The Superformance is a replica of the 427 S/C the Factory Five model on this video is a replica of the 289 FIA. Different cars that's why they look different. Also the Superformance are built in a factory and are normally sold without the motor and transmission. The Factory Fives are sold as a kit and assembled by the owner.
The S/C cars look great. We looked at buying a superformance to compare to our original S/C our dad bought in '71, as well as a contemporary Cobra built in the 80s that replicated the original really well. Also, factory five has stepped up their quality quite a bit since the early 2000s, so definitely a cool choice.
Both now sell complete cars due to a recent law changdee in the LVM act. The 427 is loud, but it's a horrible car to drive, overpowered in a car that weighs similar to Miata and gets really hot. And forget it if you crash. Zero protection. The FIA 289 is a better car, with the 289 slabside also a good choice. But FIA 289s were also hardtop.
sorry but like the poster of this video, you are incorrect that is NOT a 289 replica. that is the 427 body style dressed to look 'close' to a 289. the nose is wrong, as are the wheel flairs, the hood and even the door
@@richardschipper5989 on second look, you are correct. The builder modified the 427 body to look like the 289FIA and or USRRC cars that won all those races and the world championship in 1965. He had to make a lot of changes to get this look, the roll bar, the side pipes, the hood scoop, the radiator opening, the gas filler location, the tail lights and truck lid all had to be modified.
The Factory Five 289 FIA looks much better than their 427 version. The dam around the fuel filler is to keep fuel from pouring into the cockpit when refueling during races.
You are absolutely right on the 289 versus 427 guestion. Many years ago I had a chance to drive an original 289 which belonged to a friend on the street, and it was borderline terrifying ( I was considered to be a very good driver of fast cars.) When the same friend offered me a chance to take his 427, I told him I'll ride, you can drive, if you'll give me your solemn promise not to kill us both....
I kinda dig the 289 body ,it's more sedate and like a sleeper. But then I'm kinda biased as my cousin liked em too and had a 289 body and engine dropped on a 427 frame in 65 when the 289 was retired for the 427. They had some extras laying around and put one together for him. The 289 was way more fun on twisty backroads of upstate NY.
I think the "windscreen" around the fuel filler is a splash deflector to prevent fuel splash or overflow from going in the cockpit during rapid refueling (during a race).
I used to have a RAM cobra with a 4 litre rover v8 running quad downdraught dellortos. It used to take a bit of starting and have the occasional slightly rough running. The confusion was recognising the difference between fuel flow and fuel pressure. I put the pressure gauge in the fuel line between the pump and the carbs and the pressure gauge between the last carb in the circuit and the return to the fuel tank. Maximum flow with pressure adjustment. Ran and started beautifully from that day.
Probably right, but the 289 had some design flaws that made one valve tend to burn, and the heater run cold. And the rear main seal would leak about a quart per thousand miles. Easy engine to work on, but the improved version was the 302. Curiously the same size as a Coyote, so there should be plenty of potential there.
@@lyfandeth oh..and the jag 5L supercharged is a coyote engine (not literally but the same design and a lot of the same parts)..perhaps an even better option would be the jag 4.2?
The 289 is a much better driving car. It has better balance because it's not so nose heavy. The 427 also overwhelms the chassis. The original chassrs was designed in the 40's. Someone asked Shelby who designed the 427 Cobra. He told them Goodyear. As they added power they had to put wider wheels and tires on it and you had to flare the fenders to cover them.
Shelby heavily modified the frame from the Bristol to the point where it is really a completely different frame. It is not the same chassis from the 40's
Hi Wizard, Carroll Shelby said the 289 was the best, it was all designed around that Engine really, as it started out with the Bristol engine with AC cars, A race horse is light n nibble but no good for pulling buggies ? Shelby said in one of his interviews the cobra n mustang became bloated in the end ! Just for commercial reasons. Enjoy wizard 😁
289 cobras are always going to be my favorite. They were the ones that went racing and gave the cobra their legendary reputation. 427 are nice but they are pretty insane to drive compared to these. Beautiful car
We have a 427 replica, and agree 100%. No power steering, or power brakes, and the pedals are strange in their layout and location. Fun to drive, not as crazy as my 03 mach 1 with a supercharged Coyote, or even our brunton stalker (lotus 7 replica) with the chevy ls3, but definitely not a slouch either.
The emphasis on not for a Sunday cruise they're to have fun in the track repeat made me smile. Most cobra replicas only go out for the Sunday cruise. That's there main job
I have always been partial to the 289s over the 427s. Also, the Factory Five vs Superformance debate often ends in virtual bloodshed in the replica forums. No right or wrong answer (but I am partial to Factory Five - go take the factory tour up in Wareham, MA if you are ever in that area).
More horsepower than the tires and suspension can actually use in a meaningful way is pretty foolish. It's ego driven and has no rational purpose. Only teenagers and car magazine writers think it's cool.
I have the catalog from Factory Five from a couple years ago. You can build them pretty much any way you want to build them. They have some other really cool cars you can build too. I need one of these before I die.
Fun cars. I love my 427 Cobra. I did have a chance to drive it last year. It was funtastic. Got to drive my GT350R 3 times this year so far. Another fun car.
I think 400 hp is enough for this car. Factor Five makes different models. I have a Factory Five manufacturer within 5 miles from my house and plenty of these in our area. Fun car to drive, only for experience drivers.
Refreshing to hear in this age of Hellcats, ZL1s, and Mustang S550s. Too much too fast is not always usable or streetable, and can be very tiring to drive (sensory overload). Extreme cars/street dominators can be really obtuse and turn into garage queens (hardly driven) more often than not.
