Had to watch it a second time after 8 mos. The guy is straight up with the cost and smile thru the whole thing. Plus got to do it with his son and that's worth the cost.
Thank you! While Factory Five explain other parts and tasks to get from their kit to the final car, I don't think it's in their best interest to fully disclose the potential final costs of such project, since it may scare some of the potential customers
@@alexmak1 it’s sort of like buying a Motor Yacht and operating it costs if you need to adhere to a specific budget I tell my freinds you will be very disappointed they would be better off hiring a competent Captain and giving him a stack of signed blank checks to use at his disposal like the Shelby once you begin there isn’t much turning back a Vessel is a terrible investment on your money but a great investment on fun and memorable events IMO the two are kind of similar in the way if you have to ask , you can’t afford it
@@mjh5437 So very true here is a good one after my divorce my ex wife and I became on good terms and she would even sometimes borrow my boat for the day whenever she called to ask I usually knew ahead of time and responded sure but it’s low on Fuel she had the money Nd would top off the fuel tanks and leave the boat with pretty much full fuel tanks for me I always tried to use tht fuel with other Womn onboard in skimpy outfits that I was having Sexual relations with on my ex wife’s dime LOL
I think a lot of people don't realise the full cost of building a kit car, hence so many half finished projects sitting in peoples garages/sheds. Well done to you and your son.
I am a huge Shelby Cobra fan, and Alex that was an awesome presentation including so many details and invaluable information to any future builder! Watched your 25 minute build video before this one. I must say it was very entertaining, at the same time giving a glimpse over the various stages, and challenges, of putting a kit togeather. Great work on both accounts! Congratulations on your own Cobra that will give you, and your son, lots of smiles per gallon!
I built a MKII FFR back in 2004 and spend nearly $40K and had a blast building it. These cars are fun to build and even more fun to drive. These replicas can definitely be built on a small budget when using a donor car, but it takes a great deal of restraint not to add a bunch of stuff. The internet forums helped to take the fear out of the build, but they can also encourage you to spend a lot of extra money on stuff that really isn't all that important. Great job on the videos and congratulations on building a sweet ride with your son.
You did an amazing job describing the process and cost. You described it with a minimal amount of words avoiding the constant "you knows" polluting many American's presentations. Finally that English is not your native tongue and your accent is merely seasoning and not an impediment to understanding your presentation says volumes about your effort to master the English language. Congratulations on your build. Congratulations on your English language skills.
I built my Factory Five in 2003 before they had the complete kit. At the time the kit was $12,900, and the only options I bought were the full width roller(they no longer offer), and the body cutouts. I found a side hit 1990 Mustang for $3,000, which had a recently rebuilt motor and trans with only 6,000 miles on it. The engine was bored to a 306, E303 cam, Aluminum Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, and some other goodies. I parted out the Mustang, and made about $1,500 off the parts I sold. Unfortunately, the spindles and rear were ended up being bent, so I had to replace those. I found a 8.8 rear at a pick-a-part, and completely rebuilt it with 3:55 gears. I used the wiring harness from the Mustang, but that's about it. Most of the other items were too worn out, so I ended up buying a new gas tank, brakes, radiator, etc. I had someone else to the paint for $5k. I ended up spending between $27-28k. I completed the build in 2004, which took about 10 months, and I'm still driving it today.
Those good times! But these mustangs are now sold at the collector’s pricing, so it’s very hard to replicate that. Awesome that you are still driving your car!
Additional costs are very well explained in your video. Donor cars aren't the money saver they were a few years ago. It's a great point about collector prices being asked for older Mustangs. Options are a huge issue such as heat/AC, sway bars, side windows (Daytona coupe) wipers, etc. In your intro, it might help to tell viewers to click the "show more" button before they watch. Many thanks.
Nice job on the video. Even though posted a year ago, just now viewing it. You did a good job of explaining the true costs of building one of these. Have built several myself, so can vouch for many of your observations. Also read through the comments. Three points: (1) I'm always amazed how many don't get the "built not bought" concept. Yes, you can buy a completed car (of many different brands) for the same price or less. Or maybe buy one already built. But that misses the point entirely of the satisfaction and enjoyment of building it yourself. If that's not for you, I get it. But for many of us, the building is almost as fun and satisfying as the completed car. (2) People saying you can buy a completed kit for way less aren't watching the current market. It's very strong right now. You'll likely almost never get your investment back. Or your labor. Very typical for hobby cars of any brand. But the gap for these is much less than it used to be. A very high quality build could in fact exceed the investment. Don't know that it will always be that way. But it is right now. Plus, again, misses the "built not bought" idea. (3) Multiple references by you and others that don't properly explain how the body is built. It's ONE PIECE. Not glued together from multiple pieces. Those lines are parting lines from the various mold pieces taken apart after the body is laid up. Granted the raw parting lines don't look nice and arguably could be improved with better molds or mold maintenance. But a good body shop will grind them off in minutes and they'll be filled by the usual body work required on all fiberglass bodies. It's one of the least time consuming parts of the overall body and paint process.
Somewhat frustrating that people don’t understand built vs bought. I have far more respect for someone building a car with their son, in their home garage, than someone with tons of money or a large inheritance buying stuff. You also can’t put a price on what his son learned about cars/ general mechanics/ the value of hard work. On the subject of paint work: Is it viable to just wrap the gel coat? Seems like a perfect candidate for vinyl wrap since the body panels have simple lines, and this could easily be done at home.
I hope the cost of the motorcycle doesn't turn out to be your life. Iv'e had over thirty bikes, and had a lot of fun. Got just a scrape or two racing, nothing more. Good luck.
