GD 427 Cobra
Author
Discussion

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Monday 19th June 2006
quotequote all
First time posting on this forum and was hoping you may be able to help. I am looking at purchasing a GD 427 which was built about 2-3 years ago (partially by me) using Jaguar parts and a ford V8, the current owner has offered me the car which I do want to buy but I am unsure as to what it is worth.

The car is OK mechanically wise but the details have not really been finished such as the carpet, the shiney bits in the engine bay etc etc so will need some time and money spent on it.

Taking those things into account what would a fair price be, as all the ones I have seen advertised for sale vary in price

Edited by spdpug98 on Monday 19th June 14:58

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
Can anyone help there must be someone on PH, as I don't want to ask on the Cobra website as he uses it

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
spdpug98 said:
Can anyone help there must be someone on PH, as I don't want to ask on the Cobra website as he uses it


Bump (final one)

Sam_68

9,939 posts

269 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
The reason you aren't getting any replies is probably because it falls into the 'how long is a piece of string' category.

From your description of the car, all I can reasonably say is 'somewhere between £5K and £20K'. You would need a close examination of the car, specification and build receipts by someone familiar with the Cobra market to narrow it down beyond that!

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
Sam_68 said:
The reason you aren't getting any replies is probably because it falls into the 'how long is a piece of string' category.

From your description of the car, all I can reasonably say is 'somewhere between £5K and £20K'. You would need a close examination of the car, specification and build receipts by someone familiar with the Cobra market to narrow it down beyond that!


Cheers thats what I thought, thanks anyway

Davi

17,153 posts

244 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
As above, it's a very difficult question to answer, and will depend greatly on the quality of the whole build. Just having a few trimmings missing is one thing, but a kit put together with un-refurbished parts bolted on complete with grime, and one built using all new parts and meticulous accuracy is HUGE. You can get official valuations on kits, that might be a way to go if its a good friend you built it with, save any arguments later. I've seen very expensive kits that have been badly done go for less than 1/2 the cost of the kit alone, but then I've also seen them go for stupidly high money.

As it's unfinished, it's going to be on the low side - detail is everything in a good kit build.

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
Davi said:
As above, it's a very difficult question to answer, and will depend greatly on the quality of the whole build. Just having a few trimmings missing is one thing, but a kit put together with un-refurbished parts bolted on complete with grime, and one built using all new parts and meticulous accuracy is HUGE. You can get official valuations on kits, that might be a way to go if its a good friend you built it with, save any arguments later. I've seen very expensive kits that have been badly done go for less than 1/2 the cost of the kit alone, but then I've also seen them go for stupidly high money.

As it's unfinished, it's going to be on the low side - detail is everything in a good kit build.


All the bits we used where fully refurbished then either painted or powder coated on the driveline side, everthing else was new the engine is a ford V8 which was rebuilt approx 10,000miles before we put it in. I am of the opinion that it is well put together with quality parts it just lacks the detail and the finishing touches, I will just have to sit down with him and agree a figure.

Thanks for all your help

Edited by spdpug98 on Tuesday 20th June 20:49

pearl nicholas

11,382 posts

257 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
they are the top end of the market and you dont see them for sale as much as the other marques for a reason,the cheapest finished car i have seen is about £18000,it all depends on the spec,is it sva`d?
how much would you estimate has been spent on it?

Edited by pearl nicholas on Tuesday 20th June 20:51

Davi

17,153 posts

244 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
spdpug98 said:
Davi said:
As above, it's a very difficult question to answer, and will depend greatly on the quality of the whole build. Just having a few trimmings missing is one thing, but a kit put together with un-refurbished parts bolted on complete with grime, and one built using all new parts and meticulous accuracy is HUGE. You can get official valuations on kits, that might be a way to go if its a good friend you built it with, save any arguments later. I've seen very expensive kits that have been badly done go for less than 1/2 the cost of the kit alone, but then I've also seen them go for stupidly high money.

As it's unfinished, it's going to be on the low side - detail is everything in a good kit build.


All the bits we used where fully refurbished then either painted or powder coated on the driveline side, everthing else was new the engine is a ford V8 which was rebuilt approx 10,000miles before we put it in. I am of the opinion that it is well put together with quality parts it just lacks the detail and the finishing touches, I will just have to sit down with him and agree a figure.

