Is an Aluminium shell worth it?

[FUNFER2]

A polished or raw aluminum body, why can't you lay down a clear coat to protect finish, either in satin or gloss ?

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

A polished or raw aluminum body, why can't you lay down a clear coat to protect finish, either in satin or gloss ?

As far as I understand often the clear coat wont stick without a primer (kind of defeats the purpose). Those that do, often turn yellow in UV light.

Then even if you could clear coat... you couldn't scotchbrite it to spot clean it.

So i'll pass

[FUNFER2]

Hum ?
I'm a retired body & paint guy, so I'll ask around.

The purpose of the clearcoat is to protect what ever finish is under it, including a polished or scuffed finish.
So, you wouldn't need to scotchbrite it, treat it like it's paint.

[peterpjb]

beside the fact that aluminium is the original body material,
an aluminium bodied car is a piece of art and an original by itself, its true authentical in every aspect.
i can identify an aluminiumbody from distance and soon curious

if you want to choose the polished version you should live in utah or in a desert, no chance in middle europe due to air huminity, my car is painted....

[krausewich]

ONLY worth it on resale if attached to an OE style chassis build. If you plan on keeping it forever, then use any skin/chassis combo you like. If you have to have aluminum, get in touch!

[Rob. Smith]

Yesterday I was filling up and got about thirty questions about my car from several people.. there were five questions asked if it was "real" . ( tempted to say yes ha ha ) so being fibreglass or aluminium ..its just a personal choice. Only cobrafiles are impressed and they know real from reproduced. Sooo go with your own personal choice to satisfy you. No one else.

[MOTORHEAD]

Having driven many fiberglass and one aluminum cobra (mine) a few differences come to mind:
Fiberglass tends to absorb some of the road and mechanical noise.
It also seems to insulate the cockpit from heat better than metal.
When pranged, it's easy to find a body repairman, or DIY.

Aluminum used by Kirkhams is thicker and tougher (tempered) than the originals, and will stand up to moderate abuse.
It transmitts more road,mechanical, and body noise.
It also absorbs and transmitts heat (something al is noted for) and here in Fl, driving the car on hot days (90+ deg) is like driving an OVEN !!!! The whole car gets hot!!!
Last trip, I had to wait till it cooled down befor I could touch the hood and prop rod !!!

But, I still love it ! there are things that can be done with al that can't be done with fg, like the very small rolling of the fender openings, door and hood edges, that make Kirkhams works of art !

[deano59]

ive never driven a alloy one but ive been for a decent ride in kents Kirkham ..you feel all the road bumps and feel the road as it changes surfaces I think that may be cause all the suspension is hiem joints and I expect my pace to ride the same . the biggest thing was from my point of view I was **** scared I was going to dent it climbing in . kent was saying it's a bugga to keep clean from bugs and even people touching it left marks from the oil in there skin..i suspect that's why some people paint the alloy bodys.

they are fantastic to look at and kents car drew attention every time we stopped or even at red lights people would stare at the car def not the car for you if your the shy bashful type.
im happy with pace composite body I think most people are smart enough to know there are not too many real ones been driven around south Australia ..

cheers dean

[TassieCobra]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I must confess I do still have my heart set on an aluminium cobra....

I just had a long chat with Wil from ICCARS about his kits - it is so nice to talk to someone so passionate about cobras. Lots of fantastic and practical advice from him.

His new chassis sounds very impressive too.