Thank you, Alex! That was excellent! It's been my lifelong dream to own a Cobra, and it was terrific to see the true costs to build one broken down. I'm far from being a mechanic myself, so I'm leaning toward buying a gently used Cobra. We'll see! Congrats on your build, and I hope you have many years of enjoyment with it.
Excellent video. I purchased a built FFR Type 65 Daytona. Finished in Canada in 2010. Came with all his receipts just over $60000cd spent including the kit. Built with all new parts and a Ford Racing 392 stroker. Levy 5 link rear suspension. Just a little info. 11 years later you can be sure it will be more. But nothing compares to the driving experience.
Thank you! I want to build a Daytona now, probably in a year or two, with my new experience it should be easier, although not necessarily faster. yes, the driving experience, but also multiplied by the fact that this was built by you. However the first several hundred miles are somewhat scary, listening to all the extra noises to make sure nothing is falling apart.
Even at $66k that's a bargain for what you wound up with. Nobody will remember seeing a $60k Mercedes or Audi on their way to or from work, but they will talk about that awesome Cobra Kit Car they saw for years to come. Good on you my friend!
Skip to 11:30 if you want to know why the seams and paint look so bad. Fantastic video of the costs incurred when you want to build a kit car yourself.. Thank you for sharing the video. Have fun in your dream car!! Looks awesome!
It all adds up, slowly but surely. That's about the ballpark my Dax Cobra cost me in the end (went for the LS3 with a Tremec T56 magnum). I could have had the thing built by a pro for a lot less than I ended up paying to do the work myself, but at least I learned a lot, can maintain it myself, and most importantly, I get the build bragging rights.
You've got a lot of the same drawbacks and benefits with a nice shiny cruiser motorcycle as well. The plus with a motorcycle is, it's far cheaper and far more accessible. Lots of chrome and really pretty, but kind of also a pita. Probably the one extra pita over a cobra is suiting up and suiting down every time, but on the plus side, you don't have to panic if your motorcycle gets caught out in the rain unlike a cobra. What makes driving a motorcycle all worth while thought, is the high mpg, which the cobra replica can't touch. 50mpg is typical.
Great job Sir. Thank you for making this video. I’ve been looking at used F5’s listed around $50K. Now I have a much better understanding. I think it is so cool that you built it with your son. My father, brother and I built a dune buggy in the 70’s and it was a great experience until we tried to get it registered in Pa. we ended up selling it to a guy that lived in NJ where he had no trouble getting it tittled & registered.
I loved this video. It was both informative and a fun watch. No matter the [surprising] cost, you had priceless time with your son. He will never forget.
Thanks, good info........The time you and your son spent building that awesome car make it a priceless investment, not to mention all the fun driving you two wil have.
Very true! although since he's under 25, I couldn't get insurance that would cover him as well, so he has to wait a little bit to drive our Cobra. But I consider this to be a great experience together, although I can't say the process was frictionless
Great video! Really liked how you added the tool costs as well. I've started working on my car more and a ton of videos ignore the fact you need a $200 tool to DIY the repair. Only problem I had with the video is there wasn't enough driving clips lol.
It really is! but I actually spoke to a guy who, once learnt about the costs, was very close to changing his mind about. I think I at least convinced him not to drop out immediately
@@alexmak1 there is also the cost of "doing it right".. you can buy a universal hose for 2 bucks.. but the nice molded factory looking hose is 10 and works better. Which are you going to pick? and so on. Its all about the details with cars. At least with a kit car, you have some engineering backing you up. The street rods I did were all by the seat of my pants. Mistakes get expensive :o. For that fact alone, the kit makes it worth it.
That’s a beautiful explanation on how much it costs to build a beautiful car like yours . And no one can’t deny is that you build it. Congratulations. 🎉
This is a nice comprehensive video. You did not have the experience to capitalise on bone yard vett and/or mustang parts, but you had the fortitude to complete an incredible project, with an amazing result. I'm no expert, but I am a not young hot rodder. I think you can make one of those $20k kits roll (and turn heads) for $10k more than kit price. You have the know how to do that also. You just didn't know it at the time😂 Anyway, beautiful job, and thank you for keeping history and hot rodding alive!❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 On a side note, I think your engine choice was absolutely perfect. Sometimes, less is an awful lot more.
My mother passed away during covid, not from covid she was 89 years old. We had to transfer the title for her car into our names so we could sell it. Here in Oregon the DMV shut down during covid and it took 5 months until we got a new title. Then the Toyota dealership that bought the car and gave us a good price, said they would have bought it from us and transferred the title themselves. You have a beautiful car. Congratulation's on all your hard work. Color is so much a personnel opinion. In my opinion I love the light blue.
Great video.... i knew the 20k cost for the kit wasn’t everything. And it was easy enough to get prices for the large ticket items (engine, trans, rear end, etc) but very cool to see your real life build and cost. I was estimating about 50k, but the 60+ mark is more realistic after hearing your experience. This does not turn me away from the project but helps me ensure I’m prepared for the cost and time. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! The joy of building and finishing it (and some interim milestones in between, like engine install, first start, go kart stage, body on, registration, etc) is priceless!
I just priced the MK4 complete kit yesterday and with the options I chose the cost for the kit was just under $39,000. Another roughly $20,000 for the engine/trans I would use puts the total cost of what I would buy to build at $59,000. This does not include price of shipping or getting the body painted so depending on the color chosen and shop you can expect to add roughly up to $5,000. So with taxes and shipping unless you pick up the kit yourself you're looking at roughly $70,000 for a complete turn key ready to drive MK4 kit car. Also if you elect to use wheels and tires that are not offered on their website the cost might be more depending on the wheels and tires you chose. IMO this kit is worth the money simply because the fun/cool factor is off the charts.
