CAV versus SPF versus ERA GT40

Fran Hall RCR · #1 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 04:45 PM

Dandy Don,

Please dont confuse an as delivered "kit" with no finish work being done with a turn key minus car from another manufacturer...
Our display at the PRI is to show EXACTLY what is received in rolling kit form for $42,000 when a customer takes delivery...not a finished turn key minus.
We could have laid out all the rest of the components like driveshafts, shifter etc etc etc that are also included but we chose not to.

I appreciate your description but please compare apples to apples...

Cheers

dlampe · #2 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 05:19 PM

That was my car at PRI and the reason I chose RCR was that I am 6'2 205 and I did not fit in the SPF either. I think the CAV is every bit as tight. The truth is the GT40 was never built for a tall guy like us.

My $.02 on RCR is that with a complete interior (supplied in the kit), $5000 on a paint job (probably less to get the quality of the average roller) a $30,000 drivetrain and a few odds and ends I am on the road with a GREAT car for the price of a SPF roller and less that the ERA kit! (apples to apples).

I am a proud owner of a beautiful Kirkham and I am a fanatic for detail. That is WHY I chose the RCR. This is a remarkable kit. Fran can do a turnkey minus for about $58,000. It's like you said, there are many reasons to buy one kit over another. " some people like Kirkham cobras and some people like ERA's and FFR's."

All kidding aside, if you saw all the cars in thier "raw" form as you saw the RCR and you still didn't think it was for you, thats cool. But you can only see a CAV and SPF all finished and shined up. Don't you every wonder whats under the paint?

ENTDOC · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 05:51 PM

Don, I have CAV MONO 14 and it has been a really good and fun car. The fit and finish is excellent,and I, like Dean own a Kirkham cobra and insist on quaility. I had the oppurtunity to sit in a SPF MK11 recently and it was also very nice and well finished as all SPF products seem to be. The cars seemed to be finished out about the same as far as quaility goes,with each having some unique features that were nice. I have never seen a RCR, although I would agree it is hard to compare the RCR kit with a CAV or SPF roller. I suspect you will find it hard to fit in the SPF or CAV or any GT40,they are small. My car has the lowered seat pans and that helps.

Dandy Don · #4 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 06:44 PM

Fran and Dean- You both raise good points, and Dean sounds like he's a picky kind of guy and certainly knows good from bad.

The CAV and SPF cars were finished rollers;both shined to the max.

The CAV car was in the showroom at VIP Classics in San Diego and Roy Sayles drives it to work on a daily basis. (The joys of Southern California weather.)

It appears to be able to fit a taller driver (their website says 6 ft 4in.) although they all appear tough to enter. Roy stands up on the seat to get in---wonder what that does to the seat covers over time?

I'm guessing all these cars are rough as a corn cob when newly popped out of the molds.

I owe you guys an apology---didn't intend to disrespect anyone. Fran's operation isn't an overly far drive. I think it would be worth a drive to check the cars out in person and see if I fit.

Thanks for the opinions---

Dandy Don

dlampe · #5 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 07:12 PM

Don, there is never a shortage of opinions around here!

Good luck on your choice. I will only suggest that you do sit in the cars before you buy. It is no fun driving a car that is to tight. Also have someone sit in the passenger seat while you are in the drivers seat. That will really tell you if it will work for you! If you still don't feel clostrophobic, put your helmet on!

Woodz428 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 07:25 PM

I would agree that a trial sit might be helpful. However, my impression of the SPF Coupe when I first sat in it was that it was pretty tight, I'm 6'2" (not too bulky). If I had let that be the determining factor, I would have probably passed. It seemed a little close quarters when it was finished, but now it seems plenty roomy. Maybe the 3 years and 8000 miles have let me become used to it, but I think first impressions are sometimes based on the size vehicle you normally drive. If you drive up in a truck or SUV, any car you check out will likely seem too tight. I'm glad I didn't let my first impression of the interior room in the Coupe dissuade me from buying a great car.

speed220mph · #7 (**permalink**) 12-29-2006, 07:21 AM

Look at your choice in GT40s like sex. As a wise one once said, "The worst I ever had was wonderful!"

As for my choice in GT40s, ERA has a quality and originality that is hard to equal, let alone beat. I say this because of the finish you don't see. Flip up the front or rear body sections and you'll see that the undersides have finishes that equal the body exterior. John Horsman, who was John Wyer's assistant on all of the Gulf cars, commented on the similarity between the ERA GT and an original MkI GT40, i.e., notwithtanding the uprights to accept the Corvette wheel bearings and brake rotors.

I repeat, the worts I ever had was wonderful.