Turn-Key ERA

[ASO544]

What does ERA do differently or better to their cars that makes it stand out so much when compared to other cars. I've even heard an owner of a CSX 6000 series say he felt his ERA was a better car overall. Pretty interesting statement I thought. I've went through their site and you can clearly see you get what you pay for.

Going through the forum here there is really no negative threads either.... Pretty impressive reputation .

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ASO544

What does ERA do differently or better...

It's been a long time now, but when I was deciding what car I wanted, I had it down to the "big three" CSX, KMS, and ERA. I was well studied in the replica game, having followed it closely since the early 1980's. The reason I did not go with CSX was that I did not view the name as giving the car any more "realness" as any other company and, most importantly, the quality of the builds, under the skin, were of a slightly lower quality than that KMS or ERA. KMS and ERA were neck and neck on my list; the costs were not an issue. What tilted the decision in favor of ERA was that 1) they were on the East Coast, and 2) They have a service manual that is almost as detailed as the service manuals I order from General Motors when I buy a car from them. Over the last decade, I have taken most of car apart, and then put it back together again, or made modifications to it, mostly wiring mods, that would have been much more difficult without the detailed service manual. And I will tell you, even when I have disassembled something deep in to the bowels of the car, the pieces that are put together down there show the same careful attention to detail, and the same use of high quality components, that you would find on something right out in the open -- like the wind screen or radiator. Now, had I lived in Utah, I probably would have gone with Kirkham, and then painted it and gotten along without the manual. KMS uses a lot of custom "one off" stuff that is absolutely lovely, but will be a little trickier to fix when it breaks and the Kirkham brothers and employees have all passed on. ERA has some of that as well, but for the most part they tend to use high end stuff that is not custom made, so even after Peter, Bob, and the boys are all dead and gone I think the ERA will still be easier to fix. That, in a nutshell, is why I went with ERA.

[DanEC]

ERA pays a lot of attention to the surface stuff to make sure it's visually correct to just about every detail - even the asymmetry in the body. That includes the cockpit. Under the skin they deviate considerably from original frame configuration but they are very, very well engineered and stiff. Once mounted there isn't any part of the body that will move with hand pressure except maybe the lower, rear fender roll under area a little. The chassis seems very stiff but the suspension is compliant and comfortable - the car just feels solid and well-engineered.

And a KMP is probably about another $40 or 50K (painted) over an ERA. A KMP is probably about the only thing I might consider giving up my ERA for.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

It's been a long time now, but when I was deciding what car I wanted, I had it down to the "big three" CSX, KMS, and ERA. I was well studied in the replica game, having followed it closely since the early 1980's. The reason I did not go with CSX was that I did not view the name as giving the car any more "realness" as any other company and, most importantly, the quality of the builds, under the skin, were of a slightly lower quality than that KMS or ERA. KMS and ERA were neck and neck on my list; the costs were not an issue. What tilted the decision in favor of ERA was that 1) they were on the East Coast, and 2) They have a service manual that is almost as detailed as the service manuals I order from General Motors when I buy a car from them. Over the last decade, I have taken most of car apart, and then put it back together again, or made modifications to it, mostly wiring mods, that would have been much more difficult without the detailed service manual. And I will tell you, even when I have disassembled something deep in to the bowels of the car, the pieces that are put together down there show the same careful attention to detail, and the same use of high quality components, that you would find on something right out in the open -- like the wind screen or radiator. Now, had I lived in Utah, I probably would have gone with Kirkham, and then painted it and gotten along without the manual. KMS uses a lot of custom "one off" stuff that is absolutely lovely, but will be a little trickier to fix when it breaks and the Kirkham brothers and employees have all passed on. ERA has some of that as well, but for the most part they tend to use high end stuff that is not custom made, so even after Peter, Bob, and the boys are all dead and gone I think the ERA will still be easier to fix. That, in a nutshell, is why I went with ERA.

Ya, once the GPS, ABS, automatic ride leveling and skid control go "on the fritz," I really don't know who the F is going to fix my Kirkham, when the Kirkham company no longer exists and the former employees go on to work for NASA.

Tell me, what exactly will break on the Kirkham that is "custom one-off"? The Wilwood brakes? The Penske shocks? The Tremec 5-speed? A CV joint that can be purchased at Napa Auto Parts? Come on. Be serious.

Granted, I can't even fix the friggin' WiFi at my home, but I know there are bazillions of folks out there like you that can figure it all out without a manual.

Just say ERA was closer to you and also an excellent company.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Ya, once the GPS, ABS, automatic ride leveling and skid control go "on the fritz," I really don't know who the F is going to fix my Kirkham, when the Kirkham company no longer exists and the former employees go on to work for NASA.

Tell me, what exactly will break on the Kirkham that is "custom one-off"? The Wilwood brakes? The Penske shocks? The Tremec 5-speed? A CV joint that can be purchased at Napa Auto Parts? Come on. Be serious.

Granted, I can't even fix the friggin' WiFi at my home, but I know there are bazillions of folks out there like you that can figure it all out without a manual.

Just say ERA was closer to you and also an excellent company.

Well it was a shame that they just abandoned their efforts at a service manual mid-stream. I think it had to do with one of the brothers leaving the biz, or one of them trying to run for Congress, or who knows why. But they really should put the time and effort in to finishing that task. Of course, they know that.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well it was a shame that they just abandoned their efforts at a service manual mid-stream. I think it had to do with one of the brothers leaving the biz, or one of them trying to run for Congress, or who knows why. But they really should put the time and effort in to finishing that task. Of course, they know that.

Just face it. You didn't want to cough up the additional $40,000 or whatever to buy a Kirkham. Cheapskate.

[rodneym]

I sure do wish Kirkham finish that damned manual!

I can't find my spare tire!
And where are the USER1/USER2 buttons on my motorized seat?
Not to mention I can't program my THX 7.1 stereo.
What if my kids want to watch the DVD player in the Kirkham's headrest but want the sound on the stereo?!
Excatly what is my towing capacity, anyways?

Maybe we should get GM to write the manual

If you're building kit, you need a manual. If you buy a roller, you'll be fine.

My apologies to the OP for the intrusion.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by rodneym

I can't find my spare tire!

I know where mine is. The spare tire for the Cobra, OTOH, is quite another matter.