future Cobra buyer

flybynav1965 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 10:31 AM

Greetings to all,

I am beginning my search to be a proud owner of a Cobra kit car. I am seriously considering a FactoryFive set up. I have been on the F5 website, and there is a tremendous amount of information and diversified opinions on every aspect of the car. I would like to get some opinions of some local folks who have built cars. Specifically, are there any F5 cars in Tucson or Phoenix? Did you build with a donor car or new parts purchased elsewhere? I would also like to know about engine choices. I have heard that a 289 is a great engine, with parts readily avail and it still has plenty of get up and go. I will use my car as a recreational driver, and not for track use.

I appreciate hearing from any and all on these subjects.

Joe
Tucson,AZ

mrpink · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 02:04 PM

Joe, welcome. John K. is in Tucson, along with others. I'm sure he would be glad to let you see his car. His email is.......
aida_kerekes@msn.com

Snakester · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 03:02 PM

Joe,
FFR makes one of the best kits on the market...BUT that is exactly what it is! I have helped build 2...1 was a donor build w/ cost of $22,600.00/ 1 was built w/ all new parts w/ cost $38,300.00. We did all of the assembly. Body work and paint cost@$5,500.00 each. Both cars drive and handle very good.
I can honestly say that I did more homework on the purchase of my Cobra than I did the whole 4 years of High School. Last Sept. I was ready to order my FFR "kit"....I just could not pull the trigger, I had been looking @ BDR and Superformance just because I remember all the work/time/running @ getting parts! I said to myself , before I order I am calling Reg @ Backdraft just to price their Roadster Turnkey.
To make a long story short , Reg had a car almost exactly like I wanted except it had the 392 Stroker, I want just a 302(thinking only of MPG).I purchased the car right then and 4 days later it was at my house! I have less money in my Factory Built Car than my buddy does in his non-donor car!
It's a big purchase , do alot of homework , be happy after the purchase
Snakester BDR261
The 392 w/T5 makes alot of power"I LOVE IT"....and gets 16mpg.

ZOERA-SC7XX · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 06:47 PM

Spend some time and check out some of the other kit and component Cobras...There seems to be more FFR Cobras for sale than others...I wonder why???

LMH · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 06:53 PM

Joe
I can show you both an FFR and a Hurricane if you'd like to see each. Both are in the build stage but the FFR is driveable. The body is off for paint at the moment. Send me a PM and we'll set something up.
Larry

54h · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Spend some time and check out some of the other kit and component Cobras...There seems to be more FFR Cobras for sale than others...I wonder why???

It's not rocket science......... FFR gives the most bang for the buck. More kits are sold because they are affordable for budget, first time builders. If they stay "bitten", they sell and move up. Hence, more used units on the market.

flybynav1965 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2006, 03:10 PM

Hey guys,
Thanks for the insight. The more research i do, more and more options appear. I just started looking at Backdraft and Hurricane models as well. My mind was initially set on F5, maybe because some sharp poster stated they do the best job marketing.
The Hurricane model sounds appealing because it comes with all the "parts" that you will need.
What are your opinions on those 2 lines?

Cheers,
Joe

vettestr · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 09:47 AM

Hello Joe,
I would like to throw another choice into the mix. We are located in Glendale,Az so easy to see us in person. Check out the Cobray-C3 made by www.cobrasnvettes.com . The Cobray is built from a true single donor. The chassis and all the drive components are a factory designed and proven assembly. The donor is a 1968 through the 1982 Corvette giving you an IRS rear and 4 wheel disc brakes with many engine and tranny options. Non-collector year vettes are plentiful, cheap and easy to find given their production numbers exceeding a 1/2 million cars. The amount of companies offering new/rebuilt or exchange assemblies is staggering. The fact these assemblies are old enough to have outlived their high profit margins allow a very inexpensive build.
The as delivered body kit simply bolts to the stock mount pads on the vette chassis. The longer and wider body kit (98x60) is not a true replica and is better defined as an inspired Hot Rod version. The body is manufactured to simply bolt in place so is best described as a Rebury Kit. The concept is not for the hard core or if looking for a true clone but it is an easy and cost effective option to add to your many choices. Call us at 1 866 811 7461

ZOERA-SC7XX · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 03:42 PM

Just not a good looking Cobra (to each his own). Now if you could somehow market a Ferrari Daytona/McBurnie type of body for the C3 chassis without getting sued by Enzo & Co. I'd be in line for one. Good luck.

vettestr · #10 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 09:14 AM

OOUCH!!
Well if nothing else you took the time to check the car out. If everybody loved it we would not be able to keep delivering our cars on time.
The Daytona is a great looking car but a roadster is more to my liking. Enzo and the other builders of the world are safe for another day.

