ERA Cars & F5

[Quintum]

Anyone with in the phoenix area have a ERA? And anyone have a F5?

I'm really torn between the two of them.

I have yet to purchase a kit yet and it will be some time. But the short version is... If it's possible I'd like to talk with the owners, and if possible get a ride?

Regards,
Dave

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

Dave, the top right corner of all posts on the forum have an area with cobra make listed. You can choose most anyone to send a private e-mail with questions via this forum. Cobra owners are happy to talk about their labor of love. FFR (Factory Five Racing) are numerous. ERA are harder to find but, I can think of 2 right off the bat. Robert McLindin in Chandler and Dennis May in Scottsdale also known as Snakebitekit.
If you can attend most any gathering you'll find lots of answers.

AZ Bob

[ERA427]

I have an ERA and I've examined (but not driven) many FFR cobras. The ERAs are simply of better quality. But there are fewer than 800 total. They make only about 15 per year, and they are significantly more expensive. Of all cobra brands - ERA and FFR would be close to opposite ends of the spectrum. I am bias but I would say that only Kirkham and Shelby would rival ERA.

[Grubby]

+1 - opposite ends of the spectrum.

Now let me get out the popcorn while 5,000 FFR owners dive on the ERA owners.

John

[patrickt]

I'm one ERA owner who happens to like the look of the older FF cars. I haven't seen their newest version, in real life, so I might like it as well -- I certainly like the pics. No, the older cars aren't "true to the originals," but they have a certain je ne sais quoi that I find to be quite fetching. As to performance, there are a ton of FF cars out there that would literally run rings around my ERA.

[mreid]

Two very different purposes and target audiences and both are extremely fit for purpose. I owned an FFR coupe and loved it. I'm actually happier with my kirkham, but when I consider bang for the buck, both are outstanding. The ERA has to be considered the peak of fiberglass bodied replicas (sorry Superformance dudes).

[mrmustang]

I own both, what exactly would you like to know?

[Dimis]

In summary,

If you want to go fast & have it look like a Cobra go ERA...
If you want to go REALLY fast and have it look a little less like a Cobra go F5...

[mikiec]

I own an FFR and have for the past 11 years. I have lusted over ERA 427 models for a very long time. It came down to budget for me. Now the only car I would rather have is a Kirkham.

Look at both, get rides in both, look at your budget and go from there.

Mike

[Rickd]

ERA builds more than "15 a year". The number is closer to 50-60 per year, and they build the cobra in various iterations (289 FIA, 289 Slab side (pure street car); 427 SC; and in the "skunk works" they build the GT40, which is a SS monocoque chassis, a pure jewell,that is probably somewhere north of $140K for a turnkey. They have probably built close to 900 of the 427 body, another 140 or so of the 289 bodies (different chassis - with original layout of gas tank, battery etc., and aluminum lined engine compartment), and a surprising number of GT40's (over 100 I have been told). Nothing built on spec ... period. 100% custom, whether it's a roller that a buyer will finish or a turnkey. If someone is going to do the build / assembly -it's probably the easiest as it can be ordered with everything but engine & tranny - in what ever stage of completion / assembly you require.

FF has put a ton of people on the road in cobras that probably wouldn't be ther if they weren't offering a lower cost barrier of entry. The quality of the finished car depends HEAVILY on the skill of the person doing the build. What parts will they buy? Do they know how to really do what is required? Some people buy a wrecked Mustang as a donor .. and go that route. Others buy all new high quality racing parts.

Really depends what you are looking for. Very high quality glass body and bulletproof chassis, high attention to original body shape and details (look of engine compartment, cockpit, trunk space - looks like an original), with a very specific recipe of components (jag rear or ERA custom racing rear). OR - let the builder be more creative with a more flexible design platform. One facet to take into consideration is value and resale - as it is a major $$ investment which ever one you chose. ERA has a fairly tight spectrum of build quality and resale value. FF depends more so on an evaluation of each build and the components selected by the individual builder (from pure donor car to pure high end racing components). A FF built by Levy Racing for example, carries a good degree of marketability with it, vs. a "home built" FF in some instances.
But I have seen FFR cars that are pure jewels .. so go visit both factories to really get confused!!!!!!

[Mike Brasfield]

If $$$ is no object go ERA, although I Love my FFR and have since 2001.

[Quintum]

As always everyone here is always great with any info that has been past about!

Budget. Yes there is a budget. The car itself wont be started for a few years. Long story short. Moving into a new(new to me) house. That will take some time and money to get things right (setting things set for the better half.). After that, then I'll be able to start working on the car.

Budget. Well it will take me some time to get there, but I'm shooting for between 38k to 45k. I won't be doing a donor car. But yet at the same time I wont be doing all Ford Racing parts either.

FFR
I actually get to build it. This is something that I would really like to do.
Lower cost.
FFR has built (to quote Rickd) "a ton" of cars. And not to mention that they have supposedly made changes in their frames and such for the better. So they gotta have some idea that they are doing something right.
FFR.. Well lets just say its kinda like something that's Open Source.

ERA
They already have an IRS rear end built in. And some good changes made too it already.
The mold has been fitted to the body in most places. Making it a bit stronger, and wont rattle as much.
I wont have to do wiring!! WOOT! I hate electricity. Yea I know I'll have to do some, but they give ya a nice head start on it.
Fabrication... it has been years since I've tried to create a good weld.

The strange thing is I was pretty much set on a FFR. Then I came to the forums and someone brought up ERA.

Anyway... Back to packing! getting the evil eye from across the room.

I will be looking for the next run you all do. It would be nice to put a face to some names. Over the next week or two I'll be getting in touch with everyone. Take a break from working on the house, and maybe see if I can get a ride with someone. I'll tell the lady it'll be a therapeutic evening.

As always. Thanks for everyone's input!

regards,
Dave