What about...

[Nantucket427]

I drive my Superformance everywhere and have owed it for 6 years. I like to do shows but I also like to drive the car on the road and track. I am sold on a Kirham as my next car but I have a few questions that I would like there customers to answer.

1. Can a Kirham be driven and still look good? What kind of upkeep is required?

2. How do you care for a polished body?

3. How durable is the stainless frame. New England has a lot of sand on the roads(left over from Our Wnters)it is very abrasive. I have taken the control arms off and sent them to be powder coated and I am always painting the frame. I just don't know how it will wear or how to keep it looking good without parking the car.

4. What are the necessary options?

[Cashburn]

I don't know how well that can hold up unless you paint it. Considering you are on Nantucket. I can always tell the cars that stay at the beach homes by how bad the polished engine components look...

[xlr8or]

The stainless frame should hold up fine with the occassional wipe down. I would get the brushed finish instead of the polished on the body because of the proximity to the salt water. The brushed you can just let age naturally or break out a diaper and windex every week or two.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Nantucket427

I drive my Superformance everywhere and have owed it for 6 years. I like to do shows but I also like to drive the car on the road and track. I am sold on a Kirham as my next car but I have a few questions that I would like there customers to answer.

1. Can a Kirham be driven and still look good? What kind of upkeep is required?

2. How do you care for a polished body?

3. How durable is the stainless frame. New England has a lot of sand on the roads(left over from Our Wnters)it is very abrasive. I have taken the control arms off and sent them to be powder coated and I am always painting the frame. I just don't know how it will wear or how to keep it looking good without parking the car.

4. What are the necessary options?

About all I can say is "it's the greatest thing since sliced bread."

No one cares if it's real or not. No one cares what kind of car it is. No one cares how much it costs. Virtually, the only question I get is "What color is that?" or "Is that chrome paint?"

Unless you're totally anal and the slightest minor blemish or piece of dirt bothers you, then the finish holds up very, very well. I've done literally nothing for a couple years and the polished/brushed stripes finish still looks excellent. Not perfect though.

I do leave it under a car cover and it is garaged, but that's what I'm sure everyone does anyway. However, I don't live at the beach, but I'm also not that far from the Pacific Ocean either. Notwithstanding, I'm sure the East Coast may be rougher.

As for care, I've purchased some cloth and micro fiber towels along with the Nuvite S polish that's recommended by Kirkham. When the times comes, first, I'll polish by hand, see how that goes, and then if needed, I may buy the dual head polisher from Cyclo and use that, but only if it's absolutely necessary.

Here's a link for you. Scroll down to the section called "Maintaining the Mirror Finish": http://www.irinfo.com/polish/html/polish.html

The Kirkham roller is almost fully optioned as is. Not much additional to buy from Kirkham, except for maybe the Halon system and then the body finish. I also got the powdercoated bulkhead panel and the wheelwell foam, but if you're the industrious type, then those you can do. I have since done a few extra things like install an inner gas cap, vents in the front fenders (near the headers) like the S/C's or comps, changed the mufflers, etc., etc.

Some people would never buy the alloy body and I understand that position. I'm just one of those buyers who personally prefers the aluminum body over fiberglass. Vanilla versus chocolate.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Nantucket427

What are the necessary options?

With the fully polished option... sunglasses. When the sun hits your car it's about the flashiest thing ever to have four wheels.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

With the fully polished option... sunglasses. When the sun hits your car it's about the flashiest thing ever to have four wheels.

It is a unique car, even among unique cars. If you're shy, a wallflower or an introvert, then do not get the polished body. Unless you've decided your personality needs a dramatic 180 degree change.

I don't have the stainless steel frame and thus have not commented on this question.

[HI Cobra]

I have the brushed finish and love it. It doesn't show dirt and if I get some bug hits I just get out the windex and 5 minutes later the whole thing is done.
The bright finish in sunny weather can be blinding to yourself and others but
they look cool. I have the comp 42 gallon tank and like being able to pass
gas stations. No gas gage but keep track of the odometer so no problem. I
can get close to 400 miles on a full tank if I take it easy.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by HI Cobra

The bright finish in sunny weather can be blinding to yourself and others but they look cool.

I've had no problem from my perspective in the driver's seat and no one on the road has complained to me about glare.

[HI Cobra]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I've had no problem from my perspective in the driver's seat and no one on the road has complained to me about glare.

Heh heh - how could anyone catch you to complain?

My only personal experience close to a polished Kirkham was walking around
one at San Marcos last March on a sunny day and the reflecting sun was blinding. Guess I shouldn't be extrapolating. Still look cool!

[acindrich]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I've had no problem from my perspective in the driver's seat and no one on the road has complained to me about glare.

