A, B or C?

[Boston Mike]

A: http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/saint-louis/1965/ac/cobra-S7318.html

B: http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/dallas/1966/ac/cobra-S217.html

C: http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/dallas/1965/shelby/cobra-S443.html

Note...........price does play a part in the choice...............

[twobjshelbys]

Are you looking for a Cobra?

Recall that I owned a Shelby CSX continuation (CSX4005LA) before my Ford GT (in between the Mustangs).

A: Factory 5 with no history. 302 engine, probably built on donor Mustang chassis. You can build a new one for this.

B: This looks like a hodgepdge of parts, and the kit isn't named. Stay away without lots of supporting data and I think the price is too high for such a car. For example, the wheels are simply 5-bolt lugs not real spinners. Fit on door isn't great. Stay away...

C: It says Superformance but I'd want a lot of proven history on the car. This could be a good catch for the price which I think is close to the low end of private sales.

But, seriously, none of these cars have a history and they are sitting in a dealer for a reason, and once you've got it it and all of the headaches of an unknown Cobra are yours.

I would instead refer you to the largest Cobra market at www.cobracountry.com (http://www.cobracountry.com). All are private sales and prices are generally very good. Plus, you can talk with the owner (not a dealer salesman that would just as soon sell you air and water without a warranty).

In NO CASE SHALL YOU BUY A COBRA THAT YOU DO NOT PERSONALLY SIT IN. The fit of Cobras is so variable you could end up with one that has the steering wheel pressed on your lap.

Why not just wait for your NGT?

I've given my reasons to buy a Cobra and the reasons to not buy one before, but mostly they are the most uncomfortable thing you will ever sit in. As a passenger you will hate it and as a driver you will love it because you have to. Eventually you will tire of the fact that for every 4 hours of driving you will have two hours of tinkering and drive your NGT when you want a thrill.

PS. When I sell the GT I may very well come back to another Cobra :)

PPS. I will add that while I yearned for the 427 (CSX4000), I always found that the power in the engine was severely underutilized to the point of hurting the engine. It needed to be at about 5000RPM to be happy. If I do another it will be a small block version (CSX2000 equivalent). The 289 will want to run at a higher RPM normally. YOU DO NOT NEED 600HP in a Cobra.

[Alloy Dave]

I know little about these cars, so don't have much to add. Hope you find one you like.

[68fastback]

Just one man's opinion...

A's not bad but the modern Cobra wheels don't work on the vintage Cobra imo. Nice interior, padded dash, seats w/harnesses ...302 is adequate but seems a 'pull' from a '90s Mustang? ...however, might be the only one of the group with MAF-driven EFI if less fumes matters.

B's this one is just not 'right' ...issues w/rusting cracks in oil pan, cut-&-pasted motor mount brackets, other chassis locations ...body surface not right ...may be more non-obvious issues? ...amateurish wiring ...blue accents on many pieces it just look right on (like suspension buts -doh) ...can't even look at the mufflers they're sooo wrong ...not a fan of the steel wheels (with bad blue paint job there too).

C's quite nice -- class act w/tasteful understated elegance ...and a big-azz big-block :banana: ...correct knock-off wheels and appropriate tires ...just plain sweet ...even the subtle Superformace body curves over the rear wheels are satisfyingly 'correct' ...dash, seats, belts are all so right for the car ...what's not to like? ;-)

Then there's D: http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/philadelphia/1966/ac/cobra-S114.html ...priced betw B and C and a very classy build! 351 Windsor is not most powerful but is an absolute beauty! ...w/ nice 5-spd Tremec. Looks 'right' inside and out -- padded dash too and the resisted putting the music system in it (on rear of console) ...can't tell if it will interfere with shifting there but I assume not. Correct styled wheels (tho not knock-offs) and lots of places they didn't cut corners including quality radiator and fans, plumbing fittings, etc. Only two things I'd do to it is powder-coat that one (galvanized?) underpan (up front?) and pull out or black-out the expanded sheet grille -- it does provides rad protection but doesn't look right as is. Not the serious look that "C" is but one with style and class that's heads and shoulder over B, has wheels and feel right (unlike B) and a motor that looks tight (unlike A). May be a little overpriced but very satisfying too and way cheaper than "C"

...

Just saw Tony's post :wtg: (who knows way more about these than I do)

[twobjshelbys]

Then there's D: http://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/philadelphia/1966/ac/cobra-S114.html ...


D is another backdraft. There are lots of nice LOOKING ones, but they tend to be built on donor frames to cheapen them down. Again, who did the build and what was used is important. Again, for this much you could build one new. That isn't necessarily bad IF it was built using the BD frame using original style frames. Otherwise it's just a Cobra skin on a donor car. Without verifiable build info this one is high.

Here is one worth a look:

Again, please look at Cobracountry.com. There are some SPOs in the 60's that will be much more honestly presented and be worth more in resale down the road. There is a nice ERA too.

[68fastback]

D is another backdraft. There are lots of nice LOOKING ones, but they tend to be built on donor frames to cheapen them down. Again, who did the build and what was used is important. Again, for this much you could build one new. That isn't necessarily bad IF it was built using the BD frame using original style frames. Otherwise it's just a Cobra skin on a donor car. Without verifiable build info this one is high.

Here is one worth a look:

Again, please look at Cobracountry.com. There are some SPOs in the 60's that will be much more honestly presented and be worth more in resale down the road. There is a nice ERA too.

:birdy:

[twobjshelbys]

Links from Cobra Country don't work. Look down the list. There are lots in the high 60s low 70s.

[68fastback]

Ah, yeah, some nice ones HERE (http://www.cobracountry.com/cobrasforsale-cobras.html)

[twobjshelbys]

Just to be clear. I'm pretty much down on Backdraft cars. I've seen way more cheap and bad examples than exemplary examples. The Sports Illustrated with Danica Patrick had her posed on an exemplary backdraft. I've seen examples at a car show that had fiberglass panels joined with mesh tape you could see in the surface. Check out the real sales and auctions and judge for yourself. Bottom line, is if you really consider a true kit (Backdraft, Factory Five) instead of a finished roller (Backdraft has a version, as does F5, but the best will be Shelby CSX and Superformance) you're really into a crapshoot. Similarly, ERA provides both, and they are all over the place.

The reality is I made money on my Shelby. I spent more than the running rate, but I got it back. Same with SPF (although not as much) but the others are depreciating.

Good luck.

[twobjshelbys]

Ah, yeah, some nice ones HERE (http://www.cobracountry.com/cobrasforsale-cobras.html)

That is Cobra Country where I recommended the search begin. Unfortunately I wasn't able to create cross links to specific vehicles because of the way they generate their pages.

[twobjshelbys]

By the way, if you're looking for a bone shaking visceral experience why not look for a GT40 replica? SPF makes a superb car. It would be a great companion to your new GT.

[Joe G]

:waiting3:

[Carnut]

Don't buy one sight unseen. Kit cars are only as good as the person that put them together. Most have things wrong with them that have to be addressed after you get them home.