The build video was very cool. I will say that you have waaay more patience than I - I would have gotten discouraged in the project (especially with the wiring). Cool Car!!
Thank you for your honest costing video. I am planning on building one of these in Canada 🇨🇦 so there will be added cost on tariffs and delivery. I’m getting nervous now 😳
on the factory five site there is a specific link for "Canadian" kits as transport Canada will not allow some parts from the kit to enter Canada. they must be ordered separately. FF gives you all the links, all I can say is do your homework BUT most important, Insurance in Canada is always a challenge on these cars, Call your insurance company before you do anything and ask them if they will cover this car, you might be surprised (especially in Ontario) that they refuse.
Yeah, international buyers beware :) at least FFR has a Canadian version of the kit, but overall it’s always more challenging and more expensive. Good luck!
I helped a friend build his FFR Mk3 almost 20 years ago. Fun project. He went the donor car route and found a '91 Mustang GT with a built 5.0 Much cheaper way to go as he parted out the car and got a decent amount for it.
This is a very realistic description of what you will experience when you to commit to build a Cobra replica. Keep in mind that this man's approach was far, far from a "best of everything" Cobra build. If you are determined to use only top tier components, be prepared to spend well beyond $100k. This would include real pin drive knock off hubs and wheels (no lug nuts), Smith's gauges, 427 FE engine, mil spec wiring, all leather interior, race-quality brakes and suspension--the list is almost endless. This is not meant to discourage anyone. I'm a working guy, now retired, who jumped in and committed to my dream of personally building a convincing, top tier Cobra replica 25 years ago. That journey was a successful one, I feel, and helped define who I am today. But, brothers, look before you leap, as this video clearly explains.
oh, absolutely, definitely not "best of everything", it was "best what we can make with our limited budget" thing. and we had our share of fun, but it sounds like you had even more fun :)
@@alexmak1 I bet you and I had similar experiences. There are smiles all around when the work is going well, and sleepless nights and doubts about one's abilities when you've tried everything you know and nothing works. Doesn't matter how many digits in your budget, you get highs and lows when you build a car from pieces. I grew up near LAX in Los Angeles in the 60's, walking distance from Shelby's assembly and testing facility on the edge of the airport. I used to go over there and see the rows of Cobra roadsters and Shelby Mustangs--rows of them parked outside. Made an impression on me that never faded. Congratulations to you on a very clear and much needed video about what to expect when you follow in Shelby-the-builder's footsteps.
Thanks for sharing and you made a lot of good points Very helpful I think the fact you built it with your son is great and hope he realized how fortunate he is to be able to share this experience with his father👍🏼
Very good video and just as I thought Well out of my price range I have wanted to build one for ever and believe I could I just don’t have the time or money 😢😢😢 Good on you for doing it 😍😍👍👍
The car looks and Sounds great and thanks for the reality check of the project. The best times of my life was working with my sons, one it was building computers the other it was boats then cars, it was for him so I couldn't keep him from putting a stupid wing on the trunk but best of times
Great overview. Sounds closer to $70k plus your time and the real mechanic when it won’t fire or fit, which isnt for everyone, but if you’re in the market for a cool project car it’s going to cost that anyway. I’d add the 427 for sure.
Nice build Alex! I hope you like your FFR as much as I do / I can’t wait for the snow to melt so I can get mine back out on the road ! Thanks for sharing-
Thank you, Joe! I enjoy your videos! I drove mine in February to the body fit/adjustment place, so now it's in the hands of professionals to make it look good.
Hey.. nice video.. good info for future builders... just dropping in to say "Hey.. I recognize those pay-it-forward Windshield Wipers!". Glad to see it's been helping people out!!
this is a really good break down of cost but with so many coyote mustangs out there, there is also a lot of crashed ones that you could get an engine and trans for much cheaper than a blueprint motor. Even retired cop cars with windsor motors are pretty insane in a car that light.
When my channel gets big enough I can afford to do this it would be an epic first 1:1 build for the channel. Your car turned out great! Great job! It looks like a blast to drive!
My last play toy was a supercharged T/A. I started out with a B&M blower fuel injection, 4 bolt steel crank 350 and a 75 T/A with a blown 400. So I decided to build a cheap supercharged T/A. Somewhere around 25k the cheap part was forgotten. I had over 10K in $100 or cheaper items before I was done. You would be amazed at how many things are need to build a car from scratch. I had over 35K in 1985 dollars in it when I was done. That was even working at the local speed shop and getting my parts at a discount.
Молодцы! Не дешево конечно, но это всё таки мечта, и ее нельзя в обычный прайс сравнивать. Спасибо за подробный рассказ. Правдивая цена всегда интересна, а не та что заявлена и обманчива. Отлично держите темп рассказа и вообще перед камерой, Спасибо!
Get it from EM way better build ,,looks and 3 different wheels based to choose from depending how tall you are . No cocky windshield wipes like this one and don't forget soft top for the rainy days
My grandfather built one years ago, had a 429 from a T-bird, sounded like im sure they sounded when they were made, he probably had 50k into it total, he built basically everything/put it all together from the ground up
great video I think alot of people do not realize the cost of these kits . Believe me it can get out of hand quickly. I would almost be afraid to see dollar amount I have put into mine
Your car sounds really nice. I bought my kit back in 1998 and it could be done with a donor car for under $25000. Mine is a stock build and it is still a fun car but it certainly won't win any shows or races. That costs money. At a show recently I got talking to a guy that had his MK4 professionally built with a big block in it and he was in it for $85,000 ! It was a beautiful and awesome car. After 23 years on the road my car could use a new paint job and while the body is off I'd like to make it stop better, go faster and redo the wiring so that would be another $20,000. I agree with the guy in the video that building one of these will cost at least $35,000 probably more like $45,000 depending on the engine trans combo and the paint job. Guys on the FFR forums will say a decent car with a coyote motor is going to be in the $55,000 range. This is a good video for someone thinking about building one of these go fast machines.
