Looking For An Alloy CSX4000? Here Ya Go

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by 1ntCobra

You original owners, what are you thinking, using your Cobras like daily driver cars.

I've heard that original Cobra tops may dry rot if they have not been used for decades and that they require an advanced degree to put up.

The thread holding the top together will show deterioration more than the vinyl.

Sorry to say I don't think the British were the best engineers for soft tops. At least they provided nice pictures to follow in the chassis manual.

Even when erected it doesn't mean water is kept out of the cockpit. 55 gallon trash bags slipped over the seats will help keep the leather dry.

Some preferred to run sans tops...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

Excellent feedback. It appears if you keep on top of the aluminium it manageable. I would never intentionally drive mine in the rain and knock on wood have never been caught in it yet.

Trust me, if you don't take care of paint, the paint on a painted car will damage too. Contaminants of all kinds will mar or wear paint down. I have first hand experience.

[Excaliber]

Being as I drive mine almost daily, if it's a light rain or I think can make it there and back without getting "to wet", I go. Every once in awhile I get caught in a bad down pour. So I drilled some holes behind the seats so the water can run out.

Different strokes...

EDIT: On occasion I actually LIKE to take the ERA out after a light rain or a wet road. It's real easy to get it "side ways" with light throttle and with a little experience can be a lot of fun at low speeds. Like driving on a dirt or snowy road and playing with the car.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Being as I drive mine almost daily, if it's a light rain or I think can make it there and back without getting "to wet", I go. Every once in awhile I get caught in a bad down pour. So I drilled some holes behind the seats so the water can run out.

Different strokes...

EDIT: On occasion I actually LIKE to take the ERA out after a light rain or a wet road. It's real easy to get it "side ways" with light throttle and with a little experience can be a lot of fun at low speeds. Like driving on a dirt or snowy road and playing with the car.

In Hawaii, it can rain virtually every day.

[HI Cobra]

The brushed aluminum on the Kirkham has proved to be easy maintenance for
me. Windex takes care of most of the cleaning - for finger prints or stains I
just use scotchbrite and they go away.

I can see where the polished finish would take more work but have no
personal experience with that.

Ernie - that Kirkham at the Cutter show a couple of years ago that came out
of hiding never to be seen again was polished (but not cleaned well, as you
said). As I recall it had a windsor 408 stroker and he wanted $95k for it.
I bet he still has it too.

[Excaliber]

Oh, I don't recall that it was the polished version. Man, was it THAT bad or what?

[HI Cobra]

Yep - I was in my search mode then and noticed plenty of hand prints, smudges, you name it - and wasn't impressed with the look or build for what he wanted for it.

[Excaliber]

Maintaining the polish would be a nightmare for a daily driver. I could see "brushed" with maybe some polish stripes, but even that might get old after awhile.

Bryan, one of our local buddies here, was complaining about getting caught in the rain with his ultra cherry Mustang and then finding some stains on the frame. I HAD to laugh as he was dead serious. OK, OK, I can understand it, but...

[RodKnock]

While I don't have many miles on mine, about 1,000 miles more or less, I've not repolished my car since the car left UT in 2007. I think it still looks pretty good.

[Excaliber]

Do you keep it covered RodKnock? I keep a cover on my ERA and have recently discovered it's actually leaving subtle marks on the paint. They polish right out but I see I need to use a softer cover.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Do you keep it covered RodKnock? I keep a cover on my ERA and have recently discovered it's actually leaving subtle marks on the paint. They polish right out but I see I need to use a softer cover.

Provided your car is inside, an old king-size bed sheet works quite well.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Provided your car is inside, an old king-size bed sheet works quite well.

My wife already calls it my "mistress" - nothing like putting a bed sheet on it to reinforce that impression.....

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

My wife already calls it my "mistress" - nothing like putting a bed sheet on it to reinforce that impression.....

Now you've opened the door to "stain jokes."

[maurice19]

I have had my Kirkham going on 5 years and over 13,000 miles, and all I do is windex once every month or two.

Scotch brite once a year as needed

And always get compliments on the finish, I`m too lazy to have a painted car that would require waxing or washing, ha

Maurice

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by maurice19

I have had my Kirkham going on 5 years and over 13,000 miles, and all I do is windex once every month or two.

Scotch brite once a year as needed

And always get compliments on the finish, I`m too lazy to have a painted car that would require waxing or washing, ha

Maurice

I have had my car going on 4 years and I have washed it once. I wax it once a year, and use a California Duster and quicke detailer the rest of the time. It does not get much easier than that. I can quick detail the paint in about 10 minutes. I don't drive it in the rain, but still paint is not tough to take care of.

[Gunner]

I dunno. I thought about a CSX4000 Shelby, but IMVVVVHO there's no such thing. Having various builders put them together for CS badging is bogus.

Buy a Kirkham if you want alloy. Buy an ERA or SPF if you want a solid model at lower cost than real tin. But I think the $20k for the pasted-on Shelby name is wasted. YMMV.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Buy a Kirkham if you want alloy. Buy an ERA or SPF if you want a solid model at lower cost than real tin. But I think the $20k for the pasted-on Shelby name is wasted. YMMV.

Truer words were never written.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I dunno. I thought about a CSX4000 Shelby, but IMVVVVHO there's no such thing. Having various builders put them together for CS badging is bogus.

Buy a Kirkham if you want alloy. Buy an ERA or SPF if you want a solid model at lower cost than real tin. But I think the $20k for the pasted-on Shelby name is wasted. YMMV.

Evan's "spidey-sense" is going to go off now. Rah-roh. Really, everyone has their preferences. I'm sure most people would not buy a polished alloy body for numerous reasons, but I love it.

Ernie, I keep my car garaged and covered, although I'm sure my very soft cover causes some minimal harm to the finish. I actually cover it more to ward off the oxidation process, if any, since I live in a mild (not humid) climate, and keep general dirt and dust off.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I dunno. I thought about a CSX4000 Shelby, but IMVVVVHO there's no such thing. Having various builders put them together for CS badging is bogus.

You mean, like originals?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

You mean, like originals?

Uh, we've had this discussion before. Search function please.

Shhhh! Please keep it down so Evan doesn't hear you.