As a mechanic I cringe when I look under the bonnet/hood of any car and don't see proper air filters. I've seen engines turned into scrap metal by dust.
Our dad bought his 427 S/C competition Cobra in '71, the only cobra painted Gulf Racing Orange. Through shear luck we still have it today at Coyote Ranch, and it's still qmazingly in excellent condition. After having one in the family for so many years, it's easy to see how different the replicas are. Because of that, we ended up buying a contemporary Cobra built in the 80s that closely copies the original, down to the Salisbury rear differential, but with a 428 cobra jet. They are absolutely beautiful cars, but not great drivers due to pedal placement and no power brakes or power steering in the original configuration. Love the cobras, thanks for making some videos about them Wizard!
A former boss of mine had one of those, didn't buy it for the track drove it on the road. Rode in it once, never was I so happy to get out of a car in my life !
My one experience driving a Cobra replica was almost as frightening as the time I got to drive a souped up Sunbeam Tiger, and an MGB with a 302 in it. All 3 are cars that are basically trying to kill you the whole time you are driving them!🤣
The 260 then shortly thereafter the 289 was what Shelby originally had in them anyway. I think this one seems closer to the original being so stripped down.
I think a 500hp n/a ls v8 would be more than most can handle. Maybe for a drag car, but its not a great chassis for that with its short wheelbase and poor aero.
I believe Factory Five offered these as a replica to the Cobras that raced in USRRC. Like many have said, Factory Five Cobras are kit cars that are supposed to be bought and assembled at a home garage or a professional shop and the Superformance Cobras are built in their factory and delivered without a drivetrain to the customer. These are the 2 main big differences between Factory Five and Superformance. This factory five 289 USRRC Cobra is a very high quality nice build in my opinion. A lot of the parts are replicating the exact same Cobras that raced USRRC in the 60s including the engine itself, the valve covers, the weber carbs, the side pipes, rear view mirror, side view mirror, dashboard layout, even the alternator, etc. The wizard did not seem to know about the grill/opening differences between 289 and 427 Cobras. I'm sure most Cobra lovers know that the 289 Cobras had different grills and oil cooler scoops than 427s did. I'm not going to cover the major differences between 289 and 427 Cobras but the most obvious ones are: roll bar, grill/opening, rear fender flares (although there were narrow-hip 427 Cobras but those were very little in numbers), sidepipes' setup, quick jacks, dashboard layout, etc. Superformance builds their Cobras with a rectangular tubing frame, factory five has a different approach and uses a 4 inch round tubing just like the original CSX Cobras. This USRRC Cobra is just missing the quick jacks to be reversed just like the originals did and it can be a very very nice example of what a USRRC Cobra (CSX2385 for example) looked like in 1964.
Thanks Car Wizard, for doing this comparison between 2 of the more popular SC Cobra kit manufacturers. I am impressed with how beefy the Factory 5 chassis is. They also offer an absolutely stunning replica of the Shelby Daytona. The styling of the Daytona is timeless, and the design team at Factory 5 went to great lengths to pay homage to Mr. Shelby's vision for that piece of rolling art.
My father had a factory 66 289 k code drag pack mustang! About 2500lbs, with a 4 speed top loader with a nine inch rear end with 4:11s! . It had some miles on it but never skipped a beat. What a honey of a forgotten engine, watch number 12 shelby daytona coupe at the goodwood festival of speed pass ferraris with the same intake and 4 pipes. The 289 is criminally under rated, thats exactly how I would want a cobra!
I have a FF5 MkII cobra with a fuel injected 5L 302 and Tremec 5 spd. The 302 fuelie makes plenty of hp for such a lightweight car. It does have a live axle like the original cars. There are Mk III and IV variants which may have independent rear suspension depending upon the order options selected. My car has leather door panels with a pocket. I think that was another option. Fun cars. These replicas make ownership possible without breaking the bank.👍
Cool to see one in your shop, I loved seeing them build on powernation. Hopefully I can build one someday with a turbo charged Ford 300 inline 6. Keep up the good work car wizard
This is why the word “replica” should be used only in its original sense: a copy made by the makers of the original. But the word sounds cool and people prefer the cool-sounding word to the correct one…
I think your comment is appropriate but I think it’s relevant to any car you buy. Think about Hoovies orange Plymouth Superbird restomod. It wasn’t a kit car, it was just poorly built…..so in my mind every classic car, whether it’s based on a factory car or not, benefits from careful scrutiny
There used to be many companies producing AC Cobra’s but not many anymore. Factory 5, Superformance, Kirkham, and Shelby American are all that are left. Factory 5 is the only one an average person can own w/o spending a small fortune.
@@stuffhappens5681 There's also Backdraft. I've seen that one a few times now. But for a long time there were lots of mom and pop type enterprises turning these out.
@@paulmaul2186 - Yes there certainly were well over a dozen companies making AC Cobra kits years ago. I thought of Backdraft but didn’t think they were still in business.
@@stuffhappens5681 I had a quick look. Their website is still up. For a while they were churning cars out for a luxury dealership in Florida at about $100k a pop; they'd have as many as 10 in stock at one time. You have to wonder how big the market is.
