23 replies to this topic

[socalwrench]

Hello all. I am considering buying a Cobra kit car. I've wanted one since I was a little kid, and may be able to get one. I'm sure many of you have an opinion on the matter. However, what I'm really wondering is who is the best place to deal with? Who makes the best kits for the money. I'm looking for any earlier style car, MKIII I believe. I'm not new to cars or Shelby Mustangs, just new to Shelby Cobras. I've done quite a bit of research, but there seems to be a lot of incomplete or misleading information out there.  Any help is appreciated.

Edited by socalwrench, 04 May 2011 - 09:16 AM.

[twobjshelbys]

Do you want a Cobra or do you want to build a kit (and it just happens to be a Cobra)?  

As with all classics and restorations, and as people are frequently reminded during all of the auto auctions, e.g., Barrett Jackson, Mecum, etc, you will always be ahead to let someone else spend the money.   If you want a Cobra, you will be much better off buying one that is already complete and sorted out.   If you want the experience of building it then:

Superformance, like a Shelby CSX, is a completed roller.  You install power train.  In the end for a similarly optioned roller with the same power train in each, cost will be close.

Factory Five:  I've seen some very bad FF cars.  The quality is equal to the talent of the person putting it together.  I believe they also offer a completed roller option.  

Shell Valley:   Very mixed.  I saw one that looked like it was put together by a 5th grader.  I hear their Daytona Coupes are among the best.

You didn't mention Backdraft.  BD also has a finished roller option now.

As beautiful as they are, at this stage in your Cobra career don't even consider a Kirkham.  First, the "bare naked lady" isn't real - Cobras should be painted, and painted Guardsman Blue to boot, but an aluminum car is not for the faint of heart.  Any little door ding or rock bump and you're into a lot of work.    And similarly, by the time you finish a Kirkham you can get into a (Kirkham built) Shelby CSX roller for not too much of a price difference.

Besides the skins, take a careful look at the frame and all the rest.   Both quality and originality.  There are still people building Cobra kits on Mustang II frames with Jaguar rear ends.  Iccchhhh.

[twobjshelbys]

By the way, a Cobra will in the end cost you one h*** of a lot more money than a Shelby GT, and the SGT will be more usable.  A Cobra is a motorcycle - you won't knowingly take it out in a rain storm, nor if there is a threat of bad weather.  Mine spends all of its time in the garage all winter and requires careful planning during monsoon season.

Another bad thing I forgot to mention about any of the aluminum bodied cars is hail - it's bad...  If you live in a hail prone area avoid aluminum as it will restrict your driving opportunities even more.   I got caught in a hail storm with my Cobra once.  I got beat up pretty bad (bloody head and ears) but the Cobra didn't suffer (except for some dings on the aluminum mirror housings.)

[socalwrench]

Cobra career. Lol. I like that. I was considering a kit car, since I know I can't afford an original one. Plus, I sort of liked the idea that I could drop in any early Ford drivetrain that I wanted. Call me crazy, but I really wish I could find a steel, not aluminum, body, but fiberglass will do fine. I realize that a SGT is much more practical, but I still have my Mustang. Therefore, owning a dedicated weekend car isn't a big deal. I like out in sunny, dry, southern California. There's usually 2-4 weeks a year that get nasty.

Do the Superformance cars get a CSX number? Or is that just the name?

[devildog350]

socalwrench, on 04 May 2011 - 09:48 AM, said:

Cobra career. Lol. I like that. I was considering a kit car, since I know I can't afford an original one. Plus, I sort of liked the idea that I could drop in any early Ford drivetrain that I wanted. Call me crazy, but I really wish I could find a steel, not aluminum, body, but fiberglass will do fine. I realize that a SGT is much more practical, but I still have my Mustang. Therefore, owning a dedicated weekend car isn't a big deal. I like out in sunny, dry, southern California. There's usually 2-4 weeks a year that get nasty.

Do the Superformance cars get a CSX number? Or is that just the name?

Go to Willow Springs this weekend, Cobra Club is at the big track, Go talk to Lynn Parks, or Tom, they can tell you some good info.

[MMcGuirk]

My advice - buy a finished and registered car.

In California, it is not a slam dunk anymore to get a kit car registered as a smog exempt vehicle. Sacramento only hands out a limited number of SB100 titles (approx. 500) and pro shops such as Socal Speed Shop, Hillbank, etc are now grabbing those up quickly.

I have a friend with a Factory Five Cobra that is nice and he has $60K+  into it. At Barrett Jackson Orange County last year, I saw a Shelby continuation car dealer let a beauty go for $65K. I would look for a deal on a continuation car.

Good luck.

[socalwrench]

I will definitely consider going this weekend, and I will look into completed cars. However, I feel a bit skeptical about buying a used kit car.