Great podcast ! Very enthousiastic and educative. Result looks great, you must be relieved its finished. This leaking of the power steering, was that a factory fault? Or wrong montage? Enjoy your car, thanks for sharing !
Intellectual development would be more important than a car at the moment. There will come a time when you won't need that pile of tin anymore. What would then be important is spiritual maturity.
Nice review from a firsthand perspective. I always wondered what the approximate all in costs would be for building an F5 Cobra. Now I know it's way more than I would ever be willing to spend on a kit car. I bet it's still fun as hell to tool around in.
How much can you do yourself? That’s where a lot of the cost comes in. I had the company I bought mine from, do only a few things, beyond the basic kit. Things that they were far more skilled at & would be huge issues if I needed to fix later. I had them assemble the IRS & attach the body to the frame. Everything else, I did, once the car was shipped across the country, to me. I had a transmission expert build me a toploader & I bought a short block engine, strengthened the bottom end, added heads, intake & webers. I assembled the front suspension, steering of the car & put the rear assembly up under it. I did all of the dash work, & installed all of the trim roll bar etc after I prepped & painted the body. The bodywork took me the most time. I was familiar with body & paint but, had not dealt with fiberglass. Especially this type of project, where seam lines don’t always line up. Where pinholes appear when the gel oat gets close to the fiberglass. I just took my time & kept going until the prep was perfect. & it has held up. The end cost for my ERA was less than $60k. A lot closer to 50k. The details really add up. The more work you can do yourself, the more money you save. I even did little things like fabricating my own valve covers to match the look of the original FIA. These cars aren’t going to be cheap. It was a once in a lifetime thing for me. But, there’s nothing like driving a cobra. & the closer to original spec, the more thrilling they are to drive.
Thank goodness you have GOODYEAR tires which came on the original COBRAS. I go crazy when I see white letter tires from other brands, Carroll Shelby was a GOODYEAR dealer at that time.
Thx a lot from FRANCE !! This vid help a lot and because i'm planning to buy a Cobra and to buy a kit one it's not for me for few reasons ( time, bla...bla...). Better for me to buy one in good condition. Just need to choose which replica ! Thx for advices, help a lot !
Good video but you left at the best part, you got to build the car with your son and that’s priceless
Exactly! Thank you so much!
He did say that the building experience was the best reward...
Had to watch it a second time after 8 mos. The guy is straight up with the cost and smile thru the whole thing. Plus got to do it with his son and that's worth the cost.
I wish my 16 year old son would help me even to wash dishes 😂 that’s a miracle if it happens
^^^This!!!
Really realistic presentation of building a kit car---Factory Five should thank you for that.
Thank you! While Factory Five explain other parts and tasks to get from their kit to the final car, I don't think it's in their best interest to fully disclose the potential final costs of such project, since it may scare some of the potential customers
@@alexmak1 it’s sort of like buying a Motor Yacht and operating it costs if you need to adhere to a specific budget I tell my freinds you will be very disappointed they would be better off hiring a competent Captain and giving him a stack of signed blank checks to use at his disposal like the Shelby once you begin there isn’t much turning back a Vessel is a terrible investment on your money but a great investment on fun and memorable events IMO the two are kind of similar in the way if you have to ask , you can’t afford it
@@craigmonteforte1478 My father always said of owning his yacht in England "It`s like standing in a cold shower tearing up £50 notes" lol
@@mjh5437 So very true here is a good one after my divorce my ex wife and I became on good terms and she would even sometimes borrow my boat for the day whenever she called to ask I usually knew ahead of time and responded sure but it’s low on Fuel she had the money Nd would top off the fuel tanks and leave the boat with pretty much full fuel tanks for me I always tried to use tht fuel with other Womn onboard in skimpy outfits that I was having Sexual relations with on my ex wife’s dime LOL
@@craigmonteforte1478 There was a bit too many details in your story… 😅
I think a lot of people don't realise the full cost of building a kit car, hence so many half finished projects sitting in peoples garages/sheds. Well done to you and your son.
I want a half finished car--where do you look?
I am a huge Shelby Cobra fan, and Alex that was an awesome presentation including so many details and invaluable information to any future builder! Watched your 25 minute build video before this one. I must say it was very entertaining, at the same time giving a glimpse over the various stages, and challenges, of putting a kit togeather. Great work on both accounts! Congratulations on your own Cobra that will give you, and your son, lots of smiles per gallon!
Nice synopsis of what is probably the most important aspect of building a Cobra replica, the cost. Well done.
I built a MKII FFR back in 2004 and spend nearly $40K and had a blast building it. These cars are fun to build and even more fun to drive. These replicas can definitely be built on a small budget when using a donor car, but it takes a great deal of restraint not to add a bunch of stuff. The internet forums helped to take the fear out of the build, but they can also encourage you to spend a lot of extra money on stuff that really isn't all that important.
Great job on the videos and congratulations on building a sweet ride with your son.
Thank you! Yes, forums definitely helped us to spend some extra money
You did an amazing job describing the process and cost. You described it with a minimal amount of words avoiding the constant "you knows" polluting many American's presentations. Finally that English is not your native tongue and your accent is merely seasoning and not an impediment to understanding your presentation says volumes about your effort to master the English language. Congratulations on your build. Congratulations on your English language skills.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
And he included sign language for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Nice Video. I stopped counting at $50K when I built mine 10 years ago.
wow!
