New Cobra Question
 

I am sure some of you get tired of seeing questions similar to this one, but I have noticed the majority of the responses are almost always useful and insightful. Thank you in advance for your input.

After years of research and finally having the financial where-with-all to pull the trigger on a discretionary purchase of a Cobra, I have arrived at the following place with a few questions:

I am considering either a new SPF or BDR (leaning to BDR for price/value ratio) paired with a mild/moderate version of Keith Craft's 408 engine. Any comments on this package combination would be appreciated along with any additional comments on what type of regular maintenance you are doing on your similar Cobras. I am slightly mechanically inclined, but do not have the space for a full blown shop with all appropriate tools, so would probably be seeking professional services anytime I needed any work done.

And finally, if I were able to find a similar combination in a used well taken care of Cobra, what factors should I take into consideration when considering new versus used? Thank you.

For what it is worth
 

I bought a new one cuz I was afraid of a used one. I don't buy used Jeeps or sports cars unless I am personally familiar with the owners and how the vehicles were used. I bought a Superformance for the potential resale value of a well established brand. I got a Ford Racing 351 because any waranty work could be done and any Ford Dealer and because I am a 68 year old poser and the car will never ever be driven in anger or see a track or a dragstrip and 385hp in a 2500 pound car is more than enough for my intended use...but others have their needs and purposes...I call it the bucket car. Welcome to the club.

Both are good choices, with fit & finish ranging from good to excellent. The SPF is a little more faithful to the original, and comes more fully-equipped... but at a higher price point. The BDR has a 2" stretched wheelbase, which makes for a roomier cockpit and great handling. You can get most of the same options as a SPF, but at extra cost. I looked at a SPF with a 408 stroker (before I bought my BDR)... it was an awesome car... but it sold before I got back to him.

Routine maintenance is pretty straightforward... do a regular pre-flight check on the vehicle... oil/coolant level, check bolt torque on carb, intake, heads, headers, sidepipe flanges, etc.; check air pressure, lug nuts/knockoffs et al. You should be able to tell when your plugs are fouled. Solid motor mounts can loosen things up quicker than normal, so is always good to check.

As for the caveats of buying used... well, you won't have a choice on color. Some are drivers (and driven HARD), others are show cars. Don't be surprised if you have to settle for a ride in one... most Cobra owners will not let you test drive. (you'll understand once you own one) It's a lot of car & can be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. Ask to sit in the driver's seat... pedal and seat positioning can be quite different from car to car... make sure you feel comfortable with it. Find out the title/registration particulars of the car... this can be crucial, depending on where you live. There may or may not be some hidden problems on a pre-owned Cobra... you'll just have to deal with it. Once you've looked at, and ridden in a few, you'll probably refine what you want in a Cobra very quickly.

Good Luck-

As a follow up, I live in the DFW area, so I would be especially curious to hear what the Texas Cobra folks have to say. Thanks!

That's an old cobra question..............


OK, seriously, go with used. Plenty on the market, deals to be had, sell 'em if you get bored with 'em and not get beat up.

If you want a sweet Superformance, street version, look at Jim Brown's photos here:
Member Profile - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

Then check out the ad on Cobra Country here:
427 Cobra Country--Ford AC Cobra replica manufacturers SUPER-SITE

It is listed about a third of the way down the page just after the tribute to Bob Holbert.

Terry

Both are good choices. The old adage you get what you pay for is somewhat true. BDR just had a price increase and so did SPF, recessions do not hit the rich I guess (LOL). You pay more for a SPF but you sell for more also. If you go new on a SPF go with Dynamic in Ohio (Shane Miller) he always has the best prices and PE has done more installs than any other installer. I witnessed price differences of 8K between dealers for the identicle SPF. If you go BDR I would speak with Cashburn at Vintage. BDR prices have been exponential in the past couple years, I remember you could get a new BDR with Ford Racing 351 for $37,500 all day long, now it is closer to $47K and you get a 4 month wait. Rest assured the wait really suks bad with whatever model you choose!!!

In summary if you have the extra $5-7K go with SPF, licensed by Carol Shelby on original wheelbase with rock solid construction. If not BDR is the best buy buck for buck. Engine selection = resale quickness, I would go with either a KC or Roush. If at all possible stretch for the 427, the market is getting saturated and when you sell a 427 will go the quickest.

