cobra kit cars

[Dreamcar]

I was thinking that maybe someday it would be fun to build a cobra replica. The modern kits are very well engineered now. Considering the rarity and price of a real cobra, and even the cost of the continuation series from shelby, do you think the replicas are "wrong"?  I think there's over a 100k kits built now, and something like 500 originals (289 and 427). Is it a case of real or nothing? In a way, the first cobras are pre built cars from AC with Ford engines put in by Shelby...kind of a kit car too

Seeing the in car videos from replica driviners makes me think it looks like fun. I dunno

[Baldwinvette77]

Replicas are pretty much all that are left, besides here in canada those aluminum bodies wouldn't last a year, fiberglass is much better 

How is the charger coming anyway? 

[Dreamcar]

I'm almost done installing the new passenger door pillar and donor windshield corner. The other door pillar is next, followed by the donor cowl. I have a donor roof to prep and new inner fenders to installed, but i dont know if i'll get to it before the snow flies.

[Ghoste]

You might be surprised how many aluminum bodied cars are in Canada, it isn't like they are driven in the salt weather.  There are some excellent Cobra kits out there to fit a variety of budgets.

[Aero426]

The real cars are now well out of reach of just about all of us.   I don't think the replicas are "wrong".   They certainly promoted the brand and helped keep it alive.   Even $helby himself saw there was money being left on the table and got into the replica act in later years.   The only way I would accept one is in aluminum with the right looking interior and real knock offs.    In other words, it can't look like a kit.  Some Cobras look cheesy.  

An alternative is to buy a first generation Viper and get the real deal.  

[Baldwinvette77]

Viper power cobra you say? 

[Ponch ®]

id take a replica in a second . You can pretty much build it the way you want (including safety upgrades like better brakes, etc) AND you can flog it hard without worrying about wrecking a rare piece of history.

[crj1968]

id take a replica in a second . You can pretty much build it the way you want (including safety upgrades like better brakes, etc) AND you can flog it hard without worrying about wrecking a rare piece of history.

This ^

[JB400]

Viper power cobra you say? 

Shelby was a Performance Consultant for the Viper program when it started.  That's what he's talking about.

http://www.shelby-dodge.com/viper.html

[myk]

id take a replica in a second . You can pretty much build it the way you want (including safety upgrades like better brakes, etc) AND you can flog it hard without worrying about wrecking a rare piece of history.

This THIS...If I could only own one car it would be a Shelby Cobra 427 replica.  That car, be it in true or kit form is the ultimate driving machine to me, every other car be damned...

[Ghoste]

I think what Doug is saying is that you will tie up just as much money in a Cobra kit car as a 1st generation Viper.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I think a Cobra is one of those cars that would be a blast to have for a month. After that, the reality of what it is will set in.

[Old Moparz]

The Cobra kits are nice & I see nothing wrong with them at all, & have the same feelings on the steel Dynacorn bodies because they are almost like a kit, anyway. One of my friends built a Cobra from a kit & did 99% of the work himself, including the paint. It looks great, he drives it all over & loves it. As a matter of fact, he sold his late model Corvette once he finished it & likes it better. He did his on a very small budget over a few years. It's a small block Ford & if I recall, a 289. The body is slightly longer than a typical one & he's tall so he needed the extra leg room.

Here's a few photos from the day he stopped by my house....

[Dreamcar]

Very nice!!!

[Aero426]

I like the idea of a Beck Lister.    The real Listers were racing cars made in England with Jaguar power, later small block Chevy power.    The looks aren't for everyone, but I like 'em.

[wingcar]

A Cobra "Kit Car" would make for a great "sunny day, weekend car".   Most of the good "kits" are themselves not all that cheap, but if I were going to build one, I would chose one of the better "top-end" kits on the market that actually copies the original in every aspect.  Just remember that they are all motor with little in the way of creature comforts...they were real hot rods.  You could buy a Hellcat for less, but then I guess that's not really the point.
I actually feel sort of sorry for the owners of "real" Cobra's since anytime I see one, I automatically think it's a "kit" car.  LOL

[Dreamcar]

A Cobra "Kit Car" would make for a great "sunny day, weekend car".   Most of the good "kits" are themselves not all that cheap, but if I were going to build one, I would chose one of the better "top-end" kits on the market that actually copies the original in every aspect.  Just remember that they are all motor with little in the way of creature comforts...they were real hot rods.  You could buy a Hellcat for less, but then I guess that's not really the point.
I actually feel sort of sorry for the owners of "real" Cobra's since anytime I see one, I automatically think it's a "kit" car.  LOL

I think that speaks to what I was asking about...is the Cobra copy a car that's generally accepted by car enthusiast, even though it's a copy of the real thing?  If they started making Charger copies, there's no way I'd want one. I would want a real one. But, the real Cobra is just so rare end priceless, do enthusiast accept them more then other "copies" of famous cars? If I did build and own one, how would I feel hearing someone say "it's just a kit"?

