New member researching and looking for guidance

[twobjshelbys]

It is a disservice to try to convince this guy that he can get a completed Cobra for 20K. It's kind of like trying to buy a house in San Francisco for $100K. Sure, you might find one but it's going to need $1M in fixer-upper repairs and you'll have to wait for years to find it (meanwhile prices go up). Same with a Cobra. A 20K Cobra is likely to be an unfinished kit being abandoned by an estate. You might find one, but you're going to have to finish it, with a fair amount of skills and tools needed, and then you still have to put an engine and transmission in it. And then you have to sort it out. Then you'll get 40K into the project and start to get frustrated after two years and sell it for 20K.

Think carefully if this is a path you want to go down.

And you won't get even close to a Kirkham for 100K. As a beginner, stay away from aluminum. Get your feet wet with fiberglass. If you decide you like the Cobra and want to upgrade then consider Kirkham (or Shelby American).

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

It is a disservice to try to convince this guy that he can get a completed Cobra for 20K. It's kind of like trying to buy a house in San Francisco for $100K. Sure, you might find one but it's going to need $1M in fixer-upper repairs and you'll have to wait for years to find it (meanwhile prices go up). Same with a Cobra. A 20K Cobra is likely to be an unfinished kit being abandoned by an estate. You might find one, but you're going to have to finish it, with a fair amount of skills and tools needed, and then you still have to put an engine and transmission in it. And then you have to sort it out. Then you'll get 40K into the project and start to get frustrated after two years and sell it for 20K.

Think carefully if this is a path you want to go down.

And you won't get even close to a Kirkham for 100K. As a beginner, stay away from aluminum. Get your feet wet with fiberglass. If you decide you like the Cobra and want to upgrade then consider Kirkham (or Shelby American).

I bought a West Coast Cobra in 2014 that was okay cosmetically, but a bit of a 'fixer-upper' mechanically. I did almost all the work myself, so very little $$$ for labor, but I estimate I've spent nearly $15K on safety and reliability upgrades - nothing to do with enhancing performance. Add in labor and you've easily got another $30-40K.

On a more positive note, the appraised value reflects the current state of the car, so I'm not dissatisfied. It's just very important to know what you're signing up for.

Think long and hard before taking the plunge.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

It's kind of like trying to buy a house in San Francisco for $100K. Sure, you might find one but it's going to need $1M in fixer-upper repairs and you'll have to wait for years to find it (meanwhile prices go up).

For the record, the cheapest house in San Francisco sold for around $560,000. And you'll need at least $1,000,000 to fix it up. So, $100,000 buys you nothing.

https://www.hunker.com/13710079/you-...-just-sold-for

[Fozzie]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

It is a disservice to try to convince this guy that he can get a completed Cobra for 20K. It's kind of like trying to buy a house in San Francisco for $100K. Sure, you might find one but it's going to need $1M in fixer-upper repairs and you'll have to wait for years to find it (meanwhile prices go up). Same with a Cobra. A 20K Cobra is likely to be an unfinished kit being abandoned by an estate. You might find one, but you're going to have to finish it, with a fair amount of skills and tools needed, and then you still have to put an engine and transmission in it. And then you have to sort it out. Then you'll get 40K into the project and start to get frustrated after two years and sell it for 20K.

Think carefully if this is a path you want to go down.

And you won't get even close to a Kirkham for 100K. As a beginner, stay away from aluminum. Get your feet wet with fiberglass. If you decide you like the Cobra and want to upgrade then consider Kirkham (or Shelby American).

*KUDOS* For the honesty on the forum.

Before he died, my dad was self employed building kit Cobras in the mid-80's to early 2000's. But then he realized, there were a bunch of people who needed help finishing "entry-level" kits they started. He was quite lucrative helping people who got in over their heads.

While it may sound harsh, it's better to find out all of this stuff now!

[JaySquared]

Originally Posted by Fozzie

*KUDOS* For the honesty on the forum.

Before he died, my dad was self employed building kit Cobras in the mid-80's to early 2000's. But then he realized, there were a bunch of people who needed help finishing "entry-level" kits they started. He was quite lucrative helping people who got in over their heads.

While it may sound harsh, it's better to find out all of this stuff now!

Oh, I've been yelled at by the best and meanest while working on Wall Street when I got out of college and for many years . Thick skin is my super power lol

I really do appreciate the candor and everyone here seems like a straight shooter. The comments are welcome and very helpful.

I'm hoping to get some kind of kit just so I can hang around you guys awhile longer!