Hello Cobra Club Members

[Seamus78]

Hi All,

First time writing to you all and after reading some of your threads I think I've come to the right place. I'm not ready yet to purchase my first build but I can start researching.
If you see a Cobra on the Gold Coast, 9/10 its made by DRB. Are they still in business, from the look of their factory it looks abandoned ? However I'm curious about Pace427 cobras. How do they rate and has anyone built one ? Feedback on this would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[guye]

Welcome Seamus.

Yes, you're definitely in the right place. I encourage you to read more thread, especially the build threads. A large percentage of the recent build threads will be Pace 427 builds, but go back a few pages and you will find a number of others, including Classic Revival, Harrison, Factory Five, Kenmar to name a few. If you're more after a turnkey then you won't go past Superformance either.

Tell us more about yourself.
- Queensland based I assuming?
- Have you mechanical or engineering experience, or more of a pen-pusher like me? (Either can build a cobra - but some kits tend to require more fabrication effort which some people prefer).
- Any biases, preconceptions, requirements (about the Cobra mainly ) we should know before offering you advice?

I definitely encourage you to get to your local Cobra Club - all are well represented here in the forum, and many face to face conversations can be had with club members that you can't have on the forum (also many club members aren't on this forum!).

Enjoy your journey...

[Seamus78]

Thanks for the advice Guy.
I'm a Gold Coast boy and I have basic mechanical knowledge and I can work with my hands. My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through. I'll look into rolling up to a club meet.

Cheers

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Seamus78

....My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through....

Hi Seamus, and welcome.
I like the way you're thinking there.

Here's a link to my AP 289FIA build. The 289FIAs are the ones that won the races

AP2289 build log

Cheers,
Glen

[deano59]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Hi Seamus, and welcome.
I like the way you're thinking there.

Here's a link to my AP 289FIA build. The 289FIAs are the ones that won the races

AP2289 build log

Cheers,
Glen

oh dear
so no commodore hubs and ve commy diff going into your pace build glen ?

you may have some trouble bolting your wheels on without them

[xb-60]

Ha ha...but the originals had 'ring in' parts (Jag/Salisbury diffs etc) as well, so the bits that don't motivate it fast towards the horizon don't matter

Excuse us Seamus....just a little bit of blue vs red rivalry. As well, and just co-incidentally, my car will be blue and Dean's is ....red.

Cheers,
Glen

[Donunder]

Originally Posted by Seamus78

My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through.

You'll come around ....

Ford's nice (and traditional) but there's just too much good Chevy gear around these days to blithely discount it altogether. Keep an open mind at this stage of your deliberations. Listen to both camps.

[iva bigan]

Far canal

[Jethrow]

Glad you specified no Holden parts for us, I guess that means Chev stuff is OK. The LS3 is the ideal engine for these cars - light, compact, powerful, will pass emissions. The right stuff

[boxhead]

No Holden Parts.
Just about eliminates all kits apart from Pace and Factory 5, as I dont think Harrison are still producing?
I guess you could be sneaky and find a square tube CR (but call the steering column Suzuki Swift instead of Holden Barina).

Have fun with the research and good luck.

[Krait]

Originally Posted by boxhead

No Holden Parts.
Just about eliminates all kits apart from Pace and Factory 5, as I dont think Harrison are still producing?
I guess you could be sneaky and find a square tube CR (but call the steering column Suzuki Swift instead of Holden Barina).

Have fun with the research and good luck.

Harrisons use some Holden bits as well.

[BJ's Snake]

Hey Deano
Does the " MRS " have a name, if she is the one that permitted you to do this project, maybe a little more recognition and respect...just sayin'

[Gav]

Chev and an auto?
It will never be competitive...

Ford and an alloy thing?
It will never get out of the shed...

[deano59]

Originally Posted by Gav

Chev and an auto?
It will never be competitive...

Ford and an alloy thing?
It will never get out of the shed...

nah not building the cobra to be a track car so with my bung leg the auto will suit me fine .. i must say tho the ve Calais that i pulled the motor and trans from was not exactly slow when i took it for a spin around the block one night with the trade plate on it was surprisingly quick now put that running gear into a chassis thats at least 500 kilos lighter i think it may be a tad faster than i think.

.

[Aussie Mike]

I've tried to build mine without and Ford bits. Alas I have failed. It still has Ford rear hubs and Ford door locks. Grrr... I'll get you yet mr Ford!!!

[Hoity]

Hey Seamus, I am in a similar position to you and are still researching a suitable platform for my first build. The ford/chev thing is an interesting phenomenon on here, given Shelby went with ford for his powerplants, the chev boys hang on to the fact that Shelby asked and got rejected by chev.
At the end of the day the chev powerplants provide a very economical Engine for a kit car, with a seemingly unlimited array of accessories. There is also the option of a donor commodore which can make things even cheaper again, hopefully in a year or two there will be a some cheaper used coyotes around as the Mustangs cycle thru.
I am a ford boy as well so happy to jump on the blue oval bandwagon, the chev boys are pretty well established now with the majority of cars getting chevs put in them.

I am heading up to the Goldcoast with family in Jan and will pop in to the AP factory and hopefully get a tour, if you get the chance it would come highly recommended as others above have said.

[David Hodgson]

Originally Posted by Hoity

the chev boys hang on to the fact that Shelby asked and got rejected by chev.

Chevrolet chiefs of the day said to Carol, "we could not do justice to such a fine auto. Go and see 'ole Henry, and with his engine and as many Ford parts as you want, you will make the best car the world will ever see"

[leroy17]

It really perplexes me that some get so focused that these hot rods (resembling a cobra) should have a ford motor.

However think nothing of the fact that it will be right hand drive, have a plastic body, possible parts from any number of various sources (which were never used on originals), will have retractable seat belts and not lap sash authentic seatbelts, self cancelling indicators, high(ish) back seats, big brake kits and I can keep going on.

Don't get me wrong, I am seriously addicted to cobras, and have been since I was 14 (30+ year addiction), have posters of them, toy cars , shirts, hats, been to the shelby factory 8 times, numerous books let alone the computer folders with images broken down to various makes, interior shots, engine shots and so on.

However, unless it has a CSX number and was build in the 60's, it's a replica or a hot rod at best.

So, do I enjoy driving my hot rod any less knowing thats its not real or doesnt have a ford engine....... hell no. I get giddy every single time I hop in it, smile every single time I drive it (been a little while between drives... but am working on this), always have a second look when I walk past it, look for any excuse to go to the garage just to sit and stare (mmmmm, maybe I should pick up the tools a little more often).

So, to anyone holding back on a cobra (hot rod) because it dosnt have a ford engine, don't deprive yourself of owning and driving one of the most enjoyable things that you could possibly own. You will meet new friends, have long visits at the servo as people want to talk with you, you will be the envy of the neighbourhood (mostly) and just be having fun.

And most likely, it will not be your last one either. So do not think that your first one has to be perfect (your first girlfriend at school most likely wasn't, so neither will be your first hot hot (cobra).

And to anyone who is considering building a $80K+ toy car, do yourself a favour, fork out the $129 for a flight to the Gold Coast and visit pace, you will not be disapointed. Not doing this would be like a guy waking up one morning with a new set of double D's, and then not touching them.

[xb-60]

Hey Leroy - we're Australians, and if there's a chance to take the p!ss, then it would be un-Australian to let that opportunity go by, yes?

BTW, I just noted in your details "355 SBC". I'm not familiar with that....what does SBC mean?

Cheers,
Glen

[Krait]

Originally Posted by xb-60

BTW, I just noted in your details "355 SBC". I'm not familiar with that....what does SBC mean?

Small Block Chev