In half a year of owning KMP493 I've only once encountered someone affected by glare. I was at a stop light and a gal in a pickup pulled along side and I think I was in a one-in-a-million orientation relative to her and the sun. She was so lit up I couldn't even look at her without burning my eyes. I did feel bad for her. But she had a whole car length she could have pulled forward into. Maybe I fried her brain.

As to the original questions. I think I'm the second to worst person to ask. There is only one other person with more patina on his car than me and that's little Brother. I think the wear on my car is a bit like a badge of honor. It just illustrates that the car is meant to be driven and I courageously oblige. To the tune of 6500 miles in less than 5 months of ownership. About all I ended up caring about was having a clean windshield and thats only for selfish reasons - so that I can see out when driving. The smiles, the nods, the cell phone pictures out the window at 75mph tell me that most others don't care that the car has some scratches, neither do I.

[big-boss]

It all depends on what you are willing to take. If you have to have a polised show car quality clean 24/7 then you should leave it in the garage. If you are going to drive the hell out of it 4 or five time a year and don't really car that your dog's slobber stains the fender then this is the car to have. They are very tough and well put together. I loctited everything and haven't had any issue (not counting my wife hitting it while parked in the garage). I have had icesicles growing on mine and it still draws a croud.

Check this picture out.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by big-boss

It all depends on what you are willing to take. If you have to have a polised show car quality clean 24/7 then you should leave it in the garage. If you are going to drive the hell out of it 4 or five time a year and don't really car that your dog's slobber stains the fender then this is the car to have. They are very tough and well put together. I loctited everything and haven't had any issue (not counting my wife hitting it while parked in the garage). I have had icesicles growing on mine and it still draws a croud.

Check this picture out.

Great pic Big-Boss!

[RodKnock]

Wow!

Sunny and 50 degrees and I'm worried.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Sunny and 50 degrees and I'm worried.

Upper 50s or I don't even open the garage door.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Upper 50s or I don't even open the garage door.

We have these Cobra breakfasts on Saturday mornings at 8:00 (or 8:15 AM or 8:30 AM or whatever we agreed on and then changed our collective minds to) during the Winter and I have that same debate.

[TwoSeatsOrLess]

Originally Posted by big-boss

It all depends on what you are willing to take. If you have to have a polised show car quality clean 24/7 then you should leave it in the garage. If you are going to drive the hell out of it 4 or five time a year and don't really car that your dog's slobber stains the fender then this is the car to have. They are very tough and well put together. I loctited everything and haven't had any issue (not counting my wife hitting it while parked in the garage). I have had icesicles growing on mine and it still draws a croud.

Check this picture out.

Love this picture!!

[FrankJohnson69]

Originally Posted by big-boss

It all depends on what you are willing to take. If you have to have a polised show car quality clean 24/7 then you should leave it in the garage. If you are going to drive the hell out of it 4 or five time a year and don't really car that your dog's slobber stains the fender then this is the car to have. They are very tough and well put together. I loctited everything and haven't had any issue (not counting my wife hitting it while parked in the garage). I have had icesicles growing on mine and it still draws a croud.

Check this picture out.

I was there when that snow happened! Boss man you sold me at that point!

[PANAVIA]

I thought the quote was from Jean Michel Jarre. -- sorry . had to do that.

I think I will do a brushed aluminum car one day, but the queue is full this second.

[pusherfans]

1. Can a Kirham be driven and still look good? What kind of upkeep is required?
Yes. just wipe is down with a spray wax and it will hold up well. I use BeadX by Formula 113. But any one should work and it's fast.
only drawback - no top, but you can have a custom one made, it is not impossible
2. How do you care for a polished body?
see answer above

3. How durable is the stainless frame. New England has a lot of sand on the roads(left over from Our Wnters)it is very abrasive. I have taken the control arms off and sent them to be powder coated and I am always painting the frame. I just don't know how it will wear or how to keep it looking good without parking the car.
Stainless steel will hold up way better than steel against rust, is that your concern? Or are you concerned about the physicals, like stress cracking? I don't think that these frames will ever see enough force to worry about that. . .if you drive in salted roads, I would definately get the stainless frame, as it also includes door frames, hood frames, sway bar, etc in stainless.

4. What are the necessary options?
This is a personal choice. The ones that stood out for me were:
adjustable seat tracks
footwell vents
Avon tires (or should we say tyres?)
wheel well foam installed

bottom line, get a Kirkham, whatever way you want, the car and the people are awesome, you cannot go wrong. It's a truly special car. it is loved at the shows, I also get the comments made here about people not caring if it's real, (most just assume it is real) etc, asking about the "chrome" paint. . . etc. . and you know what? It is a real Cobra, only built today with improvements, in my opinion . .. .