Backdraft VS. Superformance???

[Excaliber]

Race Cobra, 'defined', Dick Smiths 198 car.



THIS is the type of Cobra that sets the 'standard' for a 427 Cobra. The farther you move away from the 'standard' the more freakish the car becomes. I'm just recognizing a certain 'standard' from which ALL of us vary to some degree in our personal choice of replicas, some more than others. Where do YOU draw the line?

I draw the line at wings, air dams and other aero style treatments, which dramatically alter the 'look and feel' of a replica Cobra. Now equipe said car with modern power plants, modern suspension, modern wheels, well, the list goes on and on, and somewhere along the line it aint a Cobra anymore. It's a 'spec racer' of some kind and should be run in a separate class. The very purpose of 'spec racing' is to control costs and create a competitive field. Comparing what is essentially a spec racer (BDR, FFR, JBL, others) to an original 427 Cobra just doesn't feel right.

[nielspg]

Originally Posted by JC Performance

Looking at a new Backdraft cobra.How does it compare to a Superformance?Which is considered better so to speak?

Hello everybody. I am a newcomer to the world of Cobras and to this forum. Sadly I am not myself owner of a Cobra, but a superperformance with a 575hp Rousch engine is on its way here to Denmark to one of my friends. I have recomended him to buy this car because it is licenced by Caroll Shelby and I belive it must be wort something for the value of the car. Is this wright or what ??
Greatings Niels

[lovehamr]

This thread encapsulates all the reasons that I'll be at London this year. LOL

Steve

[rdorman]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

This thread encapsulates all the reasons that I'll be at London this year. LOL

Steve

Yeah he!! by the end of Thursday night we don't even care who we part next to By the end of Friday, we don't even bother wiping the cars down any more

[Goober]

OK, I have driven both and did a very detailed evaluation of each - BD and SPF. Having owed a Cobra Replica years ago (Ram), I had plenty of experience with a lot of different manufactures. Most of them based in the UK
I have driven DAX, Gardner Douglas, RAM, Hawk, Southern Roadcraft and even the less expensive Pilgrim.
I went to Dallas for a weekend a few years ago and spent a lot of time driving the Backdraft. At that time, I felt the build quality was not as precise as the SPF and I didn't like the idea of using a used BMW rear end. I wasn't afraid of breaking it, I just thought why put a used rearend in a new component car? That particular car hooked up very well and to this day, it was still better than my SPF with the ford 8.8. There was some paint issues, panels not fitting well and some trim issues. I also didn't like the butt ugly steering wheel, but knew I could change it out. This was before they offered the new Autometer gauges and the other ones looked like they belonged in a boat. Changing the rearend ratio was another issue. BMW parts are expensive!
Anyway, I finally bought a SPF and am very happy with it.
This being said, some friends of mine have the newer BackDrafts and I must admit the quality issues are being corrected all the time. As someone pointed out, they are having greatluck on the track.
They are not the same cars and they don't even drive the same.
It's all about money, useage and what you really want. Some guys love ERA, Factory Fives ect. That's what makes the Cobra scene great.
Either way you go, big HP in a lightweight car is great fun.
By the way, by the time I optioned out the Backdraft with heater, smiths gauges and a bunch of other stuff, the SPF dealer demo cost the same.
I still have the quote PDF file

Hope this helps

Mark

[JC Performance]

Thanks guys for the imput and comedy too I want to look at a new Backdraft