Rate Cobra Kit Car Manufacturers

Matthew 10:16

Member # 003
Location
Bethalto, IL.
First Name
David
Last Name
Virgin
Let's here from as many as possible on this please: Rate Cobra Kit Car Manufacturers Top to bottom quality wise w/o regard to price. Who wants to take a stab?
 
1) Kirkham
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)

I'm done, fill in the blanks if you dare. Too many makes here and I'm not going to be the one to start the pi**ing contest :D
 
I'm outa the know. I was hopn you forum moderator/expert types could help out guys like me who don't have your experience, knowledge & expertise. Anybody else wanna play or take a stab at it? Is Tom playing chicken or is he just plain smart? :D Sorry for the obvious rhetorical Q. :rolleyes: He's not respected as an expert for no reason. :)
 
Be careful of the threads you start young grasshopper...you may not like the answers you get.

I like mine because it started out as a pretty good "kit", and I am turning it into a one of a kind replica of a certain open top roadster we shall not name...
 
Don't mean to be a smart a** but it's just too broad a topic and there are just too many opinions on what's good and what's not. I have strong opinions on various manufacturers methods of construction and execution but in the end they are all nice cars looks and handling wise, they are all unsafe at any speed and they are all the fulfillment of somebody's dream that I'm not stepping on.
 
I think this thread could be helpful. We could point out the pluses and minuses of various packages. BEST - is to subjective. As an example, BEST when applied to an original car would fall far short when compared to a brand new replica. BEST engine - don't get me started.

So, in essence we could "review" various makes, and see where we end up.
So, I'll start. Kirkham's pluses - aluminum just like the original. Minuses - it's a kit. Every feature is an option upgrade, and I've heard (as late as yesterday) they still have brake problems. It's also the most expensive (other than Shelby - in which Kirkham supplies the rollers). You could easily breach the 100K mark on a Kirkham.
 
Factory Five - Affordable, seems to be the largest test crowd, and plenty of support.
 
No one that I know thinks your a smart___ Tom. I just wanted to see if there was something close to a consensus opinion on the rankings of quality in Cobra kits to purchase from various manufacturers. Of course it's subjective & of course your going to get different opinions. But I thought it would be fun, interesting, intriguing & informative to hear some opinions on the Q. I thought you offered some excellent opinions on Superformance & Backdraft. I concur in regard to your opinion on Superformance. I like Superformance visually & it's quality. For example Mark's folding store in the trunk con. top is the best I've seen. I'm jealous of it. I'm curious if anyone is familiar with the reputation of the Co. that sold my kit Classic. My feelings won't be hurt if anyone volunteers that they had a reputation for bad quality. It would be helpful for me to know that.
 
So, ..... how far back are we going?
There have been so many out and about...
I'll start naming a few and see who remembers them and go from there...
I have sales stuff from back in the early 70's
let's just say when other kids found their fathers girly mags...
I was looking at road tests and car mags.. I've wanted one of these since I was 13...
So.. Do you remember these?
The Arntz cobra
the Salon cobra
the Aurora cobra
the Autokraft cobra
the West coast cobra
the Contemporary cobra
the ERA cobra
the Butler racing cobra
the B.R.A. cobra
the RAM cobra
the DAX cobra
the Gravetti cobra
the Python cobra
the Pacific coast cobra
north american fiberglass cobra
the Robnell cobra
the Magnum cobra

I have to say..... bang for the buck
# 2 has to be FFR
So start kicking my A**...
This is all such a personal choice.... do you build? or do you buy?
All comes into play... dollars to play with and what do you intend to do with it, drive it or worship it..
wax it or put it away wet.


Just my .02

Skip
 
I haven,t put other Cobra,s side by side to compare, but My stallion Cobra is a very well made car. I put it on my rack any went over it good. It is built like I would want it to be . Compared to the Corvette which I have had a lot of them, this body is very well built along with the frame and suspension. I am looking forward to comming to St. Louis in the spring and showing it off to you guys. Paul in Piedmont.
 
Paul, don't worry, we will probably be your way at some point :D But heck yeah, come to one of our cruise in's, don't know if I've ever seen a Stallion replica
 
TomK thinks West Coast Cobra was Stallion before it became WCC. Is TomK right Paul? Is your ride a fatfendered/thunderthighs? BTW Where did ya get your ride & when? Ya didn't happen to get it from a guy in Red Bud, IL. recently did ya? I just checked out the photo of your ride in your gallery & it looks like a cobra I saw for sale @ the Frog Follies in Aug. last summer.
 
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With all the law suits going on with the "freedom of speech" issue we better be careful or put Dave on retainer on this thread....B&B B&B B&B aka:LAE
Whatever one you personally own is the best.
 
Vey impressed with FFR for the bang for the buck. Kirkam and Superformance for looks and quality. Honestly, I haven't had the opportunity to get up close and personal with any other builds.
 
With all the law suits going on with the "freedom of speech" issue we better be careful or put Dave on retainer on this thread....B&B B&B B&B aka:LAE
Whatever one you personally own is the best.

i almost went with B&B someone i know has a yellow one but kit wise the FFR set-up seems to be very well done all in all i just like 4 tires 2 seats and horsepower and throw 2 stripes on it any color to each his own:D
 
after looking at all and constrution even tho i have a B&B i would have to say Superformance. But if you want to build 1 many others and they all have good and bad points. i would say Superformance and B&B have a more solid frame rect box and box chanel also easier to mount something to a flat then a curve.
 
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