I built my Factory Five in 2003 before they had the complete kit. At the time the kit was $12,900, and the only options I bought were the full width roller(they no longer offer), and the body cutouts. I found a side hit 1990 Mustang for $3,000, which had a recently rebuilt motor and trans with only 6,000 miles on it. The engine was bored to a 306, E303 cam, Aluminum Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, and some other goodies. I parted out the Mustang, and made about $1,500 off the parts I sold. Unfortunately, the spindles and rear were ended up being bent, so I had to replace those. I found a 8.8 rear at a pick-a-part, and completely rebuilt it with 3:55 gears. I used the wiring harness from the Mustang, but that's about it. Most of the other items were too worn out, so I ended up buying a new gas tank, brakes, radiator, etc. I had someone else to the paint for $5k. I ended up spending between $27-28k. I completed the build in 2004, which took about 10 months, and I'm still driving it today.
Those good times! But these mustangs are now sold at the collector’s pricing, so it’s very hard to replicate that. Awesome that you are still driving your car!
Time with your kid and an awesome car is definitely money well spent. I hope to one day do this project.
Additional costs are very well explained in your video. Donor cars aren't the money saver they were a few years ago. It's a great point about collector prices being asked for older Mustangs. Options are a huge issue such as heat/AC, sway bars, side windows (Daytona coupe) wipers, etc. In your intro, it might help to tell viewers to click the "show more" button before they watch. Many thanks.
The best most honestly informative cobra build I've ever seen
Glad you liked it!
Excellent! Very pragmatic and honest
Nice job on the video. Even though posted a year ago, just now viewing it. You did a good job of explaining the true costs of building one of these. Have built several myself, so can vouch for many of your observations. Also read through the comments. Three points: (1) I'm always amazed how many don't get the "built not bought" concept. Yes, you can buy a completed car (of many different brands) for the same price or less. Or maybe buy one already built. But that misses the point entirely of the satisfaction and enjoyment of building it yourself. If that's not for you, I get it. But for many of us, the building is almost as fun and satisfying as the completed car. (2) People saying you can buy a completed kit for way less aren't watching the current market. It's very strong right now. You'll likely almost never get your investment back. Or your labor. Very typical for hobby cars of any brand. But the gap for these is much less than it used to be. A very high quality build could in fact exceed the investment. Don't know that it will always be that way. But it is right now. Plus, again, misses the "built not bought" idea. (3) Multiple references by you and others that don't properly explain how the body is built. It's ONE PIECE. Not glued together from multiple pieces. Those lines are parting lines from the various mold pieces taken apart after the body is laid up. Granted the raw parting lines don't look nice and arguably could be improved with better molds or mold maintenance. But a good body shop will grind them off in minutes and they'll be filled by the usual body work required on all fiberglass bodies. It's one of the least time consuming parts of the overall body and paint process.
Thank you!
Somewhat frustrating that people don’t understand built vs bought. I have far more respect for someone building a car with their son, in their home garage, than someone with tons of money or a large inheritance buying stuff. You also can’t put a price on what his son learned about cars/ general mechanics/ the value of hard work.
On the subject of paint work:
Is it viable to just wrap the gel coat? Seems like a perfect candidate for vinyl wrap since the body panels have simple lines, and this could easily be done at home.
Great video, great outcome. The cost is why I ride a really fast motorcycle
I hope the cost of the motorcycle doesn't turn out to be your life. Iv'e had over thirty bikes, and had a lot of fun. Got just a scrape or two racing, nothing more. Good luck.
Thank you, Alex! That was excellent! It's been my lifelong dream to own a Cobra, and it was terrific to see the true costs to build one broken down. I'm far from being a mechanic myself, so I'm leaning toward buying a gently used Cobra. We'll see! Congrats on your build, and I hope you have many years of enjoyment with it.
Excellent video. I purchased a built FFR Type 65 Daytona. Finished in Canada in 2010. Came with all his receipts just over $60000cd spent including the kit. Built with all new parts and a Ford Racing 392 stroker. Levy 5 link rear suspension. Just a little info. 11 years later you can be sure it will be more. But nothing compares to the driving experience.
Thank you! I want to build a Daytona now, probably in a year or two, with my new experience it should be easier, although not necessarily faster. yes, the driving experience, but also multiplied by the fact that this was built by you. However the first several hundred miles are somewhat scary, listening to all the extra noises to make sure nothing is falling apart.
Hello Doug, how are you doing and what is the weather like? I wish you a happy weekend.
Even at $66k that's a bargain for what you wound up with.
Nobody will remember seeing a $60k Mercedes or Audi on their way to or from work, but they will talk about that awesome Cobra Kit Car they saw for years to come.
Good on you my friend!
You guys did an awesome job. I love the honesty and candid review of costs. I will do one one day.
This was wonderful. You and your son have a great story.
Thank you so much!
Hello Ray, how are you doing and what is the weather like? I wish you a happy weekend.
This is awesome! Truly incredible experience for you and your son!
Tha k you! Indeed it was, and we enjoyed it so much!
You saw it through to completion, good for you! Makes you wonder how many of these have been sitting for years in garages under tarps.
Good point. I know of at least 2.
Lots no doubt.
Yep, always look for unfinished kits
for the next project this is what I want to do
Any of those unfinished kits up for sale?
Skip to 11:30 if you want to know why the seams and paint look so bad. Fantastic video of the costs incurred when you want to build a kit car yourself.. Thank you for sharing the video. Have fun in your dream car!! Looks awesome!
Yeah, cause it’s not the paint, but people always assume it is. Now the car is being disassembled for body to be taken off
@@alexmak1 I would drive that car if it was rainbow colored and smelled like jellybeans!! Lol. It's that bad ass...
