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This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

Lumpys Kobra Build project.

28 Mar 2016, 7:48pm
Hi Dave,

I drive my car daily and have a hard top, so the winter has been nothing more than the usual Z3 dribble from the side window.
With a decent base car, its just like a Z3 but so much prettier.

The kit has very few issues, no nocks or squeak's.

The only negative issues with the whole process is some of the chrome has started to pit a little. This will be a summer polishing exercise.

I have had the kit side by side with other cobra's and all kits are slightly different there is no "real" cobra other than a Shelby/AC. If I had to do it all again, I think I would either get it painted in Plasti Dip or not spend out on paint until everything had settled.

I cannot fault the design in any way.

Regards,

Lumpy.
28 Mar 2016, 8:41pm
Lumpy
Thanks very much for the speedy response. Glad to hear you are still enjoying the car - especially considering it is a daily driver.

This is where the tribute models come into their own I assume. Not forcing us to use them at weekends

Happy polishing in the summer

Dave
28 Mar 2016, 9:32pm
Hi Lumpy,

I have been reading your thread with interest......

A couple of questions:

  • Is the supercharger worth it? What was price and implication on insurance?
  • You mention either waiting to paint or plastic dip if you did it again due to settling, what has to settle?

Thanks in advance.
29 Mar 2016, 4:21pm
Hi Ericholm,

If you have the funds, the supercharger is awesome.
I have had to completely re-learn how to drive it.

Taking into consideration that a Z3M goes for around 10-12k, I have more power and torque. I paid £2500 for an all be it tatty Z3, but it had only done 49k miles.
The cost of the conversion was roughly £5500 from Regal Autosport in Southampton.

As for letting the fiberglass settle, I now have a few bits that could do with a little tinkering. the weight of the fiberglass, plus driving at speed, I guess have moved things slightly.
Also over the winter, the fiberglassed parts on one side, where the old mirror used to be are showing slightly. All small things that only I would notice, but will eventually need a respray.

The cost of the insurance was no different as it is classed as a kit car, and therefore unique.

I hope this information is of some help.

Regards,

Lumpy.
29 Mar 2016, 5:57pm
lumpy wrote:
Hi Ericholm,

If you have the funds, the supercharger is awesome.
I have had to completely re-learn how to drive it.

Taking into consideration that a Z3M goes for around 10-12k, I have more power and torque. I paid £2500 for an all be it tatty Z3, but it had only done 49k miles.
The cost of the conversion was roughly £5500 from Regal Autosport in Southampton.

As for letting the fiberglass settle, I now have a few bits that could do with a little tinkering. the weight of the fiberglass, plus driving at speed, I guess have moved things slightly.
Also over the winter, the fiberglassed parts on one side, where the old mirror used to be are showing slightly. All small things that only I would notice, but will eventually need a respray.

The cost of the insurance was no different as it is classed as a kit car, and therefore unique.

I hope this information is of some help.

Regards,

Lumpy.


Thanks Lumpy!

£5.5k wow that is some investment, you must have really been sold on that.

Great news on the insurance front too.

Yes very helpful :dance:
22 Nov 2017, 9:56pm
Hi Lumpy,

You still on here from time to time ? How's the supercharged Kobra going these days ?

Dave
28 Nov 2017, 5:16pm
Sorry, not been on for a while. The supercharger is awsome. It gives the car the power to match its looks.
No complaints at all. What I will say is getting Regal Autosport to answer an email is another issue. I quite fancied a pulley change when I get the supercharger oil changed.

Money well spent.
29 Nov 2017, 8:02am
Thanks Lumpy,

Good to see that the ownership continues too. I will have to keep a keen eye out for your copper monster as I'm not that far away.

..... did I just say copper monster ? ....
29 Aug 2019, 8:51pm
Debating on selling.

It still makes me smile every time I drive it.

But I keep looking at new toys....

It still gets more looks than a Ferrari.

But I am debating a change.

A full set of drilled and grooves disks and pads front and rear only cost me £145

Yet I would probably buy something that costs more to run.

Nearly all the cars I like the look of are slower!

But I think I need a change.

Anyone else have the same issues?
29 Aug 2019, 9:02pm
You could always fit a 250swbc kit to it. Same but different, just need to find somewhere to store the cobra panels, shouldn't be to hard to hang them from the garage ceiling. Shame to waste such a good donor with the engine mods.
20 Feb 2020, 6:17pm
lumpy wrote:
It still makes me smile every time I drive it.

But I keep looking at new toys....

It still gets more looks than a Ferrari.

But I am debating a change.

A full set of drilled and grooves disks and pads front and rear only cost me £145

Yet I would probably buy something that costs more to run.

Nearly all the cars I like the look of are slower!

But I think I need a change.

Anyone else have the same issues?


Here goes:

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=274279695919&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111

Priced for someone who can’t be arsed to do the work themselves.
20 Feb 2020, 9:05pm
That’s very nice
20 Feb 2020, 9:37pm
Wow. Good luck with the sale Lumpy :) that will be a record price too. Mind you it’s the only supercharged one I know of.

Hope you get what you need for it. I really liked that build. In fact it showed the seed of banded steels with spinners in my mind. I didn’t get the same wheels but close in concept.

You still have the motorbike-trike (can’t recall exactly) in the same colour ?

Dave
21 Feb 2020, 10:46am
DaveP wrote:
Wow. Good luck with the sale Lumpy :) that will be a record price too. Mind you it’s the only supercharged one I know of.

Hope you get what you need for it. I really liked that build. In fact it showed the seed of banded steels with spinners in my mind. I didn’t get the same wheels but close in concept.

You still have the motorbike-trike (can’t recall exactly) in the same colour ?

Dave


Thanks Dave,

Big price, but quite a bit less than I have spent and it’s been done right. Only thing left it could possibly need is an under seal. Not sure how to approach it with the fibreglass though.

Trike has been sold, it really needed a garage for winter storage.

There is a Z3M roadster up at the moment for 19k, that would have been the ultimate starting point.........

Mechanically I would much rather have what I have built than one of the jag based kits.
21 Feb 2020, 4:08pm
Wow that's a serious price tag there!

Best of luck with the sale.