I love old mechanical fuel pumps , my 1967 427 ss impala is a treat to start on a cold morning, originally was a 390hp 427 the original owner blew it up in 1969 and ordered a replacement 427 l-88 …😊😊😊😊😊😊😊I’ve owned the car since 1997, it’s a tuxedo black car with black convertible top , black interior with buckets and console full gauges , m-22 4 spd , 12 bolt posi 3:73 gears . It’s such a gem I’ll never sell or recklessly drive my impala , it’s a rad Time Machine to 1967 😊🤯I’m so in love with my old Chevy
Mine is a Lonestar(now Ultimate) replica with a Windsor 351. I'm very happy with the car but cannot imagine driving a 427 with yhe additional power. These cars are beasts, and if you don't race, their purpose is fun and thrills. I can cruise backroads all day long at 50mph and feel like I'm going 90mph. Between the raw responsiveness, and the beautiful sound of the headers, it's the most fun, thrilling experience you can imagine.
I would have liked seeing the comparison with them being beside one another. Aside from that… both are spectacular. Thanks going through them and their differences. Cheers!
If you put a 427 body style next to a 289 body style, and if they are pretty faithful to original designs, you'll notice quite a bit of difference in the nose as well as the stance. The 289's were more "old English" style design with a bit of a nose up attitude. Also, the "luggage bumps" on the boot of the 289 FIA models is another very noticeable difference. My 2¢
Replicas vary based on kit used, model of the car used, how well the kit was applied, the modifications made to the base model or the kit to make everything work, and, but not limited to, how well the kit was installed or the quality of the kit itself.
My lawyer had a Shelby aluminum bodied legacy cobra with the 427 ci engine. He took it out on I-95, got it up to 70 MPH, though to himself "let's see what this baby can do", and floored it. It promptly did a 360 at speed. He traded it in the next day and bought some fresh underwear. I'll take the 289 or 302 any day.
SuperFormance also makes an FI A 289 version, which is mor of a race car. It is more accurate than the F5, right down to the trunk bulge to fit the suitcase required at the time. Also the SF is recognized by Shelby American. The 427 is a different animal.
Factory five offers a version that is a mirror of the original also. As usual you still have the option build it yourself with whatever components you choose.
In Germany you can get Cobras by Weineck with engines north of 10 litres displacement - so more than 600cui. But in some TV-broadcast tests they kept throwing serpentine belts and other hiccups.
It has nothing to do with difference in Superformance or Factory Five. They are two different model Cobras. One is a 427 S/C style the other is a 289 FIA style. Both are very different.
Wizard, you demonstrate very sane reasoning about cars and economy for a long time and it gets me back to your videos frequently. Your reasoning about the 289 and what one does with a car like this ~Cobra - fine. But, the the F5 is not a replica, but rather a kitcar that mimics the original. It deviates in so many places in order to remain cheap, or maybe even to avoid intellectual property claims from the Shelby foundation. The other one you mention is a continuation car that still conforms to the original AC/Shelby Cobra 427 - approved by Carroll himself. The original Shelby 289 had an original AC chassis/body that looks different than the 427 Shelby version. The 289 could never fit these 427 wheels. Living in Europe, if I were to buy either one, I might still have a chance of being legally able to import the continuation model and get a license plate on it so I could hit the streets with it. Because it had a type certification about 60 years ago. Or, I could make that claim, at least. With the F5 there is no chance - it has no status. Within the USA there may be differences between states that I am not aware of and some of this may apply your side of the poind too. With many of the custom cars in the US, shown in YT, I wonder how (a) that can legally be driving the public road and (b) how these can be insured. And that would be a major concern with kitcars over here, too.
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on RUclips! I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
Asbestos is considered to be a very dangerous material in that it tends to fragment with age. Loose airborne fibers are extremely dangerous and cause lung disease such as mesothelioma. Just wear jeans and boots. Almost nobody wears asbestos based clothing for that reason. Lots of better flame retardant materials available to afford you fire protection without trying to kill you.
I totally agree with the Wizard!! There is definitely a 'law of diminishing returns' with horsepower and weight. Not matter what anyone say. A well tuned 289 can still out drive most drivers and chassis. Even Carrol Shelby once described his favorite AC, as the 289 with and AUTOMATIC!!! LoL..... Yup! after retiring from racing. Old Carrol thought manual shifting was not efficient.
On the original 427 Cobra’s the engine was so crammed into the car they had to put the gas pedal behind the brake pedal because they didn’t have enough room in the footwell. They also had to take a standard Mustang shift lever and turn it backwards because the transmission and engine were so far back it the car the boot was below the drivers elbow.
Training, Practice, Training, Practice. Add water, Rinse, Repeat. Try not to drive like a real asshole, and one might live a long life with a car that wants to kill you.
Time to return that Cobra cologne, Car Wizard. It's attracting Cobras like flies to an open jar of honey. Just kidding. Thanks for yet another one. Might be time to put up that 'no more Cobras' sign in your shop window. Lol. Again just kidding.
Wizard you talked about the viper being rapped around trees. There were quite a few that got destroyed around The Chrysler headquarters back in the day.
The original cobras had round tubing and FFR stuck with it for tradition. They could have completely changed the frame, but they wanted it to be like the originals. There is one FFR with a 289 running in the 9’s in the 1/4 mile.
I wouldnt mind a 289 replica to keep it lighter and more manageable, and I dont think I'd generally mind the slightly simpler (and less authentic as I understand it) setup of the factory five for the most part... But a solid rear axle is taking it a bit too far really: It isn't really a Cobra any longer without IRS in my opinion. :(
how much do they sell new and second-hand? which is the best cobra replica that's honest to the original. probably be nice to have a 2L Ford duratec supercharger 311bhp with 6-speed sequential gearbox. how much do they average weigh. and need some underfloor panels as well. try and get a an independent suspension back axle with attached gearbox like on Alfa Romeo.
