Any experience with Cobra replicas?

[sothpaw]

Kind of got the bug to get a Cobra replica as a fun, summer roadster but am wondering if it's a decision I'll regret. While I love my Shelby GT350, I sometimes long for a convertible, and have always been fascinated with the Cobra replicas. Wondering if anyone has had any experience owning or driving these beasts.

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[NightmareMoon]

Never owned one, but I did autocross one.

They’re fast and fun, but their reputation as a death trap is well earned.

My only 2c is ABS and power steering are your friends. If you dont get power steering, at least get a modern (thick) steering wheel that you can grip well. The 60s pencil thin steering wheels are hard to hold when you need to make an emergency correction, and without power steering its not fun to try to muscle the steering in a slide of any sort.

I had a great time driving one but when it got a little sideways it was much harder to catch and correct than a modern car due to the above 3 things. I would think with a replica you could probably upgrade the steering wheel and add power steering and boosted ABS brakes.

 

[lunatect]

Saw a guy get killed in one at Buttonwillow Raceway. Flipped and landed upside down. Was at a NASA event. The roll bar did not save him. Personally, I prefer 10 point cages and a roof.

 

[Caustic Cobra]

I suggest you go and join Talk Cobra.com

 

[Strokerswild]

They’re fast and fun, but their reputation as a death trap is well earned.

This.

 

[pocketAA]

I just recently (2022) had built a superformance cobra replica. It has 3000 miles on it now. The reason i went with superformance is they are officially licensed by shelby and their cars are the exact dimensions as the originals plus they are built with better components. For instance backdraft uses bmw suspension components.

i had olthoff racing (North Carolina) assemble the car and Prestige Motorsports built the Ford Racing 427 engine (351 bored out to 427). All top notch parts used in the engine. It dyno’d around 560-570 hp.

i also have a 2017 GT350R and on really nice 80 degree days its hard to not want to drive the cobra. The sounds it makes, the raw feel of it can’t be beat. It gets much more attention than my mustang.

 

[OldbutNew]

If it's just for the wind in your hair on a sunny day, a Cobra roadster is hard to beat. But they can reach out and bite you in the ass so very, very fast. If you want to run something for lap times, stick to your GT350.
I got to drive a customer's Superformance after I built him an engine. WOW.
The guys who raced these cars with 427 side-oilers and bias ply tires were MEN. Brave men. INCREDIBLY brave men.

 

[SBR70.3]

Option 2: LS swap a Miata. You get the droptop, manual transmission, ABS, and PS, but it will not turn heads or look anywhere near as good as a Cobra rep.

 

[dgcomps]

I built mine in 2001 and have been driving it ever since. It now has 24K on the odometer. Mine has a bored out 351W with a T-5 and never tracked. The only thing electronic is the Pertronix chip with no power steering or brakes. Just an absolute blast to drive.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I built mine in 2001 and have been driving it ever since. It now has 24K on the odometer. Mine has a bored out 351W with a T-5 and never tracked. The only thing electronic is the Pertronix chip with no power steering or brakes. Just an absolute blast to drive.

No PS or PB is “manly” right there! LMAO! I did a power to manual steering swap in a couple of Fox Mustangs years ago - fun to drive for sure because it brought back the “road feel”, but sometimes could be a bear when trying to do slow maneuvers like parking - not horrible, but just gotta muscle it more.

Just curious why you opted for manual brakes through? What’s the overall brake setup you’re running?

 

[wingnutt]

Subscribed…for future use

 

[dgcomps]

No PS or PB is “manly” right there! LMAO! I did a power to manual steering swap in a couple of Fox Mustangs years ago - fun to drive for sure because it brought back the “road feel”, but sometimes could be a bear when trying to do slow maneuvers like parking - not horrible, but just gotta muscle it more.

Just curious why you opted for manual brakes through? What’s the overall brake setup you’re running?

Front brake setup includes Ford Granada rotors with GM S-10 style calipers. Come to find out later, this is what many hot-rodders use in their builds. Rear axle is from a Mark VII so it's an 8.8 rear end. I swapped out the axle shafts to a Mustang V6 to eliminate the ABS rings. This brings in the rear wheels/tires 3/4" so it can fit under the fender. The calipers are from a 95 Mustang. The car weighs 2000 lbs. Stopping has not been a problem.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

They’re fast and fun, but their reputation as a death trap is well earned.

That's only a problem if you didn't spend all your retirement savings to buy/build it.

 

[dgcomps]

That's only a problem if you didn't spend all your retirement savings to buy/build it.

Just retired a couple of years ago and have been enjoying both cars (2021 Mustang GT and the Cobra) the whole time.

 

[Caustic Cobra]

I've had my Kirkham for over 20 years and absolutely love it. Like mentioned above, you just have to be mindful when driving it and imagine you have an egg between your foot and the gas pedal that you don't want to crack. It really is quite an amazing experience and I too have so much appreciation for the likes of Dave McDonald, Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant and such who drove them at those rates of speed with very little between them and the road.....

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