 

[Indygenerallee]

I would much rather have do a Cobra Daytona coupe kit car, those things were pure sexy and what the Viper GTS was designed after!

[Ponch ®]

There's a guy that brings out an original Cobra to local cruises. And its supposed to be a rare one (even within the original Cobra universe = its worth $$$) - dont remember why but I'll try to find out.  He's usually at Bob's Big Boy on Friday nights...I'm heading out there tonite. I'll take some pics if he's there.

I think a Cobra is one of those cars that would be a blast to have for a month. After that, the reality of what it is will set in.

Zero f--ks given. I still want one.

I would much rather have do a Cobra Daytona coupe kit car, those things were pure sexy and what the Viper GTS was designed after!

For real. The Daytona Coupe is probably my favorite non-MOPAR car of all time. Definitely on my list of "Cars I will own when Im rich and famous", even in replica form. Preferably a replica, actually, for the same reasons I stated above re: the Cobra.

[Troy]

Love Cobras! Real ones are out of almost everyone's budget. A "good" (accurate) kit will set you back a big chunk of change. Of course, 98% of the people looking at it will have no idea if it's correct or not. Build what makes you happy. Superformance is just up the road from me so I go in and drool over their various kits (Cobras, Daytonas, etc.) on a regular basis. Factory Five kits aren't nearly correct but very drivable. Don't bother with a big block - a stroker 302 or 351 is way more power than you'll ever need. Modern technology really makes cars like these more livable.

Troy

[Dreamcar]

I'd even consider a modern Coyote 5.0.

[Ponch ®]

I've always been tempted by some of the built replicas I see for sale around here anywhere from $20K-40K....but its kinda of a crapshoot to buy somebody else's project. Who knows how they built it or what corners they cut...

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Took a few pics of this one at a local show

[Dreamcar]

Do you know what brand of kit that was? ERA, Kirkham, Factory Five, etc?

[RIDELIKEHELL]

not sure but it was beautiful & sounded nasty 

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Here's a few more pics..is it a kit?

[Mike DC]

  
I see Cobras as two different cars, the 427s and the earlier 289s.  


427s were basically street legal sprint cars.  Great for appeasing your inner 17yo.  IMO these things need the finer points of a vintage car replica like Scarlett Johansen needs cooking skills.


The 289-based version was more like a mature driver's sports car.  For that I would want a decent fit & finish, lightweight engine, independent rear suspension, and the tires a reasonable size/width.

     

[Dreamcar]

Here's a few more pics..is it a kit?

Given the EFI, MSD box, and gauge placement, id say yes, but im not an expert.

[Aero426]

Here's a few more pics..is it a kit?

Given the EFI, MSD box, and gauge placement, id say yes, but im not an expert.

Plus the serpentine belt setup under the hood.   You also would not see the wide 427 hips with a small block.    

Nicely loloking car.  

[Daytona R/T SE]

Several years ago, a guy I know built a Cobra kit car.

He painted it Plum Crazy purple and put a 440 with a pistol grip 4 speed in it.

It was pretty wild.

It's mentioned in this thread:

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8243391&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

[Patronus]

There's a guy that brings out an original Cobra to local cruises. And its supposed to be a rare one (even within the original Cobra universe = its worth $$$) - dont remember why but I'll try to find out.  He's usually at Bob's Big Boy on Friday nights...I'm heading out there tonite. I'll take some pics if he's there.

I think a Cobra is one of those cars that would be a blast to have for a month. After that, the reality of what it is will set in.

Zero f--ks given. I still want one.

I would much rather have do a Cobra Daytona coupe kit car, those things were pure sexy and what the Viper GTS was designed after!

For real. The Daytona Coupe is probably my favorite non-MOPAR car of all time. Definitely on my list of "Cars I will own when Im rich and famous", even in replica form. Preferably a replica, actually, for the same reasons I stated above re: the Cobra.

