kit car ratings

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Maricopa

They're not 'poor' builds, most of the FFR cars I see are built very well...

You're absolutely right. Not sure what came over me.

[jmimac351]

Thanks fellas. I ask myself why there aren't more like it all the time. I can't tell you how many messages I get from FFR guys about it yet time and again the same 17" / Cobra R wheel look appears on the forum. I didn't do anything special. I copied the Comp dash layout, covered it in vinyl, and put Goodyear Billboards on it with knock off wheels. Matter of fact, I did a lot of things under the hood I wish I hadn't (chrome alternator, etc.). If FFR would come out with a 289 car I'd be all over it, do it "right", and it would be a keeper. I'd probably even throw rocks at it to give it some patina.

[john lomonaco]

This is a picture of my crappy FFR. Everything on this car is brand new. The
engine is not a crate motor put together by a couple of illegal aliens or south africans making a few bucks an hour. It's hand built and designed by my son and I and features a new World 351 block, Crane cam, Ross pistons, Holley carb etc. I will park this car next to anybody's car and not feel ashamed. The point I'm trying to make is that an FFR build is not automatically inferior
to anyone else's car and I'm getting a little tired of feeling like a 2nd class citizen here. I applaud the beauty of Kirkhams, the originality of Superformance, Backdraft, ERAs and others but I've also seen some very nice FFRs. The main difference here is that these cars are not sold as rollers but typically hand built by their owners and build quality will vary. I have also seen some poor builds but let's not let a few bad apples spoil the bunch.

[Dinobyte]

Beautiful Car!

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Dinobyte

Beautiful Car!

I agree, John's car is beautiful.

I look at Cobra's the same way I do Pizza. There's good Pizza, and better Pizza. But there's really no bad Pizza.

I bought what I liked, and what I felt was one of the better replicas available. However I would never look down on anyone elses car because of the choice they made. I don't have to feed my ego by bashing someone elses choice of vehicles.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by john lomonaco

This is a picture of my crappy FFR. Everything on this car is brand new.

Nice car John! I think we've managed to tamp down the irrational prejudice against Factory Five and his Peacemaker.

Jack, when you say you have a SPF, BDR, Kirkham, or maybe an ERA - people have an idea of what the car is in terms of fit, finish, dash layout / overall look, etc. When you say you have a FFR the realm of possibilities for the Finished car is endless since that's mostly up to the builder. That doesn't mean you won't find some FFRs that are as nice as some of the other Finished cars. However, if you are concerned about resale the potential buyer won't automatically know some of those things and it may take a little more work to "sell" the finer points of your car. You'll find lots of SPF cars with big blocks. Your cost to entry is going to be more but during these times you should be able to buy the car right...which helps at resale. Lots of really nice cars are to be had.

Good luck.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jmimac351

I think we've managed to tamp down the irrational prejudice against Factory Five and his Peacemaker.

Perhaps, but the rational prejudice remains firmly entrenched.

[jmimac351]

One of these days Dave Smith is going to accommodate his "Kirkham Owners" with a digitized copy of 3035 or a nice FIA. I have a set of Webers waiting in a cabinet in the garage. I can almost hear the howling now!