Like you, i preferred the factory 5 for just what you mentioned…it was i felt truer to what Shelby intended. I had a friend in calif. With a real 427 cobra and you almost needed to use both feet on the clutch, it was fast furious and actually hard to drive sportingly as it was always on the ragged edge. Good review!
IIRC the Factory Five cars are more performance oriented as such they sacrifice some of the more period correct stuff that the superformance cars nail (or try to).
If anyone cares....the best replicas are made by Kirkham (if you want a metal body) and ERA if you want a fiberglass body. I've built a few from different companies. Many are trash. Kirkham and ERA are very good.
After sitting so long, How could the customer primed the system prior to trying to start, Pump the pedal repeatedly? Put a little fuel down the Weber's? Another option?
Yes; fit a loop in the fuel line near the tank and place an inline small cheap Chinese knock off electric pump in it.. You have one check valve in the main line between the 2 ends of the loop so fuel under pressure cannot flow back into the fuel tank when the electric priming pump is activated by the driver using a push button hidden under the dash. Once the carb bowls are full the electric pump though turned off electrically still allows fuel to flow through it and of course the checkvalve in the main line also opens to allow fuel flow through so that the mechanical fuel pump now sucks like it is designed to do. The advantage of a mechanical fuel pump that only runs when the engine is running.... is safety.. No running engine, no pressurised fuel spraying in a crash.
In most cases with a mechanical fuel pump you'll have to just keep cranking until it starts, you can spray starting fluid and run the engine for a few seconds until the mechanical fuel pump is able to draw fuel from the tank because of the higher RPMs while the engine is running but cranking is the easiest way.
God I love these and the Daytona Coupe. F5 kit all the way. No bloat or BS. Pop in a 302 or 289, whatever you have on hand, with a t5 or TKX behind it and go have fun.
I'm with you on the 289, the 427 is just stupidly overpowered, if I want cheating death kind if thrills, I'll ride a roller coaster, where actual death is unlikely.
Dont forget to head over to Home Of Chrome and see me talk about the Cummins swap into a hearse!!
ruclips.net/video/j4BKdOFWTfo/видео.html
THANKS THE WIZARD'S FOR THIS AWESOME CAR REVIEW.....Shoe🇺🇸
As a long time Cobra fan boy, I really enjoyed your recent efforts Mr. Wizard!
Super formance cobras are made in Anaheim California
The Superformance is a replica of the 427 S/C the Factory Five model on this video is a replica of the 289 FIA. Different cars that's why they look different. Also the Superformance are built in a factory and are normally sold without the motor and transmission. The Factory Fives are sold as a kit and assembled by the owner.
The S/C cars look great. We looked at buying a superformance to compare to our original S/C our dad bought in '71, as well as a contemporary Cobra built in the 80s that replicated the original really well. Also, factory five has stepped up their quality quite a bit since the early 2000s, so definitely a cool choice.
Both now sell complete cars due to a recent law changdee in the LVM act. The 427 is loud, but it's a horrible car to drive, overpowered in a car that weighs similar to Miata and gets really hot.
And forget it if you crash. Zero protection.
The FIA 289 is a better car, with the 289 slabside also a good choice. But FIA 289s were also hardtop.
Yep, you can build them the way you want.
sorry but like the poster of this video, you are incorrect that is NOT a 289 replica. that is the 427 body style dressed to look 'close' to a 289. the nose is wrong, as are the wheel flairs, the hood and even the door
@@richardschipper5989 on second look, you are correct. The builder modified the 427 body to look like the 289FIA and or USRRC cars that won all those races and the world championship in 1965. He had to make a lot of changes to get this look, the roll bar, the side pipes, the hood scoop, the radiator opening, the gas filler location, the tail lights and truck lid all had to be modified.
What impresses me. Is your honesty, reviews and the difference in how you look at a vehicle. Kudos for being old school and today's world. Thank you!
The Factory Five 289 FIA looks much better than their 427 version. The dam around the fuel filler is to keep fuel from pouring into the cockpit when refueling during races.
The dam is an aerodynamic fix. The fuel filler on a 289 is located in an area of low pressure, at high speed, fuel will get sucked out.
You are absolutely right on the 289 versus 427 guestion.
Many years ago I had a chance to drive an original 289 which belonged to a friend on the street, and it was borderline terrifying
( I was considered to be a very good driver of fast cars.)
When the same friend offered me a chance to take his 427, I told him I'll ride, you can drive, if you'll give me your solemn promise not to kill us both....
Reminds of the Bill Cosby piece about his 427.
I kinda dig the 289 body ,it's more sedate and like a sleeper.
But then I'm kinda biased as my cousin liked em too and had a 289 body and engine dropped on a 427 frame in 65 when the 289 was retired for the 427.
They had some extras laying around and put one together for him.
The 289 was way more fun on twisty backroads of upstate NY.
@@ianmontgomery7534 Cosby didn't have just any 427, he had a supercharged 427. And that car did kill a later owner.
@@rockets4kids It was twin supercharged and the throttle jammed and it went in to the ocean.
@@ianmontgomery7534 That's the story, at least. There is some speculation here. But it didn't stop the car from selling for $5.5 million.
I think the "windscreen" around the fuel filler is a splash deflector to prevent fuel splash or overflow from going in the cockpit during rapid refueling (during a race).
It is
Why not both? 🥳
The dam is an aerodynamic fix. The fuel filler on a 289 is located in an area of low pressure, at high speed, fuel will get sucked out.
@@stephenc6955 LOL
I used to have a RAM cobra with a 4 litre rover v8 running quad downdraught dellortos.