Screw the white belt and hair plugs AC, the Daytona Coupe is of legends. 

[Patronus]

I think Im going to be sick. I need that car.. look what you have done.
http://www.superformance.com/coupe.aspx

Who wants a nice black '69? 

[Daytona R/T SE]

I think Im going to be sick. I need that car.. look what you have done.
http://www.superformance.com/coupe.aspx

Who wants a nice black '69? 

Watcha got ?

[Ponch ®]

There's a guy that brings out an original Cobra to local cruises. And its supposed to be a rare one (even within the original Cobra universe = its worth $$$) - dont remember why but I'll try to find out.  He's usually at Bob's Big Boy on Friday nights...I'm heading out there tonite. I'll take some pics if he's there.

As promised...

(sorry for the crappy quality...I had to resize / crop the hell out of them to get them under 200kb - if you want high res versions, PM me and ill email them to you).

[Ponch ®]

couple more..

[Dreamcar]

Wow, I admire that he drives it, but I'd be so nervous behind the wheel.

[Ponch ®]

Wow, I admire that he drives it, but I'd be so nervous behind the wheel.

yeah, same here, which is why a replica would be so much fun. gotta give props to this guy. he brings it out practically every Friday night and also shows up at other car meets/cruises.

[Arigmaster]

It's going on 15 years now but following the demise of the neoclassic car companies closing their doors (Centar, Zimmer, Excalibur etc.) I rented the old Excalibur building as a warehouse. The far back of the building was still being used to produce high end motorcycle trailers. However just before the end they produced fiberglass body 3 '66 Cobra replicas. All of the molds were in the rear area for these and over the years they had put all the molds for the various years of Excalibur into 2 rail box cars along side the building.

The owner at that time ended up fleeing back to Germany and the property and content (molds, cars, trailers etc) were purchased by some woman who was somehow related to the late Brook Stevens. (founder of Excalibur) Not really sure where the stuff or the rail cars ended up but the body molds for the Cobra were very well done.

[TruckDriver]

Wow, I admire that he drives it, but I'd be so nervous behind the wheel.

No kidding.

I saw 2 I assume kit cars together on Friday at work. I never seen 2 together ever before on the street.

[Patronus]

at a local cruise circa '13

[Ghoste]

The Daytona coupes are just plain badass.  I would have loved to drive one in competition. 

[Road Dog]

There was some Beach Blanket Bingo Movie I saw where a Guy put a Daytona Coupe in the ditch.  

[polywideblock]

Several years ago, a guy I know built a Cobra kit car.

He painted it Plum Crazy purple and put a 440 with a pistol grip 4 speed in it.

It was pretty wild.

It's mentioned in this thread:

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8243391&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

exactly  why would you build a KIT car and then put a chev or ford motor in it   

think I'd go hemi powered      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ANGF4rAMU

[pettybird]

Honest advice from someone who works at a high end and classic car dealership?

Buy one done, and make sure it was put together by a shop with a long history of building Cobras.  This is a car that, unless you REALLY want to build in your garage, is always better to buy second hand.  We've sold more than a few with a couple hundred miles on them.  Wife didn't like it.  Kids don't fit.  Too noisy.  Whatever.  A used 'glass Cobra is worth 40-60% of its build cost, tops.  The nice thing is that you can put a few hundred more miles on the odometer and just about walk away dead even.

So,

Don't build your own unless you want to, since everyone will assume you're a hack when you try and sell it.

Don't commission one unless you like setting fire to money.

Enjoy it until you're tired of it and throw it up on ePay for some other midlife crisis-suffering schmuck to buy.

[pettybird]

Two more things:

People expect to find a 351 under the hood.  While a real FE powered car is cool don't sweat the resale value of a small block.  A Windsor with aluminum heads, decent compression and a good cam makes for an 11 second Cobra.


While beautiful, a Daytona coupe is nearly unbearable to drive.  You usually find them with A/C and even that is inadequate.  The roadsters are loud enough...coupes are torture chambers.

[Aero426]

Colin Comer's real 427.   This is a narrow hip car, which is a look that I like.     This car gets driven.    A lot.  

[Patronus]

You may balk at the price, but it is coming...
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/10/03/dnt-fastest-electric-car-renovo.kpix&hpt=hp_c3&from_homepage=yes&video_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F