Which kit car?

[James Snover]

Daytona Coupe! The Factory Five Daytona Coupe is a terrific car, and since you will be building it, you can put in as much sound absorbing/deadening material as you want. Interior: whatever you want, from bare aluminum to leather, people have done both.

For what it's worth, the rear spoiler may look funky to our current aesthetic, there are darn good aerodynamic reasons it is the way it is: to keep the car planted at speeds around 200mph or higher. If I remember right, it is even named after the aerodynamicist who thought it up: the Kamm spoiler.

 

[13COBRA]

GT40 kit car.

I saw one two years ago in all white with gray painted wheels, the thing was pure sex. He had a 5.4L out of a 2012 GT500 in it; that thing would haul.

 

[James Snover]

Oh, and a far as the "It's not real!" thing goes, in my mind that does not apply to the Daytona Coupe. They only made a handful of them, there were two distinct body styles, and no two of them were the same, and it was never in production.

 

[Iamchris]

It seems like you are more excited about the GT-40 Replica. If you think it is realistic that it will get done in a few years and wont get pushed back till it never happens, then maybe that is the better choice.

I wouldn't bother with a bike, meh... I like bikes, but it doesn't compare to these cars in my opinion.

On a note of the GT-40 replica though, how big are you? They are very small.

 

[HISSMAN]

 

[Prototype007]

Option 2.

If it feels and looks cheap on the inside, change it up. You are afterall building a car to the way you want.

 

[raustin0017]

Got to go with your passion. In 2002 I built a Lone Star 427 Cobra replica. Had been wanting that car for over 20 years and the only way to afford one was to build a replica. Working on the weekends and evenings when I had time...drove it the first time after 5 1/2 months. Will never forget that day. One of the best comments from a stranger while I was at gas pump. "Is that a real car?" I replied, "Yes it is a real car...I drove it here and everything."

I went with LS Classics because their replicas have the seat pans sitting 4" deeper than most other replicas. My #1 suggestion is do your research and even visit the factories before you make your decision. I can tell you that the FFR is a great car but my 6'3" body did not like the FFR and my eye line was just below the top of the windscreen.

Good luck

 

[chao5.0]

I'd go with the Daytona Coupe from F5 just for cost reasons, I mean the RCR is nice but 70-90k to complete is pricey, but their stuff is top notch. F5 uses mostly fox body mustang suspension parts or you could go with a IRS for the coupe. to me those kit cars should have traditional motors in them, not against a mod motor but the sound isn't the same and it looks odd when the engine is shown, but I understand the reasons for wanting to use a mod motor. I ofter debated doing a F5 Daytona Coupe but I would have to get a DD first and I'm having a hard time letting go of my car for some rinky dink DD just to justify the purchase and build of a kit car.

 

[Formula51]

I know you said no GTM, but man, the quality of some of those builds are incredible! The availability of parts from donor Corvettes, lightweight and powerful LSX engines, the revised/improved Gen2 design, weight, looks, performance, etc....the GTM is hard to beat. In my opinion it is one of two kit cars that looks like a real high dollar supercar when it is done. There is one other, but the name escapes me....

Check out these builds:

http://vraptorspeedworks.com/

Anyhow, best of luck. I know all about how much time and money goes into a custom car build. My dad and I have been working on a 100% custom roadster build for 7 years now! Body is completely designed by us, hand carved out of foam and hand laid. It is built on a VW pan and powered by a rear mounted Harley V-Twin!

These pictures are two years old, but it will give you an idea. My point is, plan on your build taking a LOT, LOT, LOT longer than you think!!!! Life always gets in the way, you lose interest, etc.

 

[chao5.0]

wow that is amazing, now that is something to get behind when building.

 

[RSbeast]

Used to sell Superformance back in the day, and have driven their Cobra (MKIII), Daytona (Coupe), and GT40 Variants. Also the CSX continuation Cobras.

Are you looking for more of an exact replica or something more like a SF car that's like 95% there looks wise and mid grade on price?

I personally always thought ERA to have the nicest examples of 'true to form' replicars.

After piloting an MKI gt40 at speed; and just the overall acclimation with the car, I don't think I'd ever want one. They are beautiful deathtraps. They give an illusion of a fun toy being shiny, tight gaps, nice craftsman ship. They should be sold as what they are: a dirty scary racecar that has claimed many drivers lives (actual gt40)

Even a small accident = you getting maimed/killed. MKI is very light in the nose over 100-120 and it gets there like NOW. Run canards.


