Want to buy!
 

I have been looking at Cobras for sometime, and wanting one even longer. I am a newbie and plan to do a lot of research. I want an entry level cobra that will not overwhelm me or my skills. Not sure if I am ready to assemble a kit (depending on level of skill required.) Just looking for advice. Who do you stay away from? Who's good? What is the best way to enter into ownership?

Look, talk to people with different makes,and if you can drive a few. There must be a Cobra club somewhere near you that you can talk to the members and get their input. Just remember that everyoone is going to have their own likes and dislikes and the final decision is going to have to be yours. Decide jsut what you want to do withe the car. Race, show, driver, or all of this.

Ron **) **)

Bomelia,

Unique Motorcars is near you - its a good place to start. A fine product second only to an ERA ;) . Visit the manufacturer you are considering, beyond that Ron's advice is spot on.

You can get a Cobra anywhere from a very minimal donor car kit to complete turn-key. You have to decide (be realistic) what your skills and available time are. I started mine as an ERA roller needing only wiring and interior - but started a new job, didn't have the time to build it and switched it to a turn-key.

Hope this helps,
Jim

Here are some links to chew on:

B&B
Located in Missouri. Low to mid-cost. Offers kits and turnkeys. Their '5.0 donor' has all new parts other than the drivetrain.

Backdraft
Located in Florida. Offers just a turnkey as far as I know. Priced below $40k I think.

Carcepts
Located in Oregon. Low cost. Offers kits and turnkeys. Fully uses the "donor" concept, taking drivetrain, steering, gas tank, radiator, rear end, suspension, etc. from '87 to '93 Mustang. Can package donor parts with the kit. Complete turnkey is the most affordable in the industry, starting at $20k with donor parts. Can be built with new parts at much higher cost.

ERA
Located in Connecticut. High-end replica. Offers mostly built kits or turnkeys. Really nice car if you can afford it.

FFR
Located in Massachusetts. Low cost. The most popular Cobra replica maker for the last few years. Only offers kits that make full use of the "donor" concept, taking drivetrain, steering, gas tank, radiator, rear end, suspension, gauges, etc. from '87 to '93 Mustang. Aluminum panels make it different from other "budget" replicas. Nice turnkeys available from levyracing.com for around $30k. Can be built with new parts at much higher cost.

Hunter
Located in Florida. Uses C4 Corvette suspension parts. Mid to low cost.

Kirkham
Located in Washington. Ultra high-end replica. Has aluminum body fabricated in Poland to original spec. We'd all have one if we had the money. ;)

Lone Star
Located in Texas. Nice mid-cost replica.

Mid States
Located in Nebraska. Nice mid-cost replica. Offers kits and turnkeys I think. Same as Shell Valley?

Shelby
Located in Nevada. A super nice replica, and officially a Shelby Cobra. Even better than Kirkham, as you can get the same aluminum body plus a CSX number. You'll have to be rich, though.

Shell Valley
Located in Nebraska. Nice mid-cost replica. Offers kits and turnkeys I think. Same as Mid States?

Superformance
Located in South Africa. Delivers complete cars sans drivetrain to US dealers. High-end replica. Again, really nice if you can afford it. No option to build yourself.

Unique
Located in Alabama. Last but not least, especially since you live in Alabama. Nice mid-cost replica. Similar setup to ERA, but at a lower cost.

what to do...
 

bomelia,

you can always go the 2nd-hand route, save, and get a nice car too. There is all kinds of stuff with low mileage for sale out there that you could buy, try, and then sell later if you decide to move up again. A good friend just did this with his initial budget in mind, and now that he has tried his Cobra for a while, he wants to go with something more identical to an original. Some people get into them, uprade again later, and others just sell their cars and move on to other things after a few years because they really had no clue as to why they were buying a Cobra in the first place. Some of us diehards will always have one though... :)

Good Luck, searching for the first car is probably one of the most exciting times I had learning about Cobras and what's out there. Enjoy!

Give me a call, you can look at my car ask all the questions you like and even talk me into a ride.
Keith

Thanks!
 

I really appreciate all of your responses. My goal is to have one for driving around on "nice days." I am not a racer and probably will be happy with 250-300 hp :)

Thanks for the offer Kieth, give me a call or I will look you up (I sent you an e-mail)

Mike

Kirkham.....
 

I wish they were in Washington!!!!!! Actually located in Provo, UT.....:p

David **)

you will spend less money if you buy a completed car that somebody else is selling, especially right now. A lot of guys are selling their hot rods at a loss right now.

Selling low?
 

Why are they being sold at a loss?

Mike