what to look for on a AC cobra replica?
Discussion
well im toying with the idea of either a cerbera, XKR or AC Cobra, the cerbera is to expensive to run (i have come to the conclusion!) the XKR is auto (and i dont like auto's) so the ac cobra (that was on the back burner) is looking like a good contender!
so on that note... what should i look for? i want side pipes and a V8, my favorite looking kit is prob the DAX or DG.
any tips would be appriciated!
cheers
Brett
so on that note... what should i look for? i want side pipes and a V8, my favorite looking kit is prob the DAX or DG.
any tips would be appriciated!
cheers
Brett
"Which AC Cobra Replica?"
Where does one begin?!
Much depends on your budget.
Are you planning to build yourself, buy a pre-owned kit (OK, Second Hand!) or buy a new kit, and have it built for you? (There is a reputable builder of Cobra Kits in your preferred flavour on this forum!)
Everyone will give you advantages and disadvantages of any kit.
However, the best way to judge for yourself, is to see the cars in the flesh. Unfortunately the season for kit car shows is almost over (Exeter show is at the weekend, and worth a trip just to get a taster)
Undoubtably the best show to go to is at Stoneleigh in May next year, where you will be able to see Cobras manufactured by just about everyone.
Others will give their opinions, but personally if I was in the market for a fake snake (I don't have a Cobra replica, and have no huge desire to own one) I would go for a DAX, and sod the budget!
Where does one begin?!
Much depends on your budget.
Are you planning to build yourself, buy a pre-owned kit (OK, Second Hand!) or buy a new kit, and have it built for you? (There is a reputable builder of Cobra Kits in your preferred flavour on this forum!)
Everyone will give you advantages and disadvantages of any kit.
However, the best way to judge for yourself, is to see the cars in the flesh. Unfortunately the season for kit car shows is almost over (Exeter show is at the weekend, and worth a trip just to get a taster)
Undoubtably the best show to go to is at Stoneleigh in May next year, where you will be able to see Cobras manufactured by just about everyone.
Others will give their opinions, but personally if I was in the market for a fake snake (I don't have a Cobra replica, and have no huge desire to own one) I would go for a DAX, and sod the budget!
i was hopeing to get a 2nd hand one that's in need of some TLC but nothing major, im a technician in the RAF so can have a go at most things.... are there any bad places for rust (obviously the body should be ok!) and any areas that need a good look to see if the kit has been fully built to a good standard?
Hi Brett.
The chassis are pretty much sound, powder coating is liable to flake but a twice yearly crawl underneath with a touch up can of hammerite and a sheet of 80 grit will take care of that.
If the car you look at is tidy and behaves well when driven then that is about as much as you need to worry about.
Check that the V5 states that it is either a Dax,GD,AK etc. if it still says Jaguar or Sierra then the car is not correctly registered and will need to go through the SVA test in order to get it correctly registered, This can be a nightmare on a car that was not built with the SVA test in mind. With all the MOT testing stations now going online the future chances of being able to blag the car through on a Jag log book are all but over.
These sort of cars need regular TLC but this is not usually a problem as the mechanicals are basic as are the electronics.
Keep an eye on the temp gauge if you are out testing one, many people fit radiators that are not always up to the job. See if tha car will idle merrily and that the cooling tank kicks in and (Just as importantly) out.
If you look at a car with a 4 speed gearbox get it on a good dual carriageway or M way and see where the revs are at cruising speed as 4 speeds are notoriously under geared and an American V8 will comfortable pull at 70+mph at as little as 2000-2500rpm and if the car is doing 3000rpm at 70 MPH something needs doing about it as these engines start to run out of steam just above 5000, unlike most production cars that last until 6500rpm+. Either gearbox change (Upto £2K) or diff change (Upto £1000) is expensive and that's is without the labour and neither job is a walk in the park.
Happy hunting.
The chassis are pretty much sound, powder coating is liable to flake but a twice yearly crawl underneath with a touch up can of hammerite and a sheet of 80 grit will take care of that.
If the car you look at is tidy and behaves well when driven then that is about as much as you need to worry about.
Check that the V5 states that it is either a Dax,GD,AK etc. if it still says Jaguar or Sierra then the car is not correctly registered and will need to go through the SVA test in order to get it correctly registered, This can be a nightmare on a car that was not built with the SVA test in mind. With all the MOT testing stations now going online the future chances of being able to blag the car through on a Jag log book are all but over.
These sort of cars need regular TLC but this is not usually a problem as the mechanicals are basic as are the electronics.
