Building Cobras for Profit?

[Randy Rosenberg]

There are legal considerations depending up whether you plan to build to order or stock a showroom (build on spec). The former is considered a custom car builder, while the later is considered a manufacturer (where research is needed to determine how/if to meet DOT/EPA, etc... standards).

Good luck,
Randy...

[Madmiles442]

If you started with a Hurricane kit (quite accurate and very complete), assembled it yourself with your free labor, you might come out in the black.
Assuming 2 things: you get a "deal" on the paint/body work and you get a "deal" on the motor/trans.
You'd have to find that friend-of-a-friend that can hook you up on a paint job. Weekend work or whatever.
Your brother would have to build up a motor from a 351W junkyard find or other find (mild, not wild-no ROI on wild), rebuild a tranny on the cheap.
Assuming all that, you might get $3k-$5k clear.

[jburnes]

Originally Posted by Madmiles442

If you started with a Hurricane kit (quite accurate and very complete), assembled it yourself with your free labor, you might come out in the black.
Assuming 2 things: you get a "deal" on the paint/body work and you get a "deal" on the motor/trans.
You'd have to find that friend-of-a-friend that can hook you up on a paint job. Weekend work or whatever.
Your brother would have to build up a motor from a 351W junkyard find or other find (mild, not wild-no ROI on wild), rebuild a tranny on the cheap.
Assuming all that, you might get $3k-$5k clear.

Sounds good. I've been hearing Hurricane a lot. I've also been hearing Shell Valley. Both kits are equally priced. Have you done a Hurricane? Any idea of the total time involved or if there are any mods you have to do to the kit to make it work?

[Madmiles442]

I have not done one, but know several who have and have discussed the builds at length. Because I've thought about what you're thinking about. I've since taken antibiotics and recovered from that sickness.
I might put Hurricane 1a and Shell Valley 1b. The Hurricane is more accurate IMHO.
There will be slight mods with both, you'll find them along the way. The radiator overflow won't fit there or the clutch linkage doesn't line up right or the throttle linkage needs reworkinig, etc.
The build time will all be relative to your experience and the tool resources at your disposal.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.