It all adds up, slowly but surely. That's about the ballpark my Dax Cobra cost me in the end (went for the LS3 with a Tremec T56 magnum). I could have had the thing built by a pro for a lot less than I ended up paying to do the work myself, but at least I learned a lot, can maintain it myself, and most importantly, I get the build bragging rights.
Yes, built not bought :)
You've got a lot of the same drawbacks and benefits with a nice shiny cruiser motorcycle as well.
The plus with a motorcycle is, it's far cheaper and far more accessible. Lots of chrome and really pretty, but kind of also a pita. Probably the one extra pita over a cobra is suiting up and suiting down every time, but on the plus side, you don't have to panic if your motorcycle gets caught out in the rain unlike a cobra. What makes driving a motorcycle all worth while thought, is the high mpg, which the cobra replica can't touch. 50mpg is typical.
Great job Sir. Thank you for making this video. I’ve been looking at used F5’s listed around $50K. Now I have a much better understanding. I think it is so cool that you built it with your son. My father, brother and I built a dune buggy in the 70’s and it was a great experience until we tried to get it registered in Pa. we ended up selling it to a guy that lived in NJ where he had no trouble getting it tittled & registered.
no issues with registering this kit in PA
I loved this video. It was both informative and a fun watch. No matter the [surprising] cost, you had priceless time with your son. He will never forget.
Absolutely, thank you!
Thanks, good info........The time you and your son spent building that awesome car make it a priceless investment, not to mention all the fun driving you two wil have.
Very true! although since he's under 25, I couldn't get insurance that would cover him as well, so he has to wait a little bit to drive our Cobra. But I consider this to be a great experience together, although I can't say the process was frictionless
Great video! Really liked how you added the tool costs as well. I've started working on my car more and a ton of videos ignore the fact you need a $200 tool to DIY the repair. Only problem I had with the video is there wasn't enough driving clips lol.
Worth it.. yep.. building cars are worth it :) I've done several but the Cobra is a dream at this point. Some day :D. Thanks for sharing
It really is! but I actually spoke to a guy who, once learnt about the costs, was very close to changing his mind about. I think I at least convinced him not to drop out immediately
@@alexmak1 there is also the cost of "doing it right".. you can buy a universal hose for 2 bucks.. but the nice molded factory looking hose is 10 and works better. Which are you going to pick? and so on. Its all about the details with cars. At least with a kit car, you have some engineering backing you up. The street rods I did were all by the seat of my pants. Mistakes get expensive :o. For that fact alone, the kit makes it worth it.
amen to that!
Nice video, your son is lucky to have such a good dad. Well done.
That’s a beautiful explanation on how much it costs to build a beautiful car like yours . And no one can’t deny is that you build it. Congratulations. 🎉
thank you!
Excellent video, thankyou for explaining all these costs. I really enjoyed your build timelapse too. Hope one day to follow in your footsteps.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good job! Thanks for the reminder about T4 (Tools, Tax, Tires, time).
Fun fact the head lights and indicators and rear plate light are also found on a London taxi ( fairway ) I love the cobra 😍🇬🇧
Your mod list has many things I never thought of that are nice to haves. Nice video
Thanks 👍
This is a nice comprehensive video. You did not have the experience to capitalise on bone yard vett and/or mustang parts, but you had the fortitude to complete an incredible project, with an amazing result. I'm no expert, but I am a not young hot rodder. I think you can make one of those $20k kits roll (and turn heads) for $10k more than kit price. You have the know how to do that also. You just didn't know it at the time😂
Anyway, beautiful job, and thank you for keeping history and hot rodding alive!❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
On a side note, I think your engine choice was absolutely perfect. Sometimes, less is an awful lot more.
yes, with more time and a wrecked mustang it can be much cheaper.
My mother passed away during covid, not from covid she was 89 years old. We had to transfer the title for her car into our names so we could sell it. Here in Oregon the DMV shut down during covid and it took 5 months until we got a new title. Then the Toyota dealership that bought the car and gave us a good price, said they would have bought it from us and transferred the title themselves.
You have a beautiful car. Congratulation's on all your hard work.
Color is so much a personnel opinion. In my opinion I love the light blue.
Thank you and cherish the father and son bond with time spent during the build👍
Thanks a lot for producing this video and sharing all the important cost information.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video.... i knew the 20k cost for the kit wasn’t everything. And it was easy enough to get prices for the large ticket items (engine, trans, rear end, etc) but very cool to see your real life build and cost. I was estimating about 50k, but the 60+ mark is more realistic after hearing your experience. This does not turn me away from the project but helps me ensure I’m prepared for the cost and time. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! The joy of building and finishing it (and some interim milestones in between, like engine install, first start, go kart stage, body on, registration, etc) is priceless!
Watched both episodes! Thanks for sharing, loved every bit of it!
Awesome job. Looking forward to the dyno #'s and finished product!
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
oh, absolutely!
I just priced the MK4 complete kit yesterday and with the options I chose the cost for the kit was just under $39,000. Another roughly $20,000 for the engine/trans I would use puts the total cost of what I would buy to build at $59,000. This does not include price of shipping or getting the body painted so depending on the color chosen and shop you can expect to add roughly up to $5,000. So with taxes and shipping unless you pick up the kit yourself you're looking at roughly $70,000 for a complete turn key ready to drive MK4 kit car. Also if you elect to use wheels and tires that are not offered on their website the cost might be more depending on the wheels and tires you chose.
IMO this kit is worth the money simply because the fun/cool factor is off the charts.
Beautiful car, I hope (I know) you thoroughly enjoy driving it for decades! And thanks for sharing your experience.
