The thread is specifically about SPF vs ERA, this is the perfect format for this discussion, I think.

Interesting note, Jay, about the price difference, I've never looked at closely enough to consider what kind of difference their might be. I WOULD say though that both cars need to have similiar specs. Side oiler vs side oiler for instance. A 385 vs 427 is just not a valid comparison, for instance.

In such a discussion of comparison between two manufacturers it is logical to also introduce, on a limited basis, other manufacturers for a better over all picture. Strangely, I don't see the "pissing contest" aspect of this thread...

Wow, with all of patrickt's hyperbole and chest pounding I was ready to put my car for sale on Cobra Country and get in line to get an ERA.:JEKYLHYDE

After all--according to patrickt--craftmanship on all CSX 4000s is shoddy, SPFs suck, and ERAs are clearly the best Cobra replica available.:rolleyes:

How about just driving your car and enjoying it for what it is...that's what I do.;)

Oh I get it now, Patricks hyperbole. :) Well, you'll always have at least one guy in the crowd who is more vocal about his position than others. I guess I took with a bit to much of a "grain of salt".

Patrick, remain calm. :)

Don't worry, RodKnock's teaching me to be calm. Stentor -- you might add to that statement the potential danger that some of the changes that you see in Kirkhams are beginning to take them away from being a Cobra replica. They are quickly becoming "their own car." Some might like that, some might not.

THAT is a trend I see with many manufacturers. There responding to the market, like it or not, they gotta pay the rent. Like Kirkham said some time ago, they sell FAR less original style suspensions than they used to, most folk simply don't want it. Now an original style suspension option is/was around $15,000 extra! That's pretty much the final nail in the coffin for "originality".

Plus, I don't think the Kirkhams can be satisfied just making money (even great gobs:p) -- they have a creative "artsy" side that simply can't be bottled.

Not to mention that whole round tube thing to worry about.

Ah, yes...a replica that makes so many improvements over the original product that it becomes a completely different (better) car than the original--and therefore is no longer a good replica. I knew there had to be something wrong with Kirkhams, as well.:LOL:

... dang, you would have to bring that up. Compromise, no square frame stuff and I won't mention BMW parts. :)

The MAIN reason I sought out an ERA was because I wanted a genuine 427 side oiler, typical ERA installation, more difficult to find in other cars. The second reason was an accurate body shape. Third was quality. I looked very hard at an older Hi Tech with a side oiler, more accurate to detail than the ERA and the same price (both used cars). BUT, the Hi Tech had a 9" rear end, when I saw that, it was over, keep looking.

Ernie, the stock clutch master & slave in the ERAs are BMW (some of us upgraded to a larger Tilton, though). Let's only throw stones when we're sure we're not in the same glass house.:LOL:

It's all a matter of how deep you look, that's the point. BTW I had the pleasure of meeting the OP and letting him drive one of our cars. There are certain aspects to what he is looking for that are not included in the post so most of what followed after the offer from a few SPF owners to show their cars had nothing to do with the question.

Physical size and target budget among them.

What would help Dave is a discussion of why you don't want a 700HP / 110 Octane burner for the street...

Can't fault honesty. Seriously, we get the luxury of semi-annual BDR vs. SPF threads ... where's the KMS vs ERA thread?

I honestly would like to read it.

Hear that! In fact BEEN THERE, freakin' nightmare (700 horse street machine).

ERA uses a Suzuki steering rack I think as well, but let's not look "to deep". :)

MY point about "originality" is it was nice to know that SOMEBODY still offered a truly remarkable accurate to detail replica, like Kirkham, like Shelby himself. I see that slipping away, all though I personally will never have one, it was nice to know they were out there.

Many of the older replicas are remarkable for the accuracy. Contemporary, Hi Tech, come to mind. Not all of them, just some where it was done really nicely to details. THAT is rare today. Computerworks Kirkham comes to mind, perhaps THE most accurate to original detail replica on the planet! Well done Sir!

I think this is about the time that Ernie chimes in and talks about his two different engines.;)

My vote is definitely for a pump-gas FE--right there with you, Ernie.:)

You're thinking "Subaru." And that's been upgraded for a while now....:rolleyes:

If I remember my conversation with Doug , the steering rack is from Flaming River .... my car is #757 .
Bob

I think that's right. First it was Subaru, then Mustang II, then FR.

Ernie? I always love your stories about the Hi-Rise intakes and heads. Try and find a good set around though.

Wow, this has been wildly entertaining.

About those 700 HP engines, nowadays getting 650-ish HP is reasonably easy (uh, with some money of course) using pump gas. Rokndad's beautiful CSX Cobra comes quickly to mind. There's a few folks here on CC with 650+/- pump gas engines. Now 700 HP? I don't know, but I would like to try a nice new SOHC engine. That might be able to do it on pump gas. No octane booster.

Patrick loves ERA's. I love Kirkhams, Rokndad loves his CSX. Everyone floats their boat differently. I have my reasons for choosing a Kirkham, but then, this a thread about SPF's and ERA's.

To me, it seems that the buyer of an SPF and ERA are different people. BDR too. All three seem to be made for different buyers. It just depends what the OP wants in a car, and what he likes about the outside.

Jay said budget and size, but then, the ERA might not fit budget part of the equation. Although I'm sure there a few here who would argue that the ERA, in fact, the Kirkham too (I can't remember his CC name, but he's young ER doctor), could be built on a budget. For size, we have big and/or tall people in ERA's, BDR's and SPF's.

For me, a lot of times, it boils down to customer service, but then BDR, ERA and SPF give you great customer service.

Try to find a good set of High Risers? :) Yeah, good luck with that! The tunnel port heads carry more visual impact though. Like the ERA Bill has for sale, now THATS a cool set of heads/intake!

Call me - 419.376.2585 Let's talk SPF! Michael