The ultimate kit?????????

[Gav]

I had a factory visit at Absolute Pace last weekend, the quality, finish and inovation going on up there is going to put the cobra industry in a spin.
JD, do yourself a favour and have a talk to Craig!

[400TT]

Originally Posted by Gav

I had a factory visit at Absolute Pace last weekend, the quality, finish and inovation going on up there is going to put the cobra industry in a spin.
JD, do yourself a favour and have a talk to Craig!

Cheers Gav, thank you for the compliment. We try our best.

I really enjoyed having you drop in.

[WKB]

JD, I have both a 100mm extended Harrison and a DRB540. I am 6'2" and comfortably fit into both.

The 540's footwell is wider and longer than the AC kits I have sat in. The later 540 kits have had the bulkhead behind the seat moved back about 25mm which gives a bit more room to the steering wheel, but could make it a bit of a stretch to depress the clutch pedal for the vertically challenged. There is no problems fitting the production seats in, but being a tall person the padding is to thick to use them and have a comfortable driving position. An aftermarket seat with thinner padding would be the go.

The choice between an AC and a 540 is, do you want a car that drives like a comfortable modern car with all the mod cons or car that has the feel of an old school sports car. With the right kit you will fit into either of them. To me, the 540 is a more comfortable car to sit in and drive, but they are both fun to drive.

As far as building them goes, the 540 a lot easier to build. A guess would be around about half the time.

Warren

[400TT]

Times have change now, some of the new Cobra kits available can be fully assembled in a fraction of the time of a 540.

We cater for full custom builds and for first timers that want an easy and straight forward kit to construct, authentic aluminium bodied kits to fully customisable kits, different cobra replica kits for different objectives.

[T.L.]

I'm 6ft 4" and have a Harrison cobra with the extra 4" in there. Fit in it nicely. I also have a dropped floor to assist, ie the floor panels are bolted onto the bottom of the chassis rail. That gives me an extra 2" in headroom.

I also have size 13 shoes and the foot well is also something to consider. Some engines have a bigger area around the foot well so you loose some space.

[Jaydee]

Thanks guys. I am just wondering how the 540 will go to becoming a classic. Would the resale value go up or down. If the pace 427 is as easy to build with as much room, I still prefer the ac cobra look. So can you still use a doner vehicle ,like a xr 8 with traction control , abs etc in a cobra? Even with the 540, there are still a lot of parts to buy. I prefer an Auto.
JD

[WKB]

JD,

I don't think the 540 will ever become a classic, it has no heritage like the AC.

I could not tell you about resale, but if you have a Cobra (AC or 540)for sale and someone ones it you will get your price.

With the 540, if you get the chassis body unit and the parts DRB supply for the car, other than the doner car, wheels and exhaust there isn't a lot of parts required.

Buying a doner car would be a cost effective way to build a car, what you don't use you sell. There are AC Cobras built with traction control and ABS.

I agree with you, the AC Cobras do look good. If I had to sell the AC to build the 540 I would have not built the 540. Luckily that wasn't an option.

From what I have read about the Pace 427 it will have a Semi-Monocoque Chassis. This would give it a lot more room in the interior and also help with the ease of construction.

Originally Posted by 400TT

Times have change now, some of the new Cobra kits available can be fully assembled in a fraction of the time of a 540.

A fraction of time is a bit of an exaggeration, but I agree, the American kits that are now available in Australia could be quicker to build, but they are what kits should be, everything you need to build the car is included(except motor and gearbox). Every other kit that is available now you have to piece together with minimal construction instructions.

Warren

[400TT]

Originally Posted by WKB

A fraction of time is a bit of an exaggeration,

No it isn't, I'm not one to exaggerate Warren. But I think we are on the same page anyway, when you get a chance please drop into our main assembly shop and have a browse. I think you will be surprised.

I have cobra replica kits in stock and for sale now that can be built very quickly and easily by inexperienced builders. Actually in a fraction of the time it takes to build a 540 and I would know as we have built both in the shop. Quick build limited spec kits are not for everyone, but they certainly broaden the appeal and market. Which means more Cobra owners enjoying and driving their cars. What percentage of Cobra kits are not completed and on the road in 5 years or even 10 years?

JD, we are not a company that are focussed on donor type kits, we have been successful in moving away from that approach. In my experience the market it moving away from that appraoch in Cobra kits. Donor doesn't always necessary equate to better value. For example there are no donor vehicle suspension parts in our PACE 427 kit.

Resale value has always been in replicas of the popular iconic classic vehicles. In my opinion this will always be the case. i.e. replicas of 60's Cobra's, 60's GT40's etc.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Gav

I had a factory visit at Absolute Pace last weekend, the quality, finish and inovation going on up there is going to put the cobra industry in a spin.
JD, do yourself a favour and have a talk to Craig!

Jaydee - I agree with Gav. You have to talk to Craig, and you need to do a PACE factory visit if you're thinking seriously.
Cheers,
Glen