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

[Jaydee]

Hi.
I'm brand new to this site. I am a mechanic by trade, and I love building stuff.
I have always loved the Cobra and muscle cars. I'm finally at a stage to build one. First, I am 6"3"and always had trouble getting into one. Even the extended version. So I am even considering the DRB 540. It looks roomier, easier to build, and perhaps cheaper. Or are the new kits roomier?
DRB? Harrison. I just want a nice cruiser, nothing radical.
I appreciate any suggestions.
JD.

[OZCOBRA]

Mate at 6'3" unless your 150kg you shouldn't have an issue!!!
Drop footboxes play around with seat cushioning , I'm 6'4" 110kg
Even though my Homebush is 50mm longer I can comfortably fit in and drive many of
the kits around!!

[Merv and Sharon]

JD I have the 100mm extended Harrison as do many others who are quite tall. I also have seats that are made for purpose and thin. No worries there at all. I know of some builders how have been quite disappointed after they built their car as they found it uncomfortable on longer drives.

Perhaps all Cobras should be larger (length and width) anyway, as it seems the new one from Absolute Pace is. Craig may chime in.

[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]

Welcome JD, you have certainly come to the right place for advice and information.

The ultimate Cobra is the one that best fits your requirements and budget. My only recommendation is to make sure you are thorough in your reseatch and make the right decision for yourself as it will be a large investment in time and money. But I suspect you already know that and that is why you are here.

Just a heads up on the 540, we have worked on quite a few and in my opinion they don't have as much space and leg room as you would expect. With production seats they are very tight. Don't know if they have corrected that in later versions.

Cobra body shapes vary greatly between kit manufacturers here in Australia, especially in body dimensions.

Our PACE 427 offering uses authentic body dimensions and shape, but as Merv has correctly pointed out the PACE 427 ends up larger than some of the local kit offerings. Not because the PACE 427 has been made larger, but because some of the other body shapes are shallower or narrower than an original Cobra.

Also chassis design and layout will make a big difference to cockpit space even before you look at stretched options.

We believe we have far more interior width, height and legroom compared to most if not all other local offerings.

Note sure of your timeframe, but we will start taking orders for our new PACE 427 in the next few months.

Good luck with it, you won't regret it.

[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

[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

[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.

[boxhead]

I have a 540 partially built kit in my shed, sadly due to health issues the kit is for sale, uses a donor XR8 auto, has abs and traction control, also upgraded with the bigger Brembo brakes.
Car is a roller with driveline fitted (no tailshaft yet), also has all brake and fuel lines made and fitted, including stainless braided flex hoses.

[BMK]

JD

Good luck with your search.

I am just over 6' and weigh in over 100kg. I am now on my fourth Cobra - thanks Craig at Absolute Pace - and have been comfortable with the difference in each and the modifications I have made.

The first two cars Both RMC's allowed me to move the floor down in front of the seat and lower down into the footwell and allowed me to pull the seat cushions apart and later do away with seat slide mechanisms.

When I was re building my GT40 I made similar interior changes, calling on all the mods I had completed on the Cobras. So you can make changes to fit into these cars.

The current Cobra I have has plenty of room and Craig and I have made some improvements. - after R and D - with a 'Burney bubble' under the seat that allows my drivers seat to drop 20 - 30mm down under the floor line.

Additionally,we have made slight adjustments to the inner guard area behind my drivers seat that
allows the seat to go back an additional 30mm. Makes for a lot of additional interior room with each change.

We have made slight adjustments to the steering column lifting it slightly - about 5mm - using the smaller diameter steering wheel has made a big difference also. This change is not obvious when looking at the car, in fact none of the changes can been seen.

Every small change that Craig makes is evaluated and added into future cars as an option.

Craig's cars are designed to be very quick builds with a lot of the brackets, pre drilling already done. They really are a very quick build.

One of the things that has really impressed me with Craig's approach is his willingness to listen to customers like myself. He has made countless changes back and forth to ensure I am happy.

Yes I agree, give Craig's shop a visit. I have recent photos in my gallery of my last visit there. It is quite amazing to see the work that is taking place there. I will "Post" some new photos after I return from Absolute Pace next Thursday.

I am certainly very happy with my choice. And obviously willing to support Craig in the promotion of his business as both a customer and friend.

Again good luck in your search JD. But I would certainly include Craig on your list of must see suppliers.

Bernie

[Jaydee]

Great advice,all. So if you start a pace kit at 29,000. Would you normally pay that much to get a normal kit to that level anyway? Does pace do just a fibreglass kit? Carbon fibre must add a lot to a kit. Weight doesn't concern me. So if you don't use a doner car, you obviuosly still have to get the whole driveline, wiring loom, computers etc? If you got a harrison kit, put in a stocky engine, I can upholster it and paint it myself. What would that cost?
I don't want to be to Dutch about it, but I don't want to spend $50.000 or more for a car at present.
JD

[Modena]

JD, most people who build a kit, be it a Harrison, CR, DRB etc go somewhere between 60K and 80K in costs. Some people have done it for 50ish, depends how much scrounging and second hard parts you want to use, as well as your choice of parts. For example, regardless of the kit, you could buy shocks for $100 each, or over $500 each (or more), gauges similar story you could have a basic three gauge setup for a couple of hundred or an elaborate setup for over 1K, wheels and tyres vary wildly in price. Interior and paint will save you a lot, so maybe you could get in for around 50+? It's up to you really how much you want to spend, I suggest making a list of ever part you need and put a budget next to each item - you'll be surprised how fast it adds up.

[400TT]

JD, we run a Kevlar Composite body standard. A body to the same quality and engineering level to what we put into the rest of the kit. The body does cost us extra to construct, but it's not the Kevlar that is the main culprit, it's the better quality materials and specialised construction process to create full gloss perfectly straight lightweight panels. Our kits can have a higher entry/starter cost, but have cheaper completion costs compared to many other kits.

What is your budget, sounds like it is a lot less than $50,000???

By the time you take into account engineering/registration costs, your budget for parts required is very restrictive.

If that is your budget, you could look at 2nd hand unfinished kits, they can be traps, but can also save significant money on the total build cost.

I would also recommend looking at completed vehicles, entry level ones that you can restore yourself. There are some very good buys in the 2nd hand market at the moment.

[boxhead]

[quote=400TT;1196068] Our kits can have a higher entry/starter cost, but have cheaper completion costs compared to many other kits.

QUOTE]

This is the same for all kits, a cheap start price does not always equate to a cheap completion price.

When i bought my CR, they were one of the more expensive basic kit starter costs (body and chaissis only not roller), but I honestly belivere the money was well worth it, as I reckon I saved a butt load of $$$$ and even more time and brain cells.

Mine complied and registered came in at $40k in 2010, but I did a ****e load (99%) of the car myself, it does not have shiney paint, it did not have new tyres (I bought second hand rims and tyres from fellow forum member), my engine was free (I had to rebuild) and the gearbox cost me a bottle of scotch (I felt like a TACO (Tight Arse Cobra Owner) So I bought him a second bottle)
Without these freebies, at the time would have added anoher $6k - $8k to final build price.

So as Craig says, dont think your gunna get out of it under $50k unless you have plenty of favours owed to you from people in the right places.

[OZCOBRA]

[quote=boxhead;1196069]

Originally Posted by 400TT

...........I felt like a TACO (Tight Arse Cobra Owner)

......LMAO!!!!!!...being a Mexican I guess makes it easy to relate too!!