LMH · #11 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 02:01 PM

Hey Jeff
Any plans in the future for a true-to-original Grand Sport Corvette?
Besides the Cobra, the GS is one of my favorite cars of all time.
Larry

Fitz · #12 (**permalink**) 06-04-2006, 09:55 PM

OK, Ok, if you want a go fast hardtop FFR MkIII car with all the goodies then, well make me an offer after talking to Gordon Levy for what it would take to build. I an getting to old for this crap! Car scares the hell out of the wife and she won't drive it.

See all the pictures in my gallery.

This is my second car. First car in gallery. After Gordon Levy built my first car with a hot little 347 in it, I decided to sell it and have him build one with all the car stuff I wanted in it ..done right. This car has eveything you can put in a FFR. (Hot Rod Air, Ape hardtop, killer stereo, 18" Wheels, XM Radio, all the suspension stuff you ever want (just in case you want to take a track ride with someone that knows what they are doing).

This car had a custom 460 big block that sounded like a dam dragster. It died on the dyno in it's first months life. I decided to put a Levy Stage 5 408 stoker in it last December. It has over 500 HP. (Levy Racing Web site for engine details or call him glevy74@att.net; Look in this forum for his name). Call me or email me. I think I am going to get a "Saturn Sky".

Ken Bisconti · #13 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 01:14 AM

Factory Five VS Hurricane: Different body shapes and different frames. Both have the ability to be very nice Cobras. I would take the time to investigate both cars in detail. ken ps: You can see my Hurricane pictures by cliking on the camera by my name.

vettestr · #14 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 09:51 AM

Hey Larry,
No plans for a GS or Dayton etc... I raced for a living several years ago (drag racer) and over the years became close to many other racers. Those that are still racing have migrated to cars that are NOW paid to run. We are all much older but still addicted to big HP and speed. Campaigning a fuel car is damned expensive and impossible without good sponsorship and is a demanding life anyway.
The old dogs have found if you run a exhibition car you can choose how many weeks on the road and do not have to hammer parts etc... If you run (jet cars, fuel altered or now the Nostalgia fuel funny's) you get paid tow money - show money - and for each pass win loose or draw. These cars are not competition legal so you get booked in for x amount of passes.
Either way you can get your speed and adrenalin fix without going broke trying to just make the next round like the old days! Make your passes and then go home. But the old bodies are impossible to find anymore. You can get the new slippery fast bodies but they are all new car designs and not the bricks that kinda looked like a street car.
We have dusted off a few of the old bodies from the 70's that have been hanging from the rafters somewhere for the past 35+ years and knocking off a copy. Reminds me of my old days, thinking about doing a Cobra inspired funny body. What ya think?

mikiec · #15 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:15 AM

Jeff's car was not meant to be a true repro of the cobra, but rather a Cobra Hot-Rod. I have seen his work and his cars.. The cars grow on you and his work is excellent.

Mike

mj_duell · #16 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:19 AM

Please give us a look as well. We offer two frames and various levels of completion. There is a lot of information on the web site. Please feel free to email me mj_duell@turntenracing.com or call (585)223-5917

www.turntenracing.com

--Mike / Turn Ten Racing, Inc.

ZOERA-SC7XX · #17 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Not a rag on the car...I'm a Vette lover and a Cobra lover and own both, but I can't see cross-breeding the two...just my take on the subject. I'd still like a Ferrari Daytona roadster and/or a good Grand Sport replica.
The long Cobra body might make a nice drag car!

mrpink · #18 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 07:40 PM

Mike, love the sig line. Thanks.

mrpink · #19 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 07:42 PM

Mikie, love the sig line. Thanks.

waldo911 · #20 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 08:33 PM

I'm going to buy a cobra in the future.
Which of the turnkey operations do you guys consider the best.
I'm looking at Superformance, Unique, and Backdraft. I don't have
the time or the expertise to build the car myself. Any opinions
would be appreciated. Walt