What is the life expectancy of a Cobra?
 

Sorry for all the questions but I am curious to hear what peoples thoughts regarding the life expectancy of a Cobra is and in particular the life of a fibreglass body?

Quality fiberglass can last almost indefinitely if not left bare to the elements. I have a 66 Vette and it's very sound. That being said - fiberglass does react long term to stress, heat, sunlight in that it can reflect stresses in the surface and get minor waves in it's surface. The better fabricators avoid bonding interior panels directly to exterior panels due to the eventual print through that can happen over years and decades due to heat of bonding and stresses the interior panels convey to the exterior. If an interior panel needs to be bonded to the body it's best to do it around the edges of the hood or trunk openings, at the rocker line, and at the edges of the cockpit - so it can't show up in a large flat or gentle contour surface. It's also a good idea to protect the underside of the body since raw fiberglass can pick up contaminants like brake fluid and AC compressor oil can and will work through to the surface and lift paint.

mine was built in 1979. still going strong

A lot of that would depend on how you drive it, what kind of weather it is in and numerous other factors. I had one that I raced and had it for 10 years before I sold it and it was still almost like new except for the rock picks and such. My Coupe is going on 12 years old and is still in great shape and I drive it hard.

Ron

There's a fellow over on the Factory Five forum named Ralph Button, and as of 2015 he had over 500,000 miles (I say that's a 1/2 million miles). :D Same body and a couple of engine rebuilds and he started out with slightly used EFI 302. :) I believe his car has been on the road since 2000 or 2001.

John O

Mine is coming up to 7 and I haven't even driven it yet, so probably indefinitely.
Realistically though, probably sits between Uranium and plutonium on the periodic table with a half life of 4.5 billion years give or take a few.
Cobranium.

With me driving it?
Not long.

How long is a piece of string?

My piece of string goes back to 1979 with no end in sight. Mind you it has an easy life.

Here's an interesting article on the longevity of fiberglass boats: http://ericgreeneassociates.com/imag..._Longevity.pdf

The average fiberglass boat spends far more of its life outdoors than does the average Cobra which, of course, allows for far greater UV exposure. Regardless, as pointed out in the article, there are plenty of examples of 50 year old (and older) fiberglass boats that are still plenty strong and quite usable.

Most likely given the age spread the Cobra will outlast their owners.

I am the second owner of a 2002 (SPO1400) Superformance. (black) The first owner purchased the car in 2003 and I have had it going on 4 years and it looks and sounds like it just came off of the show room floor.

A inexperienced (Novice) driver, with a high HP, lightweight, car that think's he can drive, not long :) But seriously, my car's mfg. build date was 10-91, now it was not competed till this year, and has been in a unheated garage part of it's life ( Maybe 10years ) the rest of the time in a heated one . when the car was painted this last year, the body shop said no deterioration was noticed in the org. gel-coat, or Fiberglas underneath.

When enthusiasm outweighs ability - cobra and driver enter round-a-bout at high speed will often significantly shorten (both of) their life expectancy.

a well made body will last longer than it's owner.

You had a few good years Buddy.

Mine was completed in 1993 by someone else. I've had it 2+ years. The body is the least of your worries.

I have just over 30,000 miles on mine. I did the last 10,000 miles.

The steering rack is tight - probably needs lubrication. I greased it, but it is still too tight. The seal race in the back right upright went dry and made a squeeling noise (Jag rearend), and had to be lubricated (disassembly, replace bearings, etc.). The rear half shafts are twisted 30 degrees. I still haven't fixed that. The clutch slave started leaking and is made of unobtanium, so I switched to a hydraulic throwout. The 428 leaks. The 427 on the stand will not leak, even if I have to wrap it in plastic. The fuel filter clogged, and stranded me. The brand new fuel filter had a pinhole leak in a weld, and fried the distributor. The fuel tank leaks if I overfill it. The top doesn't seal worth a damn - planning on switching to a factory-5 top. The driver's door latch sticks. The striker on the driver's door latch has loosey goosey screws. The starter bendix slipped into the flywheel at the dragstrip and crunched into pieces.

I think that's it, but the fiberglass body is perfect. Except for the small crunched section where my wife rolled backwards into it.

And yes, I still love it, and I drive it to work almost every day.

Thickness makes a difference. Only because of it's use and abuse. Really thick and it can take heaps of abuse ... see the mob that makes old land cruiser glass bodies. Thin and you might have to be wary...as long as its supported correctly. Basically fibre glass is for ever if you look after it. Like old steel. ;)

My wife would agree with that statement.

Given there's plenty of Corvettes from the 50's and 60's still rolling around I don't think we have to worry too much about the longevity of a fiberglass body.

Cheers

Next month will mark 26 years for my home-built car. Other than some upgrades and improvements, it's very much the same as when I built it. Still looks good.