New member needs advice on purchasing a Cobra Kit

[bly123]

Customer service is a Huge thing for me. Lone Star has (in my book) allot going for it for me. 1. I live like 8 miles from there location here in Texas. 2. I hear nothing but great things about there cars and customer service. However, West Coast 1. Makes a great car that really appeals to me. BUT I hear bad things about there customer service. It seems there is only Vern to deal with and while when you call him and talk to him he is really great. But that the thing, every one says he is hard to get a hold of. It took me 2 week to get a price list. And his 1 authorized dealer told me It would be better to deal with Vern since it's a home built kit. I'm not locked in yet. I just need more info on the other kits. I guess I will see what a great kit is when I go to the monthly gathering.

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by bly123

Customer service is a Huge thing for me. Lone Star has (in my book) allot going for it for me. 1. I live like 8 miles from there location here in Texas.

I've been to the LS factory, albiet years ago. If they are still in the same place (an old hangar at an airfield), you're in the FW area.

Originally Posted by bly123

I have narrowed my picks down to the Lone Star Classics and the West Coast. Unless I have missed some manufacturers and still need to research more. Let’s See there is Factory 5, Lone Star, West Coast, Back Draft, Superformance, ERA, Unique, Pacific Roadster, what else am I missing?

Here's a suggestion....ask if there is anyone in the DFW area who is driving/building a Hurricane kit that you can sit in to check for interior room. Their frame is incredibly well engineered and their body is very correct. The company had some problems in the past related to ownership issues, but the current owners seem to be doing a very good job of manufacturing a great project, even improving the already great body. Part of that was a very roomy interior...when the company was located in Lee's Summit, MO I went there just to look over the product.

I do know there are a few Hurricanes being built in the DFW area, as well as some in the Austin area.

One of the benefits of the Hurricane product is that other than the engine, transmission, driveshaft, battery, wheels and tires, the kit is suppose to come complete with everything else you would need to build it (excluding body work, of course), so there won't be a lot of chasing parts if you choose to go that route.

AFAIK, at this time they offer only the 427 body style, so if you're looking for a 289 model, they won't have anything to offer.

BTW....every year in April (I know that's a long time away) the Texas Cobra Club has an annual get-together near San Marcos, TX. The last time I was there (about 3 years ago) there were probably 150 cobras on display. You will be hard-pressed to find such a large gathering of Cobras in TX anywhere else.

Cheers, Dugly