Questions from a rookie

[SSS]

I can only think of two kits that can be built anywhere near $14k: FFR and Carcepts. Assuming that you can't buy a kit from someone who's given up on it, the FFR kit costs $12k, and you certainly could find a suitable donor for $2k. This is the bare minimum, and you'd need to already have all the tools for the build. Don't forget you'll also have to pay taxes and other fees when you register the car. You'll also need to pick up the kit from the factory to avoid the shipping charge.

Carcepts also offers a complete kit for $12k, and they will even package the donor parts for you. I would guess they'd charge about $2k extra for the donor parts. It depends on the mileage and year. As far as I know, if there is any problem with a donor part, they'll replace it at no cost. That's a nice feature. Carcepts is located just a few miles from you around Salem, so that might be the best fit for you. Keep in mind an FFR is probably easier to build if you're a novice, given there is a forum dedicated to answering the specific questions you might have.

Also keep in mind these estimates do not include body work and paint. You could do the body work yourself and drive it in primer until you have the cash to get it painted. Many people have built nice looking FFRs with the Mustang turbine-style wheels, so you should look for a donor with those wheels or get a set of them from a salvage yard and recondition them.

Before I decided to buy a turnkey with every feature I want for $26k, I was planning to build a minimum FFR for about $16k to $18k. This was counting extra for tools, taxes, registration, shipping, and painting it myself. I've never heard of anyone successfully building a functional Cobra for less than $16k, and those below $20k are rare.