new guy...doing some homework!!

[keegan]

Hi all,
Newbie signing in to start doing some research! Have always loved the MK4's and want to try to get into one soon. The wife and I just went up to the local car show and saw a few of these, she loved them and sort-of, kind-of, gave me a green light - well the green light is still a little dull and hard to see as of now. Hope to sell our powerboat this Spring and find one.

I am sure I will have questions if I can't find them in the searches, so thanks for advance for the help.

Keegan

[tcrist]

Well Keegan, Welcome to the insanity.

The search function can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Depends on how it is used.

Ask anything that you want. I am sure that someone on here will have an answer.

[byron w]

Keegan,

Check here. We are available to come see or answer questions. At least we will try.

Thanks, Byron,
MACC




Mid-America Cobra Club

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by keegan

Hi all,
Newbie signing in to start doing some research! Have always loved the MK4's and want to try to get into one soon...

Which MkIV are you talking about?

The MkIV kits from Factory Five Racing, or the Autokraft MkIV ? Big difference.

[rodneym]

Sundude,
The OP said there were a few at the local car show.
The Columbo in me says....FFR.

[keegan]

Originally Posted by SunDude

Which MkIV are you talking about?

The MkIV kits from Factory Five Racing, or the Autokraft MkIV ? Big difference.

To say the truth....I am not sure. I haven't been in this scene ever and don't know jack shyt about them. Yet.

Originally Posted by rodneym

Sundude,
The OP said there were a few at the local car show.
The Columbo in me says....FFR.

It was these guys!! World of Wheels 2012 - a set on Flickr

Nice rides guys..

-keegan

[Seagull81]

Welcome to the Madness. Look for your local Cobra Club. Those guys will be a great help before and during your build.

[1Bigfish]

Buy an AC MKIV. Aluminum body on a tube frame built in England.

[Thor maine]

Originally Posted by 1Bigfish

Buy an AC MKIV. Aluminum body on a tube frame built in England.

With the GM Chevy motor. The best of both worlds, genuine AC(if there is such a thing now) with a Chevy motor

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

With the GM Chevy motor. The best of both worlds, genuine AC(if there is such a thing now) with a Chevy motor

The OP is a newbie just starting his homework and you guys are suggesting purchasing a new AC from England?

[Dimis]

Mark IV Gt40 perhaps... haha...

Keegan - there's no rush, plenty of time for you do do some homework check out some cars and identify what you are happy to compromise, and what your not.
While they are all "Cobras" they aren't all equal.

For instance those ones with Chevys in them are faux par
Excuse my prejudice.

[951mat]

You got lots of guys in KC to look too. But if you want to expand the horizon, come on down to tulsa (Claremore actually) and look at JBL's cars. They make a very nice product. There's a beautiful plum crazy cobra in the shop right now that has the coyote motor. Cool piece.

Mat

[1Bigfish]

If you are interested, I have a buddy with a 1993 AC MKIV "Lightweight" for sale. Of the total 459 MKIV's built only 73 are "Lightweights". 2600 original miles. Powered by a Ford GT engine. Rare, Valuable & fast.

AC Cobra MkIV Lightweight Photos by bluebox888 | Photobucket

[Bartruff1]

Be honest about how you will use the car...about how much you want to spend on purchase and maint....consider resale....buy a used factory built car (MSO) with a clear and clean title with one adult owner/driver... if you can't do it yourself, have it inspected by a bonded expert.

These are toys, not cars, more like a motorcycle.

If you want a sports car as a daily driver or for grand touring, buy a C5/C6 Corvette.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by keegan

To say the truth....I am not sure. I haven't been in this scene ever and don't know jack shyt about them. Yet.

Do yourself a favor and just put it all on hold for at least until the end of the year while you do your homework and see if you're just in the middle of a passing fancy. You could be making a huge mistake buying one of these cars. They're really not for everybody, in fact, they're really not for almost anybody.

[Dangerous Doug]

Keegan: ClubCobra is a good place to start, but it appears some of the advice so far has been intended tongue-and-cheek.

When it comes to buying a Cobra what you want to spend dictates the choice of Cobras. You can probably find a good deal on a used one, but choose wisely! There are large variances between manufacturers and builders. If you choose to build one plan on spending $50k and up, depending on what you select. Aluminum bodied with a 427 side-oiler? I think you'd be pushing $100k+. I think I am in my ERA 289FIA about $60k, but I stopped counting a long time ago.

I think most of us have stopped counting. Multiply what we tell our wives by 1.35 and you'll be closer to the truth.

That being said, I have seen older fiberglass Cobras for sale for $30k. Unfinished ones (uh, yeah, be careful in THAT territory...) for about $25k. Remember that paint can be about $8k for a "near show-quality" paint job.

Building your own is pretty fun, but only if you have the time and can wait. I worked on mine slowly over 4 years, and my build was gated by my ability to burn cash. Life can throw you some curveballs, too. Mid-build on mine, my son was diagnosed with Leukemia and went through two years of intense chemo. Working on my Cobra was a nice distraction, though, during that particularly trying time.

Take a look at the Cobras for Sale section here on CC. Take a look at Cobracountry.com. Check and see if there is a local Cobra club, and go talk with people. Check out the Cobra and Shelby books on Amazon.

I have an ERA, and their web site is Era Replica Automobiles - Makers of the 427, 289FIA, and GT40 replicas. Very happy with my Cobra. I went with the 289FIA, which is more svelte than the 427 Cobra. And, the 302 is the "correct" engine for the body style. The guys at ERA are very helpful.

You may also want to check out Kirkham, Superformance, Factory Five Racing, along with the ERA. Most of the Cobras I see are one of these makes.

Most of all: Take your time. The Cobra I purchased is very different than what I set out to buy. I had to save up to buy my original "kit", and in that time I was a man obsessed (still am, incidentally), but I learned quite a bit and this redirected my efforts to my ultimate selection of ERA and their 289 FIA.

Have fun!
DD

[JBCOBRA]

One does need to be stricken with a pension for masocism....