Era 377
 

I am flying from L.A. to Pittsburgh this weekend to have a look at ERA 377 which is for sale. As a first time Cobra buyer and having never actually seen an ERA other than in photos, can anyone give me some pointers.

If anyone is familiar with Gary's car or can even give me some suggestions as to how to evaluate a used Cobra I will be appreciated.

Thanks

I purchased ERA 91 around 6 months ago. Primarily, make sure that you are satisfied with the major components, e.g. engine, trans, read end, and wheels. You probably already are based on the fact that you are traveling to see the Cobra.

My Cobra was made in the 1980's, so some of the parts, e.g. wind wings, visors, etc. needed to be replaced with rust on the chrome - know that parts are readily available at finishline.com or directly from ERA.

I'm really happy with my Cobra, epecially happy that it has turned out to be true that ERA does a fine job and has done a fine job for decades.

May I ask how much did you guys pay for these ERA's?

I too I am looking at one with a 427 S/O, 4 speed with 8,000 miles

I bought ERA #122 about 4 years ago..>Cobra de capell has a good suggestion..you need to look at the major things that will make you happy on the car the big ticket items!...Color, Engine, Transmission and wheels were the important things to me...everything else can be changed easily and purchased through ERA...I have added aluminum panels to the engine...put aluminum heads on and webers...redone the wiring from passenger compartment forward...new fans, new gauges, sidepipes...all kinds of stuff.

Hcollado it really depends on what you are willing to pay...and what options the car has...if it has aluminum panels, true pin drives (6 pin) stainless pipes and a few other goodies probably in the high 40's or low 50's...everything else moves around....

Matt

I purchased ERA #375 in 2003. It was built in December 1992 so was 11 years old and 8500 miles.

Things to look for....

Visually, you need to check all over the body to make sure it is right. Next, I would (before arriving) ask the current owner to have the car up on jackstands when you arrive. I would use a creeper and check the undercarriage to insure that all is right and not damaged.

In the engine compartment... #377 should be about the same age as mine so make sure all hoses and belt are good and supple and new. Check the cooling water and oil before starting up. ALso the brake fluid reservoir. Should be clear fluid not cloudy.

Visually check the cockpit. Is it clean and tidy? Do the gauges lite up?

Start the engine. It will take the engine a long time to warm up. This is NORMAL. It will sputter and gack and pulstate when very cold. This is NORMAL. After a few minutes of revving to keep it from stalling out it should idle down to a low ticking grumble.

Listen for vibrations in the exhaust pipes.

The proof of the pudding is in driving the car. The trannie and shifter linkage have a long throw in a Toploader. Probably 377 has SW gauges. See if the tach is stable on readout. Mine used to bobble until I fixed the wiring.

To be frank with you, I would suspect that 377 is just a dandy car. I saw pictures of it and it looked super. Make sure there are all the details on the provenance of the engine, trannie and differential.

The previous owner of my car had all his details and records and receipts in 4 big binders. He also had a few scrapbooks on the build details and photos of the car going together.

Find out what spares and extras will come with the car. I have loads of stuff that came with it from the previous owner... find this out.

Good luck... my used ERA has been a great car for me. They make a super product and there are not too many of them around.

Cheers

Hoppy,

If that one does not work out, there is an ERA(#297) for sale here in the Phoenix, AZ area.

Here is Choppers thread.

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...&highlight=era

Mike

ERA 377
 

Thanks to everyone for thier imput. I'm leaving tonight and will try to let you know how the trip went upon my return. Boy, I just saw that the temp. in Pittsburgh will be from 23 down to 6 degrees. Should be nice crawling around under a car in that weather.

Mikiec, special thanks to you for the referral. I have not had any response yet, but it does seem like a very interesting alternative.

Good Luck Hoppy! Hope to see you on the roads soon with an ERA:D

You may want to contact PETER B at ERA He can tell you how the the car left ERA and what options it has. I think you should be concerned about is enhancements since that serial # and wether you want or need them. The newer serial # have significant improvements.