The build video was very cool. I will say that you have waaay more patience than I - I would have gotten discouraged in the project (especially with the wiring). Cool Car!!
Thank you for your honest costing video. I am planning on building one of these in Canada 🇨🇦 so there will be added cost on tariffs and delivery. I’m getting nervous now 😳
on the factory five site there is a specific link for "Canadian" kits as transport Canada will not allow some parts from the kit to enter Canada. they must be ordered separately. FF gives you all the links, all I can say is do your homework BUT most important, Insurance in Canada is always a challenge on these cars, Call your insurance company before you do anything and ask them if they will cover this car, you might be surprised (especially in Ontario) that they refuse.
Yeah, international buyers beware :) at least FFR has a Canadian version of the kit, but overall it’s always more challenging and more expensive. Good luck!
Ciaràn contact Ryan he can help you with anything you need. facebook.com/valinscustomcars. Cheers
I helped a friend build his FFR Mk3 almost 20 years ago. Fun project. He went the donor car route and found a '91 Mustang GT with a built 5.0
Much cheaper way to go as he parted out the car and got a decent amount for it.
This is a very realistic description of what you will experience when you to commit to build a Cobra replica. Keep in mind that this man's approach was far, far from a "best of everything" Cobra build. If you are determined to use only top tier components, be prepared to spend well beyond $100k. This would include real pin drive knock off hubs and wheels (no lug nuts), Smith's gauges, 427 FE engine, mil spec wiring, all leather interior, race-quality brakes and suspension--the list is almost endless. This is not meant to discourage anyone. I'm a working guy, now retired, who jumped in and committed to my dream of personally building a convincing, top tier Cobra replica 25 years ago. That journey was a successful one, I feel, and helped define who I am today. But, brothers, look before you leap, as this video clearly explains.
oh, absolutely, definitely not "best of everything", it was "best what we can make with our limited budget" thing. and we had our share of fun, but it sounds like you had even more fun :)
@@alexmak1 I bet you and I had similar experiences. There are smiles all around when the work is going well, and sleepless nights and doubts about one's abilities when you've tried everything you know and nothing works. Doesn't matter how many digits in your budget, you get highs and lows when you build a car from pieces. I grew up near LAX in Los Angeles in the 60's, walking distance from Shelby's assembly and testing facility on the edge of the airport. I used to go over there and see the rows of Cobra roadsters and Shelby Mustangs--rows of them parked outside. Made an impression on me that never faded. Congratulations to you on a very clear and much needed video about what to expect when you follow in Shelby-the-builder's footsteps.
@@richheine where can I add more than one thumbs up to this comment???
Many kit projects have been cut short when the money runs out , Good video to explain the true cost .
Thanks 👍
You nailed it very very well explained probably one of the very best descriptions of what to expect I have ever seen.
Thanks for sharing and you made a lot of good points
Very helpful
I think the fact you built it with your son is great and hope he realized how fortunate he is to be able to share this experience with his father👍🏼
Thanks 👍
Very good video and just as I thought
Well out of my price range
I have wanted to build one for ever and believe I could I just don’t have the time or money 😢😢😢
Good on you for doing it 😍😍👍👍
The car looks and Sounds great and thanks for the reality check of the project. The best times of my life was working with my sons, one it was building computers the other it was boats then cars, it was for him so I couldn't keep him from putting a stupid wing on the trunk but best of times
lol, but true!
Absolutely brilliant cost rundown, Alexmak! Many thanks for doing it (& the build) so well.
Safe and happy driving to you both. Respect.
Thanks, you too!
I had some questions but your dancing hands hypnotized me and I forgot.
That was my idea!
Great overview. Sounds closer to $70k plus your time and the real mechanic when it won’t fire or fit, which isnt for everyone, but if you’re in the market for a cool project car it’s going to cost that anyway. I’d add the 427 for sure.
Nice build Alex! I hope you like your FFR as much as I do / I can’t wait for the snow to melt so I can get mine back out on the road ! Thanks for sharing-
Thank you, Joe! I enjoy your videos! I drove mine in February to the body fit/adjustment place, so now it's in the hands of professionals to make it look good.
Very honest analysis of acquiring a super cool sled
Haha. A sled indeed!
Another great video. As a side note- I'd be surprised if this isn't in the Philadelphia/Bucks County area.
Thank you! You are pretty close, it’s Delco, closer to Chestco
Hey.. nice video.. good info for future builders... just dropping in to say "Hey.. I recognize those pay-it-forward Windshield Wipers!". Glad to see it's been helping people out!!
Thank you for an honest video , Hope the car is fun and gives you a profit for your hard work
I have always loved this model. There is one for hire close to where I live. Blue with white band down the car. Beautiful.
Good video, thank you for your time
Great job! Great information!!.... Congratulations to you and your son.
Your information is priceless.
I appreciate that!
this is a really good break down of cost but with so many coyote mustangs out there, there is also a lot of crashed ones that you could get an engine and trans for much cheaper than a blueprint motor. Even retired cop cars with windsor motors are pretty insane in a car that light.
When my channel gets big enough I can afford to do this it would be an epic first 1:1 build for the channel. Your car turned out great! Great job! It looks like a blast to drive!
Awesome experience... enjoyed it with your son.. great job.
My last play toy was a supercharged T/A. I started out with a B&M blower fuel injection, 4 bolt steel crank 350 and a 75 T/A with a blown 400. So I decided to build a cheap supercharged T/A. Somewhere around 25k the cheap part was forgotten. I had over 10K in $100 or cheaper items before I was done. You would be amazed at how many things are need to build a car from scratch. I had over 35K in 1985 dollars in it when I was done. That was even working at the local speed shop and getting my parts at a discount.
