded in my skull, nooo $100 bill for me, but gut-hooked for life.
Like most of the others in this forum, many life parallels, other cool/fast cars, single until I found the "right one" at 36, then father at 40, then at 42- & I feel truly fortunate & blessed as these are the 3 finest moments in my life. The pursuit of the 4th finest began approximately one year ago, when I finally came to the realization that the one obstacle to the fulfillment of my dream was time, so I began a search for a turnkey car. After lots of searching, I decided the car that came the closest to meeting my desires was a Superformance car, & I flew to New Orleans for a day in the sun with Doug Reed in 2 Cobras. What a day, what a ride, what a meeting of the minds- & what a deal!!
Fast forward 4 months, & my 10 yr. old son & I hop a plane, land in N.O., and there sits the most beautiful car we have ever seen- because it is ours!! The next day(10/21/99), we drive it home to Dallas, about 560 miles by the time we get home. We have never put the top on it, it is driven every day that the weather permits (I think we have missed about 7/8 days total so far), & have logged 2056 miles, until we start it in about 10 minutes.
I intend to keep this car(God willing) until I get too old to drive, then the kids get it, but as we all know how about 20-25 years melt away as soon as the engine fires & the rumble of a VERY healthy big block(or whatever you have)warms up, my kids have a very loooooooooooong wait!
Happy new year to you all, & thanks for starting this.
John R.

Lots of new names since this thread last surfaced.

Anyone care to contribute?

Thanks!
Neal

I bought my car at age 25, having worked in the family store basically since leaving school so I could save enough for the right car. Having toyed about with a 460 powered Falcon, I knew my new toy had to have reasonable power and (unlike the Falcon) exceptional handling.
I ended up buying an already completed car - built with an eye for originality, rather than hot-rod-show points.
The absolute highlight of my ownership of the car was a couple of years ago our local Cobra Club was given the task of driving the Indy Car drivers on the parade lap in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.
One of only two genuine 427SC's in Australia turned up for the day as well!!!
Oh, I'm now 27y/o. That WAS the original question, wasn't it?!?

I'm 34 and have had my LA Exotics for about a year and a half. I got it used at a fire sale price. It only had 980 miles on it! The guy had to get out from under it because he had some "other" bills to pay. I have wanted a Cobra ever since I got rid of my 69 Camaro Z28 after coollege.

This is my sainity relief from my current job. My wife doesn't exactly get it, but then again, she jumps horses over 5ft fences. I tell her it's about the same feeling trying to keep a 500 Hp, short wheel base, lightweight car going in a straight line and not getting caught as riding a 1500 lb. animal with the brain the size of walnut and jumping it over an obsticle. By the way, I still remember her face after doing a WOT up to about 100 mph on PCH. Priceless.

The unfortunate thing about my car is that the original owner loved cars, but did not know a thing about them. I felt sorry for the guy after he sent me the orignal receipts because of the condition the car was in. He really got taken by the guys who built it. That's why people who do business with B&B should be careful. (B&B - formally known as LA Exotics, same Cobra, different skin.)Looked great on the outside but, I have had to redo the brakes, the trany crunches into fourth, and the 460 has a bad vibration @ 3000 RPM.

Anyway, I love the thing. I couldn't afford a new one, and did not want to build one from scratch. I fear body work. Engine and suspension stuff is OK, but keep the body stuff away. If I had to do it over again, I would save up and buy a Superformance as a turn key minus, and stuff another big block in it backed up by a Jerico 5 speed.

After my current set up dies,(and it will die,just don't know when) I will put all that good stuff in because the fiberglass is really good and easy to maintain. The gel coat is so good, 90% of the people can't tell it's not paint from 5 feet away and it's easier than hell to maintain it.

Later for now, information and knowlege is everything,

JS

47 and on my second Cobra and 20th performance car as I started this fad at 16. Once your hooked your there for life!

