Ask the Best and Brightest: Bringing Home a Cobra?
Published: August 22nd, 2009
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Rick Hamilton writes in:
I am seriously considering buying a Factory Five or Superperformance Cobra. I would like to know if there is any real downside to owning one (lots of maintenance, cramped foot area, etc). I noticed one seller said “if you are over 5′9″ do not buy this car.” Somewhere else I read “some models are 4″ longer to accomodate taller drivers.” Is that really a factor to consider at 5′10″?
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This is what's on the market right now, a decently done MKIII Factory 5 with a stock Mustang drivetrain should be available in the low $20s with enough patience: http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Factory+five+cobra&_sacat=6001&_trksid=p4506.m270.l1313&_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&_odkw=Factory+5+cobra&_osacat=6001 Of course you really need to want something that looks like a Cobra and that you can work on yourself, otherwise you'll be much better off and save a lot of money with an F-body convertible (instead of a Factory 5) or a C5 or C6 Corvette (instead of a Superformance or other high end replica).
@panzerfaust The Aurora was only made for a few years in the 1980s. Fewer than 200 cars were made but I find that an example will pop up for sale at least once a year. They have an owner's club with some good info. http://www.auroracobra.org/reflections.html
The closest I ever came to owning one of these was in 1968, or so--it was a Revell, Aurora or Monogram (don't remember which) plastic model kit. I built it with (if I recall) the 289 fed by 4 twin Webers, painted it black, and just stared at it for days on end. Even a model of this machine has that effect on any REAL guy. But back to your query: if you have to ask ANY practical questions about a car like this, you'd be better off looking elsewhere, I believe.
i never saw the point of these cars unless you wanted an american lotus 7 (of sorts) i do love the GT40 replicas though and would want one of these any day