ERA ad idea: IE: I'm so unloved these days

[mrmustang]

Patrick,

That is the difference between listening to Curt Scott and not listening to him


I'll be taking better pictures once I get the interior done, maybe next week if I have the time.

Pat,

You sure I shouldn't price it higher


Bill S.

[1ntCobra]

An overcast day will help with pictures to reduce contrast, but the 2nd picture taken on a bright day is just overexposed. Even today's fancy intelligent camera meters can be inaccurate depending on what's filling the frame.

When the car is too "light" green in your case based on the camera meter's opinion (as opposed to your opinion), just switch to manual exposure mode and underexpose the shot compared to what the meter thinks. You could bracket a few shots, like -.5, -1, -1.5 stops and see if any of them look good. Digital is good for getting fast feedback, but I find that looking at the lcd on the camera in bright sunlight to review the picture is not nearly as good as getting the pictures onto the computer monitor to make sure they are right.

The composition of the first picture is also a bit better. It usually helps to get a lower angle when taking pictures of cars.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Bill, I just showed this exact picture to my secretary and said "what do you think?" She pointed to the first car and said "that car looks great" and then pointed to the second car and said "that car looks horrible." No kidding; that's an exact quote (and she is an old car buff as well).

[PSB]

Another ad idea, based on the pictures (need to get rid of the dates though) :

Before Engine Start:


Engine running:

[kgs365]

Bill

how about some stripes or offering a discount to a buyer for a paint job...try stick on stripes?..(maybe someone here can photoshop them on to see what it would look like).the green color would be more in line with a "street undercar exhaust type car"...maybe make it more racy..or offer a paint job at your cost?

[RodKnock]

Well, if we're going to pick on little things, and trust me, this is a very little thing Bill, but the spark plug wires look a little disorganized and they're grey. They're cheap, so I would replace them with some nice new black ones and have them organized better with wire looms and/or separators.

There. My apologies for such a ridiculously small item that I'm picking on.

[FIA-ERA]

Well I will throw my thoughts in as well, as this is just my experiences. Now Bill these are my first and honest opinions... When I first saw this I thought 427 "Tunnel Port" sweet! Then I saw the color and I was like "well OK" not so bad, then I saw the interior and I was like "man I just don't know". The biggest thing I've encountered with mine is "why didn't you paint it blue with white stripes?" and I just can't believe these comments (because their ALL blue with white stripes!!). Now , to each their own and you might find the "right" guy that just has to have all of these combo's. BUT, I think it's a little out of the "Cobra Norm" for most. I think, like others, changing the carpet to black would help a bunch, the tan carpet just looks faded and dirty to me. Get rid of the white letters on the tires unless they're billboards. The engine is really cool BUT it has a lot of miles on it and to most it doesn't offset the price in the car. The motor is probably more valuable for an old Nascar race car than a Cobra. I have the heads and intake so I know how sweet they are!

I myself think it's a great looking car, great engine, good price, BUT a little tired looking especially underneath( old pics you posted). The problem as you know is the market is way soft and big block Cobra's just are not pulling top dollar anymore. I wouldn't take anything less for than 45K for my car and I would think a 427 would pull another 10K to 15K BUT the ones I've seen selling are newer, cleaner, updated, AND the traditional Cobra colors.

I would take it off for while or list it elsewhere as it has probably gotten too much "negative ex poser" here. Not necessarily negative but too much attention that might send a prospect elsewhere. The best of luck and at least you have a nice car that you enjoy and can drive!! That's more than a lot of us in this hobby! Thanks, Matt

[patrickt]

Here, I touched it up a little bit. I got too tired though to take the fence out of the windshield.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Here, I touched it up a little bit. I got too tired though to take the fence out of the windshield.

Bill just has a wood paneled visor now.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Bill just has a wood paneled visor now.

If I tinted his seats a charcoal grey I think it just might sell.

[patrickt]

Now mind you I don't know a whole lot about selling nuthin', but if he's going to touch-up his pictures, then maybe going over the deep end is the way to go. Something like this to catch the reader's eye:

[RodKnock]

[RodKnock]

Just thinking back to those pictures of the ERA factory posted way back when, during some the recent CC members' builds, nearly all the new ERA's being built were some shade of medium-to-dark blue. In fact, there was comment posted by the ERA folks stating that this was the most blue ERA's that they had in the shop at the same time ever. Sorta tells you where the market is, in terms of color. At least a snapshot.

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Just thinking back to those pictures of the ERA factory posted way back when, during some the recent CC members' builds, nearly all the new ERA's being built were some shade of medium-to-dark blue. In fact, there was comment posted by the ERA folks stating that this was the most blue ERA's that they had in the shop at the same time ever. Sorta tells you where the market is, in terms of color. At least a snapshot.

From what Peter at ERA told me, in recent times blue was first, then red in terms of number of cars. But during my (many) visits up there, I did see cars of all colors and did see a number of green cars there as well.

Some would say that blue is desirable, but others may think they see too many blue Cobras, and want something in a different color.

-Ray

[badrich]

Tri-bars *are* cool. At least I like mine, and I *do* get compliments on them. Rich

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by badrich

Tri-bars *are* cool.

Pusher fans, too....

[badrich]

With all due respect, Patrick, I'm a puller enthusiast, pushers just get in the way of the air flow. Just my opinion, mind you. Rich

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Install new black carpet, detail the engine compartment, invert the tires to blackwall, and raise the price to 55k or best offer. Get some public exposure at shows and cruises where buyers may hang out looking for their next honey. Good luck.

[PatBuckley]

AGREED!

Also lower it.

[cscobra]

I last visited ERA three years ago. At that time, I was impressed by the many silver/silver gray/titanium cars in evidence.

[SunDude]

Bill,

Obviously this is a fairly early ERA, but exactly when (month and year) was the car first completed and registered for the road?

If it was more than 15 years ago, have you thought about trying to sell it in Canada?

Do you have some government-issued paperwork -- ideally a state title showing it as a "1988 Cobra kit" or something like that -- to prove its age to Canada Customs?

It's not a big Cobra market up here in the Great White North, but there is a dearth of high-quality replicas like ERAs. You might find stronger prices up here than down in the U.S., where these cars are relatively plentiful.

Also, what channels are you using to promote the car in the U.S., besides Club Cobra? Are you bringing it 'round to car shows with a big "For Sale" sign on it? You might be able to get people more excited about it if they can see (and hear) it in person.

Food for thought...