New to the Cobra world? Have you always dreamed of having a Cobra? Read carefully.

[Art Burtt]

I built my own Cobra and enjoyed the experience and sense of accomplishment, I enjoy driving it and going to cruise-ins with it. I also own a Vette and a hot rod truck. I've had the Vette since '88 ,bought it new and enjoy driving it especially in the late fall or early spring when it's uncomfortable to drive the Cobra,the truck is my daily driver. All three serve their purpose, but I really like the sound and feel of the Cobra. Guess I'm a gear head, long may we prosper!

[What'saCobra?]

Good grief!

What about, "My 35-year struggle against the vast right wing conspiracy", by President-in-Waiting Hillary Clinton?

Paleeze! Spare us... ugh... you said you were only joking, but really now...
-------------
Patience is not only a virtue, but also a skill. Some folks build, some drive, some write, some photograph, some yak, some build to drive, some build to sell, some build to learn and some do it all.

These all are skills that ought to be learned, and not discounted because we have neither the patience nor education nor practice or opportunity to learn.

Frankly, my dear, this kind of thread helps those that can see the benefits to dive into the water. And those not quite sure, to look a little further and make sure. Be choosey.

There are the builders and the users. There are the fixers and the complainers. There are the salesmen and the engineers. There are the artists and the craftsmen. There are the dubbers and the wafflers. There are the ordained and the doubters.

Maybe we don't need them all, but we have them all. Right here in river city. A cross-section lf Americana+ our English-speaking friends.

Our common thread is Shelby's wet dream and his frequently star-crossed but fantastic history.

To him i raise a toast and take a sip of wine. Long live the king. And his original and new team.

(And long live the Kirkhams and KC and ...!)

[CHANMADD]

After reading the posts above (The different threads),this is obviously an individual who has no idea about things mechanical and sounds to be somewhat of a bad driver with unrealistic expectations.I don't remember the last time that I negotiated a highway off or on ramp with the clutch pushed in.Any carburated car being thrown around at idle will have problems with the fuel sloshing around in the carb.Why do race car drivers blip the throttle when changing down and make sure that they are in the correct gear to drive cleanly around the next turn?Sounds like Rsimoes should have taken some driving lessons at Bob Bondurant or similar,and perhaps have done some research about the differences between carb and fuel injection.

[clayfoushee]

I thought it was generally agreed that it was time to leave poor Rob alone. He was honest, shared his views, which are completely valid, and the "holier than thou faithful" feels compelled to pass judgement. Holy crap......please close this.

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by clayfoushee

I thought it was generally agreed that it was time to leave poor Rob alone. He was honest, shared his views, which are completely valid, and the "holier than thou faithful" feels compelled to pass judgement. Holy crap......please close this.

+1

I love this quote
"If you can stand the tuition, You learn more from mistakes than successes."
Tom Larson

[Jamo]

Why?

An argument could be made that it serves as therapy for all of the phuks that are so totally insecure about themselves or their cars that dumping on someone else makes them feel better...

or

...it allows newbies with a dozen posts to offer their opinion about gawd knows what...

or

...it's payback for all of Rob's endless phuking questions every freeking day of his build. *

*Just screwing with you, Rob.

[Chaplin]

Originally Posted by Jamo

...it's payback for all of Rob's endless phuking questions every freeking day of his build. *

*Just screwing with you, Rob.

That works

[John McMahon]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Why?

An argument could be made that it serves as therapy for all of the phuks that are so totally insecure about themselves or their cars that dumping on someone else makes them feel better...

or

...it allows newbies with a dozen posts to offer their opinion about gawd knows what...

or

...it's payback for all of Rob's endless phuking questions every freeking day of his build. *

*Just screwing with you, Rob.

Yup and I am sure half the guys doing the most criticizing did not build their own cars. Rob's wasn't the most exciting build to speak of, but at least he gave it a shot. More than I can say about a lot of check writers on CC boasting the biggest egos.

Please note - buying a Cobra as a roller and dropping an engine and trans in it does not qualify as building your own car.

[RedBarchetta]

What the hell am I reading here...A lynching or a love in?!? Good God! Someone send in the Marines! No wonder our country is getting so soft. This drabble is exactly how whole industries get a bad rap...someone without knowledge makes some mistakes, the dream gets crushed, and now it's everyone else's problem because the answer is to somehow make this thread a sticky (and edited on top of that)?

Fact #1: There are many like Rob before him, and there will be many like Rob after him. It's human nature to @#%& up. Get over it.

Fact #2: He didn't make one mistake...he made several. It's called the School of Hard Knocks. Do your research or get burned...it's that simple.

Fact #3: I wish I had $100 for every goof I've ever committed on the various cars I've worked on in my lifetime (Camaros, Mustangs, Corvettes and now my Cobra). I would have been able to buy his Kirkham for the $88K he let it go at.

Fact #4: Most other forums would have eaten him alive...period. He's been treated more than fair here. You post...you expose. That's the way the Internet works. Deal with it.

