Reaching out to the tribe concerning Cobras

[Winchester67]

Lifelong car guy, with three dream cars...a 1962 Corvette, a 63ish Austin Healey 3000 and the iconic Cobra. Have owned and enjoyed two of those over the years, but the Cobra was simply too expensive when I got out of college in 1987. (and now it is worse, of course) But my old college room mate has a Backdraft Cobra with a Ford 302 and a five speed that he is thinking about getting rid of after about 5-8 years of ownership. Never been in the rain, it has been a toy. Around 5,000 miles...no top or side curtains. It would be a fair weather toy for me as well. Anyone in the tribe actually own a Backdraft and have any insight? These are factory built in South Africa and shipped to the States for an engine and transmission, not some crappy replica on a cut down VW floorpan built in some hayseeds garage.

[EDELWEISS]

Closest I even came was an "almost" (kit car) on a Pinto (or maybe a Vega) frame. It was professionally done by a custom shop in Baltimore City of all places; but that was back when there were still Pintos on the road..... The Backdraft sounds cooler by something like a thousand timessssssss

[Winchester67]

I have to admit, the snob in me turns up the nose at a replica. Until you look at the frame of the 62 Cobra and compare it to the modern kit car frame. We have learned a little since then.

[coastalcop]

Good frame?, good body? Suspension? If these are covered, then go for it. Most of the good kits ar based off their own frame, if they take the trouble the car is usually good to go.

Have a friend with two different cobra kits ( and several Ferraris , lambos, classics, ford gt, and drives a Bentley to work ( he got into oil, I got into LE......whose the idiot) He loves them.

Here a few examples, the Cobras are actually in the front area with the "Thomas crown" Shelby
43583435844358543586435874358843583435844358543586 4358743588

[Winchester67]

Good friend to have indeed. That is a Bon Vivant collection for sure...

[coastalcop]

Good friend to have indeed. That is a Bon Vivant collection for sure...

He is a great guy, trying to get him working out. He has offered to let me drive a couple for the Texas mile, I want him to do a bull run or terlingua road race. If you want an exotic and are willing to pay, the folks he has on staff will find it for,sure! ( and are a great guys themselves) helped me sell my custom FJ when the time came to part with it. Pics double posted for some reason, but that is a small representation of the collection ( he bought an old furniture store as a " garage" ).

[mfjudge]

I live within an hour or so of Factory Five...they are south of Boston and make numerous replicas, including a series of Cobras...these use a lot of components from Fox and SN95 Mustangs...in other words, cheap OEM parts and giant aftermarket...

I've driven a couple and they are total monsters...in terms of long term parts availability, these are the winners...and they are the highest number of chassis out on the road...kits start around 12k...

Might be worth checking in to them...

Matt

[randyho]

Judging from their gallery, the BackDraft's look a little odd to me. Too much rear fender hump, too small a grill. Could be the photography but, to me, they don't look like a Shelby.

The Factory Five cars are top notch.

Rather than a replica, I'd probably put an LS3 in a miata. It's not pretending to be anything other than a modern 2 seater with a big ass motor: a winning recipe.

[glocked]

I'm not far from Factory Five either and have been impressed by the quality of their products. The lines and power curve just seem "right" on their cars.

[Winchester67]

You have a good eye Randyho; two inch longer wheelbase to give the cabin more room. I have heard good things about Factory Five, but can't make the time commitment to build it myself...buying used makes me uneasy unless I am comfortable with the guy that put it together. (lots of engineers are drawn to these cars as a hobby, and that would be ok I suppose. But just some guy...?)

[fish78]

The two best Cobra in the market today are...Kirkham and Superformance.

[Winchester67]

Superformance cars are also built in a factory in South Africa like the Backdraft, then sent to the States for the engine and transmission. They are a more accurate replica, but that is not terribly important to me. I am not fixated on making it look like an exact copy; I know it is a fake snake and that is part of the appeal. I know myself...when I had the '62 Corvette, or the Lotus or the on and on and on I worry too much about them to park them. Which means I don't enjoy them as much. This is just a kit...I think that will be good for my enjoyment of the car because I won't worry about it. Anyway, if someone can shed some light on the connection between Superformance and Backdraft...they parted ways at some point and Superformance went upmarket...but do they share the same assembly plant?

[coastalcop]

Lifelong car guy, with three dream cars...a 1962 Corvette, a 63ish Austin Healey 3000 and the iconic Cobra. Have owned and enjoyed two of those over the years, but the Cobra was simply too expensive when I got out of college in 1987. (and now it is worse, of course) But my old college room mate has a Backdraft Cobra with a Ford 302 and a five speed that he is thinking about getting rid of after about 5-8 years of ownership. Never been in the rain, it has been a toy. Around 5,000 miles...no top or side curtains. It would be a fair weather toy for me as well. Anyone in the tribe actually own a Backdraft and have any insight? These are factory built in South Africa and shipped to the States for an engine and transmission, not some crappy replica on a cut down VW floorpan built in some hayseeds garage.

ok talked to a couple of guys that deal in exotic/tribute cars. They say it is a fun car, and well built (though they prefer aluminum body...... of course they can afford the full monte) .. I would say run with it, the cobra is one of my all time favorites !

[randyho]

You have a good eye Randyho; two inch longer wheelbase to give the cabin more room.

Lol, thx. My take on these: if it isn't a cobra, it's a fast two seater. I'd (JMO!) just assume have something that still fits that description but was infinitely disposable. Right now, I'm looking at lotus 7 replicas. A stalker, specifically. I don't care that it isn't a lotus 7, I just care that it has ridiculous limits for what it is.

In the end, whatta ya want? A Cobra? Cool! Something cobra-ish? Cool, too! But, they aren't the same thing, and there may be many more options in the case of the latter.


I have heard good things about Factory Five, but can't make the time commitment to build it myself...buying used makes me uneasy unless I am comfortable with the guy that put it together. (lots of engineers are drawn to these cars as a hobby, and that would be ok I suppose. But just some guy...?)

Without the time, space, tools, and interest, no way. I agree. I know a guy who recently built one. Turned out great, but he's a multi-decade wrench monkey.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Winchester67]

Planets aligning in this case. I had always wanted a Cobra, but prices were out of sight by the 80's when I got out of college and started to collect cars. In this case, my old college room mate has the car; his wife got it for him as a retirement gift after 20 years on the force here. That was about 10 years ago...it had 500 miles on it when he got it and has just under 5,000 miles now. Seems like a solid machine, but I frankly didn't know much about "kit" Cobras so I wanted to ask the tribe. This is a factory built car...

[randyho]

Do what you want, seriously. But, I wouldn't pay a cobra tax on something that isn't a cobra (and most things aren't). It's a fast 2-seater that looks like a cobra. I'd pay accordingly, given that there are a lot of options out there.

[coastalcop]

Figure what you would pay on a new Miata , then factor in the v8 and grin factor, then buy the damn thing and have some fun!!! ,oh an post pics too ;)