What to purchase--want a Cobra

[Rickd]

Check out Levy Racing for a turnkey FFR roadster or even their limited production coupe. Levy will build it to your specs - including motors. And motorwise - what do you want to do with the car? The HP to weight ratio on these cars means you don't need 500 hp to have fun. My first cobra was one I bought used, an FIA car with a stock 302 HO motor with around 300 HP at the crank, a T5 transmission, and a jag rear with a 3:33 diff gear. With a realitively small cam, this car had a ton of low end torque. At a HP driving school (1.5 mile track 8 curves 3 straights) I could keep up with - or ahead of - whoever I ran with and there were a lot of 400 - 550 hp cars there. Levy builds cars and they also race cars - so it would be a good outfit to talk to. Or, call ERA and have one built - takes time - up to a year depending on --- traffic at the local Italian diner~!!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Rickd

Or, call ERA and have one built - takes time - up to a year depending on --- traffic at the local Italian diner~!!

In his first post George wrote "Don't care if engine is Ford or Chevy, just want tremendous HP...." I don't think an ERA is the right choice for him, either from a cost or time perspective (unless he takes a look at Mr. Mustang's ERA for sale). I really think an FFR is probably the right choice here.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I really think an FFR is probably the right choice here.

As he looks over his shoulders for lightning to strike.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

As he looks over his shoulders for lightning to strike.

Well, I was holding up a one-iron over my head as I wrote that post...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well, I was holding up a one-iron over my head as I wrote that post...

Kinda like that priest having the best round of golf in his life during the rainstorm scene in Caddyshack?

[Zoom This]

Click on my camera icon and take a look at my SPF for sale. Indigo blue, titanium stripes, 418W, 550 hp, georgous. $52k.

Bill
wgmeyer@q.com

[Dangerous Doug]

What? Nobody going to take a shot at the "pecking order"?

Try this list:

1 Original Shelby Cobra (from the sixties...) $$$$$
2 "Real"* Shelby Cobra---aluminum body $$$$
3 Kirkham $$$ (only because it has the aluminum body, and replicates the originals, down to the frame. Kirkham supplies for Shelby)
4 ERA $$
5 Superformance $$ (okay, 4 and 5 are debatable. ERA has a more "correct" body. Though the SPF IS a great-looking car. Besides, I own an ERA...)
.
.
.
From there, it gets blurry. Backdraft, Factory Five, others. It gets tough to call. A lot of the value in the cars is how they are built.

Do your homework, and find the Cobra that fits best for you. I chose ERA because I wanted a very exact replication of the original body shape in fiberglass. Truth be told, I'd prefer an aluminum body, but the project was expensive enough as it was.

So, it kind of depends on how much money you want to spend.

* "Real" meaning a "genuine Shelby Product, newly manufactured replica of the original Shelby product"
-- Fair enough?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

What? Nobody going to take a shot at the "pecking order"?

Try this list:

1 Original Shelby Cobra (from the sixties...) $$$$$
2 "Real" Shelby Cobra---aluminum body $$$$
3 Kirkham $$$ (only because it has the aluminum body, and replicates the originals, down to the frame. Kirkham supplies for Shelby)
4 ERA $$
5 Superformance $$ (okay, 4 and 5 are debatable. ERA has a more "correct" body. Though the SPF IS a great-looking car. Besides, I own an ERA...)
.
.
.
From there, it gets blurry. Backdraft, Factory Five, others. It gets tough to call. A lot of the value in the cars is how they are built.

Do your homework, and find the Cobra that fits best for you. I chose ERA because I wanted a very exact replication of the original body shape in fiberglass. Truth be told, I'd prefer an aluminum body, but the project was expensive enough as it was.

So, it kind of depends on how much money you want to spend.

I'm No. 3, I'm No. 3, I'm No. 3. Eh, doesn't sound as good as I'm No. 1.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I'm No. 3, I'm No. 3, I'm No. 3. Eh, doesn't sound as good as I'm No. 1.

YEAH, I'm number 4, but frankly, who cares, I'm happy with my decision of how I spent my money



Bill S.

[patrickt]

I thought the general consensus on this board was that a lot of the "Continuation Cobras," real as they may or may not be, are generally put together like crap.

[James Stern]

Pat, I think that is the "general opinion". But everyone has their own opinion (right or wrong)

[geopar@gvtc.com]

Thanks to everyone for their input.
Lots of great cars out there.
We have purchased a Superperformance MK111, Roush 427, TKO600.
Thanks to Mike Mitchell @ Vintage Upgrades & Performance in Houston, Texas.
Also thanks to the owner (seller) who made the transaction easy for the buyer.
Car is everything the new owner was looking for and close to us (eliminating travel time for inspections and shipping costs).
Big smiles.
George

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by geopar@gvtc.com

Thanks to everyone for their input.
Lots of great cars out there.We have purchased a Superperformance MK111, Roush 427, TKO600.Thanks to Mike Mitchell @ Vintage Upgrades & Performance in Houston, Texas.

Excellent move. Mike and the Vintage boys are great folks and a first class operation. Anybody who would bring me spare parts at 9PM to try on a car they didn't even sell me gets my vote every time.

[RodKnock]

Excellent choice. At least now we don't have to get into the inevitable argument, I mean discussion, about which Cobra is best.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Excellent choice. At least now we don't have to get into the inevitable argument, I mean discussion, about which Cobra is best.

I'm just glad the CSX people have apparently given up trying to defend the shoddy craftsmanship and instead simply continue to harp incessantly on the "realness" factor.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'm just glad the CSX people have apparently given up trying to defend the shoddy craftsmanship and instead simply continue to harp incessantly on the "realness" factor.

I don't think they given up on anything, but they're probably still in bed, sipping their morning coffee, eating their cheese danish, reading the Financial Times, while watching CNBC on their 50" plasma TV.

[Dangerous Doug]

Wow! I was expecting more backlash on the pecking order that that...

My assumption on the "real" Shelby is that if you spent the money on the aluminum body, you'd spend the money to get it completely "sorted out" (front spindles, et cetera...) by a professional builder.

Come on, admit it: If money was not an object but an endless resource...

DD

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

Wow! I was expecting more backlash on the pecking order that that...

My assumption on the "real" Shelby is that if you spent the money on the aluminum body, you'd spend the money to get it completely "sorted out" (front spindles, et cetera...) by a professional builder.

Come on, admit it: If money was not an object but an endless resource...

DD

I think everyone is fatigued with the discussions about the "pecking order." I am. We all have our own lists and I'm sure we all can agree to disagree.

[DR 385]

Good evening my Friends,

................

[DR 385]

Real?

Would someone be so kind as to define the term "REAL"

Thank you

The DR is in.........