It used to take a bit of starting and have the occasional slightly rough running. The confusion was recognising the difference between fuel flow and fuel pressure. I put the pressure gauge in the fuel line between the pump and the carbs and the pressure gauge between the last carb in the circuit and the return to the fuel tank. Maximum flow with pressure adjustment. Ran and started beautifully from that day.
From what I have read, the 289 handles much better due to reduced weight up front. I like the understated Cobras without all the chrome.
Probably right, but the 289 had some design flaws that made one valve tend to burn, and the heater run cold. And the rear main seal would leak about a quart per thousand miles. Easy engine to work on, but the improved version was the 302. Curiously the same size as a Coyote, so there should be plenty of potential there.
@@lyfandeth do they make a stand alone coyote?
@@duanesamuelson2256 I'm sure that if Ford doesn't sell them as "crate" engines, they'd be able to liberate one for this.
@@lyfandeth I was thinking of the stand alone electronic package as part of it. I don't follow this as well as I should lol.
@@lyfandeth oh..and the jag 5L supercharged is a coyote engine (not literally but the same design and a lot of the same parts)..perhaps an even better option would be the jag 4.2?
The 289 is a much better driving car. It has better balance because it's not so nose heavy. The 427 also overwhelms the chassis. The original chassrs was designed in the 40's.
Someone asked Shelby who designed the 427 Cobra. He told them Goodyear. As they added power they had to put wider wheels and tires on it and you had to flare the fenders to cover them.
Shelby heavily modified the frame from the Bristol to the point where it is really a completely different frame. It is not the same chassis from the 40's
Hi Wizard, Carroll Shelby said the 289 was the best, it was all designed around that Engine really, as it started out with the Bristol engine with AC cars, A race horse is light n nibble but no good for pulling buggies ?
Shelby said in one of his interviews the cobra n mustang became bloated in the end ! Just for commercial reasons.
Enjoy wizard 😁
The 427 is to brag about with the hood up, the 289 is driven for fun.
289 cobras are always going to be my favorite. They were the ones that went racing and gave the cobra their legendary reputation. 427 are nice but they are pretty insane to drive compared to these. Beautiful car
We have a 427 replica, and agree 100%. No power steering, or power brakes, and the pedals are strange in their layout and location. Fun to drive, not as crazy as my 03 mach 1 with a supercharged Coyote, or even our brunton stalker (lotus 7 replica) with the chevy ls3, but definitely not a slouch either.
The FFR Daytona Coupe with a 383 c.i. stroker has been my dream car for decades. Thanks for the great content Mr. & Mrs. Wizard!
The emphasis on not for a Sunday cruise they're to have fun in the track repeat made me smile.
Most cobra replicas only go out for the Sunday cruise. That's there main job
I have always been partial to the 289s over the 427s. Also, the Factory Five vs Superformance debate often ends in virtual bloodshed in the replica forums. No right or wrong answer (but I am partial to Factory Five - go take the factory tour up in Wareham, MA if you are ever in that area).
I think the superformance are quite a bit more $$$.
I always hated the rear end on a Factory Five. They look like they got rear ended and shoved the rear up. They don't look right at all.
Bought a factory five mk 4..
Better frame than the others.
More horsepower than the tires and suspension can actually use in a meaningful way is pretty foolish. It's ego driven and has no rational purpose. Only teenagers and car magazine writers think it's cool.
I have the catalog from Factory Five from a couple years ago. You can build them pretty much any way you want to build them. They have some other really cool cars you can build too. I need one of these before I die.
Superformance is a more authentic replica chassis wise as is Kirkham and ERA (if they still exist)
F5's use fox body and SN95 (I think) underpinnings.
Fun cars. I love my 427 Cobra. I did have a chance to drive it last year. It was funtastic. Got to drive my GT350R 3 times this year so far. Another fun car.
I think 400 hp is enough for this car. Factor Five makes different models. I have a Factory Five manufacturer within 5 miles from my house and plenty of these in our area. Fun car to drive, only for experience drivers.
Refreshing to hear in this age of Hellcats, ZL1s, and Mustang S550s. Too much too fast is not always usable or streetable, and can be very tiring to drive (sensory overload). Extreme cars/street dominators can be really obtuse and turn into garage queens (hardly driven) more often than not.
Legend has it: The Car Wizard invented the window curtain and the month November.
As a mechanic I cringe when I look under the bonnet/hood of any car and don't see proper air filters. I've seen engines turned into scrap metal by dust.
Agreed! I see so many turbo cars where the turbo has no filter or even an inlet....and I always shrug my shoulders.
Our dad bought his 427 S/C competition Cobra in '71, the only cobra painted Gulf Racing Orange. Through shear luck we still have it today at Coyote Ranch, and it's still qmazingly in excellent condition. After having one in the family for so many years, it's easy to see how different the replicas are. Because of that, we ended up buying a contemporary Cobra built in the 80s that closely copies the original, down to the Salisbury rear differential, but with a 428 cobra jet. They are absolutely beautiful cars, but not great drivers due to pedal placement and no power brakes or power steering in the original configuration. Love the cobras, thanks for making some videos about them Wizard!
Weeezard...the sheet metal around the gas filler is not a spoiler, it's a splash guard so fuel doesn't land on the driver.
Look at Magic Mike learning new (to him) skills!
A former boss of mine had one of those, didn't buy it for the track drove it on the road. Rode in it once, never was I so happy to get out of a car in my life !
My one experience driving a Cobra replica was almost as frightening as the time I got to drive a souped up Sunbeam Tiger, and an MGB with a 302 in it.
