Value of Butler built in '08?

[joyridin']

Sorry, but the Chevy engine IS a problem. Mine has one and the first thing 95% of the people say is "Oh..it has a Chevy engine".

Butler and Arntz were great cars, but they are basically old school in the big picture of things. Since some of you have spent thousands upgrading the front suspension, you already know what I mean.

[FreedomMachine]

Thanks for all of the input. When I bought the car, originality wasn't my main concern. I rather liked that it had the Chevy engine and the more modern appearance of the squared off hood scoop. I know I may be the minority among enthusiasts but that's partly why it will be so hard for me to let this one go .

Does anyone know if Butler is still building cars? I was surprised when I found out this one was built as recently as 2008.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by FreedomMachine

Thanks for all of the input. When I bought the car, originality wasn't my main concern. I rather liked that it had the Chevy engine and the more modern appearance of the squared off hood scoop. I know I may be the minority among enthusiasts but that's partly why it will be so hard for me to let this one go .

Does anyone know if Butler is still building cars? I was surprised when I found out this one was built as recently as 2008.

I thought I read that Butler stopped making cars in the mid-80's. The owner must have set the project aside or bought an unfinished kit for it to be completed in 2008.

Good luck on the sale.

[Donunder]

Hey FM, I've been thinking..
Are you sure there isn't another way to finance graduate school?

Butlers aren't exactly plentiful, and as Joyridin says they are somewhat "old school" which to my mind adds to their desirability. They're built tough and they're heavier than a lot of the other makes but good old BB Chevy grunt takes care of that.

My car was built in 1979 and even though it's a low mileage example like yours, I felt it prudent to replace the original MGB front end (which was readily available at the time) with something lighter and more in line with modern suspension and steering thinking. This was purely a personal thing, and I know of other Arntz/Butlers around that lead a very active life, still with the original front ends. I'm not sure but I doubt that as yours is a recent build, it would have MGB componentry up front anyway.

There will be any number of other Cobra replicas to buy later, but once your Butler has gone the odds of getting another one in the future will be slim. Why not keep it, have another scoop fitted if you want, and just enjoy something that's very desirable and somehow unique in the Cobra world?

[Donunder]

PS: There's always this to consider too. A piece of history that even the most one-eyed Ford guys can't argue with...

Carroll Shelby wanted to go with Chevy right from the start. It was only when the GM heirarchy pulled the pin on involving the company in motorsport that Shelby was forced to go to Ford, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Carroll Shelby

So FM, you have what Shelby wanted and couldn't get.