Well Scott, your thread is closing in on it's first birthday!
Since Neal asked for newbies to contribute, how much more new can a guy on his first day in the forum be?
I haven't taken time to read all the previous posts, but I did see the tern "old fart" used. Being somewhat past the golden age of 50 (teenagerness and Cobra birth intersect in that dimension, catalysed I'm sure by testosterone) I resemble,,,,er resent that remark. I feel that curmudgeon is a much more dignified and solemn term with certain priveleges attached. e.g. Cursing out loud the dolt at the check stand who doesn't start writing the check until all items are rung up! You're allowed, use the privelege!
For the sake of your calculations, clock me in at 53. Just got my first Cobra replica, FINALLY, yesterday. (See comments "Which is the best kit") But have long history of fun cars, most of which were definitely NOT necessities.
If your wife thinks that having fun cars is a sign of middle age crisis, then I've skipped a whole lot of the stuff that "normally" happens after age 12. Since that time I can't remember a time I haven't had some useless (except for fun) piece of iron (or partly fibreglass) in the drive or garage.
Even when we were saving the world from the Communist hoard in the SE Asian jungles my sainted mother had my '39 Chevy coupe in her garage. Any of you guys hang out at San Fernando drag strip in the sixties?
Looking at the wonderful mixture of ages listed above shows one of the marvels of the auto hobby (sport, pasttime, whatever). Folks with diverse demographics can join together in a common interest and ignore many of the distractors of everyday life. This internet thing even expands on that community. However, I am struck by the reality that I have tooth fillings older than some of you guys!

Birth years are 63, real life years about 36.

Married for 40 years (same wife) and we both share, care, enjoy similar things in life. We have raced cars, motorcycles, since very early in our lives. Included in a long list were a 32 three window coupe, 50 Ford custom,
1956 Austin Healy with stage 3 Lemans A-100 4 cyl, and currently our recently acquired 1965 Cobra slabside.

As others have stated, the true love of cars and speed never leaves the heart.

Im 41 getting ready to order my fourth Cobra
The cobra is by far the coolest car I have ever seen. Friends always ask me why I spend so much on a kit car when I could buy so many collectable real cars for less, and to tell you the truth I dont have a good answer.
Im just hooked!

Pat

Hello Everyone,

First the answer - 36,

Now the rest of the story...

It's all my brother's fault - both of them!
They bought me my first tool set at age 3, and the wrenching has continued ever since.

As the youngest in a family of five kids, three of which are boys, I always watched my older brothers play with cars when I was young (there is at least 15 years in age difference between me and my brothers - shhhhh, don't tell anyone...).

For us boys it was always a common topic that transcended any age difference. Still does today.

There were always different cars coming and going in our family. They ranged from a little Vespa coupe that they hand carried into the backyard (because the bushes were in the way...) to HUGE Packard Patrician's.

Later it changed to street rods, open rail dragsters (driven on the street at 3:30 AM between friends houses), T-Birds, Bugeye Sprite's, Triumph's in all flavors, Spitfire, GT6, STAG, then MG, TVR, Sunbeam, Porsche, Benz etc. For me personally it was Camaro for a long time - still have the first one I ever bought.

We have always liked the Cobra's, Ooohed and Awwwed at them at the shows etc. Finally a couple of years ago my brother and I were at the Kruse event in Auburn. Cobra's in every configuration and color were there. I decided then that it was time for a Cobra.

I bought the first one in parts. I have been goading my brothers for a year now, and before long they will start bleeding with rest of us.

I find it best to bring them into the ring slowly, teasing them with stories, ads, auctions, pictures etc. Then it was the CRN Cobra Raffle (I'm sure we bought several hundred tickets between us). This spring it will be more test rides... then, -- then they will be hooked.

So, by this time next year at least two of the three will have Cobra-like cars. At least two of us will be regular contributors to the threads (the other brother is still trying to figure out how to click-n-drag).

Now the new challange is who will have the most esoteric Cobra. They are all fun, but our quest has turned into the search for the nicest Cobra (by our eyes). Yet another chapter in the arm chair racers guide...

Whatever the reason we all find to love these (and other) cars - we are all having fun, helping each other, and sharing the short lives we have together.

Perhaps the best part of this stage in our lives is that we all finally have (or are close to having) the three magic components place, time and money.

So, for now I have to go check on some Cobra cars listed for sale. Ahhh, a buyers market, ain't it grand to have cash!

Happy motoring to all. And buy the way, have you seen my list of items on the 'Parts for Sale' page... check it out, it could help you keep making your dream a reality.

Dave

PS Everyone say hello to Dan, he'll be the one that just joined our forum to read these threads. He'll add his chapter too I'm sure. By the way Dan, thanks for all the trips to 'Our Secret Place' - aka the ice cream store, and I promise I'll pay you the 3640 Bananna popsicles I owe you for loosing at 500 Rummy...

