Thread: Kit car rant--Cobra vs. 'glas streetrod

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Eh, when all else fails, just show them your license plate.

Don

I do ask guys with cobras if they are original, but that is just because of value, I know the orig. are worth more, or at least when I was really into cobras they were. the only thing that bugs me about cobras is that guys badge them 427 even if they are running a 428, 429 or 351. that I don't like, let the badge be the truth on any car.

My dream is the 289 version, the slender fender one not the wider fenders that came out later. the 427 had more top end but from what I read the 289 was more nimble.

Red

I've built a couple of the "alleged" kit car Cobra's. I guess you could pull all the pieces out of the box and bolt it together but I just don' know of a lot of Hot Rodders that can leave the pieces alone!!!! I know I can't..... A nip here, a tuck there, maybe changing a few brackets, different look on the interior, just got to be tweaking all those components. As far as classifying it as a kit, the clowns that do it for the most part probably couldn't even change a headlight by themselves, let alone assemble anything, be it as manufactured by a company or fabricated piece by piece.....

The kit car has made it possible for a lot of folks who don't have a lot of time or the tools and equipment to fab all their own pieces to get involved in Hot Rodding. No two of them ever seem to come out the same anyway. IMO, that's what it's all about, getting more people involved... As for the no-minds who think it's a bolt together deal, well sometimes ignorance is bliss....

Shouldnt get involved,BUT Ilike 'em all,glass,steel.cloned or real. IF i ever hit the big one, I WILL order a custom frame and a glass body and massage it all to a respectable level and drive the crap out of it. You can call it whatever you want, dont bother me.

it's always been my opinion that when you start paying the bills on it i'll start listening to your opinion . there is only one thing important when it comes to cars............... the smile in the windshield.

Dago Red,

Are you aware that Shelby put the wrong badges on a whole series of the CSX 3XXX Cobras? The first 60 were Comp cars with 427s and single four barrel carbs. The next in the series had 428s badged as 427s. At the end of the 3XXX run he went back to the dual four 427 side oilers. My self I tried for years to buy one of the 289s but the people that had them wouldn't part with them as they handled so much better than those heavy big blocks did. When I was working they used to send me all over and I spent quite a bit of time around the Shelby complex at LAX and other places looking for a 289. One car lot down there had 3 of the 427 bodied cars for sale, all with less than 3,000 miles on them. I used to look at them and could have bought all three back then for $15K, but no, I had to have a 289 which I could never find. Now any one of those cars would be worth a fortune, especially the Comp one.
But like you I believe in the badges being correct and that is why when I built mine I had 351 Windsor badges on it. Funny thing happened at a car show I took it to. A friend of mine had one that he showed and I drove mine on the track and it was not a show car, but I drove up to the show with him. We Parked next to each other and he also had a 351, but had 427 badges. Some guy made about 6 trips between the cars and finally asked Joe why his 427 looked exactly like my 351. The next week he had 351 badges on it.

Ron

My Cobra--Show award winner "kit car"lol

This is kinda like the whole "Did you build it or by it" subject. I once asked a guy at a show if he built the car that I was admiring and his reply was "Yep, I signed every check". I laughed and told him he did good.

WOW, this got a lot of posts! I am a member of NSRA. 40,000+. As far as I know, the only requirement is under 1949! I am car crazy and love all cars.
I am a Chevy guy with a Ford and once toyed with building Cobra. There is room in this hobby for everyone : From people who scratch build every piece all the way up to people who buy a can't change there own oil. I have been to very NSRA Natioans since the 80's. Every one has their own opinions. Except for saftey, shouldn't we stop short of saying someone else's efforts do not fit in with ours?

My sentiments exactly!

Originally Posted by G.R.

My sentiments exactly!

Let's face it, you Cobra was a truly beautiful FPSB


Bill S.

I am just wondering what the Deuce folks think about the Speedway '32 "Kit"? One psychological trap is to think the "One Piece at a Time" approach will be cheaper than putting out a larger price for a more complete kit. Several threads on this forum started out to build cars for $3000 or less and found it cost more! The parts available for Deuce roadsters are plentiful but allow for more personal variation while the psychological sucker-bait with the Cobra is that it looks easier to build a more complete kit but actually the details are about the same. IMHO the Speedway '32 kit comes the closest to a Cobra kit but there is still a lot of finishing to do. Then there are those closed Ferrari-like kits, but I have not seen any on this Forum.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by G.R.

My sentiments exactly!

G.R., that was one beautiful car! I'd have been proud to be parked near you!

What's FPSB ???

Originally Posted by 34_40

What's FPSB ???

It's a joke between G.R. and myself


Bill S.

Originally Posted by mrmustang

It's a joke between G.R. and myself


Bill S.

Oh, I see.