breezy7 Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I just read in the May edition of Road & Track that Carroll Shelby said " the Cobra was the most replicated car thats ever been." It made me curious about the number of companies that have made Cobra replicas and the number of cars they have produced versus the LSIS types. Anyone have an idea about how many companies / number of Cobra replicas there have been? Other than a few Porsche 356 replicas I can't think of another sport cars being replicated. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hmmmm...... I think I can think of a certain sports car that has been even more imitated than even the Cobra:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I would tend to believe Shelby's claim as to the most cars. There have been 80+ companies making Lotus 7 replicas over the years, I don't know if the Cobra can beat that claim. Kit Car Builder magazine has stated the same opinion as to total production. Factory Five gets several hundred of their Cobras at its annual event. There are replicas of many sports cars. Ford GT-40, Lamborghini Countach, Jaguar C and D types, XK120/140, MG TD, TF, and an older model I can't remember, Porsche Speedster, 550 Spyder, 904, 917, 2 seat Thunderbirds, Ferraris of several types, Allard JX2, M-B 300SL and many more. Pick up the annual edition of Kit Car Builder magazine that has a listing of all the different current kit makers for a comprehensive list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 There are probably more Cobra rep's in SoCal than Seven rep's in the whole world. Shelby still makes the car. Kirkham, Factory Five, ERA etc., etc.... Kit Car Builder Mag has a yearly Cobra replica guide issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timax Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 There are probably more Cobra rep's in SoCal than Seven rep's in the whole world. Shelby still makes the car. Kirkham, Factory Five, ERA etc., etc.... Kit Car Builder Mag has a yearly Cobra replica guide issue. Hmm , what about the rest of the world though. I'm sure there are some Cobras in the UK and Europe but with 7 reps like Birkins ,Westfields , Donkervoorts , etc plus here in Australia with PRB , Arrow , MNR , Nota plus a handful more . We see a few Cobra's but they are more "show n shine" and not many of them. Don't forget the New Zealanders or the South Africans either. Both car crazy countries who aren't hooked on Big V8's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Don't forget the New Zealanders or the South Africans either. Both car crazy countries who aren't hooked on Big V8's. Not sure what the average car is like over there but aren't the South Africans the folks that built Ford Sieras (Merkur XR4s in the U.S.) with 302 V8s and they also presently build some of the nicest GT40 replicas around. And from what I've seen on the web and on TV (car shows on cable) the Kiwis seem to have a definite fondness for big V8 cars and American style hot rods similar to the Aussies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timax Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Not sure what the average car is like over there but aren't the South Africans the folks that built Ford Sieras (Merkur XR4s in the U.S.) with 302 V8s and they also presently build some of the nicest GT40 replicas around. And from what I've seen on the web and on TV (car shows on cable) the Kiwis seem to have a definite fondness for big V8 cars and American style hot rods similar to the Aussies. Sure and our local touring car races are V8's only. Personally I don't know anyone who owns or has owned a V8 though. Would love to have a go at a V* ute though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Hmmmm...... I think I can think of a certain sports car that has been even more imitated than even the Cobra:). I definitely wouldn't consider it a sports car but I would bet that the 32 Ford is the most replicated car on the planet. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Hmm , what about the rest of the world though. I'm sure there are some Cobras in the UK and Europe but with 7 reps like Birkins ,Westfields , Donkervoorts , etc plus here in Australia with PRB , Arrow , MNR , Nota plus a handful more . We see a few Cobra's but they are more "show n shine" and not many of them. Don't forget the New Zealanders or the South Africans either. Both car crazy countries who aren't hooked on Big V8's. California is the 8th largest economy in the world. Until about 10 years ago, more Porsches were sold in SoCal than the rest of the US combined. I am not saying there aren't a lot of Seven reps out there, but Cobra's are very popular in the US, and the US is by far the biggest car market in the world representing over 30% of cars in use globally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBowker Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 I definitely wouldn't consider it a sports car but I would bet that the 32 Ford is the most replicated car on the planet. Tom Heard once that more '32 Fords are registered in CA alone then Ford ever made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Heard once that more '32 Fords are registered in CA alone then Ford ever made. That is a correct statement; I read it in my 32 Ford Coffee table book. I have a 32 Tudor Sedan with the Flathead V-8 in it. It's an original, built out of spare parts by my wife's uncle in 1963. The uncle, Dick Smith is well known in the hot rodding circles and his HiBoy roadster was bought by the Henry Ford Museum and has been on display at Greenfield Village since 1987. Superformance makes a pretty cool little 33 or 34 Ford Roadster Kit Car. