Thinking seriously about GD Cobra kit...

[chris watton]

Since coming back to the UK, I have been thinking about getting another TVR Tamora. However, I worry about buying another car where the manufacturer is no longer around, so I then thought about a Z4M - but it weighs a lot more, and has too much 'stuff' I don't like on it, electronically. I would hate for something to break and have to pay for a componant I never needed or wanted in the first place. I love driving simple lightweight sportcars, two seats, good handling, rear wheel drive and a nice big powerful engine - that's all I want.

With this in mind, I stumbled upon a kit car mad when in WHSmiths last saturday, and fell in love with the simple but stunning looks of the Cobra - a true TVR relacement if ever there was one!

I am drawn to this model:

http://www.gdcars.com/cars/gd-mk4/

But have never done or thought about doing anything like this before - I am not too mechanically minded at all, but would be willing to learn. Would I be biting off more than I can chew? It just looks fantastic, and I have no doubt it would sate my appetite for driving - but I worry about having buy 'donar cars' and having to rip them apart too - could I not just buy parts from breakers, or the company itself?

Cheers

[Dave Brookes]

Hi Chris.
GD Cars will be able to supply every last nut and bolt if required.
You just have the option of where to get the various parts from.
A well respected and well thought out kit. You won't be dissapointed.
Enjoy.

[ch427]

I think you would find it hard going if you do not have any experience of working on cars, there is a lot of help available though on the cobra club forums etc.
Back a few months ago a couple of very nice mk4 models were in the classifieds here for around £25k which is a steal, it may be worth waiting and see what crops up

[rdodger]

Go for it!

How hard can it be?

GD sell a very well resolved kit and as stated can supply every last nut and bolt. Anything you can't do you can always farm out.

Good luck!

[chris watton]

Cheers guys. I will do more research, but the GD MK4 does seem to be one of the best. I want an LS engine in it, too - electronic injection instead of carbs. I figure that I'm looking at around £20-25k over a two year build, with little depreciation when it is built (to standard, of course)

I have a huge double garage to work in, but I am guessing I may have to ask for help with the important bits. Never even thought about these before I picked up that mag!

[Turn7]

Cant see you going wrong with a GD Cobra kit TBH. Pretty much the best out out there without spending silly money.

[Tony427]

Oh Dear, you've been bitten by "the snake".

Drop on by at www.cobraclub.com.

More information on Cobra's than you will ever need.

Cheers,

Tony

[chris watton]

Tony427 said:

Oh Dear, you've been bitten by "the snake".

Drop on by at www.cobraclub.com.

More information on Cobra's than you will ever need.

Cheers,

Tony

Cheers,

I realy like the look of this particular car, unpretentious and made purely for fun, like TVR's I guess.

I note you're in Redditch! I was born there, and my family still live there so go up that way quite a bit (also know it like the back of my hand..)

I would like to buy the parts for the entire car from the same place, so I can be 'drip-fed' the parts I need as I progress.

How is the reg worked out, is this from the donar car, or, depending on what parts are used, are some registered as new?

[ch427]

i think you would need to stretch your budget to around £32k to get an ls engined mk4 on the road.

[chris watton]

ch427 said:

i think you would need to stretch your budget to around £32k to get an ls engined mk4 on the road.

I think you're right, if I chose one of the top engines and mate it with a nice new six-speed box, I am sure that's around £12k gobbled up alone!

[Tony427]

chris watton said:

How is the reg worked out, is this from the donar car, or, depending on what parts are used, are some registered as new?

The reg would be either a new reg if you used all new parts (you are allowed a professionally reconditoned engine with receipt proof however) and you would have to prove you have built the car yourself, or you would get a reg relating to the age of the donor vehicle which would provide the running gear, brakes, steering parts etc.

Each major part of the donor car carries a number of points and those points mean that once over the threshold you get an age related plate.

If you have no provenance for your parts, and they are from a number of different donors, the Q plate beckons.

hth.

Cheers,

Tony

[Happy Jim]

GD do 2 chassis options,

GD Jag - Jag component based and will use enough "bits" to qualify for an age related plate.
GD Euro - All new components, fully assembled for you - as long as you only use 1 reconditioned major componenent* then you will end up with a new reg (*Engine/Gearbox/Diff).


You can dictate how technical you want to go, you could recondition everything yourself (complex) or just buy the bits in ready done...it's pretty much grown up lego at that stage :-)

Cheers

Jim

[chris watton]

Thanks for the advice so far.

I would want it with as many new parts as possible - I thought about getting the GD Euro rolling chassis, and buying one of the new LS V8's with a six speed box. I am sure 400bhp would be more than enough, so wouldn't need the most expensive units.

I guess the next step is to contact GD, and tell them what I want and what they can do for me. Does the rolling chassis come complete with suspension, running gear and diff?

[Happy Jim]

400 is plenty, but the LS3 comes at either 430 or 485 iirc. The Euro chassis just needs wheels, engine & box, everything else is there for you. If there are bits of the build that you are not confident about, or just don't float your boat, then Andy will do those bits for you (at a cost naturally).
Regards
Jim

[chris watton]

Happy Jim said:

400 is plenty, but the LS3 comes at either 430 or 485 iirc. The Euro chassis just needs wheels, engine & box, everything else is there for you. If there are bits of the build that you are not confident about, or just don't float your boat, then Andy will do those bits for you (at a cost naturally).
Regards
Jim

Thank you for that.

I found this site:

http://www.britishamericanengines.co.uk/ls_engines...

Have to admit that the 480bhp LS3 is very tempting, 130bhp more than my Tamora, in a car with essentially the same weight!

The more I look into this, the more it makes sense to me. I wonder if you can specify power steering - this is the only driver's aid I want....

[ch427]

Most will tell you its not needed as the car is fine to drive on the move but if you want it then go for it.
I believe its possible using the electric power steering type pumps/racks from something like a corsa, its probably best to speak to gd about it.

[jason61c]

best choice of cobra kit by far.

[Tony427]

jason61c said:

best choice of cobra kit by far.

In what regard ?

Price, authenticity, race wins, ease of build, choice of power units, gel coat finish, fit of body panels, manufacturer support, exclusivity, engineering excellence etc etc.

Each Cobra owner will tell you their kit is the best, each owner made the purchase decision using their own set of criterea.

What are yours?

Cheers,

Tony

[Clivew]

My advice would be to go to the Kit Car Show at Stoneleigh on the May Bank Holiday where all the manufacturers will be. There you can see and speak to all the manufacturers and compare like for like. You will also probably see the largest number of Cobra kits in one place at anytime of the year as it is where the Cobra Club hold their AGM. This will give you the opportunity to speak to the owners/builders and get their side of the story.

[Skyedriver]

Not a Cobra owner but my two pennyworth anyway.
I owned a Chimaera for 3 years as a daily driver and it was a superb everyday car
A colleague at work had a Pilgrim I think Cobra Rover V8 and whilst he loved it, it wasn't a great drive over long distances as the hood/side screens flapped etc. He traded it for a 5 litre TVR Griffith, was amazed by apparent quality differences (and speed) but quickly learn that the build quality was no better than his old Cobra.
Now runs some sort of Audi deisel turbo thing, says its quick but looks like an audi.