Anyone here own a 427 or 289 Cobra?

[jluetjen]

So here's a question -- how does a Cobra 289 stack up against a TVR Tuscan V8? I'm aware of the technical differences, I'm more interested in driving differences. Spec-wise, the TVR's tubular backbone chassis with double-A arm suspension on all four corners should be a step up from a Cobra. A guy who owns a body shop here in my town has a Tuscan (and a Cobra replica). I just haven't been able to stop by yet to look at it while it was in his shop. He usually keeps it at his house.



Personally I've always had a soft spot for TVR's.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by DARISC

I would've given him his 32.9K asking price if it came down to it...but, the footwell was so tight and the pedals so tightly spaced that I'd have to wear driving shoes or drive barefoot (which the owner most often does ). I'd planned to take it to my mech. on Tues. for a PPI, but opted out, thinking about it over the weekend.

FF has a good rep but the guy said their fiberglas bodies, while accurate, were crappy in terms of the hours needed to fill, sand, fit and prep for paint.

Good luck finding a good one!

I agree, the footwell is tight and the pedals are not centered under the steering wheel (an original is even worse) and the bodies are a bear to prep.

But when done right, they are really fun cars to drive.

[Laneco]

Oh come on guys! You don't have to leave the Porsche fold completely to have a stupid-fast fiberglass car!

Come on over the dark side - we have cookies - BWAHAHAA!!!

angela

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Oh come on guys! You don't have to leave the Porsche fold completely to have a stupid-fast fiberglass car!

Come on over the dark side - we have cookies - BWAHAHAA!!!

angela

Yeah Baby!

Earlier today my boss brought up buying a kit car (some sort of old Ford, I figured 32, but he said 55 *shrug*). The first two "kits" that I thought of were a 550 or a Lotus 7.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

Me too. Pic for fun.

At the Keels and WHeels concours a while back there were several cobras. I much prefer the cleaner lines of the small block cars to the flared fenders of the big block cars.

[dewolf]

Wouldn't mind an old Sunbeam Tiger with a few mods.

[911boost]

If you ever get a chance, go to the Shelby Museum in Boulder. There are dozens of real 289 and 427 cars in there, as well as GT40's etc. It pretty damn cool.

Tabs, my father in law had a 1963 1/2 Galaxy with the 427 and a four speed. He bought it new, and sold in in 65. Back then he was getting new cars every year or two. Of all the cars he had (including a Boss 302 'stang), he misses that 427 Galaxy the most.

Bill

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by dewolf

Wouldn't mind an old Sunbeam Tiger with a few mods.

A friend of mine had one back when they were new. Very nose heavy, plowed around corners.

[tabs]

OK how about 25,000 for that motor...

I just don't have aline on what it is really worth?????

I know where it has been since it came out of that 63 Galaxy...I also can put anyone who is interested in touch with the guy who I bought it from. He stored the thing in his garage for me for about 15 years. The guy knows more about FORD then all of U boyz combined...

He is currently sitting on 2 Boss 351s, one with less than 15,000 miles on it. 3 1970 Boss 302s and a Cougar Eliminator with the Boss 302 motor. He is Mister Ford Differential, as he used to always go out to the Pomona and LB swap meets with his diffs in the black boxees..The last car he restored was my 69 Mach 1 424 SCJ...

I am coming to the point where I want to get rid of the motor and car...I just don't drive it anymore..orginal CA black plate car with Marti Report....

[Roadrunner911]

Here's mine,
It's an FFR built by Gordon Levy. It has a 302 EFI with about 320 crank hp. It's a blast to drive. It's a raw, over the top driving experience. I always look forward to taking it for a spin and have done several car shows. It gets a lot of attention. The handling is fairly good, I don't throw it around like I did my 911 because you to have to respect the horsepower but it's uncanny when you open it up.
Bottomline for me, I like them both. Very different driving and ownership experience.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Roadrunner911

Very different driving and ownership experience.

Having driven both, and long having coveted a Cobra, I would be very interested in anything you could add about the Cobra "ownership experience"—and how this differs from the Porsche equivalent.

[johnco]

Originally Posted by rammstein

That finish is awesome!!! Could I do that to any car?

kind of! according to this company. I like the copper look http://www.alsacorp.com/

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Dottore

..how this differs from the Porsche equivalent.

Funny...the guy who's Cobra I looked at said that when he had his Porsche a lot of people would hold their middle finger up at him but with the Cobra it's always a thumb up.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by DARISC

Funny...the guy who's Cobra I looked at said that when he had his Porsche a lot of people would hold their middle finger up at him but with the Cobra it's always a thumb up.

Yup. That makes sense. Truth is a lot of Porsche owners are complete dildos. God knows I've met enough of them in my life.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Yup. That makes sense. Truth is a lot of Porsche owners are complete dildos. God knows I've met enough of them in my life.

Fortunately, none of those dildos post here...especially on PARF.

[pavulon]

A few things that I really like about ERA is that they have been around a long time, they have a knowledgable and friendly following and their optional rear suspension has to be the most advanced in the business. http://www.erareplicas.com/427/frsusp.htm

I wish I had enough $$ to do a GT40 from them but the money for that project seems a bit nuts.

[Roadrunner911]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Having driven both, and long having coveted a Cobra, I would be very interested in anything you could add about the Cobra "ownership experience"—and how this differs from the Porsche equivalent.

First of all, you are on your own in dealing with problems with the car, no old german mechanics that will solve your problem. Although it's powered with american muscle that you can apply tried and true V-8 hot rod solutions. The engine/body/paint/transmission/suspension/induction combinations are infinite and you are completely in control as to which combo you use. There is excellent support online but it's still a do it yourself proposition. My power to weight ratio is approaching super car specs and I have a fairly conservative combination. The Porsche is a tried and true factory car with factory solutions. I would love to drive cross country in my Porsche but the Cobra is really only for short sprints the comfort levels do not compare. The Cobra has direct race car lineage and doesn't have any amenities.
It's a beast and commands respect while driving. Raw horsepower and torque at your command and incredible acceleration. Plus it has that nice V-8 rumble that quickly turns to a roar. I know guys that have from 225 hp up to 600. But they are all Cobras and are all cool. Some fancy paint and some still in gel coat. But they are all a kick to drive.
Hope this helps.

[Rich Lambert]

Every guy should own a Cobra once in their life, just to get it out of their system. I had this one for 6 years and it scratched the itch.

Unique 427 body with a 360hp 302.

[Hebrewhomeboy]

I like cobras, but there's only one kit car I would ever build and own. The Shelby Daytona Coupe.

[Tobra]

Cookies and milk, will even have lactaid as the wife is lactose intolerant, won't put up with rudeness either, but otherwise pretty agreeable.

Angela, I have said it before and will say it again that black 550 is my ultimate car, it must be a hoot.

I like Cobras