Z3 Cobra.

[Grumps]

Clearly not mine but found this online. Might be for someone on here.
Bit of damage to the front but an easy enough repair. Good colour in my opinion.

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[B21]

Looks like quite a nice job on it..wonder why given the work done he didn't fix what appears to be minor cosmetic damage?

 

[Grumps]

Looks like quite a nice job on it..wonder why given the work done he didn't fix what appears to be minor cosmetic damage?

View attachment 285365

I'd thought the same.

 

[B21]

Given the short life expectancy of a typical Cobra replica this looks almost like a safe and luxurious option!

ABS and stability control..not too powerful..

 

[DaveP]

I recall that being built a few years back. The original owner had a matching painted hard top too. That's a shame about the damage as it could be relatively easy to sort with the skills. I have sent the details to people who might be interested.

Great spot thanks for pointing it out.

A 2.8 with blower must be fun !

Dave

 

[B21]

I recall that being built a few years back. The original owner had a matching painted hard top too. That's a shame about the damage as it could be relatively easy to sort with the skills. I have sent the details to people who might be interested.

Great spot thanks for pointing it out.

A 2.8 with blower must be fun !

Dave

Nippy?

 

[Pond]

Sorry but never understood the Tribute 'Kobra' appeal.
They are a terrible cheap copy of a copy.
The whole point of a Cobra replica is that they are dimensionally the same as the original AC and have a big American V8. That is what Shelby intended with the AC 'Ace'.

I would love to build a Cobra rep, but the outlay of money against time and skill required (not to mention the dreaded SVA) put it beyond reach.

Go big or go home, springs to mind with these. My opinion obviously and no offence intended to anyone who has built a 'Kobra'.

God knows why you would leave the Z3 interior and buy a wooden steering wheel. Does that make it look authentic? Sorry it's a 'NO' from me.

 

[DaveP]

Understand your view Pond.
Mine is not badged as a cobra and I call it a 1960s ish car. Having a 6 pot does make it more Ace ish which is fine with me.
I would much rather a Kobra than a poorly made cheap cobra kit with an inferior chassis and good old underwhelming rover V8. No offence to any owners of such motors.
To get a 'proper' cobra rep is in the tens of thousands which I could never justify in my mind.
We all like different things which keeps the world interesting. Cars bring out our differences - thank goodness.

 

[Duncodin]

Sorry but never understood the Tribute 'Kobra' appeal.
They are a terrible cheap copy of a copy.
The whole point of a Cobra replica is that they are dimensionally the same as the original AC and have a big American V8. That is what Shelby intended with the AC 'Ace'.

I would love to build a Cobra rep, but the outlay of money against time and skill required (not to mention the dreaded SVA) put it beyond reach.

Go big or go home, springs to mind with these. My opinion obviously and no offence intended to anyone who has built a 'Kobra'.

God knows why you would leave the Z3 interior and buy a wooden steering wheel. Does that make it look authentic? Sorry it's a 'NO' from me.

I'm not sure I understand your point of view. After all. You're building a DNA 'Copy' of a Ferrari based on a Z3.

I'm sure some body (not me) could say the same thing about not understanding the DNA Ferrari appeal.

I do understand it. I'm just playing devil's advocate here.

With regards to your own build - Going by the Z3 parts you're selling, including door cards, it looks as though you're going the full Monty to remove every sign of Z3 from your copy of a Ferrari.

Maybe your problem with that Kobra is that the builder didn't go as far as you in making a replica?

I'm building a Tribute 507. I've never built a 'kit' before so I have no idea how the quality of the tribute kit compares to any other. But I'm happy with the price I paid and the quality.

As for 'originality'. Why. All of these kits have problems with scale. They look 'a bit' like something else but anyone in the know isn't fooled for a moment. A bit like the guy who wears a fake rolex.

I'll build my car my way. I'll be keeping the interior. The heated washer jets, the electric windows. Might even keep the electric mirrors and add LED lights front and rear. After all, if I owned a genuine 50's car I'd probably have upgraded the lights etc anyway just like a lot of z3 owners do nowadays.

But I won't be stripping out the zed to try to make it look like a real one. As I said. Nobody who knows what a real one looks like is fooled for a moment.

If I wanted a car that looked like a real 50's classic I'd buy a genuine morris minor

 

[Z Victor 1]

I can understand the appeal of a kit or replica or simply wanting something a bit different, but personally I'd want the real thing or nothing. Also, I happen to think the Z3 is one of the best looking roadsters ever built regardless of price, so why change it? But, as someone else said, life would be pretty dull if we all had the same interests and opinions. Enjoy what you've got!