All 3 are cars that are basically trying to kill you the whole time you are driving them!🤣
The 260 then shortly thereafter the 289 was what Shelby originally had in them anyway. I think this one seems closer to the original being so stripped down.
That's what a real muscle car sounds like!!!! Thanks for the treat Wizard.
One advantage to the small block is you can add turbos to get more power AND low weight in the front end.
I'm thinking turbos would be a challenge with the Webers.
I think a 500hp n/a ls v8 would be more than most can handle. Maybe for a drag car, but its not a great chassis for that with its short wheelbase and poor aero.
That's how muscle cars are supposed to be, basic, stripped down and affordable. That's what's lost on automakers today.
I believe Factory Five offered these as a replica to the Cobras that raced in USRRC. Like many have said, Factory Five Cobras are kit cars that are supposed to be bought and assembled at a home garage or a professional shop and the Superformance Cobras are built in their factory and delivered without a drivetrain to the customer. These are the 2 main big differences between Factory Five and Superformance.
This factory five 289 USRRC Cobra is a very high quality nice build in my opinion. A lot of the parts are replicating the exact same Cobras that raced USRRC in the 60s including the engine itself, the valve covers, the weber carbs, the side pipes, rear view mirror, side view mirror, dashboard layout, even the alternator, etc. The wizard did not seem to know about the grill/opening differences between 289 and 427 Cobras. I'm sure most Cobra lovers know that the 289 Cobras had different grills and oil cooler scoops than 427s did. I'm not going to cover the major differences between 289 and 427 Cobras but the most obvious ones are: roll bar, grill/opening, rear fender flares (although there were narrow-hip 427 Cobras but those were very little in numbers), sidepipes' setup, quick jacks, dashboard layout, etc.
Superformance builds their Cobras with a rectangular tubing frame, factory five has a different approach and uses a 4 inch round tubing just like the original CSX Cobras.
This USRRC Cobra is just missing the quick jacks to be reversed just like the originals did and it can be a very very nice example of what a USRRC Cobra (CSX2385 for example) looked like in 1964.
i like cars that actually require you to be a good driver to get the potential out of it
Except this car requires you to be a good driver to stay alive in it. Even cooler
I think I would like the small block better. I'll never know for sure.
Thanks Car Wizard, for doing this comparison between 2 of the more popular SC Cobra kit manufacturers. I am impressed with how beefy the Factory 5 chassis is. They also offer an absolutely stunning replica of the Shelby Daytona. The styling of the Daytona is timeless, and the design team at Factory 5 went to great lengths to pay homage to Mr. Shelby's vision for that piece of rolling art.
i am with you on the daytona coupe, i would take that over the cobra
I was in the market for either and I ended up with a cobra cobra for all the right reasons.
Mike loved posing in that Cobra!
My father had a factory 66 289 k code drag pack mustang! About 2500lbs, with a 4 speed top loader with a nine inch rear end with 4:11s! . It had some miles on it but never skipped a beat. What a honey of a forgotten engine, watch number 12 shelby daytona coupe at the goodwood festival of speed pass ferraris with the same intake and 4 pipes. The 289 is criminally under rated, thats exactly how I would want a cobra!
I have a FF5 MkII cobra with a fuel injected 5L 302 and Tremec 5 spd. The 302 fuelie makes plenty of hp for such a lightweight car. It does have a live axle like the original cars. There are Mk III and IV variants which may have independent rear suspension depending upon the order options selected. My car has leather door panels with a pocket. I think that was another option. Fun cars. These replicas make ownership possible without breaking the bank.👍
You can get IRS on a factory five also. They can even help you put a Coyote or LS1 in it, if you choose to.
Cool to see one in your shop, I loved seeing them build on powernation. Hopefully I can build one someday with a turbo charged Ford 300 inline 6. Keep up the good work car wizard
That 289 with the AFR heads and webbers would easily make 350hp
Need more of Magic Mike. Seems like a really cool dude.
This is why the word “replica” should be used only in its original sense: a copy made by the makers of the original. But the word sounds cool and people prefer the cool-sounding word to the correct one…
You should do a lift dedicated video! What to buy and not to buy. It’s always a debate between pit, two post, four post and scissor lifts...
That would be "egg salad". Please do that, Wizard.
There's SO MANY Cobra replicas out there, and the quality varies so much. Definitely a buyer beware market.
I think your comment is appropriate but I think it’s relevant to any car you buy. Think about Hoovies orange Plymouth Superbird restomod. It wasn’t a kit car, it was just poorly built…..so in my mind every classic car, whether it’s based on a factory car or not, benefits from careful scrutiny
There used to be many companies producing AC Cobra’s but not many anymore. Factory 5, Superformance, Kirkham, and Shelby American are all that are left. Factory 5 is the only one an average person can own w/o spending a small fortune.
@@stuffhappens5681 There's also Backdraft. I've seen that one a few times now. But for a long time there were lots of mom and pop type enterprises turning these out.
@@paulmaul2186 - Yes there certainly were well over a dozen companies making AC Cobra kits years ago. I thought of Backdraft but didn’t think they were still in business.
@@stuffhappens5681 I had a quick look. Their website is still up. For a while they were churning cars out for a luxury dealership in Florida at about $100k a pop; they'd have as many as 10 in stock at one time. You have to wonder how big the market is.
