Advertised as an ERA, but is it?

[Three Peaks]

Bassplayah,
Another alternative is to buy the Contemporary advertised in the classifieds and mentioned in several threads and have someone finish it up if you aren't up to doing it yourself and you'll still end up under your budget and have a great car with solid resale down the road if that is your goal.

Bob

[sea2jet]

ERA for sale with a 427FE/Toploader

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5940353588.html

[BassPlayah]

Good advice. I'm in the market for a BB car, but I'm in no hurry really and I don't car if it takes me a year to find what I want. And what I want for around $45K is:

1. a car that, if I needed to sell for whatever reasons, I can get out of it what I paid. In other words, I want to buy right.

2. I am picky about what color the car is, stance, and even how it sounds. I want a car that, even when it's not in motion, makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. (I want that lumpity-lumpity sound that a big cam makes.)

3. I have been researching other manufacturers: Unique, Backdraft, SPF... but my preference is ERA for all the reasons mentioned on this forum.

While I shop and wait for a Z06 Vette I'm selling to clear a space in my garage, I'm learning a ton about these cars on this forum. Wow, what a tremendous resource this forum has been. So. Much. To. Learn.

[DanEC]

Of the 4 makes you listed I would say your best odds of finding a FE car (BB) are an ERA, a Unique, and a Superformance in that order. There are probably a couple BB Backdrafts around but they would be scarce. For an ERA or Superformance you may need to work to raise your budget a little. I would say most Uniques - which are a very good car - are a little closer to your current budget. Occasionally you might see a BB FFR with IRS or a Hurricane FE with IRS come along that might appeal to you - if IRS is important. Contemporary is also another manufacturer that were usually built with FEs and also have an IRS suspension. But they have been out of production for quite awhile now. Just about any FE/BB is going to sound mean through sidepipes. If it isn't quite hairy enough for you, just install larger diameter sidepipes.

As far as holding value - my own experience is you can't build any of these for what they will re-sell for after the first owner. But that first drop from builder investment to first re-sell is pretty much it for depreciation as long as the car is well maintained. Basically you will just be dealing more with market fluctuation and economy factors rather than depreciation. Just my opinion and observation.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by BassPlayah

Good advice. I'm in the market for a BB car, but I'm in no hurry really and I don't car if it takes me a year to find what I want. And what I want for around $45K is:

1. a car that, if I needed to sell for whatever reasons, I can get out of it what I paid. In other words, I want to buy right.

2. I am picky about what color the car is, stance, and even how it sounds. I want a car that, even when it's not in motion, makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. (I want that lumpity-lumpity sound that a big cam makes.)

3. I have been researching other manufacturers: Unique, Backdraft, SPF... but my preference is ERA for all the reasons mentioned on this forum.

While I shop and wait for a Z06 Vette I'm selling to clear a space in my garage, I'm learning a ton about these cars on this forum. Wow, what a tremendous resource this forum has been. So. Much. To. Learn.

[BassPlayah]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Of the 4 makes you listed I would say your best odds of finding a FE car (BB) are an ERA, a Unique, and a Superformance in that order. There are probably a couple BB Backdrafts around but they would be scarce. For an ERA or Superformance you may need to work to raise your budget a little. I would say most Uniques - which are a very good car - are a little closer to your current budget. Occasionally you might see a BB FFR with IRS or a Hurricane FE with IRS come along that might appeal to you - if IRS is important. Contemporary is also another manufacturer that were usually built with FEs and also have an IRS suspension. But they have been out of production for quite awhile now. Just about any FE/BB is going to sound mean through sidepipes. If it isn't quite hairy enough for you, just install larger diameter sidepipes.

As far as holding value - my own experience is you can't build any of these for what they will re-sell for after the first owner. But that first drop from builder investment to first re-sell is pretty much it for depreciation as long as the car is well maintained. Basically you will just be dealing more with market fluctuation and economy factors rather than depreciation. Just my opinion and observation.

Good luck.

All good points, good info. I've seen quite a few Backdrafts for sale, but I'm still thinking ERA, with Unique in 2nd place. Yeah, I may need to raise my budget a bit when the right car comes to me, but for now I have time and I don't mind waiting to see what comes along in the months ahead. My goal is to find a car in the next year, unless impatience gets the best of me. I'm also hoping to find a car on the West coast, if I can. But through this forum, and alot of reading on the ERA site, I must say that ERA builds an impressive car... and I'd love to have an ERA car in my garage.

[*13*]

Originally Posted by BassPlayah

All good points, good info. I've seen quite a few Backdrafts for sale, but I'm still thinking ERA, with Unique in 2nd place. Yeah, I may need to raise my budget a bit when the right car comes to me, but for now I have time and I don't mind waiting to see what comes along in the months ahead. My goal is to find a car in the next year, unless impatience gets the best of me. I'm also hoping to find a car on the West coast, if I can. But through this forum, and alot of reading on the ERA site, I must say that ERA builds an impressive car... and I'd love to have an ERA car in my garage.

Unique makes a really nice car. I talked with them when I was deciding. Don't see a lot of them on the market, though. Especially outside of that region. If you do find one for a good price, it would be worth a closer look.

[DonC]

BassPlayah
Sent you an email through the forum.
dchoura@comcast.net
DonC

[*13*]

Originally Posted by BassPlayah

Good advice. I'm in the market for a BB car, but I'm in no hurry really and I don't car if it takes me a year to find what I want. And what I want for around $45K is:

1. a car that, if I needed to sell for whatever reasons, I can get out of it what I paid. In other words, I want to buy right.

2. I am picky about what color the car is, stance, and even how it sounds. I want a car that, even when it's not in motion, makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. (I want that lumpity-lumpity sound that a big cam makes.)

3. I have been researching other manufacturers: Unique, Backdraft, SPF... but my preference is ERA for all the reasons mentioned on this forum.

While I shop and wait for a Z06 Vette I'm selling to clear a space in my garage, I'm learning a ton about these cars on this forum. Wow, what a tremendous resource this forum has been. So. Much. To. Learn.

The more I read, the more I wanted an FIA. I started right where you are. FIA cars with WEBERS have a very distinct & exhilarating sound, as well. They are more rare & have a very rich race history. 427 cars have that rumble but.... Webers have that Sports Car racing sound. Wicked

[66gtk]

Most things being the same (such as equipment) I would put a Unique about 10K less expensive (maybe more) than an ERA. You should be able to find a good Unique example in your price range. Much more difficult if you are ERA shopping. It all comes down to the details including build quality & condition.

[patrickt]

The real problem with finding a used ERA is that most guys that get an ERA do not sell them.

[kevins2]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The real problem with finding a used ERA is that most guys that get an ERA do not sell them.

Yeah, my son reminds me of that constantly...