FFR 818... coming soon!

[Payman]

Btw, any talks about what the top will be like?  Is there a removable hard top?  Or a stowable soft top or something?

So far both has been mentioned. Soft tops optional for the roadsters, and removable targa roofs for the coupes.

[SVT666]

When I spoke with a FFR rep he told me to expect to spend about $35K for a Cobra replica when it was all said and done.

[Payman]

When I spoke with a FFR rep he told me to expect to spend about $35K for a Cobra replica when it was all said and done.

Depends. The kit is $12,995, and you can get an old Mustang GT for less than $3000. So, you can start with a baseline of around $16,000. Of course, if you go with a new engine and tranny, put another $5000 into prep in paint, and add new wheel/tires plus a few options, then yeah, you can get up to and beyond $35,000. Anyone who starts this project should use a realistic budget of $30-35K.

There's a few partially built kitcars on the market where the owner either misjudged his time, his skills, or his budget.

[hotrodalex]

If I ever built one, I'd end up wanting to spend almost $40k since I'd want mostly new parts and not from a donor car. It wouldn't be a way to get a cheap performance car, it'd be a way to build a car exactly how I want it.

[Cookie Monster]

Depends. The kit is $12,995, and you can get an old Mustang GT for less than $3000. So, you can start with a baseline of around $16,000. Of course, if you go with a new engine and tranny, put another $5000 into prep in paint, and add new wheel/tires plus a few options, then yeah, you can get up to and beyond $35,000. Anyone who starts this project should use a realistic budget of $30-35K.

There's a few partially built kitcars on the market where the owner either misjudged his time, his skills, or his budget.

Well, I don't see the point in building one of these kits if you're going to half ass it with parts pulled from a high mileage old Mustang.

Even if I were to use an old drivetrain it'd be fully torn down and rebuilt before going in and that would cost $$$ anyways.

[Soup DeVille]

Well, I don't see the point in building one of these kits if you're going to half ass it with parts pulled from a high mileage old Mustang.

Even if I were to use an old drivetrain it'd be fully torn down and rebuilt before going in and that would cost $$$ anyways.

You might be surprised how many good quality drivetrains from wrecked cars you can get for not that much dough.

But yeah: I definitely wouldn't want a Cobra replica built out of old late model Mustang parts.

[Cookie Monster]

You might be surprised how many good quality drivetrains from wrecked cars you can get for not that much dough.

But yeah: I definitely wouldn't want a Cobra replica built out of old late model Mustang parts.

But still I'd want to give the drivetrains a good rebuild or inspection before using them which still adds to the cost, unless you happen to find a drivetrain out of a car that was driven straight out of the dealership and then wrecked with like 10 miles on it.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

They look nice.

Since the WRX is just a impreza with a better motor I'm sure the whole line is compatable as a donor.

I wonder If I could use a N/A 2.5 and a automatic in one of these, would be great for the wifey to run around in on nice days. Plus it's light,
so it will still be peppy enough.

[Soup DeVille]

But still I'd want to give the drivetrains a good rebuild or inspection before using them which still adds to the cost, unless you happen to find a drivetrain out of a car that was driven straight out of the dealership and then wrecked with like 10 miles on it.

When my S2000 was totaled, the drivetrain had about 20,000 miles on it. The car sold at auction, with a salvage title for $6000.


I would without hesistation put that drivetrain into any number of project cars (Check out the WCM ultralite for a good candidate). At the same auction, an '03 Viper sold for $15,000 with extensive rear end damage( now that'll get your Cobra moving). It looked like it was in brilliant condition right up until it was wrecked.

Compare that to the cost of ordering crate engines and transmissions, and you'll see how much of a bargain going with donor cars can be.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

When my S2000 was totaled, the drivetrain had about 20,000 miles on it. The car sold at auction, with a salvage title for $6000.


I would without hesistation put that drivetrain into any number of project cars (Check out the WCM ultralite for a good candidate). At the same auction, an '03 Viper sold for $15,000 with extensive rear end damage( now that'll get your Cobra moving). It looked like it was in brilliant condition right up until it was wrecked.

Compare that to the cost of ordering crate engines and transmissions, and you'll see how much of a bargain going with donor cars can be.

Not to mention the inclusion of wiring harnesses, ECU's, Fuel Delivery components and a plethora of parts and subsystems(A/C, etc) that you can use in the swap. I would never buy a crate engine.

[Cookie Monster]

When my S2000 was totaled, the drivetrain had about 20,000 miles on it. The car sold at auction, with a salvage title for $6000.


I would without hesistation put that drivetrain into any number of project cars (Check out the WCM ultralite for a good candidate). At the same auction, an '03 Viper sold for $15,000 with extensive rear end damage( now that'll get your Cobra moving). It looked like it was in brilliant condition right up until it was wrecked.

Compare that to the cost of ordering crate engines and transmissions, and you'll see how much of a bargain going with donor cars can be.

Ah ok. I think I'd still inspect any wrecked car just to make sure but it does sound a lot cheaper than crate engines.

Point is I wouldn't put a $3000 Mustang GT's drivetrain into an FFR.

[Soup DeVille]

Well, crate engines have their purposes; when replacing in old engine in a complete car for instance: but their just not a good deal for a project like this.

[Soup DeVille]

Point is I wouldn't put a $3000 Mustang GT's drivetrain into an FFR.

100% agreed.

[Payman]

The point of a kitcar though, is that it's okay to put a $3000 GT drivetrain in, if your budget dictates it. The first kitcars were simple fiberglass bodies and tubs, bolted to a VW pan, using the same anemeic engine and Beetle parts. The beauty of a FFR kit is someone on a $20K budget can build one and it'll look great. Tear down that 302 and rebuild it, sandblast and paint the suspension pieces and rear end. Or, you can go balls out and install a Roush 426, all new parts from Ford Racing, and build a $60,000+ beast.

If I do build one, I'll use a donor car for the rearend, driveshaft, wiring, column, etc. I'd buy a crate 302 and new Tremec T5, new larger brakes, and a few other new parts. I'll be in the middle of the spectrum, with a budget of $35-40K.

[Payman]

Their Spec Racing kits exclusively use '87-'93 5.0's... 220hp. They do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.

[MrH]

So far both has been mentioned. Soft tops optional for the roadsters, and removable targa roofs for the coupes.

Awesome.  Now, time to start looking for a rolled STI with <10k miles...