Thanks for all your help

Edited by spdpug98 on Tuesday 20th June 20:49


well that's more promising sounding so far, so it's less likely to be one where its worth less than the kit! As you say, it's going to be a case of sitting down with the friend and getting real. I guess at the end of the day it's worth what you are happy to pay for it knowing what work is left to turn it into a show-stopper. I would suggest the next step for you would be to look for "average" finish ones for sale - i.e. that have had all the trimmings and detail done, but not necessarily to top spec (as these can frankly be advertised at rediculous money) and then work it back a few steps from there - not forgetting to add a bit for your "labour" to get it to similar standards.

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th June 2006
quotequote all
pearl nicholas said:
they are the top end of the market and you dont see them for sale as much as the other marques for a reason,the cheapest finished car i have seen is about £18000,it all depends on the spec,is it sva`d?
how much would you estimate has been spent on it?

Edited by pearl nicholas on Tuesday 20th June 20:51


Yes all SVA'd that was done a couple of years ago when we finished the car, and passed first time. I know it needs a bit of work but it is only the finish that needs sorting out. He has offered it to me for less than you have said, so I would guess it is not a bad price.

We will see....

meeja

8,290 posts

272 months

Wednesday 21st June 2006
quotequote all
spdpug98 said:
First time posting on this forum and was hoping you may be able to help. I am looking at purchasing a GD 427 which was built about 2-3 years ago (partially by me) using Jaguar parts and a ford V8, the current owner has offered me the car which I do want to buy but I am unsure as to what it is worth.

The car is OK mechanically wise but the details have not really been finished such as the carpet, the shiney bits in the engine bay etc etc so will need some time and money spent on it.

Taking those things into account what would a fair price be, as all the ones I have seen advertised for sale vary in price

Edited by spdpug98 on Monday 19th June 14:58


May be worth dropping a line to Andy Burrows at Gardner Douglas?

Have never had any dealings with him personally, but from what I have read and heard, he is an extremely helpful chap.

westyman

100 posts

267 months

Wednesday 21st June 2006
quotequote all
This is a difficult one to answer, (as you have found) the bottom line is that an unfinished kit is worth somewhere between what the seller wants for it and what the buyer is willing to pay. There is no definitive value.

Tony427

2,873 posts

257 months

Wednesday 21st June 2006
quotequote all
spdpug98 said:
Can anyone help there must be someone on PH, as I don't want to ask on the Cobra website as he uses it


Theres lots of guys on the Cobra website that also drop in here as well....

A fair suggestion would be to pay him the cost of the components used in the build, for which he should have all the receipts.

This way you get a Cobra at a knock down price and you don't rip your mate off and make him out of pocket......

The GD is at the top end of the market and a base model will cost something in the region of £25 to £30k to build in component costs alone.

Cheers,

Tony

spdpug98

Original Poster:

1,551 posts

246 months

Wednesday 21st June 2006
quotequote all
Tony427 said:
spdpug98 said:
Can anyone help there must be someone on PH, as I don't want to ask on the Cobra website as he uses it


Theres lots of guys on the Cobra website that also drop in here as well....

A fair suggestion would be to pay him the cost of the components used in the build, for which he should have all the receipts.

This way you get a Cobra at a knock down price and you don't rip your mate off and make him out of pocket......

The GD is at the top end of the market and a base model will cost something in the region of £25 to £30k to build in component costs alone.

Cheers,

Tony



Thanks

Dave Dax builder

662 posts

283 months

Thursday 22nd June 2006
quotequote all
pearl nicholas said:
they are the top end of the market and you dont see them for sale as much as the other marques for a reason,
Edited by pearl nicholas on Tuesday 20th June 20:51




......They haven't made as many as the other marques.
Currently there are more GD's for sale on the Cobraclub site than any other marque.
To be fair to the GD it has a different look than most of the others and this is most probably the reason it does not sell in the same volumes. Bl00dy good car though.

Roman

2,033 posts

243 months

Thursday 22nd June 2006
quotequote all
Out of interest, who does make the most dimensionally accurate 427 bodies?

I had assumed that the GD along with the AK & Dax were all pretty accurate

madazrx7

5,871 posts

241 months

Thursday 22nd June 2006
quotequote all
Roman said:
Out of interest, who does make the most dimensionally accurate 427 bodies?

I had assumed that the GD along with the AK & Dax were all pretty accurate


That would surely have to be the aluminium Hawk/Kirkham, wouldn't it?

power_driver

1 posts

238 months

Tuesday 27th June 2006
quotequote all
GD now offer their Mk4 for the authentic followers, and from what I have seen in the market they don't get much closer than that - I saw a couple at the GD track day last saturday and they looked superb, and the best bit was I then went for a few laps by the side of Andy Burrows in their company demonstrator. I can tell you I have never been in a car that felt so well sorted. I would never have thought a Cob could handle so well, absolutely blew me away.