[GT500-07]

still for sale, make an offer. see the 2nd thread
http://www.teamshelb...x4970-for-sale/

[twobjshelbys]

Mine is too...  

http://www.teamshelb...005la-for-sale/

[socalwrench]

Okay, thanks guys.  Those are a bit out of my price range. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought I could put one together for $30,000. I already have an engine I can put into one too.

[twobjshelbys]

socalwrench, on 05 May 2011 - 08:22 AM, said:

Okay, thanks guys.  Those are a bit out of my price range. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought I could put one together for $30,000. I already have an engine I can put into one too.

As they say "let us know how that works out"   To do it would be a true kit, and if you've never done fiberglass work before, I'd suggest you look for a used BD or Factory 5.   Look on cobracountry.com.   Again, I'll recommend against building it yourself.  It takes a lot of time and a lot of work, and a significant number of them are never finished.  If you want to drive one, buy one and see if you like it first - they are an animal and my wife will not ride in it let alone drive it.   Figure out if you like it then build one to suit.  It would be a shame to go to all the work and then figure out it doesn't "work".  

Good luck.

[socalwrench]

I appreciate the encouragement. I would like to buy a rolling chassis with a body. And, do the paint, interior, engine and wiring myself. I'd definitely finish it, especially considering it's half way done at that point. And, as far as driving one goes, I not worried about it. It would be fun. I've driven some quick cars, and the Cobra would be the ultimate 'toy' car.

[GT500-07]

twobjshelbys, on 05 May 2011 - 08:30 AM, said:

As they say "let us know how that works out"   To do it would be a true kit, and if you've never done fiberglass work before, I'd suggest you look for a used BD or Factory 5.   Look on cobracountry.com.   Again, I'll recommend against building it yourself.  It takes a lot of time and a lot of work, and a significant number of them are never finished.  If you want to drive one, buy one and see if you like it first - they are an animal and my wife will not ride in it let alone drive it.   Figure out if you like it then build one to suit.  It would be a shame to go to all the work and then figure out it doesn't "work".  

Good luck.

+1, so true Tony

[twobjshelbys]

Just to add a quick follow up.  I saw that  Backdraft has raised the price of their rolling chassis to $35,900.

[zachman]

twobjshelbys, on 11 May 2011 - 11:54 AM, said:

Just to add a quick follow up.  I saw that  Backdraft has raised the price of their rolling chassis to $35,900.

I owned superformance 2004, (Roush 427R), and I can tell you, buy a car already completed. The $30,000.00 you plan on spending will turn into $50,000.00 before you know it.
These cars are like riding in an open cockpit airplane.  Lots of fun and something you should try once.
The fiberglass body chips very easy. Goodluck.

Edited by zachman, 11 May 2011 - 06:33 PM.

[socalwrench]

You owned Superformance in, or since, 2004? Fiberglass bodies seem to be the accepted method. I'm not sure how much steel would be.

[MY500SS]

zachman, on 11 May 2011 - 06:28 PM, said:

I owned superformance 2004, (Roush 427R), and I can tell you, buy a car already completed. The $30,000.00 you plan on spending will turn into $50,000.00 before you know it.
These cars are like riding in an open cockpit airplane.  Lots of fun and something you should try once.
The fiberglass body chips very easy. Goodluck.

Oh man you got the right zman.......................

[twobjshelbys]

zachman, on 11 May 2011 - 06:28 PM, said:

I owned superformance 2004, (Roush 427R), and I can tell you, buy a car already completed. The $30,000.00 you plan on spending will turn into $50,000.00 before you know it.
These cars are like riding in an open cockpit airplane.  Lots of fun and something you should try once.
The fiberglass body chips very easy. Goodluck.

You'd be doing good to hold it to 50K (20K difference).  He said he already has an engine but an engine can easily add between 10K-15K for a rebuilt 427FE, and depending on which built engine, over 30K (my Roush 427IR was I think 35K).    

Bottom line is that I still believe the only way the original poster is going to find a Cobra for 30K is to buy a used one.  He might find an unfinished project (without engine) that he could pick up for less.

[twobjshelbys]

socalwrench, on 11 May 2011 - 07:46 PM, said:

You owned Superformance in, or since, 2004? Fiberglass bodies seem to be the accepted method. I'm not sure how much steel would be.

There is no such thing as a steel bodied Cobra in anyone's inventory.  The only metal Cobra in production is aluminum.  A steel car would probably cost you more than an aluminum SHELBY CSX1000 car [the most expensive alloy body] due to tooling and fabrication costs.

Edited by twobjshelbys, 12 May 2011 - 11:37 AM.

[socalwrench]

I know aluminum is sold. I don't see why steel isn't possible. The cost is too much to bother with inquiring anyway.