Scratch build direction

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by eschaider

Have you ever built a car from scratch before? If the answer is no, then the idea of taking on a scratch build Cobra replica as you first project can be a bit of a reach.


Ed

This is the gospel truth and a whole lot understated. If you are not an experienced fabricator of both mechanical (frame) and aluminum or fiberglass (body) it is more likely that the project will end with a pile of parts on the garage floor than a completed car in the garage. It's made more difficult by the fact that the Cobra has not a single straight line in it. So you need good bucks for an aluminum build or molds for fiberglass. Without those it's a non-starter. Furthermore, unless you have a professional auto garage, you're going to need tons of tools that you don't have, aren't cheap, and you'll use only once.

If you are into this project because of your fervent love for "some assembly required" then go for it. But there are other cars that will be much easier and much less frustrating and more likely to complete than a Cobra.

If you are thinking of building a Cobra because you've always wanted one but think building one will save you money, hit the master reset switch. Do not start. Just buy one. Even an experienced builder will spend years on the project. Meanwhile if you buy one you'll have the pleasure of driving it. And if driving and not building (as in the previous paragraph) is your goal, buying one will get you in the drivers seat much sooner and with a much lower degree of frustration.

The people that give you advice here will also state that they have given the same advice over and over again. ..

Use search. There are probably a dozen topics on the "build a kit" over the past year. Scratch build adds another magnitude of difficulty over a kit.

Whatever you decide, good luck.