New guy with some questions

[Rickd]

When you say "final assembly"? What are you intending to purchase? You can order any level of completion from ERA, and they ship unpainted rollers, painted rollers, turnkey minus (all done except engine and trans install), or complete turnkey (you provide the motor or they source one to your specs). There are some used ones on the market - looking for a 427 body or 289? Definitely worth visiting the factory in New Britain, Ct. They normally have 10 - 12 cars in varying stages of completion on the premises, and can show you the chassis and glass shop, as well as the finish assembly area. Great group, small company, build 60 or so cars a year and have been doing it for over 20 years. Build a 427 SC, a 289 FIA, 289 Slab Side, and a GT40 - each very faithful to the original dimension specs of the body, cockpit, engine and trunk compartments. Look virtually identical to the original.

One variation from the original on their cobra replicas is the chassis construction. Designed to be driven and tracked in many cases - they went with rectangular tube chassis and use 3" * 4" rect tube contstruction, rather than 2" * 4" rect tube used in many replicas, or 3 - 4" round tube used in the original. Their chassis has a section that wraps up around the back of the cockpit as well - door latches are bolted to that assembly - and are rock solid. Designed to use the Jag Dana IRS, and they manufacture a custom rear assembly, based on an aluminum housing, with outboard brakes (as opposed to the standard Jag internal brake setup), that is both lighter and stronger, and permits oversized outboard brakes. Defiitely worth a visit to ERA in Ct. Enjoy the research.