1ntCobra,
Not to stir the pot further, but I think you missed what Aspenbubba said. He said that KMP and ERA were the best in terms of quality for aluminum and glass cars, respectively, not that they were the most correct in terms of originality.

Fia
 

I personally like the FIA because;

1. you see less of them:LOL:
2. It confuses the whole issue "is it real"**)
3. I love the the way the doors are cut versus the 427.:D

It's your money do with as you want as I did.

Sk....kit

Aren't we being a little elitist ? To comment on the quality of a paticular car you have to own it? I bought mine on a whim without the prerequisite research and therefore I am not qualified to comment on what I hear from CACC members? Sounds like your protestations are self-serving.

Well, from what I've heard on this forum, the quality of both the ERA and CSX glass cars are both excellent. I'm not sure that there is a consensus that ERA is the top glass car, but perhaps in the top two. :D

I didn't mean to create such passion... but it seems that the FIA is not as well known as the 427 due to the fact that there are lot less out there. Also, it seems that the 427 cobra has the most extreme look which seems to appeal to more people. Personaly I think the FIA has retro look of the 60s which make it look more conservative, the 427 look appeals the old and the new generations, it just does not get old.

I don't think Allan's comment was any more elitist then your comment he was responding to was.

I think Alan's comments on the bodies refers to the amount of work required to bring an "as delivered" body up to a smooth paintable condition. I love the Kirkhams cars and very nearly bought one. Their as delivered bodies are rough (file finish), plain and simple. Fiberglas is basically smooth. Can the K's be massaged? Absolutely. They can be mirror smooth, but every person I have met who polished their cars have said "Never again". LOTS of work.
The 7000 cars as well as the K's use 427 footboxes which are smaller than the 289s. On the plus side, this allows a 351 and up to be installed. The 7000 tunnel is bigger, but the "trellis" as Dave calls it is a real plus in chassis flex and handling.
The problem with the 8000 cars is not so much the wheel opening, but the way off spec front spring that cause the car to ride real high in front. Really spoils the look.

Man, where do some of you people get your information???

Kirkhams don't "come" file finish. You can order a car in file finish if you want to save some initial dough, but most KMPs are sold in brushed, which is a finished body. You can then polish the brushed body if you like.

Thats the whole point. To go from file finish (standard) to brushed is an extra cost upgrade!

That's like saying, to go from gel coat fiberglass to painted is an extra cost upgrade. You buy the car the way you want it, with what you are willing to pay. With a Shelby, you can only get the car one way. At least with a Kirkham, you have options to what you want to spend.

3002
 

Sorry but that 3002 clone was a swing and a miss. Look at the original photo's.The obvious front fenders are nowhere in the neighborhood of "what was" as well as multiples of missing/changed detail. That car you pictured is in fact a nice, really well done machine but, a clone of 3002? Not in my opinion.

You know some comments are made 'tongue in cheek' and shouldn't be taken so literally. The FIA is bigger because it doesn't have carpet? Come on, loosen up you guys. :LOL:

I was informed by the Kirkhams that most customers nowadays opt for the polished finish at $13,900 over the standard file finish.

I couldn't see myself with a polished surface, nice though it is. I think the long term maintenance would drive me crazy. I've seen a polished Kirkham, with a couple of years under it's belt, it was looking pretty ragged frankly, like a silver spoon badly in need of polishing (AGAIN)! :D

To me it looks a lot like 3002, but without having a direct comparison, I think most people, including myself, would not be able to spot the minute differences. Anyways, I'd love to own 3002, the real one. Obviously, all other 3002 look-a-like cars are fakes no matter how close to the original. I'd rather have a "generec" S/C or comp car clone than a 3002 clone, as with the tiny windshield and all the racing stickers, to me its not that practical, not that a cobra is practical in the first place. Beautiful car though.

Excaliber, painted cars require periodic polishing and wax as well and after a few years painted cars may also look a little ragged. No paint chips to worry about either.

While it's true painted cars need refreshing, I suspect it is far more labor intensive to keep a polished car looking great as the years roll by. Just part of the price to pay for having such a unique and very cool look.

dlampe
i have to agree with you completely on your statements towards Allan A. I have worked on both original 289 & 427 cobras as well as both aluminum (kirkham & sai) and fiberglass current production (sai) 4000 & 7000 series shelby's. none of the cars has better interior room than the original 289 cobras. the car with the least amount of interior room has to be the 7000 series fiberglass cobras (427 foot boxes & trellis frame). as for the originality of the 7000 series cars versus the originals, other than the aluminum car they don't hold a candle to the originals or the kirkham product (leaf spring chassis). i will admit that both have thier issues as far as the physical appearance but as far as being true to the original the aluminum cars (not the kmp hybrid or billet susp. models) offer the most "original" experience when driving. in my profesional opinion the build quality of the kirkham vs. sai, the kirkhams have always been to a higher standard in thier product! it is up to the individual owner / builder to stay as close to the original in components utilized (brakes, engine, trans, gauges, suspenension components, etc...) or as modified as they want to make the vehicle to suit thier own tastes..............just my opinion.

p.s. Allan A. your going to have to change your line before you get embarrassed:
"CSX 7034 the most accurately detailed Continuation Cobra to original specification since the demise of CSX 4027."

Once agian you write without reading, never did I say anything about original. I said "I" like the fiberglass body better than an aluminum. As for the interior room, I have owned two 4000 aluminum cars and the interior room was less than the 7000 glass. Maybe mine is special!

A little joke that only a few with brains understand. When will we see your super car, many of us are looking forward to the day we get to see it an you!:CRY:

Well said Allan.:)