Thinking about a cobra replica
Discussion
Hi All,
Thinking about a cobra replica - either dad building one for me (don't worry I'm 29 and can afford it now!) or buying a built one. Can you point me in the direction of some things to search on, good articles to get me started - even rough guidelines of cost would be great. Any meets coming up in the Hampshire/surrey/berks area would be great as well.
BTW, blue with white stripes and stupidly big engine are all critical as is a high level of finish.
Thanks
Thinking about a cobra replica - either dad building one for me (don't worry I'm 29 and can afford it now!) or buying a built one. Can you point me in the direction of some things to search on, good articles to get me started - even rough guidelines of cost would be great. Any meets coming up in the Hampshire/surrey/berks area would be great as well.
BTW, blue with white stripes and stupidly big engine are all critical as is a high level of finish.
Thanks
Suggest you buy this month's copies of "Kit car" and "Which Kit Car", which will contain all the info you will need.....
To build anything half decent you will need to be looking at LEAST 15/25k, do not consider anything that is not fitted with a V8 engine,
, budget end try Pilgrim, mid price AK, Crendon, Dax etc, and top end Hawk and Gardner Douglas......
To build anything half decent you will need to be looking at LEAST 15/25k, do not consider anything that is not fitted with a V8 engine,
, budget end try Pilgrim, mid price AK, Crendon, Dax etc, and top end Hawk and Gardner Douglas......Wacky Racer said:
Suggest you buy this month's copies of "Kit car" and "Which Kit Car", which will contain all the info you will need.....
To build anything half decent you will need to be looking at LEAST 15/25k, do not consider anything that is not fitted with a V8 engine,
Never bought a kit car, but my understanding having looked at 1 or 2 and walked away (run) is that they don't come with a manual and sometimes good engineering practise is avoided like its going out of fashion. Beware buying a car that you end up rebuilding anyway , but beware taking on a project you never finish.
Agree with the V8 bit, and I believe NEW engines are available in the US off the shelf.
Double your budget and double your time estimate.
the problem with new engines is that you have to comply with emissions regs and cats have to be fitted.
Ergo with old blocks you can keep the rumble of the v8
Yes it is a minefield out there when looking for used ones. signs like full build pictures and well documented history/receipt-trail as well as getting somebody to inspect the car are required to ensure a well buildt car.
I should know, as I have just bought one.. took me 2 months to find one with my preffered spec/within my budget/good build quality..
Ergo with old blocks you can keep the rumble of the v8
Yes it is a minefield out there when looking for used ones. signs like full build pictures and well documented history/receipt-trail as well as getting somebody to inspect the car are required to ensure a well buildt car.
I should know, as I have just bought one.. took me 2 months to find one with my preffered spec/within my budget/good build quality..
Jacko's reply may not be the most helpful 
First, do your research. Go to the shows. THe next biggie is at Donnington in September.
Read the build diaries on the net.
Get the brouchures and speak to the manufacturers. Take the time to go and speak to the owners clubs. They are normally approachable and will talk at lenght about their cars.
Most manufacturers do have a manual but quality varies
I am currently building a V8 Dax Rush and am using the Dax manual, the Owners Clubs hints and tips, a printed copy of Tim Hoverd's [url]websitewww.hoverd.org/Tim/Dax/index.html[/url] and the haynes manuals. Have not had any major problems yet.
Budget. For a good build, you are looking at 15 to 25 grand. I am budgeting on 15 grand for a V8 Rush.
Buying a second hand one is another route. Things to be aware of are that these are mainly amateur built and maintained cars. Tryst the term engineer built as much as one lady owner. Look for lots of receipts or documented evidence of the build/maintenance.
The likes of Hallmark or Sovereign Cars who are specialist traders who have an after sales policy, may give you more piece of mind. Make sure the v5 says it is a Dax Tojero or a Pilgrim Sumo and not a Cobra ot a Jaguar XJ6. If it does walk as it is incorrectly registered and may have to go through an SVA
IMHO they are relatively simple, mechanically, using mainly Jag rear ends or in some cases Sierra/Ford, connected to a big v8. If the engine is pre 92(may be '94 can't remember off top of my head) it wont need a cat.
Hope that helps. Kit cars are not as bad as they used to be mainly due to SVA and the rise in track day popularity. Be very realistic with your budget and you should be ok.
First, do your research. Go to the shows. THe next biggie is at Donnington in September.
Read the build diaries on the net.
Get the brouchures and speak to the manufacturers. Take the time to go and speak to the owners clubs. They are normally approachable and will talk at lenght about their cars.
Most manufacturers do have a manual but quality varies
I am currently building a V8 Dax Rush and am using the Dax manual, the Owners Clubs hints and tips, a printed copy of Tim Hoverd's [url]websitewww.hoverd.org/Tim/Dax/index.html[/url] and the haynes manuals. Have not had any major problems yet.
Budget. For a good build, you are looking at 15 to 25 grand. I am budgeting on 15 grand for a V8 Rush.
Buying a second hand one is another route. Things to be aware of are that these are mainly amateur built and maintained cars. Tryst the term engineer built as much as one lady owner. Look for lots of receipts or documented evidence of the build/maintenance.
The likes of Hallmark or Sovereign Cars who are specialist traders who have an after sales policy, may give you more piece of mind. Make sure the v5 says it is a Dax Tojero or a Pilgrim Sumo and not a Cobra ot a Jaguar XJ6. If it does walk as it is incorrectly registered and may have to go through an SVA
IMHO they are relatively simple, mechanically, using mainly Jag rear ends or in some cases Sierra/Ford, connected to a big v8. If the engine is pre 92(may be '94 can't remember off top of my head) it wont need a cat.
Hope that helps. Kit cars are not as bad as they used to be mainly due to SVA and the rise in track day popularity. Be very realistic with your budget and you should be ok.
