Cobra owners on here?
Discussion
Dave Dax builder said:
Hi Will.
You'd be better looking on www.cobraclub.com and going into the gallery.
Cheers, off for a look now You'd be better looking on www.cobraclub.com and going into the gallery.
ian_uk1975 said:
I've owned 2... a Dax (built by Dave) and now an AK. What would you like to know?
Um, where to start? I guess the main question is how close are they in accuracy to the original Ac cars and how do they drive? I might be able to convince the missus to allow me one if our planned house move goes well next year.Depends how close you want to get, if you want a facsimile of an original 427 you can go the Kirkham route, full aluminium and tubular body as original, 427 FE side oiler engine and toploader gearbox, expect to spend thick end of £80k
If you are looking at plastic replicas, same spec to above but in a plastic car you are looking at £45k
If you are less obsessed with original, you have a myriad of choices with realistic build costs ranging from £18k upwards depending many things but including paint job, engine choice interior etc etc etc
best thing to do is go visit as many manufacturers as you can, cars shows and ask questions of owners, I've had 3 different makes of cobra clone, all have strengths and weaknesses depending on what you want and how deep your pockets are!! Have fun looking, theyre big fun..
If you are looking at plastic replicas, same spec to above but in a plastic car you are looking at £45k
If you are less obsessed with original, you have a myriad of choices with realistic build costs ranging from £18k upwards depending many things but including paint job, engine choice interior etc etc etc
best thing to do is go visit as many manufacturers as you can, cars shows and ask questions of owners, I've had 3 different makes of cobra clone, all have strengths and weaknesses depending on what you want and how deep your pockets are!! Have fun looking, theyre big fun..
v8will said:
Um, where to start? I guess the main question is how close are they in accuracy to the original Ac cars and how do they drive? I might be able to convince the missus to allow me one if our planned house move goes well next year.
As already stated, if you're concerned with having an accurate / virtual facsimile of the original car, you'll need very deep pockets. Personally, I prefer to think of my car not as a Cobra 'replica', but as a car that is 'inspired' by the original 60s car... it looks the part and it goes like doodoo off a well-oiled shovel. It's by no means an accurate replica in absolute terms and I would never pretend that it was. However, it shares the same timeless styling and honours the original concept of shoving a big powerful V8 into a lightweight chassis. No driver aids to dull the experience.How do they drive? I've owned a good few quick cars in my time, but the driving experience in the Cob is totally different. The Cob is very 'raw'... loud, uncompromising and a total adrenaline rush. Driving the car is always an event... just the act of strapping yourself in gets the heart beating faster!
If you're new to kit cars though, it's worth pointing-out that owning one can be quite demanding of your time... there's always something that needs fettling, fixing or improving. This can either be frustrating or a positive part of the ownership experience, depending on your perspective!
Edited by ian_uk1975 on Saturday 24th September 01:07
Pilgrim have definitely improved in recent years and the chassis can now accommodate a Yank V8. However, they're still definitely seen as the budget option and, to my eyes, don't quite have the proportions correct. Not sure on the quality of the body, but the one I saw many years ago at Stoneleigh was quite poor. Dax or AK would be a better bet if you can stretch the budget a little. It's possible to build a Cob for £20k, but there would be obvious compromises... most of the savings would probably come down to the finishing (interior and paintwork). Paintwork, in particular, can range from £1k to upwards of £6k. If you're on a tight budget, gel-coat is always an option and can look very good... my own car was in gel for a few years before I got it painted. Engine choice would also affect the budget, of course... stock Rover V8 with just a freshen-up could cost <£1k, stock Chevy or Ford Small Block crate engine around £3k, or £5k-£10k+ for a hot modified motor built professionally.
Edited by ian_uk1975 on Wednesday 28th September 22:44
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