I love old mechanical fuel pumps , my 1967 427 ss impala is a treat to start on a cold morning, originally was a 390hp 427 the original owner blew it up in 1969 and ordered a replacement 427 l-88 …😊😊😊😊😊😊😊I’ve owned the car since 1997, it’s a tuxedo black car with black convertible top , black interior with buckets and console full gauges , m-22 4 spd , 12 bolt posi 3:73 gears . It’s such a gem I’ll never sell or recklessly drive my impala , it’s a rad Time Machine to 1967 😊🤯I’m so in love with my old Chevy
Mine is a Lonestar(now Ultimate) replica with a Windsor 351. I'm very happy with the car but cannot imagine driving a 427 with yhe additional power. These cars are beasts, and if you don't race, their purpose is fun and thrills. I can cruise backroads all day long at 50mph and feel like I'm going 90mph. Between the raw responsiveness, and the beautiful sound of the headers, it's the most fun, thrilling experience you can imagine.
I would have liked seeing the comparison with them being beside one another. Aside from that… both are spectacular. Thanks going through them and their differences. Cheers!
If you put a 427 body style next to a 289 body style, and if they are pretty faithful to original designs, you'll notice quite a bit of difference in the nose as well as the stance. The 289's were more "old English" style design with a bit of a nose up attitude. Also, the "luggage bumps" on the boot of the 289 FIA models is another very noticeable difference. My 2¢
Replicas vary based on kit used, model of the car used, how well the kit was applied, the modifications made to the base model or the kit to make everything work, and, but not limited to, how well the kit was installed or the quality of the kit itself.
My lawyer had a Shelby aluminum bodied legacy cobra with the 427 ci engine.
He took it out on I-95, got it up to 70 MPH, though to himself "let's see what this baby can do", and floored it.
It promptly did a 360 at speed.
He traded it in the next day and bought some fresh underwear.
I'll take the 289 or 302 any day.
🤣🤣🤣👍
SuperFormance also makes an FI A 289 version, which is mor of a race car. It is more accurate than the F5, right down to the trunk bulge to fit the suitcase required at the time. Also the SF is recognized by Shelby American. The 427 is a different animal.
Factory five offers a version that is a mirror of the original also. As usual you still have the option build it yourself with whatever components you choose.
In Germany you can get Cobras by Weineck with engines north of 10 litres displacement - so more than 600cui. But in some TV-broadcast tests they kept throwing serpentine belts and other hiccups.
Drove a 67 Cobra and it has so much power. Had no problem getting it over 100 mph on the Memorial causeway to Clearwater Beach
As usual, a solid video. But Wizard, you could improve by editing in the footage of the other cobra for better comparison for the viewer’s sake.
Give MAGIC MIKE a raise. He looks GREAT in it....😉
If you get into a wreck and you are the passenger.
"So sorry..."
It has nothing to do with difference in Superformance or Factory Five. They are two different model Cobras.
One is a 427 S/C style the other is a 289 FIA style. Both are very different.
well this isn't a 289FIA either
I used to live in Mamaroneck NY, there was a small company they build Cobra replica's.
The Factory Five hot rod kits look awesome.. I'm seriously considering doing one next year
Wizard, you demonstrate very sane reasoning about cars and economy for a long time and it gets me back to your videos frequently. Your reasoning about the 289 and what one does with a car like this ~Cobra - fine.
But, the the F5 is not a replica, but rather a kitcar that mimics the original. It deviates in so many places in order to remain cheap, or maybe even to avoid intellectual property claims from the Shelby foundation.
The other one you mention is a continuation car that still conforms to the original AC/Shelby Cobra 427 - approved by Carroll himself. The original Shelby 289 had an original AC chassis/body that looks different than the 427 Shelby version. The 289 could never fit these 427 wheels.
Living in Europe, if I were to buy either one, I might still have a chance of being legally able to import the continuation model and get a license plate on it so I could hit the streets with it. Because it had a type certification about 60 years ago. Or, I could make that claim, at least. With the F5 there is no chance - it has no status.
Within the USA there may be differences between states that I am not aware of and some of this may apply your side of the poind too.
With many of the custom cars in the US, shown in YT, I wonder how (a) that can legally be driving the public road and (b) how these can be insured. And that would be a major concern with kitcars over here, too.
The Car Wizards has the coolest walk on RUclips! I'd love to see a continuous loop video of him just waddling around on his stubby little legs with Pantera's WALK as the background music!
Are you gonna comment this on every video?
Why do you post this every video? It’s kinda weird
He has a fetish can't you see 😂
When Magic Mike started the Cobra you can literally see the moment his sphincter tightened in response and he lifted 2 inches in the seat. 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
It is recommended you wear your asbestos pants when using this particular cobra. Thanks Wizard that was A feast for the eyes.
A lot of people, especially passengers, burn their ankles severely on those unguarded pipes.
Asbestos is considered to be a very dangerous material in that it tends to fragment with age. Loose airborne fibers are extremely dangerous and cause lung disease such as mesothelioma. Just wear jeans and boots. Almost nobody wears asbestos based clothing for that reason. Lots of better flame retardant materials available to afford you fire protection without trying to kill you.
@@houseofno As an AHERA/OSHA inspector for over 30 years I know that. That was a joke.
This cars is gorgeous and sound amazing.
I totally agree with the Wizard!! There is definitely a 'law of diminishing returns' with horsepower and weight. Not matter what anyone say. A well tuned 289 can still out drive most drivers and chassis.
Even Carrol Shelby once described his favorite AC, as the 289 with and AUTOMATIC!!! LoL..... Yup! after retiring from racing. Old Carrol thought manual shifting was not efficient.
Those clunky Borg Warner 4 speeds were hard to shift.