Keep an eye on the temp gauge if you are out testing one, many people fit radiators that are not always up to the job. See if tha car will idle merrily and that the cooling tank kicks in and (Just as importantly) out.
If you look at a car with a 4 speed gearbox get it on a good dual carriageway or M way and see where the revs are at cruising speed as 4 speeds are notoriously under geared and an American V8 will comfortable pull at 70+mph at as little as 2000-2500rpm and if the car is doing 3000rpm at 70 MPH something needs doing about it as these engines start to run out of steam just above 5000, unlike most production cars that last until 6500rpm+. Either gearbox change (Upto £2K) or diff change (Upto £1000) is expensive and that's is without the labour and neither job is a walk in the park.
Happy hunting.
Edited by Dave Dax Builder on Tuesday 14th November 17:52
Brett - the world is your oyster! the market's on it's arse at the moment and Dax are probably the most prolific on the secondhand market (Dave's contributed over a 100 of them for god's sake!)
4 speeds are great and virtually indestructable - as Dave says, just be wary of one mated to a 3.54 diff unless your more into street fighting and not long journeys. A powerlok diff will set you back £150-£200 from a jag dismantlers if you want to go long.
There's always something to do on a cobra - plenty of tinkering and polishing time ahead!
Go to cobraclub.com, find out where the local area meets are, go along and say hello - I'm sure you'll have offers to come along and look with you.
And start getting into practice now for ownership by repeating the following answers to the top 3 petrol forecourt remarks:
1. "Thank you very much!"
2. "No, it's a replica"
and 3. "Yes, very!!"
Dave - did you mean 'fan' not 'tank'?
4 speeds are great and virtually indestructable - as Dave says, just be wary of one mated to a 3.54 diff unless your more into street fighting and not long journeys. A powerlok diff will set you back £150-£200 from a jag dismantlers if you want to go long.
There's always something to do on a cobra - plenty of tinkering and polishing time ahead!
Go to cobraclub.com, find out where the local area meets are, go along and say hello - I'm sure you'll have offers to come along and look with you.
And start getting into practice now for ownership by repeating the following answers to the top 3 petrol forecourt remarks:
1. "Thank you very much!"
2. "No, it's a replica"
and 3. "Yes, very!!"
Dave - did you mean 'fan' not 'tank'?
Edited by smash on Wednesday 15th November 10:37
smash said:
There's always something to do on a cobra - plenty of tinkering and polishing time ahead!
Yes. But it's fun if you know how to tinker successfully!
smash said:
And start getting into practice now for ownership by repeating the following answers to the top 3 petrol forecourt remarks:
1. "Thank you very much!"
2. "No, it's a replica"
and 3. "Yes, very!!"
1. "Thank you very much!"
2. "No, it's a replica"
and 3. "Yes, very!!"
Spot on Smash! Exactly right!
Highly recommended owning a Cobra replica - I've just bought one! And it's beautiful.
Dave, On your site the images have all dissapeared:
www.v8cobra.com/htm/build.htm
www.v8cobra.com/htm/..%5Cimages%5Cf01.jpg
should be:
www.v8cobra.com/images/f01.jpg
or
../images/f01.jpg
BTW: I really like the hard top look!
www.v8cobra.com/htm/build.htm
www.v8cobra.com/htm/..%5Cimages%5Cf01.jpg
should be:
www.v8cobra.com/images/f01.jpg
or
../images/f01.jpg
BTW: I really like the hard top look!
Edited by polus on Thursday 16th November 17:58
polus said:
Dave, On your site the images have all dissapeared:
www.v8cobra.com/htm/build.htm
www.v8cobra.com/htm/..%5Cimages%5Cf01.jpg
should be:
www.v8cobra.com/images/f01.jpg
or
../images/f01.jpg
BTW: I really like the hard top look!
www.v8cobra.com/htm/build.htm
www.v8cobra.com/htm/..%5Cimages%5Cf01.jpg
should be:
www.v8cobra.com/images/f01.jpg
or
../images/f01.jpg
BTW: I really like the hard top look!
Edited by polus on Thursday 16th November 17:58
All working fine on my PC. I'm no computer boffin, so I have my site taken care of by someone else. The site is currently being updated and when done there should be lots more images in the gallery.
Thanks for the comment on the Hard Top.
cheers for all the advice, seen a cobra 2day and it looked & sounded awsome, deffinatly what i want! and i really want a car i can tinker with & spend ages polishing and styling to my own taste (dont ask me why, i just do!) im thinking of getting lpg conversion as well for long journeys, with normal petrol for when i want some fun!
on the note of hard-tops, can you get them for all replicas?
on the note of hard-tops, can you get them for all replicas?
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