Kirkham vs. ERA - Page 6

rodneym · #76 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avmaviator

Don't pilots make a crap load of money??

I supposes it depends....not just what type of pilot but when.

My parents' friend was a 747 pilot in the 60's and 70's for United. He did very well and retired comfortably. And stewardesses were called stewardesses. And feminine.

My friend's brother is a pilot for American. Night and day difference. And the stewardesses are not so nice (or good looking, or slim) flight attendants. And some even open inflatable slides on the tarmac and become folk heroes.

Progress, I suppose.

RodKnock · #77 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 01:28 PM

I don't think these guys were paid enough back in the day either:

AL427SBF · #78 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 04:26 PM

Anyone who screws up a cliche this bad ...
who are broke as church mice
... really shouldn't be listened to lol.

It's "quiet as a church mouse" you dweeb!

patrickt · #79 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Anyone who screws up a cliche this bad ...
who are broke as church mice
... really shouldn't be listened to lol.

It's "quiet as a church mouse" you dweeb!

Just Google "poor as a church mouse." It's been a common phrase since the 17th century. Poor as a Church Mouse : Phrases, Clichés, Expressions & Sayings Are you having a particularly bad day today?

Flygirl · #80 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 04:46 PM

Just don't call me Shirley!

vector1 · #81 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 05:07 PM

check out the kmp and era and then next time you fly in to mci or ojc or ixd which are closer i will show you a jbl

Avmaviator · #82 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneym

I supposes it depends....not just what type of pilot but when.

My parents' friend was a 747 pilot in the 60's and 70's for United. He did very well and retired comfortably. And stewardesses were called stewardesses. And feminine.

My friend's brother is a pilot for American. Night and day difference. And the stewardesses are not so nice (or good looking, or slim) flight attendants. And some even open inflatable slides on the tarmac and become folk heroes.

Progress, I suppose.

I said that jokingly

I'm a pilot myself and our pay is absolutely laughable, unfortunately. I wished I could fly back in the top days of our profession, it was another world back then.

Flygirl · #83 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011, 09:14 PM

Yeh, I wish I was joking.

Marc #561 · #84 (**permalink**) 11-11-2011, 09:47 PM

You don't have to buy your forever cobra now. Pick up what you can afford, shop well for an undervalued car you can make some money on or break even on later, and enjoy it for awhile before selling it when you're ready to move up to that perfect Kirkham. I went from a Spf to Kms 561. No regrets at all.

Flygirl · #85 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 01:24 AM

Thank you, I think that's good advice. I'm considering a used ERA that's set up very nicely indeed. I loved the Kirkham I took a look at, but it's just too expensive for me right now.

Have to be honest, though, I am a bit of a perfectionist and have regretted only going 90% of the way a number of times before. So I have to be careful about that, too.

Marc #561 · #86 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 04:48 AM

A couple thoughts: you're in VERY like minded company here fly F/grl. Few among us are NOT perfectionistic. We are picayune about the smallest of minutae, require a very high standard in many areas of our lives, enjoy and prefer our stuff precision crafted, and probably have strained a relationship or two with our very high expections. And, Like Thomas Wolfe, we all have the simplist of tastes, as we are always satisfied with the best. So, welcome to the club.

Thought two. Unless you are going to add webers (or something similar), billboard tires, larger wheels, a polished stainless exhaust or do an engine swap, these are NOT expensive cars to maintain. Indeed, a Cobra is a very cheap car to maintain. So, unless you are out flogging it regularly you won't be needing much money to maintain it.

Simply buy the car that comes closest to being set up the way you want it. And if it's not your forever cobra, try to spend as little as possible on big ticket changes. Leave those for the one who buys it from you.

And finally, know that most of the higher end cars are already set up beautifully and are gorgeous in all ways right out of the box, ready to enjoy without spending one dime on other than for fuel (and you'll need a few bucks for that, as these cars often don't get more than 8 miles a gallon).

thndrrd · #87 (**permalink**) 02-19-2012, 05:30 PM

If you want to experience driving a cobra, the only way you can do this it to buy an original or buy a Kirkham. This isn't saying the others are bad, but all use different types of frames, bodies and suspension systems. The Kirkham was engineered from an original car. You can purchase the Kirkham set up like the original, suspension and all, or upgrade to Billit suspension parts. I recommend the later. My car is painted, however, many of the owners prefer the natural finish, either polished or satin. Just like any car, you have to take care of it. The aluminum doesn't seem to have any additional problems over paint, but both take some time to keep up.

All reproductions can be built and driven to enjoy the essesence of a cobra, but only the Kirkham really reproduces the original experience. You have to decide if that's important to you. If not, a less expensive replica may serve your purpose.

If you meld the Kirkham chassis with a 90 degree V small block or a FE big block, you can really appreciate what the drivers from the 1960s went through to win races. They are a handful.

The other refreshing part of a Kirkham purchase is the guys that sell you cars are the same guys that engineered them. That is a rare commodity these days. They stand behind what they sell, and they sell the best.

mreid · #88 (**permalink**) 02-19-2012, 09:27 PM

I started to comment point by point on the post above, but realized I was typing too much.

Bottom line, I completely disagree with just about every point.

patrickt · #89 (**permalink**) 02-20-2012, 06:15 AM

The real benefit of doing business with either ERA or Kirkham is that you don't need to do a background check on the folks you will be dealing with and you can feel comfortable leaving a large check with either of them on nothing more than their word and a handshake to back it all up.

elmariachi · #90 (**permalink**) 02-20-2012, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thndrrd

If you want to experience driving a cobra, the only way you can do this it to buy an original or buy a Kirkham.

All reproductions can be built and driven to enjoy the essesence of a cobra, but only the Kirkham really reproduces the original experience. You have to decide if that's important to you. If not, a less expensive replica may serve your purpose.

I would take the Pepsi Challenge that blindfolded, 9 out of 10 people would pick my rickety old 427 FE Hurricane over your refined Kirkham as "the more realistic sounding, smelling, riding and handling Cobra."

I think a better argument can be made that if you want the original experience, meaning a roughly-assembled, poorly finished, poorly wired, rough-around ALL edges, heat-soaked, unfit, unrefined, unforgiving, tooth-rattling, just-on-the-edge race car, DON'T buy a Kirkham. Frankly, the Kirkhams would have to dial it waaaay back a few notches to deliver what you got from Shelby in the 60s. Which brings me to an idea. Hey David, Fender guitars charges double for their "Relic Stratocasters".....which they weather and abuse to look circa 1960's. How 'bout a Relic Kirkham?