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gunther Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Heck, Factory Five alone has sold over 6,000 "roadsters" (and MOST of them get built). I'd be curious to know how many Locosts actually get on-the-road, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilo Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 (edited) In North America? Likely not nearly as many as got started. Here the boys are intent in stuffing in V6 and V8 engines... essentially following a "Hot Rod" dream.. that only superficially resembles a seven. Success/completion ratio is Much higher in the UK. Prolly cuz Caterhans/Sevens are still a visible element in the daily parade of traffic. Regardless, the clone 'craze' does seem to be winding down. We are all aging and most Kids couldn't give a toss about 'building' a Kar. Ever driven a 'recent' cobra clone? These are typified by massive excess AND ridiculous HP.. to the point of absurdity/uselesness.. and a price tag approaching $100K.. from either direction. These drive ..Nothing.. like a genuine 289 Cobra.. which was so 'interesting' as to remain a vivid memory for almost 40 years :-). Gonna be genuinely 'interesting' when all the 'Car Collector' types fade away and there's no one left who's interested in their old toys.. beyond a few museum curators. Edited April 12, 2011 by danilo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 When the next set of federal mandates hit the car industry we are going to see a replay of the mid 1970's decline in factory "performance" cars. Then the only option for real performance is going to be fork out big bucks for a restored 60's big block or one of the US/German/Japanese Mega V8's being probuced now. Those may turn out to be the next set of rich boys collectors toys.With that and gas prices smaller and lighter is going to start looking good to the current batch of "mid priced kids" who will be coming into the same age we started not just being crazy over cars, but able to spend decent sums of money on them. We can only hope that they turn out to be the next set of build it yoursel "hot rodders" since it seems so far to have kind of skipped a generation. I've owned a bunch of hot "V8" cars but always seemed to have the most fun in cars with smaller motors and better road manners. Maybe gas prices and federal mandates will jump the grandkids right past the big block and into something like a 7 or another replica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Ever driven a 'recent' cobra clone? These are typified by massive excess AND ridiculous HP.. to the point of absurdity/uselesness.. and a price tag approaching $100K.. from either direction. These drive ..Nothing.. like a genuine 289 Cobra.. which was so 'interesting' as to remain a vivid memory for almost 40 years :-). http://www.erareplicas.com/fia/fia.htm If I was going to get a Cobra replica, it would be the ERA 289 FIA. The 427 cars by and large drive like poo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breezy7 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 I found this list of 7 types at the Lotus talk forum.http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f178/can-somebody-list-lotus-7-caterham-knockoffs-87787/ (post # 5) It is amazing to me that such an obscure car as the original Lotus 7 has spawned so many replicas worldwide. Even today the Lotus name can't be that well recognized compared to the big names in sports cars. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80-CU.IN.T Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 http://www.erareplicas.com/fia/fia.htm If I was going to get a Cobra replica, it would be the ERA 289 FIA. The 427 cars by and large drive like poo. I concur about the ERA but most of the newer kits drive quite well. - I built 2 ERAs in my grunt years. The Jag IRS is well thought out. Current small block V8s are much lighter & put out 450 - 500 HP with ease & forever. The ERA is the best Cobra replica I have driven. My father owned an original 289 that he bought new. I stole it at 3:00AM when I was 12, spun it and stalled it backwards on the freeway. Thank god it didn't flip. I could barely reach the pedals. Took me probably 5 minutes that seemed like hours to fire it back up. I got in back home with 4 flat spotted tires. He never did figure out what happened to his tires. I didn't drive again until I was 15 trying to get my learner's permit. Thankfully I didn't stain his driver's seat. My father eventually sold it before my sister got her drivers license figuring she would have killed herself in it. He sold it for $9000.00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 80-C: Great story! A friend bought a used one after we got out of college, in '68, for $5K. Luckily he still has it. I think it is his retirement plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80-CU.IN.T Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 80-C: Great story! A friend bought a used one after we got out of college, in '68, for $5K. Luckily he still has it. I think it is his retirement plan. Who would have known how much they would be worth today. $9,000.00 Was in 1974 - lower side of the value at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 (edited) List: Ten Lotus 7 Replica Kit Cars http://www.windingroad.com/articles/lists/ten-lotus-7-replica-kit-cars/?utm_campaign=Weekly+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email-83#1 and this Donkervoort introducing 24 Hours of Dubai special edition at AutoRAI http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/13/donkervoort-introducing-24-hours-of-dubai-special-edition-at-aut/ Edited April 13, 2011 by DeanG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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