Your armrest is a gas tank. The firewall which doubles as your back rest flexes under duress (if you push into it hard with your back, not chassis flex) and rubs the waterpump. The rear upright trailing arms are pointed at your spine. The footwell is near touching the tire and that componentry. Oh, it has factory A/C now... lol, no its pretty much super demanding and wants to kill you. It will if you let it or mess up just once.

I'm not sure if that sounds like a selling point, but be aware. The Cobras were a happy fun go-kart in comparison, and those require attention.

The coupes are really really well built and unique cars. Peter brock had a hand even in the redesign. The Kaam-back profile certainly works. They also have A/C standard and are the most modern of the 3 for features and use. If you like closed cockpit; I'd go here. Again this is reference to a Superformance car, but just my $.02.

Cobras you aren't interested in, so I wont explore much to say that the CSX car next to a SF MKIII really makes you realize one is a kit. I was told they shared alot originally. That is BS. Near every little facet is different. For the $; if you want the 'real thing' without going broke on an aluminum body (also dents super easy), get a glass CSX car. Or an ERA. I love their 289 FIA car.

Backdraft is also getting closer to SF standards now as an option.

As for FF kits. I've heard many stories of horror with the GTM. Much more $, time, and fabrication than you'd think. Their Cobras seem well sorted now though; although they look too kit car for me.

Best of luck on whatever you decide! I guess much depends on how much 'kit' you want. Some will sell turnkey or in stages, others its 100% on you.

 

[Branhammer]

Lot of things to consider. I would say if it's going to be a kit car, get the one you REALLY want and plan on keeping it. It's a fake, so it'll never be worth what you put into it. That's why I say buy the one you want, even if it might take you longer to get it. And plan on being stuck with it. I say option 2.

OR

Option 3 will probably be the best financial decision, but you have to decide if it's going to be as good as the kit car option. I, for example, realized after owning a motorcycle that I'm just not as passionate about it. I never had any desire to modify my bike. Didn't even ride it that hard. I realized I'm just a four-wheel kind of guy, so I sold the bike and probably won't buy another.

So, if you're as passionate about bikes as you are cars, I'd say option 3. If not, go option 2. But don't go with option 1. It's not really what you want and if you're going to spend the time and money building it, then it needs to be perfect.

 

[RSbeast]

Devils advocate to that; is that certain ones like the SF and higher echelon cars tend to hold a very strong value. You won't see that in most if any of the homebuilt cars, including FF.

 

[CSCOBRA03]

They are also legal in Ca. Someone from NY should check their facts.

 

[CobraRed01]

Oh, and a far as the "It's not real!" thing goes, in my mind that does not apply to the Daytona Coupe. They only made a handful of them, there were two distinct body styles, and no two of them were the same, and it was never in production.

Excellent point. That's why I would build the Daytona Coupe out of that lot. You are never going to see an original Daytona or continuation car like you might for the Fordt GT as in the '05 Ford Gt or Superformance MKII versions. And, you can build a period correct engine if you wanted to. You are treating people and yourself to a really rare slice of automotive history. And it looks cool.


As a note: RCR makes a number of other really cool historic replicas....the originals of which you won't see anymore including the Ford GT MKIV, Lola T-70, Ferrari P4 and Porsche 917. Assuming you could actually get these registered for the street, I always thought it would be cool to tool around in a Porsche 917 ...but without the original Flat 12 aircooled motor it wouldn't be right. The Ferrari P4 is considered one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built...and you could at least put a current Ferrari V12 in it which would make it a credible effort....and expensive. Same deal with the MKIV and Lola...you can build a period correct engine for them.

http://www.race-car-replicas.com/index.html

 

[cooper1320]

I vote Daytona

but if I had an extra 30k-40k to spend I'd take a page out of the ROADKILL guys and build something wild like that rat-rod charger

 

[truefiveo]

AC Cobras just aren't practical enough, if I wanted something that Kart like it would be the Aerial Atom.

 

[Woody6799]

Daytona coupe.... you're building it, fix the things you hate

 

[MFE]

I vote Daytona Coupe, because I've been in one and I fit (6-3), you can build them with a/c and stereo, and you can drive it in any kind of weather.

 

[Great Asp]

Drive both before you buy.

The GT40 is not a car you will even think about using as a DD (if that is what you want)

Both are cool, good luck!

E