Lloyd

Hoppy,
If you want to make a trip out to Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks area I'd be happy to show you mine and review the ins and outs of an ERA with you. E-mail me if your interested and good luck in Pittsburgh.
Steve

Lloyd,
Other than the new radiator and radiator mounts (which look more authentic) and the universal transmission mount bracket (which saves ERA time in assembly as less custom work is needed), what exactly are the significant enhancements that one should be concerned with?

A history of upgrades from ERA's website. ;)

http://www.erareplicas.com/427/faqs.htm#usedcars

Hoppy:
Did you get out to see #377?

ERA 377
 

I did in fact fly out to Pittsburgh to meet Gary and see his beautful car. His workmanship is excellent and the car is very nice indeed. Unfortunately, I arrived at 6:30 AM (red-eye) to be greeted by darkness, moderate to heavy snowfall and 6 degree temps.
While the car shows great in the garage, the weather did not allow us to move the car more than off the ramps.

One reservation I have about the car is that it is a "pretty stock" 428, which was not professionally built, and while it sounds very good, I don't know if it has the wallop I am lusting for. With no opportunity to drive it, that question has gone unanswered. I will say that he represented the car very accurately and I think he is a first class guy all the way.

I have in no way eliminated his car as a candidate for my garage, but I need to do some additional homework including any DMV issues as well as estimating total delivered costs with the optional items I would need to complete the car for me. There is also the possiblility that I would have to consider putting some heavy $$ in the motor, if I didn't get the required hit in the back.

A 428 in a Cobra is scary enough.

Trust me. :)

I agree with traveller. A 428 will rock your boat. My little 289FIA kicks out around 350HP. Enough HP to make you piss in your pants if you do not know how to handle it.

jim

ERA 377
 

Thanks to both Jamvan and Traveller for your imput. I do believe that the 428 will be more than thrilling.

However, as I contemplate a purchase and try to evaluate two very desireable cars I need to sort out whether the 427SO adds enough desireablility for a variety of reasons including (gd forbid) resale to push me in that direction.

I have seen 377 up close and it is outstanding.
On the other hand the 427 car gets high marks from Peter at ERA as having been very nice originally, and it does have a Southern Auto built motor, but is now 12 or 13 years old. If upon inspection the fit, finish and general reflection of the car's care is significantly below 377's then it gives me some pause for thought.

I think that since I am under no deadline to make a decision, I will fly over to see the 427SO car and make a decision after that.

I have an appointment tomorrow AM with the CA DMV to try and sort out exactly how to handle a used car from out of state with current registration in it's home state and convert to legal status here. I'm guessing that I am in for the same SB-100 circus that I have been reading about.

Anybody want to comment on any of the above, I am trying to be open minded and avoid mistakes on a purchase that is this important to me.
Thanks
Hoppy

I have a 428 in mine and it's got plenty of power, although it certainly isn't stock, as you describe the motor in 377. But even if the motor is close to stock, it would not take much $$ to liven it up. A new cam, manifold and carb would probably be less $1,200 (excluding labor costs), and if you really wanted to go all out, you could add a set of new aluminum edelbrock heads for another $1200. With those changes, you could easily get 450 hp and a similar amount of torque out of a 428, which should be more than enough.

A little inside info here: While I was at Ford, we were getting ready to introduce the Cobra Jet Mustang with a 427, however a dealer from the East coast recommended that they install a 428 built from parts Ford already had on the shelf. To settle the question there was a match race between the dealer's 428-powered Mustang and Ford's prototype 427 Mustang. Result; the 428* won, thus the birth of the 428* CJ and SCJ Mustangs . . . and for a whole lot less money.

Bottom line: Don't let the 428 put you off. It has plenty of kick. Just the same I still like my 427 side oiler.
:JEKYLHYDE

Re: ERA 377
 

What is the price? ERA's go from $35K to $60K, depending on the engine, primarily. The nature of the beast is that they are all in good shape as a Cobra is not something that one allows to go south like a normal car. From your post, you are looking for a 427 engine. I have a 428 in my Cobra and that is about all I need, as I was also not willing to pay the price of a 427 side-oiler.

If you can swing it financially, buy a Cobra that is as close to an original Cobra as possible, includig (of course) a 427 side-oiler engine, etc. etc. Of course, once you buy it, be prepared to play the thumbs up game, e.g. you drive it and get the thumbs up a lot and you wave back - a lot.