AC Cobra


Nardo GT

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2006
2,300
Texas
Hey guys....give me your opinion of Factory Five or Mid-States? I know a lot has to do with the builder, but just in general. Thanks.
 

Kirby Vieira

GT Owner/B.o.D
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 22, 2005
1,768
Atlanta
The aluminum bodied Cobras built by (or for) Shelby have always been the most expensive, but unlike the fiberglass Cobras, they have a history of appreciating in value rather than depreciating.
 

dandaman

GT Owner
Apr 8, 2007
113
Tyler, Tx
I have had two Superformance Cobras both with Big Block FE's. I would strongly recommend them. Superior quality and workmanship. I did my own engine install in both Cobras, it is pretty easy taking about 10 days working in the evenings.
Dan
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
A/C Cobra (like Chips except Superformance instead of Kirkham)
ajb

Most Superformance's run Windsor blocks. Do yourself a big favor, go for a ride in an FE powered car. What makes a Cobra a Cobra is the big block torque. Fact is most folks love the wide hip look of the 427 and not the look of the small block car.

The Ohio Superformance dealer is a top notch guy. Buy you can buy these cars with hardly any wear and tear a huge discounts on sites like Cobra Country. Most folks build up the cars and never drive them.
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
Hey guys....give me your opinion of Factory Five or Mid-States? I know a lot has to do with the builder, but just in general. Thanks.

I have seen beautiful Factory Fives and MidStates. It depends 110% on the builder. The best place to learn is CLUB COBRA, a web site.
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
I have had two Superformance Cobras both with Big Block FE's. I would strongly recommend them. Superior quality and workmanship. I did my own engine install in both Cobras, it is pretty easy taking about 10 days working in the evenings.
Dan

As far as I am concerned the only engine for a Cobra is an FE sideoiler.
Great choice. Superformance does a great job, visited their factory in Port Elizabeth and left very impressed.
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
The aluminum bodied Cobras built by (or for) Shelby have always been the most expensive, but unlike the fiberglass Cobras, they have a history of appreciating in value rather than depreciating.

I see Demolition man's CSX car on Cobra Country for about a buck and half.
Kirby is correct, spend the extra money for a true Shelby, and never have to make an excuse.

Today everything is in the registry, I am waiting for Shelby guitars, chili, popcorn and alarm systems to start appearing.
 

Nardo GT

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2006
2,300
Texas
education on them there "kit" Cobras

OOPS....forgot to ask about Superformance.
 

Spirit

Heritage GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Today everything is in the registry, I am waiting for Shelby guitars, chili, popcorn and alarm systems to start appearing.

CHILI, YES.
:bow :banana :bow

:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol
 

Nardo GT

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2006
2,300
Texas
Chili

I got the venison if you got the fixin's Fred. Might need a few "crackers" too. Is that a politically correct term?
 

Spirit

Heritage GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Crackers

Might need a few "crackers" too. Is that a politically correct term?

Only SOUTH of the Mason-Dixon Line.

:lol:rofl:lol:rofl:lol:rofl:lol:rofl:lol
 

GT35065

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
I have owned a Superformance for 3 1/2 years and am very happy with it. You can't beat the bang for the buck. I bought mine two years used with 1200 miles on it. If you are patient you can find a perfect used one for much less than new. On the advise of one of the best dealers I know of, the Olthoffs in North Carolina, I went with a 550 HP 408 CI Windsor stroker. They seriously race these cars, and that is the same basic engine he races. If money were no object I would probably have a 700 HP stroked 427 and the high winding 408 Windsor, and love both. When I first bought the GT, I mentioned as incredibly fast as it is, you don't get near the sensation of speed and near death experience as when driving the Cobra wide open. I absolutely love both cars. I would add if money is not a huge issue, from my research, go with the Kirkham or alumimum Shelby. Thats my 2 cents of advice.

Rick
 
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glord

GT Owner
Mar 25, 2006
84
Los Gatos California
Csx 4000

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area with a CSX 4000 for sale. Please PM me if you are interested in more details on the car and/or CSX cars versus other options. Regards, Gary
 

ChipBeck

GT Owner
Staff member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 13, 2006
5,783
Scottsdale, Arizona
Big block FE's rule!!

Most Superformance's run Windsor blocks. Do yourself a big favor, go for a ride in an FE powered car. What makes a Cobra a Cobra is the big block torque. Fact is most folks love the wide hip look of the 427 and not the look of the small block car.

Buy you can buy these cars with hardly any wear and tear a huge discounts on sites like Cobra Country. Most folks build up the cars and never drive them.

I was thinking about buying a brand-new Kirkham roller and having a new engine and transmission built for installation in it. Bony told me to look at Club Cobra. I did and found the exact car I was going to build with only 200 miles on it! :eek I flew out to Texas and the car was exactly as pictured, absolutely flawless, AND, I saved over $30,000 by purchasing it very slightly used. Plus I didn't have to wait, instant gratification is good. :banana The gentleman who had it built displayed it in some Cobra shows and took his wife for a ride in it once. She told him she would never ride in it again. When he took me out for a test drive I can see why. A very lightweight aluminum body powered by Keith Kraft built Shelby American aluminum block 427 FE stroked to 482 C.I. with 650+ horsepower provided a most frightening first-time experience. I felt like I was sitting on a child's skateboard that had just been shot out of the muzzle of a howitzer cannon. Even at idle that big block & side pipes shook the ground. At my first Arizona Cobras function it was like Elvis showed up to sing in the church choir. Out of about 40 cars, mine was the only aluminum car, and the only big block FE. Of the Cobra owners I have spoken to, the majority have never even ridden in a big block Cobra. Everybody should experience it at least once.

Almost nobody drives a Cobra very much, and neither will you if you buy one. So they are excellent cars to purchase used. The only Cobra that you will not save a lot of money on buying used is a CSX4000 aluminum car. There is about a two year wait to acquire a new one so impatient buyers have bid the price of used ones up to, and sometimes beyond, the cost of a new one. So if you can handle the wait and don't mind trying up $150,000, an aluminum CSX4000 Cobra would be almost free to own and drive for a few years. :cheers

Chip
 

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B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
Again, listen to Chipper....
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
go here to review the resale market of replicas:-
http://www.cobracountry.com/home2.html
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
go here for the replica's community forum:-
http://www.clubcobra.com/
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
go here for the GT40 original and replica community forum:-
http://www.gt40s.com/forum/
 

tpraceman

THEE GT OWNER
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 20, 2006
2,835
Washington Michigan
I have had many of the different Cobras and the advice you are getting is spot on.

Although ERA will build you one complete & done and they are the tops in my book. Peter does the best fit & finish like an artist at work.

If you want to drive it and not worry about it then superformance. Mine have been rattle free and nobody except the a true cobra guy knows the difference. for the amount of time most people drive them I say SF is the one.

Kirkham/Shelby deal like Chip's is the ultimate but cost 2 to 3 times as much.

I Sold both of my real macoys, fun to look at but not to drive and I like driving them.

All this time I thought Bony was just a pretty face....but his advice to Chip was perfect.....:thumbsup
 

B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
Pretty face,.... Been called many things, but thats a first:)

My contemporary replica won best car at the knotts berry show.
Sold my last one, era535 because of dmv problems...