Me... A Texas Hopeful kit builder

twobjshelbys · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2021, 04:13 PM

Having never done one I can't say if "100 hours" is reasonable or not. Perhaps if you're experienced at assembly and fabrications and have all the tools. If kits could be completed in 100 hours there wouldn't be a glut of unfinished ones on the market.

I suspect you'll know by Christmas 2022!

Don't forget to budget for the tools you'll use only once. Don't go overboard. Harbor Freight makes tools that are "plenty good" for the one-time use.

The Hurricane does fit your model. Plus it's not donor based. Go for it.

Good luck!

Ricky Bobby · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2021, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1795

You can take a look at Antiques and Collectibles cobra, it has a high quality gel coat finish that some people do not paint, or paint later. It will be tough to build one in your budget, but if you do not go crazy, who knows and I am not one to rain on somebodies parade.

I just reached out to them to get pricing. The website wasn't completely clear as to their pricing. Looked like their frame and body was only 6K?

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I polled my kids as to whether they would rather earn something or have me just give it to them. They all voted for the gift.

Do they live in SF Bay area? I wouldn't trust the voting results, has to be voter fraud.

I raise my kids to pray to baby Jesus and to respect their elders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Having never done one I can't say if "100 hours" is reasonable or not. Perhaps if you're experienced at assembly and fabrications and have all the tools. If kits could be completed in 100 hours there wouldn't be a glut of unfinished ones on the market.

Don't forget to budget for the tools you'll use only once. Don't go overboard. Harbor Freight makes tools that are "plenty good" for the one-time use.

The Hurricane does fit your model. Plus it's not donor based. Go for it.

From my short research it seems that most of the unfinished kits are Factory Five which I can understand as they state it takes 300 hours to complete and you have to fab.

You do bring up a good point which I have not completely explored which is tools. I'm curious what specific tools would be needed to finished a Hurricane, Shell Valley or Unique kit? I will add this to the list of questions I'm sending the companies and to people I meet that have built these cars.

So I went back to my spreadsheet and I show:

Hurricane 30K
Shelly Valley little less than 30K for their complete kit "C"
Unique 35K for their deluxe kit

All these numbers include upgrades/options that I want. So 40K seems like a good budget for the complete kit. Again what am I missing?

Hntr2506 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-20-2021, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I just reached out to them to get pricing. The website wasn't completely clear as to their pricing. Looked like their frame and body was only 6K?

Do they live in SF Bay area? I wouldn't trust the voting results, has to be voter fraud.

I raise my kids to pray to baby Jesus and to respect their elders.

From my short research it seems that most of the unfinished kits are Factory Five which I can understand as they state it takes 300 hours to complete and you have to fab.

You do bring up a good point which I have not completely explored which is tools. I'm curious what specific tools would be needed to finished a Hurricane, Shell Valley or Unique kit? I will add this to the list of questions I'm sending the companies and to people I meet that have built these cars.

So I went back to my spreadsheet and I show:

Hurricane 30K
Shelly Valley little less than 30K for their complete kit "C"
Unique 35K for their deluxe kit

All these numbers include upgrades/options that I want. So 40K seems like a good budget for the complete kit. Again what am I missing?

I'm just starting to research a build and the number 1 company recommended to me was ERA then UNIQUE.

Ricky Bobby · #4 (**permalink**) 04-20-2021, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

I'm just starting to research a build and the number 1 company recommended to me was ERA then UNIQUE.

ERA is 12+ months delivery and I also heard they are not accepting new orders at this time.

Hntr2506 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-21-2021, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

ERA is 12+ months delivery and I also heard they are not accepting new orders at this time.

I talked to Pete yesterday he said 14 months, my timeline is 24 months so it will work for me.

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 04-21-2021, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

I talked to Pete yesterday he said 14 months, my timeline is 24 months so it will work for me.

Send him a deposit tomorrow (it's fully refundable). ERA and Unique are not comparable. Not that a Unique is not a nice car, it's just not in the same league as a properly built ERA.

Hntr2506 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-21-2021, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Send him a deposit tomorrow (it's fully refundable). ERA and Unique are not comparable. Not that a Unique is not a nice car, it's just not in the same league as a properly built ERA.

I wouldn't know first hand why they aren't comparable. The difference seems to be the 4" longer wheelbase or overall length? What am I not seeing?

PDUB · #8 (**permalink**) 04-25-2021, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

I'm just starting to research a build and the number 1 company recommended to me was ERA then UNIQUE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Send him a deposit tomorrow (it's fully refundable). ERA and Unique are not comparable. Not that a Unique is not a nice car, it's just not in the same league as a properly built ERA.

I don't think I have publicly disagreed with Patrick in the entire time we have been on the forum here. He is a wealth of great information, but I have to take exception at this. His statement here is just not accurate. ERA and Unique are quite comparable marques. Both of these manufacturers are outstanding/top-shelf. Both make great cars. They have very similar construction. You won't be sorry with either one. If I had not chosen Unique, I would have gone ERA. In fact, I recall Unique saying something similar to your Superformance connection, who is absolutely correct.

Some advantages can be attributed to each brand. ERA has the bonding process. I think the Unique 427 body version is nicer in shape than the ERA. Some of this is subjective. As you might guess, owners tend to defend their brand to the death. It is part of defending their decision to purchase. Some have gone so far as to end up booted from this site over it!

Do your homework. Go see both, ride in both, examine the construction of both, ask questions of both, check out others, and make an informed choice. It is a decision you get to decide for yourself. Between these two, you really cannot make a mistake!

The Unique owners have their own site at:

www.uniquecobra.com

Check it out for more information. Check out the links Patrick gave you. The ERA site is great, as he mentions.

By the way, the Unique Homecoming is happening on May 7-8 at the factory in Gadsden, AL. If you are available, it would be well worth the trip! See you there if you can make it!

patrickt · #9 (**permalink**) 04-20-2021, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

I'm just starting to research a build and the number 1 company recommended to me was ERA then UNIQUE.

Hmmmmmm, well that's half right I suppose.

Hntr2506 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-21-2021, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Hmmmmmm, well that's half right I suppose.

What half? I got a recommendation from Super Performance. If I wasn't buying one from him, this is who he recommended.

Dwight · #11 (**permalink**) 04-25-2021, 10:46 AM

I bought a Lone Star in 2000. It took two years to get in on the road. I was told I could build it for $25,000. I stopped keeping up with it when it went over $35K.
18 years later I had about $65,000 in it. 42,000 miles, lots of fun and I met thousands of great car people!

Since then I have owned two other Cobras. I have worked on about 20 different brands.

I have help sell five or six other Cobras.

Jeff took 18 years to build his. He holds the record.

Paint shops are the black hole for Cobras.

Got lots of stories about Cobra paint job.

My advice is to buy a "good" Cobra with the paint and motor you can live with. Change what you want a little at a time. By motor I mean 302 base or 351 base or FE. Exhaust systems are expensive. Heads, cams, intakes not so much.

Buying a running Cobra will cost you haft as much as building your own! And the time thing.
You can spend time driving (enjoying) you new Car and bonding with the kids as you change things on the car.

Remember a lot of Cobras were build by guys that don't know a lot about cars. Lots of problems.

Thousands of unfinished kits out there!!!!!

I've made a lot of money fixing Cobras.

Have fun which ever way you chose