Fact #5: These cars are essentially "vintage race cars with license plates." We like...no, we LOVE them that way. It's part of their character. They are not for everyone. Learn how to use Google, educate your mind and grow from the journey.

Peace.

-Dean

[CHANMADD]

Chaplin.....Well said!

[jperickson2001]

You want hardcore cobra experience? When my wife and I flew from CA to KY to by my donor FFR and drive it back to CA (about 2500 ml), the car didn't have a roof yet. Or heater , or wipers. It rained through the WHOLE state of Missouri (wife called it Missery, haha...) and the car litterally filled up with water to our ankles. We were dry from motorcycle gear but our feet were soaking wet. When we got through New Mexico it was 10 degrees wind chill and we froze our arses off due to our wet feet. I went into a truck stop and bought a tiny screwdriver and hammer and punched some small drain holes in the floor corners to let the water out! Oh, we had the time of our lives! Yeah, Cobras are not for the feint of heart-John

[Got the Bug]

This has been a a very entertaining "two-cocktail" thread.

Just finished reading it from beginning to end....what a page turner. A study of the human condition.

[Excaliber]

Clay, those sure look like race cars to me.

But I see your point, even mine is a race car 'wanna be' by todays standards. I got my a$$ handed to me at various SCCA meets by those stinkin' Miatas and assorted other modern cars. One day a guy showed up with a 60's something Dodge Charger and ran the course. What a hoot watching THAT! A veritable 'boat' through the corners, (should be timed in minutes instead of seconds). But it was sure was fun seeing some 'old iron' out there on the track, made my day!

'Back in the day' Cobras were tearing up the track and were indeed a serious race car!

[snakebitekit]

For those of you talking about Harleys, stop the leaking analogy, they don't leak any more. I know, I have over a 100,000 miles logged on them. I do consider the experience similar.

How many of us, while maturing, have gotten drunk on a form of booze, to the point of praying to the white goddess? How many can, to this day, drink that form again?

The problem here is he was first bit and never recovered from the original bite of the poorly concieved cobra. Each time after he looked extra hard to find the flaws. The next experience confirmed what he already knew, the experience was doomed to failure.

Give him a brake as he was under the wrong infulence. Had his first experience been a moderatley good one the post would not be the same. \

For all the " I do it myselfer's" I have owned and wrenched my own cars, sometimes' time does not allow and sometimes I would rather ride than fix. But rest assured when I take it in, I take it to a trusted mechanic and I tell him what needs to be done. Just because I do not always wrench does not mean I don't understand the car.

This post has generated an unbelievable amount of response, like parents protecting their children. Like children we must allow them to grow. The mind numbing responses are not necessary or good for the site. Let his comments fall where they may.

Anyone who has done the research understands what they are buying; some race vehicles, some want to be seen vehicles, show car vehicles and on and on. Accept the fact he was not a cobra person of any sorts and save the post for articles we care are about.

Sorry for the rambling.

dm

[FST FOX]

I've been seeing this thread pop up and down, did not go through all the pages but heres my "story"

4 Years ago I got the chance to work with the Dallas based Backdraft dealer, I got to take these cars out, race them, fix them and the whole 9 yards. Well with in a year our investor pulled the plug and ended my Cobra dream. Being friends with John Ross "lonestar owner" he egged me to get one, well the time came and I was ready to buy one, looked at several different cars but chose the Backdraft that I knew, because I knew the car and issues and problems ahead of me. But I will agree seemed you didn't do enough homework and dove into a build/car each and every time. You stated it was to loud and basically raw, you certainly didn't do your homework then. I have had mine now officially for 4 months and loved every second of it, broke a driveshaft, fixed it didn't ***** or complain it part of owning a sports car. I laughed when you said the C6 could out handle and perform your Cobra, a C6 can't out perform mine, so maybe (and not trying be mean just stating my opinion) you could not "drive" the Cobra to it's potential, maybe a little fear of having no safty equiptment or computers to correct your driving mistakes. You learned your lesson you lost some money and you moved on. Take it as a lesson learned.

[mr bruce]

never thought I'd see a thread with more action than the world famous"big block or small block" thread

[SKINNEDR]

Just keep in mind that we live in a society that allow us ALL to speak out freely.
This is just a good example of what is taking place THREAD, free speech.
God bless America. What a country.....
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
dEX.......

[fsstnotch]

Not a race car... CS's personal grocery getter...

[Roscoe]

While I did not read all 12 pages of this thread I'd like to comment on the original post. It seems like you depended too much on everyone else to get your car right rather than yourself. You just threw money at it.

I guess it's ok if you've got the money but I, and many others, enjoy doing the work ourselves. I know that I get a tremendous amount of pleasure and satisfaction working on my Cobra. Building from the chassis up I certainly made some mistakes but, over time, corrected them and/or upgraded.

[imagine2frolic]

Is this a record breaking thread? It was like a volcanoe splattering debris everywhere for awhile! Once it started it just exploded......LOL