Thank you for this video. You made me aware that the cost is way too high for this product.
What a cool experience. I want to build an RCR GT40 with my family one day
same here. I think I'm half way there - bought a book about GT40 already :)
Crystal Clear you explanation. Expensive but very rewarding. Thanks a lot.
Best video ever….i’ve been contemplating this project….after watching both your videos…..im buying one already made 🤭
thank you! but it was not the intent of the video :)
I know I’m late to the party, but just wanted to say I love your videos, very cool project!
Thanks so much!
thanks. the best video i have seen about the cost of a cobra replica..
Glad you liked it!
very well made video there are still some thing I need to do like add it all up!
Glad it was helpful!
Молодцы! Не дешево конечно, но это всё таки мечта, и ее нельзя в обычный прайс сравнивать. Спасибо за подробный рассказ. Правдивая цена всегда интересна, а не та что заявлена и обманчива. Отлично держите темп рассказа и вообще перед камерой, Спасибо!
Thank you for bringing a sense of reality to a dream of mine.
Awesome! I'm getting one soon. Leaning toward the type 65.
Get it from EM way better build ,,looks and 3 different wheels based to choose from depending how tall you are . No cocky windshield wipes like this one and don't forget soft top for the rainy days
this one does not have windshields vipers, they were only used for inspection
What the heck is going on with the front nose body panel seam? It looks horrible in your video. What happened?
It’s a fiber glass molding process. The body is obviously not finished. In the video where the body is finished, they are removed
My grandfather built one years ago, had a 429 from a T-bird, sounded like im sure they sounded when they were made, he probably had 50k into it total, he built basically everything/put it all together from the ground up
great video I think alot of people do not realize the cost of these kits . Believe me it can get out of hand quickly. I would almost be afraid to see dollar amount I have put into mine
Very good video. Im in the process of building a cobra in Buenos Aires Argentina, and Im spending 47000 us dollars aprox.
Thanks for everything in all of your videos. Veeery interesting!
Enjoy that wonderful car with your son. Great Job!
Your car sounds really nice. I bought my kit back in 1998 and it could be done with a donor car for under $25000. Mine is a stock build and it is still a fun car but it certainly won't win any shows or races. That costs money. At a show recently I got talking to a guy that had his MK4 professionally built with a big block in it and he was in it for $85,000 ! It was a beautiful and awesome car. After 23 years on the road my car could use a new paint job and while the body is off I'd like to make it stop better, go faster and redo the wiring so that would be another $20,000. I agree with the guy in the video that building one of these will cost at least $35,000 probably more like $45,000 depending on the engine trans combo and the paint job. Guys on the FFR forums will say a decent car with a coyote motor is going to be in the $55,000 range. This is a good video for someone thinking about building one of these go fast machines.
Great podcast ! Very enthousiastic and educative.
Result looks great, you must be relieved its finished.
This leaking of the power steering, was that a factory fault? Or wrong montage?
Enjoy your car, thanks for sharing !
Thank you! As for the power steering, it was our fault
Great video, thanks for putting it together
Intellectual development would be more important than a car at the moment. There will come a time when you won't need that pile of tin anymore. What would then be important is spiritual maturity.
I obtained plenty of spiritual maturity while doing this project, you should try building something one day
Thanks for an honest answer !
Awesome perspective at the end. It's the journey. And then the drive.
Thank you!
Nice review from a firsthand perspective. I always wondered what the approximate all in costs would be for building an F5 Cobra. Now I know it's way more than I would ever be willing to spend on a kit car.
I bet it's still fun as hell to tool around in.
Absolutely
What a brilliant explanation covering all of the costs. Thank you very much. Great break down
Thank you!
Very good presentation...I have always wanted one of these cars. I have a 67 mustang coupe
You can run stuff from a 302 from a early 2000s. Maybe Tremec t5 or TKO.
How much can you do yourself? That’s where a lot of the cost comes in. I had the company I bought mine from, do only a few things, beyond the basic kit. Things that they were far more skilled at & would be huge issues if I needed to fix later. I had them assemble the IRS & attach the body to the frame. Everything else, I did, once the car was shipped across the country, to me. I had a transmission expert build me a toploader & I bought a short block engine, strengthened the bottom end, added heads, intake & webers. I assembled the front suspension, steering of the car & put the rear assembly up under it. I did all of the dash work, & installed all of the trim roll bar etc after I prepped & painted the body. The bodywork took me the most time. I was familiar with body & paint but, had not dealt with fiberglass. Especially this type of project, where seam lines don’t always line up. Where pinholes appear when the gel oat gets close to the fiberglass. I just took my time & kept going until the prep was perfect. & it has held up. The end cost for my ERA was less than $60k. A lot closer to 50k. The details really add up. The more work you can do yourself, the more money you save. I even did little things like fabricating my own valve covers to match the look of the original FIA. These cars aren’t going to be cheap. It was a once in a lifetime thing for me. But, there’s nothing like driving a cobra. & the closer to original spec, the more thrilling they are to drive.
I am not gonna lie, I am very mechanically challenged
Thank goodness you have GOODYEAR tires which came on the original COBRAS. I go crazy when I see white letter tires from other brands, Carroll Shelby was a GOODYEAR dealer at that time.
I felt it was a necessary element
Thx a lot from FRANCE !! This vid help a lot and because i'm planning to buy a Cobra and to buy a kit one it's not for me for few reasons ( time, bla...bla...). Better for me to buy one in good condition. Just need to choose which replica ! Thx for advices, help a lot !
you will have a lot of fun regardless!
This seems like a very realistic veiw. And yes for me totally worth it.