A class mate of mine built a Factory Five Cobra... but with a Chrysler small block and a 833A 4 speed. Its was a terror and cleaned up the fords.
On the original 427 Cobra’s the engine was so crammed into the car they had to put the gas pedal behind the brake pedal because they didn’t have enough room in the footwell. They also had to take a standard Mustang shift lever and turn it backwards because the transmission and engine were so far back it the car the boot was below the drivers elbow.
NEEDS MORE POWER! 427 all the way baby, just learn to drive it. Dont be scared.
Training, Practice, Training, Practice. Add water, Rinse, Repeat. Try not to drive like a real asshole, and one might live a long life with a car that wants to kill you.
Time to return that Cobra cologne, Car Wizard. It's attracting Cobras like flies to an open jar of honey. Just kidding. Thanks for yet another one. Might be time to put up that 'no more Cobras' sign in your shop window. Lol. Again just kidding.
Wizard you talked about the viper being rapped around trees. There were quite a few that got destroyed around The Chrysler headquarters back in the day.
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is this weekend, and I expect to see a number of these in the car show.
The original cobras had round tubing and FFR stuck with it for tradition. They could have completely changed the frame, but they wanted it to be like the originals. There is one FFR with a 289 running in the 9’s in the 1/4 mile.
The sixties must be really stoked, because the Wizard is bringing back “have a blast “ on the track.
I wouldnt mind a 289 replica to keep it lighter and more manageable, and I dont think I'd generally mind the slightly simpler (and less authentic as I understand it) setup of the factory five for the most part... But a solid rear axle is taking it a bit too far really: It isn't really a Cobra any longer without IRS in my opinion. :(
Another great video from the wizard. Thanks
how much do they sell new and second-hand? which is the best cobra replica that's honest to the original.
probably be nice to have a 2L Ford duratec supercharger 311bhp with 6-speed sequential gearbox.
how much do they average weigh. and need some underfloor panels as well.
try and get a an independent suspension back axle with attached gearbox like on Alfa Romeo.
Like you, i preferred the factory 5 for just what you mentioned…it was i felt truer to what Shelby intended. I had a friend in calif. With a real 427 cobra and you almost needed to use both feet on the clutch, it was fast furious and actually hard to drive sportingly as it was always on the ragged edge. Good review!
You buy the factory 5 cars as a kit and put them together yourself so the interior is up to you same as the drive train
I agree a small block 289 is the preferred motor
Which is better, the square tubing or the round tubing? What kind of frame did the original Shelby cobra have?
The original is 4" round
IIRC the Factory Five cars are more performance oriented as such they sacrifice some of the more period correct stuff that the superformance cars nail (or try to).
My friend has a factory 5 GTM...
He needs a car wizard in upstate New York.
Thanks for your videos
Looks like its missing paint on both sides of the dashboard interior? Is it some kind of a tape?
If anyone cares....the best replicas are made by Kirkham (if you want a metal body) and ERA if you want a fiberglass body. I've built a few from different companies. Many are trash. Kirkham and ERA are very good.
After sitting so long, How could the customer primed the system prior to trying to start,
Pump the pedal repeatedly?
Put a little fuel down the
Weber's?
Another option?
Yes;
fit a loop in the fuel line near the tank and place an inline small cheap Chinese knock off electric pump in it..
You have one check valve in the main line between the 2 ends of the loop so fuel under pressure cannot flow back into the fuel tank when the electric priming pump is activated by the driver using a push button hidden under the dash.
Once the carb bowls are full the electric pump though turned off electrically still allows fuel to flow through it and of course the checkvalve in the main line also opens to allow fuel flow through so that the mechanical fuel pump now sucks like it is designed to do.
The advantage of a mechanical fuel pump that only runs when the engine is running.... is safety..
No running engine, no pressurised fuel spraying in a crash.
In most cases with a mechanical fuel pump you'll have to just keep cranking until it starts, you can spray starting fluid and run the engine for a few seconds until the mechanical fuel pump is able to draw fuel from the tank because of the higher RPMs while the engine is running but cranking is the easiest way.
We need a 2J Cobra
Another great video wizard. Keep them coming. Happy Motoring!
It's funny how similar yet how different they can be.
God I love these and the Daytona Coupe. F5 kit all the way. No bloat or BS. Pop in a 302 or 289, whatever you have on hand, with a t5 or TKX behind it and go have fun.
They make kits: You supply the engine/trans wheels tires rear end and paint.
The 427 is for people for whom "too much power" is just not quite enough.
I've never seen anyone more opposed to fun than Wizard.
the carbs are the winner for me. What a beautiful engine bay.
The Superformance Corvette Grand Sport is my dream car!
When he says prime the carburetors he means pour gas down the intake. I've done that many times to cars that set a while.
Thanks for showing a FFR Cobra. I like the 289 and Webers!
I have a factory five mk4, it looks a lot more like the superformance, bigger wheels. 427 with 530hp
But I agree 289 is better for cruising, I can break traction in 3rd gear at 70mph it’s alittle scary
WIZZARD magic mike is looking comfortable in front of the camera hope you don't lose him to hollywood.
Great video, Wizard. Small detail, there is a IRS option from Factory Five.
If you can ever get any of the factory 5 original designs like the 818 in the shop that would be cool to see. GREAT video
I'm with you on the 289, the 427 is just stupidly overpowered, if I want cheating death kind if thrills, I'll ride a roller coaster, where actual death is unlikely.
Have you seen Bill Cosby's skit re taking a Cobra for a drive around the tree in his front yard?
So beautiful, why are these not more common?