Anyone built a Cobra recently?

[BPXR6T]

I'm wanting to get a start of my next long term project. Does anyone know of a good reputable Cobra kit supplier preferrably in Victoria? Have any laws recently changed that make it harder to get kit cars registered? Is there anything I should watch out for or steer clear of when buying a kit?

How do the fibreglass shells hold up? I had a fibreglass body kit on a car once that cracked all over the place. Do the cobra shells suffer from the same type of problems?

Thanks for any tips.
Mike.

[yift]

there is a very reputalble company called python cars or something like that in south/port melbourne

[snappy]

i seen a few nice drb 540's over this forum . Had no expierence at building one but hope to some day

http://www.drbsportscars.com/

also if you search this forum it will bring up the drb 540 build thread.

[homegrown]

first bit of advice i can give is "are you sure you want to build this car? and good luck"
a friend built one last year but rules are getting tougher so get straight in there.
Ac cobra of adelaide can help you with bare body and chassis 08 83814801 looking around 10grand. my friend used EBXr8 motor but now it states it has to be 2000 so AU is required (these are just rules in adelaide so it may very over there) but its reading material for you. he's done his own labour so just parts have set him back 50grand. then the hard to find parts, brakes he managed to grab XYGT. a big rule change is that vin number has to be stamped into the actual chassis you could before have it on a plate a put onto the chassis but thats changed. make sure thats done otherwise you waste $200 going to the rego dept. other rules which had changed a dash mat has to be used, the lights dimed in the dash, reflectors on the car...
then there's custom upholstery, windows.. very expensive.
sorry im not trying to deter you its worth it in the end. my mate has the biggest smile one ear to the other when he drives it.

[homegrown]

oh and full exhaust. after its registered take the bloody things off. thats how all cobras should be. straight out the side.

[WindsorXR]

Yeah, id be pointing you towards DRB as well.
I've heard that soon there will be some new laws coming in the next couple years that'll possibly cripple the kit car industry. My Dad has built a Westfield(Clubman) kit car, he is a quarter the way through a GT40, which he isn't going to finish as the guy involved getting no where. So he will be selling all the parts he has collected and is thinking bout doing the new shape DRB Cobra with the BA-BF XR8 interior, suspension, engine and gearbox. It's about $22,000 for the cobra body and the you could probably pick up a damaged write-off for around $12,000 from the auctions.

I think with fibreglass bodies, you just have to make sure the surface is well prepared before applying paint. Also watch out for warping from previous moulds. If you buy from a reputable designer you should be alright with the warping part though.

For any more ideas there is an actual magazine i think is called kitcars or something along those lines.

Good luck.

[RIPGMH]

DRB cobras are pretty good. My brother built one two years ago, Jag rear end, RHS chassis and inj 5.0ltr.

[snappy]

This is the 540 that me and bossxr8 were talking about. basically an xr8 transformed in to the shelby concept car.




I love it and plan to build myself when funds allow.

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by snappy84

This is the 540 that me and bossxr8 were talking about. basically an xr8 transformed in to the shelby concept car.




I love it and plan to build myself when funds allow.

Thats the one!! Looks alright and a full build would be under $50,000 i reackon.

Originally Posted by jd dad

all pretty good quality not but theres only one to have the- Weineck Cobra mmmmmmmmm

Good luck paying for that one! It'd be a fair learning exercise to try and handle those things as well.

[jd dad]

all pretty good quality not but theres only one to have the- Weineck Cobra mmmmmmmmm

[stavros68]

you can't put the windsor in you have to put the latest quad cam motors or ls1/2 to pass emmission laws unless you lpgas it

[GS608]

Originally Posted by stavros68

you can't put the windsor in you have to put the latest quad cam motors or ls1/2 to pass emmission laws unless you lpgas it

you can in QLD.

off the DRB website

The Queensland Government have just reversed the decision to not allow ADR 37.01 motors to be used after January 1, 2008.
This means that 1999 or later model Australian and 1993 or later USA motors can be fitted to Cobra and GT40 replica vehicles in the future.

Instead of being limited to the current Ford 5.4 litre Boss motor (as fitted to BA & BF XR8, GT, GTP & Pursuit Utes), there are a range of economic motors that can now be used in ICV’s registered in Queensland.

Suitable motors include the 5 litre Windsor (as fitted to 1998 to 2002 Falcon AU models), 4.6 litre Mustang Quad Cam (as fitted to 1996 to 2004 Mustangs) 4.6 litre Quad Cam Supercharged motor and for those seeking a low budget project, the 4 litre Lexus can be used in the award winning DRB Cobra chassis.



The 5 litre Windsor motor has always been the most popular motor for Cobra’s and GT40’s as it is very compact in size and there are a large amount of after market performance parts available. It is the same motor that was used in the Ford Gulf GT40’s that won Le Mans in 1968 and 1969 and it is a development of the 289 cu in Windsor that was fitted to the winning Shelby Cobras of the early 1960’s.

In summary, the DRB Boss Cobra with a wide engine bay can accommodate all of the above noted motors, while the DRB Cobra that can be built on a much lower budget, has a narrower engine bay that can accommodate the Ford 5 litre Windsor or the 4 litre Lexus and for Chevy enthusiasts the Gen 3, LS1 V8 motors.

[GreenMachine]

I think the regs changed very recently - I know a mate of mine had to rush his GT40 rep build to get it through rego with an AU Windsor (had to be a post-2000 engine)... If he left it any longer he was going to have to look at a Lexus V8 or a modular...

[blackwood]

If you've got the coin Ol' Shel' is still making Cobras.
http://www.shelbyautos.com/CSX4000.asp

Otherwise, go DRB, Robnell or Python.

[ebxr8240]

The black GT40 with Mustang 4.6 Cobra engine with turbo fitted, recently in Zoom was helped through EPA by Hittman in Penrith..The back of that car IS all engine!! Same rules ??