Kirkham vs. ERA

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Can anyone suggest how I can learn more about these cars?

It's time for you to actually visit both the Kirkham and ERA folks. You're at a point now where you need to actually touch the cars and see them with your own two eyes. They are different. But you need not worry about the aluminum holding up, denting from hail, tarnishing, etc. You do need to decide, in your own mind, whether an aluminum skin is something you really want. If so, Kirkham is your only choice.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You do need to decide, in your own mind, whether an aluminum skin is something you really want. If so, Kirkham is your only choice.

Then again, there are those CSX continuation Alu cars... but what can I say...

You are right again!!!

[4pipes]

Hey, my avatar traded places.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by patrickt

It's time for you to actually visit both the Kirkham and ERA folks. You're at a point now where you need to actually touch the cars and see them with your own two eyes.

I agree. If you really have $70-75k+ to spend on your first Cobra then you need to visit Kirkham and ERA.

Originally Posted by patrickt

But you need not worry about the aluminum holding up, denting from hail, tarnishing, etc.

I disagree. You need to worry about these things a lot. Anyone can fix fiberglass, and its tougher than a Texas mule. An aluminum-skinned car that is already a friggin' attention magnet is a different beast.

One other thing to beware of: You said you wanted no racing harnesses, rollbars or sidepipes. Its illegal in all 50 states to own a Kirkham without those items.

[Flygirl]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

I agree. If you really have $70-75k+ to spend on your first Cobra then you need to visit Kirkham and ERA.

I guess I'm exploring the options to determine if going further and further up the price curve (which seems to be geometric and gets really steep really quickly) is worth it or not to me.

I can be a bit obsessive and seem to have high standards when it comes to automobiles. And over the years I've found I like to grow into things that initially seem a bit too much for me. On the other hand, I don't want another case of Porsche-itis where I can't drive the thing at all.

What I'm doing is giving myself a course in the different choices, so when I do decide I'll have a reasonable chance of getting what (at this time) is right for me.

Those price points really strain to the absolute limit the funds I've allocated to my car budget. At this moment pushing against the upper boundary to see what it feels like, before I may head back down again.

Originally Posted by elmariachi

I disagree. You need to worry about these things a lot. Anyone can fix fiberglass, and its tougher than a Texas mule. An aluminum-skinned car that is already a friggin' attention magnet is a different beast.

One other thing to beware of: You said you wanted no racing harnesses, rollbars or sidepipes. Its illegal in all 50 states to own a Kirkham without those items.

Yeh, I can see how in the real world the brushed aluminum might draw even more attention than usual. It's easy to think of these cars in the abstract, on their own, as beautiful pieces of mechanical artwork.

Didn't know that about the roll bar and shoulder harnesses especially, that's a big bummer for me. Why is that, might I ask? I'd be curious if most police officers would know enough about the Kirkham to cite me for no roll bar, though.

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Money not being a consideration, the Kirkham seems to be the recognized "top of the line" replica. The Complete Guide To Cobra Replicas always gives Kirkham top billing. But this discussion did trigger a question - what are the chassis+body weights of the Kirkham vs. ERA?
----

I'll check again, I was under the impression that the Kirkham is a couple of hundred or so pounds lighter than the ERA when similarly equipped.

____________

Feeling a bit self conscious at the moment. I don't want to come across as some wealthy woman who just throws money around. This is a big, big deal for me and I've saved for a long time to accumulate the money I have in my car fund (although buying a Cobra is a more recent development and that's why I'm doing my research now). I also expect more sacrifices in the future once some amount of those funds have been spent.

What I don't want to have happen is to have saved and sacrificed and then ended up with something that's not quite right, and feel bitter about that choice. For all I know, I might end up with a new SPF and a sweet running, lightweight small block/five speed street roadster. It's all open at this point.

[decooney]

Flygirl,

1. How do you REALLY plan to use the car, and how often?

2. What is "most" important to you about the car?

3. What is "next" most important to you about the car?

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Didn't know that about the roll bar and shoulder harnesses especially, that's a big bummer for me. Why is that, might I ask? I'd be curious if most police officers would know enough about the Kirkham to cite me for no roll bar, though.

I was joking. Seriously though, the first time you start working your way down the Interstate through heavy traffic and realize how many idiots want to catch up to you and chide you on to "show 'em what ya got," you will realize how many people are really capable of putting you in a ditch with no warning to you. No way I would ever move 10' in my car without shoulder harnesses.

Both cars have excellent pedigrees. If I decide to buy versus build my next car, I will buy a Kirkham as well. But I am glad to have owned this less expensive Hurricane first. I have learned some things that would have been veeryyy painful to learn in an aluminum car.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

One other thing to beware of: You said you wanted no racing harnesses, rollbars or sidepipes. Its illegal in all 50 states to own a Kirkham without those items.

I don't know of any law that wouldn't allow a street model Kirkham (no racing harnesses, rollbars or sidepipes) to be registered here in CA. Seat belts? Yes.

The weight difference will vary depending on equipment. Patrick has an ERA with a 428 and aluminum Edelbrock heads and I think he said it weighs about 2,650 lbs. My Kirkham with an aluminum block and heads weighs in about 2,128 lbs.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I don't know of any law that wouldn't allow a street model Kirkham (no racing harnesses, rollbars or sidepipes) to be registered here in CA.

I was joking.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

I was joking.

Sorry, went over my head.

"On the other hand, I don't want another case of Porsche-itis where I can't drive the thing at all."

Uh, please don't diss Porsche. There are a bazillion of them with plenty of miles on them. Too many miles. The hard part for me is finding one with low mileage.