First Cobra shopping...
 

G'day Guys,

I am at the very start of the process of looking for a cobra replica to build. I have come up with the Classic Revival and DRB Cobra Boss as main contenders so far.

With the knowledge you guys have, which kit is better? I hear the classic revival's manual leaves a bit to be desired...

regards
Mick

Welcome,

You have come to the right place for advice!

Where do you live?

I would add Harrison and Gforce to your list of possible suppliers too.

Ben

Welcome Mick,

Given your location I'd recommend the Harrison then the DRB second.

I recommend the Harrison because of it's excellent shape and the fellow who runs the company. His name is Warwick and this is a link to his site.

http://www.cobrakits.com.au/index.html

He gives first class service which is the most important part of the investment.

I don't think any manufacturer has a good manual.

Cheers

I saw a Boss DRB Cobra yesterday, it was the first of those chassis produced.

The owners are bringing it down to the nationals.

They used BA Boss Engine, original auto, orginal ECU, BA Steering Column, BA fuel pump etc etc. Uses all the original loom etc. So very easy to fit. The only thing they had to do was get a reverse value fuel guage. Still uses Jag suspension front & rear.

A custom plenum was made for it so that a couple of pods could be fitted at the rear. It has fresh air ducted through the bonnet scoop, through the inside of the bonnet, to the rear pods, which are sealed off. Also had a complete painted cover over messy parts of the engine. Looked very neat.

The engine is just huge in the engine bay, but sounds great. The auto has nice quick shift arrangement, so is not too bad.

The car has original BA ABS fitted, traction control, cruise control etc. Uses the original cruise control buttons, but they have been very well integrated into the interior.

Just watch delivery times with DRB, there is quite often lengthy delays.

Harrison also do Boss version. And Harrison version mounts the engine much further back, so a much easier fit and balance. Harrison can be supplied with engine mounts to suit 302/351, Ford modular, Ford Boss, Lexus & LS1.

Classic Revival & Harrison manuals sound like they are similiar quality, DRB would have the best manual in my opinion.

Also watch the body shape, all 3 of these cars have very different body shapes.

Personally I would recommend Harrison, the focus & support that Warwick & his family gives to Cobra's, customers and the club is amazing.

The only manual that is worth putting your hand on with the Classic Revival is the one with the stick coming out of it that go's in your left hand.

you will find 10x more info from people on this web site than from CR

NOt too sure about the others, but when it came down to which one to buy. I was between Harrison and CR. We choose CR, as he is in Sydney as am I.

Cobra.au, has it spot on. The help from the guys on here is terrific and are always ready with suggestions for your Cobra build and other useful infromation for life in general .. :p :p

Reply to Beejay,
 

I live in beautiful Bundaberg, Queensland, best place in Oz

Hey there Mick, glad to see you have joined.
Dont be afraid to ask any questions as someone in here will have an answer for you (you will have to decide which is the correct answer)

I feel the best way to work out which car to get is to write up a list of what is important in a car/kit for you.

As you know I have a Classic but the Harrison car was almost in my shed, it was a close choice but I went with Classic in the end due to the chassis and body being so easy to seperate.

I would recomend that if you are traveling anywhere within the beautiful country of ours then post it in here as I am sure there will probably be someone who will say "come and check out my snake" (just be careful if it is any of the QLD guys that say it) Dont know what snake they would be refering to.

How rude this Boxhead is! Don't worry fellow Queenslanders, I will stand up for us. Boxhead and I have plans to catch up when he comes to Cairns. I'll pick him up, drive for about 20 hours south and leave him out in the middle of no-where in that dark and gloomy place called New South Wales.

See what kinda SNAKES they have.

Hey Schipps make careful choices when deciding on your kit. The fellas in here are probably the best fellas to listen to.

Certainly be worth getting down to Brisbane for a Club Breakfast. You could visit Harrison on Saturday morning, see GT40 Saturday arvo at their monthly GT40 BBQ, then attend club meeting on Sunday morning to talk to members and see completed kits.

Just don't tee it up for next meeting, the big players will be down at the Nationals.

Actually better still, attend the Nationals, it's the place to decide which Cobra kit to buy. The money to get there will be well spent in saving you from some grief. Looks like both Warwick(Harrison) & Peter Ransom(DRB) will be there this year.

Talking about visiting, I will be landing in Innisfail on 19th September and leaving on the 1st of October.

Hope to catch up then Blair.

Great advice about attending a monthly breakfast meeting and visiting the two workshops. I will try and tee it up for October the 1st. Although I see the Noosa Car show is on that weekend and Cobras are expected there too...

Schipps,
Welcome to CC.
Another thing you need to factor in is how handy are you? If you're one of these blokes who can build a cobra blindfolded then you should spread your wings and check out a few other manufacturers around Oz. If not then I would suggest you stay within your State boarders because you will ask alot of questions to the successful manufacturer. In my case, I'm the latter and I find it invaluable to drop in and ask questions or bring things around and do the same. Sometimes doing stuff over the phone is problematic.

I've seen Warricks factory and he showed me around the joint and I found Warrick to be very friendly and helpful. I haven't been to DRB.

Personally I don't like the shape of a DRB as it is flatter (not the curviest) than other makes.

Al,

I am fairly handy but will try and stay with a Qld manufacturer if I can, for the reasons you state. I am yet to get any reply from Warwick at Harrison, but I am keen for the info on the Harrison.

I wouldn't bother with coming down for the meeting on the 1st October. With 30+ people going to the Nationals, both Warwick Harrison & Peter Ransom also attending the Nationals, the stuff to see and do will be greatly diminished.

Craig,

I meant to say November 1st. I did read a lot will be away for the Nationals on the October meeting.

Sounds good, looking forward to catching up.

Decisions
 

Schipps

I am based on the Gold Coast (aka Cobra Central) and decided that a local workshop would be the way to go for me, leaving Harrisons or DRB as options. I dropped into Warwick's workshop one Saturday morning (only time I have available) and he talked my ear off, giving me absolutely all the information I might possibly need. The following week I attempted the same at DRB but they were unfortunately closed. I am not sure if they normally open on Saturdays but they weren't on this day. So it was either Warwick or nothing. I did like the look of the G-Force kit but distance from the workshop was a bit of an issue.

So I churned for a couple of days and the decision was made.

I now see Warwick on an almost weekly basis (usually a Saturday along with many others!) and he is always happy to help.

Along with many others I will be at the November breakfast and will be more than happy to share more details. As well as Warwick, other builders have been a great source of information for me. I have collected a reasonable set of photos and other details around the (Harrison's) build process that might be useful.

Good luck!!

GeoF

What would I do without this forum, I would certainly be wandering around aimlessly. You blokes are as someone said here, a fantastic source of information. I will be trying my hardest to line up a visit with Warwick and DRB on that November meeting weekend. Thanks guys Mick

Mick, just sent you a PM with my contact details and more specifics on coming down here. More than happy to help out where I can.

You can also check out Snake Bite(Cobra accessory manufacturer) & FFF(specialises in painting Cobra's, GT40's etc) while you are down here, both will help you estimate costs involved in your build.