Dax Cobra - please help.

[markez79]

Hi,

I'm a complete newbie here so please bear with me !! I'm not new to the fast car market as i recently sold my pride an joy, a caterham R500, that was quick !!

I'm now thinking very seriously about getting a replica cobra.

Can you guys please advise me on the following:

1. what to look out for when buying a second hand replica

2. what are they like, reliability wise? Do they have dodgy electrics etc?

3. I appreciate the engine 'should' be a big V8, but which sort? I have seen various adverts for big 6 ltr Ford V8's, but what is the difference between a Chevy and a cleveland for example?

4. What are they like to drive? I appreciate they are blo*dy fast (!!) but what are they like going round corners? do they handle well??

Sorry for all the questions but i'm heading down to Soveriegn Cars in Hampshire on saturday and want to have a rough idea what is going on!

Thanks

Mark

[daxtojeiro]

markez79 said:

Hi, I'm a complete newbie here so please bear with me !! I'm not new to the fast car market as i recently sold my pride an joy, a caterham R500, that was quick !! I'm now thinking very seriously about getting a replica cobra. Can you guys please advise me on the following: 1. what to look out for when buying a second hand replica 2. what are they like, reliability wise? Do they have dodgy electrics etc? 3. I appreciate the engine 'should' be a big V8, but which sort? I have seen various adverts for big 6 ltr Ford V8's, but what is the difference between a Chevy and a cleveland for example? 4. What are they like to drive? I appreciate they are blo*dy fast (!!) but what are they like going round corners? do they handle well?? Sorry for all the questions but i'm heading down to Soveriegn Cars in Hampshire on saturday and want to have a rough idea what is going on! Thanks Mark

Hi Mark,
I built my tojeiro, there is sooo many places in a build that people can skimp on without ever beeing noticed I decided that it wasnt worth the risk to buy someone elses attempt. Haing said that there are 100's of good ones out there, but for every good one theres a load of kack ones. Id try to find a DB made one, or get in touch with the previous owner and see what trouble they had with it.
Electrics should be any trouble, the odd bad joint would be all that youd have as theres very little wiring in them.
As for engines, well a 3.5 RV8 isnt quick, go for a 4.6 RV8 at least or a chevy 5.7, Thats where they start to become interesting to drive. I prefer the RV8 as its lighter, but its up to you on that one.
Handling can be sorted out, they need to be setup, none of them come out of the box correct. I drove mine for 3 years without it setup, I couldnt get it to behave the same into a corner as out of it, then I set it up properly and its now pretty well balanced and I have greater confidence in it. I also fitted PAS, I know Im a girl, but that was the best thing Ive ever done to make it go faster round corners, roundabouts, etc, etc. I cant recommend that enough. So if you want it to handle you will have to get the geometry setup, then they are very good, sticky tyres can help too. They are dreadfull things in the wet though, so its a dry day thrash car only.

[grahambell]

Hi Mark,

With so many different makes of Cobra replica being built to differing standards by so many different people it's impossible to give general answers to your questions.

What to look for is basically the same as you'd look for when buying any second hand car - overall condition, how does it drive, any obvious mechanical faults?

If handling is of major importance to you then aim for one made by Gardner Douglas or Magnum as they're more high performance chassis in a Cobra body than Cobra body over some sort of chassis.

[v8bjc]

Hi Mark,
I was like you 3 years ago. Had sold my TVR but wanted to get a good fun weekend car that was good to trash about & also nice to take the missus in for a more leasurely drive.

I did not know what I was looking for & very worried about buying an old reck so I went along to some Cobra events and talked to lots of people. I too visited Sovereign & also Hallmark cars in chingford. Hall amrk were superb. They did not have anything for me so did not try and sell me what they did have. They gave me so much info on what to look for & I then started my search. I decided I wanted an almost new car that had been professionally built and DB Replicas (Dave Brookes) seemed like the place to go. I ended up buying a car that was DB built (only months old) 200 miles on the clock fom Hallmark 2 months later & I have to say that it the best purchase decision that I have ever made.

The car is a Dax with a Chevy 6.3l V8 Stroker. It goes like stink and handles ok for what I want it for. I have had it on a track but that is not its primary purpose. I have had a few small issues to fix but nothing that has involved the break down services. To be honest - you expect these things with a car of this type.

Its easy confused in the Cobra market as most cars look great but are all different. So which is best?


My advice is to decide what you want from the car, then your budget. GD is probably better for track use but lacks the shiny bits that you get with a DAX or an AK. Which engine, Ford or Chevy - the debate rages on. ford is what they had orinally but Chevy seem to have far more aftermarket parts at keen prices. The club has some very helpfull people always willing to help out. Try and get to an event and talk to as many people as possible.

The club website is www.cobraclub.com. Look int he forums there as there is a huge stock of info about anything Cobra.

Happy hunting.
Brian

[Paul Drawmer]

In my opinion....

Any Cobra will handle like a boat compared with a Caterham R500.

It may well be what you are looking for in terms of road presence, noise, ride etc. BUT, if you want to do track days, or just blat round the twisties - then a heavy car with high C of G will not be the same as a Caterham.