Liszt said:
Jacko's reply may not be the most helpful
First, do your research.
Have to agree with Both of those comments !!!!
I went to look at a part finshed lo cost kit that a bloke at work and his dad had almost finished. If was plain that they had done little research. I just knew that I'd be throwing the escort 1300 Ohv engine in the bin along with most of the suspension and the wiring was a bodged abortion.
I also went to look at an early GTM which was basically a restroration project, but had an MOT (How do they do that)
Still neither were a Cobra Replica and neither was in the same budget. (It was a few years ago)
David A said:
Hi All,
Thinking about a cobra replica - either dad building one for me (don't worry I'm 29 and can afford it now!)
The thought of my dad doing ANYTHING like this fills me with fear!
And he used to be "very useful" in the garage..... serviced all of his own cars, rebuilt an RV8 engine from a Triumph Stag that my elder brother bought to "renovate"
Even did his own minor body repairs, that looked very professional.
Now he has hit 68, the most he does in the garage is clean his bike!
David A said:
....or buying a built one. Can you point me in the direction of some things to search on, good articles to get me started
As others have suggested, the cobra club will be an excellent resource for you... several of the regular PH'ers on this forum are also regulars on the Cobra Club forums.
Get yourself to the shows.... OK, you've missed Stoneleigh this year, but Donington is the next "biggie", and would be worth a visit.
David A said:
even rough guidelines of cost would be great.
That's the easy bit. Take your original budget, add about £10k, then multiply the result by the first number greater than 3 that pops into your head
David A said:
BTW, blue with white stripes and stupidly big engine are all critical as is a high level of finish.
Absolutely.
It would be rude not to.....
>> Edited by meeja on Tuesday 27th July 10:40
Don't know if this is any use for an engine.
http://forum.madabout-kitcars.com/viewtopic.php?t=233
The guy seems to know what he's talking about and has a few others on offer too.
And a proper Cobra has an Americam V8
http://forum.madabout-kitcars.com/viewtopic.php?t=233
The guy seems to know what he's talking about and has a few others on offer too.
And a proper Cobra has an Americam V8
Ex-Biker said:
And a proper Cobra has an Americam V8
Why? So it won't handle???
Seriously, not sure why everyone seems to put Chevy engines in Cobra reps, when the 4.6 rover block means you can have it all - decent power, or more importantly torque, and light weight for decent handling, all at a reasonable price.
That's my winter project - swap my 3.5L bottom end for 4.6L or bigger!
Chris
chris_n said:
And a proper Cobra has an Americam V8
Why? So it won't handle???
Seriously, not sure why everyone seems to put Chevy engines in Cobra reps, when the 4.6 rover block means you can have it all - decent power, or more importantly torque, and light weight for decent handling, all at a reasonable price.
That's my winter project - swap my 3.5L bottom end for 4.6L or bigger!
Chris
Depends on the size of the yank V8.. no need to have a 460 or 428 big block if a 302 will do (ie mine with edelbrock performerRPM kit with 360bhp and lotsa torque) Im sorry it HAS to be Yank v8 power.. not V12, V6 or rover V8 (yea,yea I know.. the Rover was buildt as a Buick engine..pedantics)
chris_n said:
Ex-Biker said:
And a proper Cobra has an Americam V8
Why? So it won't handle???
Seriously, not sure why everyone seems to put Chevy engines in Cobra reps, when the 4.6 rover block means you can have it all - decent power, or more importantly torque, and light weight for decent handling, all at a reasonable price.
That's my winter project - swap my 3.5L bottom end for 4.6L or bigger!
Chris
Cos Chevy/Ford engines are 100% more reliable and parts are a tenth of the price! Example:- 350 Chevy full engine rebuild kit (Standard 300bhp)$160 + import duty,vat & carriage say £150 allup! Includes new, pistons, rings, main, end & cam bearings, camshaft, followers, timing gear,oil pump, core plugs, and all gaskets... You can pay that much for the gaskets alone on a rover lump!!
>> Edited by Purple AK on Tuesday 27th July 22:53
FlossyThePig said:
Thinking about a cobra replica - either dad building one for me (don't worry I'm 29 and can afford it now!) or buying a built one
You're a big boy now, let your Dad build one for himself. Unless you plan to pay him.
Hugh
Restoring/building cars is his hobby and of course I would pay him for parts and any new tools (not for labour apart from a couple of beers!)
Dave
Check out DB Replicas website www.V8cobra.com They will build you a top quality Cobra at a very reasonable price,i know cos i've got one.The only downside is that if you ordered now i think you'd probably have to wait until later next year for delivery as they have quite a few orders already.
Also as someone said before www.cobraclub.com is very good indeed.
Nogbad the bad
Also as someone said before www.cobraclub.com is very good indeed.
Nogbad the bad
Check out DB Replicas website www.V8cobra.com They will build you a top quality Cobra at a very reasonable price,i know cos i've got one.The only downside is that if you ordered now i think you'd probably have to wait until later next year for delivery as they have quite a few orders already.
Also as someone said before www.cobraclub.com is very good indeed.
Nogbad the bad
Also as someone said before www.cobraclub.com is very good indeed.
Nogbad the bad
nogbad the bad said:
Check out DB Replicas website www.V8cobra.com They will build you a top quality Cobra at a very reasonable price,i know cos i've got one.The only downside is that if you ordered now i think you'd probably have to wait until later next year for delivery as they have quite a few orders already.
Also as someone said before www.cobraclub.com is very good indeed.
Nogbad the bad
DB Replicas is Dave Brookes.... who IIRC is a PH'er, so will probably pop along here at any moment.....
Also, he usually has a stand at many of the bigger Kit Car shows, so you could see for yourself DB's build quality.
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