I'm in!! ...another Hoosier Cobra!

[CobraRad]

Greetings all! I've been lurking for quite a while and would like to take a moment to introduce myself. Like many others here, "CafeRacer" caught my attention on HD Theater. I have always been a "car guy" and finished a big project last summer. After chillin' for a few months, I was goin' crazy not having a project to work on so I decided to give a bike a try! I don't know too much about motorcycles, but I grew up riding 3 and 4 wheelers. (My brothers and I actually shared a 75cc Suzuki dirt bike as our first toy!) But... that's ancient history.


I started looking around a bit and happened across this bike... a 1969 Suzuki T500 "Cobra".

It was for sale on ebay, but didn't get any bids. So I contacted the seller and we struck a deal, he even delivered it for me! I will be starting a build thread soon, but over the past couple of months I completely disassembled it and am formulating a game plan.


I wasn't sure that I wanted to start with a two-stroke, but after I found out it was a "Cobra" it was destiny! Here's a pic of my recently finished project...

A Factory Five Racing 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica. I had to have another Cobra in the garage!!


Anyway, I've been following some of the other T500 threads including that of "Wingspan" and also from the Titan Performance guys. Looking forward to getting into this project, and love checking out all the build threads! You guys have built (and are building) some amazing bikes!!

 

[Wingspan]

SWEET Cobra! Can't wait to see the T500 progress.

 

[Slice]

Nice... I dig the factory five kit.
Looks tight.

 

[mookieo2]

I will build one of those cobra kits one day. How long did it take you and if You don't mind me asking can you give me an estimated running total I was figuring around 35k could get a decent setup. Am I way off?

 

[PHeller]

I love going up to replica owners and starting the conversation off with "Factory Five eh?"


I don't have anything against the kit, but I just find it funny how people try their damnest to pawn them off as originals.

 

[Wingspan]

I love going up to replica owners and starting the conversation off with "Factory Five eh?"


I don't have anything against the kit, but I just find it funny how people try their damnest to pawn them off as originals.

I seriously doubt very many Cobra replica owners/builders are ever trying to "pawn them off as originals". They know it's a replica and it's supposed to look like the real thing, that's the whole point. Real or replica, Cobras are beautiful.

Trying to thumb your nose at people who spent a lot of time and energy building a car doesn't make you clever...it just makes you look like a ass.

 

[CobraRad]

I hope you do begin conversations as such... we FFR owners actually prefer someone who is educated and can discuss the car rather than someone who "pawns" us off as "wanna be's". My car is not meant to exactly replicate the original; I built it the way I wanted. I designed and fabricated my own wood (solid walnut, not veneer) dash, with my own layout of gauges; installed a footbox vent system; and a sound system. Mine is powered by a small block ford (carburated not injected) unlike the originals. I use two rollbars, the originals only had one. You also wouldn't find the paint code on an original, it is Ivy Green Metallic, a '65 Ford mustang color. (Now, you would find it on a Shelby Mustang Cobra, but since you know so much, I'll asume you're way ahead of me on that!). Besides, what's so "original" about the originals? Caroll Shelby took a ford big block and stuck it in an AC body... essentially building a "kit" car.

All said, I would rather own a FFR than an original, cause I wouldn't take the original out of the garage! Furthermore, it's great to have a chance to build a car, even if it is from a kit... not only a great learning experience, but I can fix it if something breaks; just like building your own caferacer.

I love going up to replica owners and starting the conversation off with "Factory Five eh?"


I don't have anything against the kit, but I just find it funny how people try their damnest to pawn them off as originals.

 

[Slice]

Im with wingspan on this one, hard work should never be looked down upon... regardless if its designed after something old or a new design.
Thats my 2 cents.

 

[CobraRad]

Building a FFR is a great experience... to say the least. Mine took about 1.5yrs to complete, but I had help with the engine/trans and paint. The body work and paint can take a while, so I was fortunate that I could have that done while working on the chassis. If you really want to get a better grasp of the building experience, first check out www.ffcars.com, it's a great forum.
Also, go to the factoryfive.com website, they list build schools that you can attend to "get your feet wet".

In my opinion, you could build a really nice roadster for 35K. The base kit will cost about 15K, and a lot of parts in the complete kit are better sourced from other places. For example, I installed full Wilwood 4-piston disc brakes on mine, purchased through one of the vendors on the ffcars forum. You can also find great deals on parts from other forum members. My wheels
are Boyd Coddington Smoothie II. I bought the full set with brand new tires for $500 from another forum member who decided he didn't care for them (he replaced them before he even put the car on the road!) I also saved a bit on paint, I decided that I was going to enjoy this car and put some miles on it, so I didn't
need a show car finish. Don't get me wrong, it is very nice and gets tons of compliments, but there are few tiny "flaws".

Thanks for the interest, if you have any other questions, send a pm!

I will build one of those cobra kits one day. How long did it take you and if You don't mind me asking can you give me an estimated running total I was figuring around 35k could get a decent setup. Am I way off?

 

[mothgils]

Welcome to DTT! I love that Cobra and can't wait to see what you do with the Suzuki.


What part of Indiana are you from?

 

[CobraRad]

Thanks for the compliments!! mothgils, I'm in Valparaiso...

 

[Maritime]

Nice car, and nice bike. I always wanted to build a kit car, but they are not legal in Canada, except a few re-bodies from fieros, which sucks. Like to see what you do with the T500. I just saw one for sale here and would love to crack into one.

 

[jackstraw650]

Welcome! Your Cobra is really nice and it makes no difference whether it was built by Carroll Shelby or yourself! Only a complete twat would try to pass off even a top notch kit car as an original. The way I look at it a quality repro kit is basically homage to what has become an automotive icon that is way beyond the reach of 99% of us. This way, as you said, you get most of the original without all the negatives like cost, insurance, possible damage, etc.
As far as the Suzuki goes, you picked a good platform. I had a '72 that I wish I had kept. It was reliable, well built and fun to ride. It's a shame that 2 strokes went the way of the dinosaur....they had many advantages. Now days they are even more fun as hardly anyone has ever seen one on the street. You get some interesting looks as drive along! Keep us posted!