gtforme,
I also own both a GT and Cobra replica. I agree with everything everyone has said. Here's a few more tidbits to chew on that I just sent to a friend who was considering buying a Cobra.
The GT and Cobra are worlds apart when it comes to the driving experience and the cost. One probably over-generalized definition I was given from a collector car insurer: replicas are recognized by most insurance agents as being built by a factory (SPF, ERA, Unique, Kirkum, SAA, etc.) and kits are recognized as being built in someone's garage usually from a donor car (Mustang).
In the replica/kit world, you generally get what you pay for. You can buy the less expensive kits, but they usually lack good handling and good body fit normally. Every once in a while, you can find one of the less expensive Cobra kits that was put together well by a very skilled builder, but the majority are not. Poor construction skills of the less expensive kits invites many mechanical problems, handling problems, etc.
Pros:
Lots of fun – many are raced, car clubs, car shows, etc.
Lots of admirers
Experience driving/owning the meanest muscle car of the 1960s-2000s. Faster 0-60 times (4.2 seconds) than stock Vipers, corvettes, etc. Was the fastest production car ever made until the 2000s when they started manufacturing the 200 mph Supercars and 600 HP+, twin turbo cars.
Easy to maintain. No requirement for computer scanners to test smog devices, fuel injectors, computers, etc. Just old school maintenance – spark plugs, brake pads, oil/filters, gas.
Cons:
Pretty much a 4-wheel motorcycle, so they are a fair weather car and usually not an everyday driver unless you live in S. Calif where it never rains.
Basically 3 styles of Cobras:
Slab side = small block engine, 1962-1964 design, narrow body and small fenders, roll bar goes thru passenger compartment.
427 = big block engine, 1964-67 design, wide body and flared fenders, roll bar outside/behind driver compartment.
FIA = small block engine, with a 427 flared fender body style and a few other almost imperceptible differences, roll bar goes thru passenger compartment.
The best manufacturers in my opinion only are:
Unique (427 and FIA) = Gadsden AL (You can’t beat their post-purchase support, truly outstanding. Very close copy of an original, if that interests you.)
ERA (427 and FIA) = Connecticut (Very good support and probably the closest replica of an original, but also harder to construct than a Unique.)
Superformance (427) = South Florida (Easiest to construct, South African import. Don’t know about their support. No construction, painting, etc. required except to install the engine and transmission. This is how they all get around the laws that pertain to 2010 safety devices (airbags) smog devices, etc.)
Shelby American (427 and FIA) = Las Vegas (Very expensive – you are buying the name and privilege of being in the Shelby register) They also offer an aluminum body from Kirkum and South Africa.
Kirkum (slab side, 427 and FIA) = Michigan, I think. Fiberglass and primarily aluminum bodies – expensive. They provide the aluminum bodies for Shelby American, although I think Shelby also gets aluminum bodies from South Africa now.
Some folks like the new Backdraft replicas, but I don’t have much experience with them, so I don’t know about their support. They attend a lot of Cobra events, so I assume their support/warrantees are good. Backdraft and Factory Five are the most aggressive in their advertisements where the other manufacturers rely mostly on word-of-mouth reputations for their advertising.
Aurora (slab side) = not being manufactured anymore, but you can find them used.
Here’s 4 great web sites to do some research:
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/index.php ;
http://www.uniquemotorcars.com/ ;
http://www.erareplicas.com/427/427sc.htm#backfromstdparts ;
http://www.uniquecobra.com/
Here’s a good web site to check out what is for sale:
http://www.cobracountry.com/ You will see that the above “best manufacturers” also command the highest prices because people know what they are getting for their money. Unlike a Factory Five, Shell Valley, and some others, you really don’t know what you are getting because it depends on the skill of the builder and whether he used new parts or used parts – some are outstanding builds and some are just unsafe with bad suspension designs, bad brakes, etc. also making them unreliable. The “best manufacturers” make it almost impossible to mess up the build because of how well the replica is designed and the complete list of new parts included in their rollers. They are therefore much more standard in their construction, so you know what you are buying, and is why they generally command the highest sales prices. I watched a program on TV a few days ago, that featured the Factory 5 Racing Cobra factory tour and it now appears they are building replicas and not the kits from a few years ago. Unlike a GT where you know what you are buying becasue they are all standard, when purchasing a Cobra replica/kit, you need to do your research.
Good luck, Jer