My younger brother Dave has provided a pretty good intro. We've been following Cobras and lately enjoying these threads and the vast wealth of knowledge and experiences that the contributers share. It would be interesting to start a "Reality-Support
Forum" for everyone using our real life, daily careers/knowledge to help others. Dave is a computer specialist and can provide some sound insites into problem solving. I'm
a Podiatric Surgeon with a general medical background from being a Navy Corpsman attched to the Marines in Viet Nam. We have in lines that may help anyone with questions.
If you're interested in establishing a support group and have an occupation or career that might help the rest of us, lets hear from you in the Reality-Support Forum that we started on the Talk menu.

Well guys this is my first atempt in years to be social so bear with me. my age is 33 and i've wanted a cobra as long as I can remember. I can remember talking with a good friend of mine back in jr. high about what we were going to drive to our class reunions. He has always wanted a midyear corvette and I of coarse wanted the cobra. Well about 2 years ago Dennis shows up with a 67' 427 a/c convertible and all i've got is a 65 GT mustang fastback. It was time to put all the research I had been doing on cobra's to good use. I called the boys in Tampa and said send me a frame and body.It's now a year and a half into this project and I sould be done with my cobra this spring.
You guys are right about cost, i've got alot more money in this car than I ever dreamed. But god has been good to allow my wife to be so understanding and to allow our 1st child to arrive about the time the cobra is completed. Now i'm trying to find a 200mph car seat, any sugestions??
tim

OK here's my two cents worth. I'm 49, live in Texas, but grew up in Southern California. I lived in Westchester, which was about 1/2 mile (as the crow flies) to Shelby American's two converted hangers off of Imperial Highway. I would ride my Schwinn Stingray to the facility and watch them load and unload GT 350's on and off the trucks. I remember seeing the unpainted 427's sitting on blocks, looking forlorn and abandoned. I remember feeling bad because they were just stored outside, exposed to the elements. I would have ridden all the way to Venice (the other direction) to have caught a glimpse of that facility, but I was only about 11, and probably not interested yet.

My best friend Jim lived next door to someone who worked at Shelby American - as I recall his name was Ron. Ron was about 35 years old, and would come home each week with somehing different. One day a 289, the next a GT 350, but to my knowledge, never a 427. One day, Jim and Ron showed up in a '67 GT 350 and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride to Galpin Ford (still there) in the San Fernando Valley. Naturally, I jumped at the chance. What a trip! When we entered the front door of the dealership, there front and center in the showroom was a white 427 (street) with a huge red ribbon and bow attached and the words "Buy me for your baby". It seems that the sticker (about $7500) was just too much money, and the dealer was looking for some relief from S/A....that's why Ron was there. Well, they agreed to mark it down to $6700. I went home, and implored my Dad to buy it, but he just smiled and said that the Chevelle with the 307 and Powerglide would have to do.

Well, anyway, I've been in love with these cars since they were putting them together, and although the originals are long out of reach, I am about to decide on a replica. So, here's to Carroll, Ken, Al, Peter, John, Phil, Jerry, Ron and to anybody else I might have missed at Shelby who have given me such great memories! Keep up the great site!!!

I'm 31? 32? not sure, have to ask my wife. Oh look here it is on my drivers license. I've alwasy been an absolute car nut. Could probably retire now if I had all the money I,ve spent on cars. I was looking for an early Mustang or Camaro convertible and ran across and add for FFR. That's it, sell the Harley and on to the next project, my dream, build a car form the ground up the way I want it. Gotta go that irresistable force is pulling me back to the garage.

Jim

Welcome to Club Cobra Tim and Jim! Your experiences are already reminiscent, and I won't have mine in the garage at home until this weekend! A 200 MPH seat? If you mean a faster car than you already have, how about either a Daytona Cobra or a GT40? You can get either or both these days, more easily as a replica. As for getting a cost effective Cobra, it looks like you already have decided Jim. One thing that I've noticed though is that you can also purchase a car from a previous owner (check out this website for cars for sale) generally for less than the original owner put into it, and you can drive it immediately! It's usually a win/win situation because the previous owner usually has another place to put his/her money and you are a willing and eager contributor to their new "destination" for that money (often another Cobra).

Well anyway, come back!

All the best,
Randy Klein

Well I have done the math for the third time now and we all must be getting older?! The first time the average was 41.5 years the second was 42.48 now the average is 43.5.

Maybe it took us gessers more time to figure out how to log in?

These are great stories, thank you all for sharing. I hope this thread never ends.

Scott S.

PS My wife doesn't worry much about the mid life thing now, our oldest just turned 18 yesterday and the first thing he wants to do is get a tattoo.