 

[Pond]

We all like different things which keeps the world interesting. Cars bring out our differences - thank goodness.

Exactly.

 

[Pingu]

It's totally a personal thing, but I look at the interior more than I look at the outside.

When I'm driving my kit car, I'm looking around thinking to myself - I made this, and it makes me smile. I don't think it would be the same if I'd left the interior as BMW built it.

The downside to the exterior is that I get others looking at it. I got an insight into how a "celebrity" must feel when they are just going down the motorway minding their own business and they get papped. It wasn't great. I had one family who were driving around me with the son hanging out the window with his camera. Some might like that sort of thing, but it's not for me.

I think if I were to do it again, I'd do the inside, but leave the outside alone.

BTW - I won't be doing it again

 

[Pingu]

Looks like quite a nice job on it..wonder why given the work done he didn't fix what appears to be minor cosmetic damage?

View attachment 285365

I quite like it, but it's a shame about the auto-box.

 

[IanA]

It may look like minor cosmetic damage but the Kobra does not have the bumper beam with associated dampers. That make the radiators and oil cooling pipe vulnerable if bumped.
They're rebodies- when people call my Tributes kit cars I point out that it would make a Porsche 944 a kit car based on a Porsche 924 or a Jaguar XF a kit car based on a Ford Thunderbird. There are many more examples.
Also, remember that the Z3 is engineered to be a 140mph car, not an 80mph Triumph.

 

[Dxbolton]

My guess.
the owner was hit by another car so got a good insurance payout, and then purchased the salvaged car back.
Cat N is non structural so it should be good to rebuild.
he’s had his fun with the car and is now cashing out to maximise his money.
From our perspective it’s a good way to get a supercharger

 

[petecossie]

I got an insight into how a "celebrity" must feel when they are just going down the motorway minding their own business and they get papped. It wasn't great. I had one family who were driving around me with the son hanging out the window with his camera. Some might like that sort of thing, but it's not for me.

This happened to me a few years ago with my first Z3 M Coupe (M Coupes are very rare around Teesside) and a car overtook me on dual carriage way in 40mph area and a guy leaned out the passenger window a started taking pics of the Coupe. Takes all sorts.

 

[Pond]

I'm not sure I understand your point of view. After all. You're building a DNA 'Copy' of a Ferrari based on a Z3.

I am doing my 'rebody' for reasons that are, I suspect, very different to most. I am not interested in a Z3 (more an E89 Z4 fan TBH). I have no desire to own a Z3 but it just happens to be the car that 'fits' the car I want it to look like. I don't want to drive it when completed. I want to replicate, as close as possible, the most beautiful car ever made IMHO. An ornament!
It has to be a working ornament, though, otherwise it's a bit pointless.

As said, though, each to their own. No-one else NEEDS to understand my (or anyone's) reasons for doing these things.

Oh and BTW the Z3 is almost dimensionally identical to the original 250 SWB cali, that's why it was chosen as a 'donor' in the first place.

 

[t-tony]

I would've liked to build the Z8 look-a-like kit on an E85 Z4. But they were never available over here, only in the USA. Which is a shame as I think they would've sold very well.

Tony.

 

[Duncodin]

I'm not sure I understand your point of view. After all. You're building a DNA 'Copy' of a Ferrari based on a Z3.

I am doing my 'rebody' for reasons that are, I suspect, very different to most. I am not interested in a Z3 (more an E89 Z4 fan TBH). I have no desire to own a Z3 but it just happens to be the car that 'fits' the car I want it to look like. I don't want to drive it when completed. I want to replicate, as close as possible, the most beautiful car ever made IMHO. An ornament!
It has to be a working ornament, though, otherwise it's a bit pointless.

As said, though, each to their own. No-one else NEEDS to understand my (or anyone's) reasons for doing these things.

Oh and BTW the Z3 is almost dimensionally identical to the original 250 SWB cali, that's why it was chosen as a 'donor' in the first place.

I do understand your reason for building your car your way.

What I was referring to. What I didn't understand was your criticism, near the top of this page, of somebody elses car that they did their way.

 

[Pond]

What I didn't understand was your criticism, near the top of this page, of somebody elses car that they did their way.

I didn't criticise the specific build per se, I just don't get the Kobra thing, based on a Z3.
But we have moved on from that, so happy days!