[ Engine selection = resale quickness, I would go with either a KC or Roush. If at all possible stretch for the 427, the market is getting saturated and when you sell a 427 will go the quickest.[/quote]

I agree, even if it is a 427 SB. The magic number seems to be 500 hp when you go to sell it. I know you think you may never sell it but I purchased mine from someone who said that very same thing on this board. Kieth Craft and Roush both make very good motors. I have a Kieth Craft and am very happy with it, they are a little less expensive and you get a little more HP from a Kieth Craft but I would not hesitate to by a Rousch, they are very nice motors and I think they bring a better name recognition if you go to sell it.

Chocolate Lab
 

Looks just like mine, at about 100lbs...do you take him in that beautiful Cobra ?? Mine is always wet and or muddy !! If so , do you leash him in somehow ?

Shane Miller of Dynamic
 

I got mine from Shane, he had the best price and knows the product ...

Besides the difference in the lenght of the wheel base between the Superformance (and most other replicas including ERA) and BD, there are also differences in the profile and "look" of the car. (See: Compare car profiles) While that might not be important to you, you should be aware of it.

Jim

Bartruff1,
She is 8 years old, about 75 pounds and loves to go for a ride...but NOT in the Cobra; she has her place of honor in the pickup shell!
Terry

All good stuff to consider. Thanks guys. I'm still somewhere between between build it like I want it for $55K, and buy a used one and make a few compromises for about $10-12K less. I would like to think I would never sell it, but reality dictates that it could be sold in 10 years to help subsidize a child's college education. Any comments from the Texas guys would be welcome as well.

... all the more reason to buy used. Once you've lived with one for a while, you'll start re-thinking your original decisions & choices... & wishing you'd done a lot of things differently. A ride in one (or even a short test drive) is not sufficient to sort out an entire car the way you'd like it.

Get a "starter Cobra" that hits most of your current wish list. Then, if you're unhappy later on, sell it & build one exactly the way you'd like it.

Also, the point is well-made about the "look" of the various replicas & kits. Some are more obvious than others. When you get a bunch of Cobras together, the differences become MUCH more apparent. I didn't really notice the 2 inch stretch of the Backdraft, but I really notice the 4 inch stretch of the Lonestar. You'll start noticing how the fenders are rolled, the rake of the windshield, the rollbar thickness & size... yada yada yada. Lots of little things you'll start picking up.

Cobra Info.......
 

Wannabecobra,

Since you live in Texas............you need to plan on making a trip to Austin during the weekend of the 28th, 29th & 30th of March for our annual Spring Meet.

You will be able to see - talk with - ride with - as many different manufacturers of Cobras as you like.

After that you should be able to make an informed/educated decision about what you want to buy!!!

Look forward to seeing you............you shouldn't miss it!

Dee Walters/Cammer

Find a local Cobra club.

Get to know the guys and gals and their cars. Look at all the different engine choices available(Big Block, Small Block, Stroked, Not Stroked, Fuel Injected, Carbed and Cubic inches).

Getting to know all the different people in the club, why they made the choices they did, what would they do different in a future build/buy, how do they really use the car and how often.

Many people like the idea of owning this car, but not many people drive them as much as you would think. Check the used market, you can save a lot of money and have left over for all the little tweaks you will want to make. (dress up, exhaust, fuel injection or carb upgrades, power upgrades, or track time money, lift for the garage, etc.) There are a lot of used cars out there with minimal miles on them.

I do own a SPF and know many people with SPF's BDR's FFR's, B and B's, and others. They are all nice cars. Just pick the one with the features "you" want! It is your car after all.

Good luck with your search.

I could not have said it better "Many people like the idea of owning this car, but not many people drive them as much as you would think" You either love them or hate them not much in between. If you love them your first will not be your last and if you hate them it will get you over this "stage" in life.

Either way, relative to other cars they do not depreciate as bad, you find the right seller you can make a little money when you sell. I definetly think everyone should own one once and remeber and respect what true American brute cubic inches is instead of the high reving foreign cars that get power at 7K rpms!!!

Hey Wannabee,
Go to the Club Forums area on the main page, Texas Cobra club near the bottom. You'll find our DFW group chatter.
The DFW group meets the first Sat of every month. Location TBD the week before.
We're also meeting this Sun at Chuck's hamburgers at Coit/Arapaho at 11:45, then driving to TGI Friday's car show from 1-5 at SE corner of Belt Line and Tollway in Addison.
I'm Miles, check my Gallery for pics of my SPF. I'll be happy to give you a ride and let you crawl all over it. Not sure if there will be a BDR there on Sun or not. Almost every monthly meet, there will be both manufacturers represented (plus 5 or so more) and you can go for a ride in both, see them side by side. Within the group there are brand new models from both SPF and BDR. There's a lot of knowledge about both brands here. (not me, but I know people...:LOL:)

The thickness of your wallet.

... also, any niggling little issues should be sorted out already.