They’re a real beauty 50th anniversary CSX 8000 series on bring a trailer right now.
Am I crazy thinking of trading my GT500 for a AC Cobra Replica??
2020+
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Mark it’s coming along great!! Can’t wait to see it on the Square someday!
Unless you are talking about the originals, i completely disagree! There have been a crap ton of Cobra replicas made through the years and they will continue to be made.
How many is a crap ton? If OP is concerned with exclusivity, then I still think Cobra AC's are much less available or seen. Hard to find how many AC replicas are being made, but one number (if true) I found was 60k Cobra replicas in existence. Again, if that's true, then that's actually a pretty small number for a total. Compared to total 20-22 GT500's, 60k to ~15k is very different, but for appearance the 60k to yearly Mustang production numbers is super small.
I've only seen 2 or 3 AC's on the road while I drive around over the last 5-1/2 years I've lived here. I see a couple at each car show, and 4 or 5 came over to my neighbors while we had a mini-show/celebration.
OP, good luck with the dilemma and decision. My love for their history and just what they are makes me want one, but the reality of their comfort doesn't lend them to be a good option as a cruiser for my wife and I. I suspect I wouldn't tolerate long seat times in one, and then the basic inability to talk with the passenger very easily takes away from the "cruising" fun. I suppose if money was growing on trees for me and I had another big garage for just vehicle parking, I would have one for a fun run to town occasionally.
I’ve only seen them at car shows. I think this is in part and possibly a large part due to the impracticality they are as street cars.
As for the numbers… the originals were made back in the 60s and the repos have been basically made since and will continue to be made only adding to the numbers. The Cobras are indeed a rare sight, but not rare in numbers.
More rare than GT500’s! That’s one of my points for the OP.
Continuing my attempt to compare numbers, if we lump all replicas together then we should lump all 2000my+ GT500’s together. If we break up GT500 generations, then we should break up replica mfr’s made.
I just disagree with your crap ton comment because it suggests there are so many replicas out there that they are common. That’s not true.
In the end, I suspect the OP’s decision will come down to the factors I listed for why one wouldn’t get used a lot by me.
I have no idea if your 60K Cobra replicas number is accurate or not… not sure if that is something even trackable since they come from multiple sources. We know how many 20-22 GT500s are in circulation and that no more will be produced. A “crap ton” is relative. Compared to hundreds of thousands of your average commuter car… a crap ton would not be applicable. Compared to a low volume car like our GT500s, it becomes much more applicable. The point/counterpoint is really moot without hard data. Meanwhile, new Cobra replicas will continue to be sold.
In the past, you always lumped all MY of GT500’s together when the discussions or rarity or availability came up. I realize the OP has a 20-22MY, but another Gen of GT500 may follow too. So GT500’s may not be done. Again, for comparison of model availability, all Gens of GT500 should be lumped together if comparing to all Gens of replicas. I really don’t think this is the most important factor for the OP to consider, but GT500’s are far more available that AC replicas. In the end, I think the comfort and power of his current car probably suits his weekend jaunts. Who knows, maybe the next Gen of GT500 will include a vert?
Also another thing to keep in mind is how much attention the cobra will get while out and about. People aren’t used to seeing them and I would say they garner more attention than the GT500. Could be a good or bad thing depending on how you see it.
For discussion sake, the rarity of the GT500 to the Cobra is not my main concern for sure. Here in the SF Bay Area, I seen a crap ton of Mustangs MY2020+. Most are driven by youngens with stupid loud aftermarket exhausts. I see fewer GT350s and GT500s but I do see a few of those. Saw my first 2023 Mach 1 the other day.
I rarely see Cobras on the road but that could be do to the points above in that (a) they are uncomfortable for long drives and (b) one fair weather type cars. I guess I need to get my butt into one for a test drive. I have yet to see any come up for sale local to me that would warrant a visit. I'm super particular and borderline OCD fastidious for clean well built well thought out cars. I've seen a few at car shows, but many seem to be "tossed together" especially where the cockpit is concerned.
As my wife tells me all the time "You seem to like the hunt more than the buy" which may be true, so I'll keep looking. The GT is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Great discussion Gentlemen and I thank all of you for the replies. It's always good to get the prospective of those with more knowledge the myself.
Thanks Guys!
I rarely see Cobras on the road but that could be do to the points above in that (a) they are uncomfortable for long drives and (b) one fair weather type cars. I guess I need to get my butt into one for a test drive. I have yet to see any come up for sale local to me that would warrant a visit. I'm super particular and borderline OCD fastidious for clean well built well thought out cars. I've seen a few at car shows, but many seem to be "tossed together" especially where the cockpit is concerned.
As my wife tells me all the time "You seem to like the hunt more than the buy" which may be true, so I'll keep looking. The GT is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Great discussion Gentlemen and I thank all of you for the replies. It's always good to get the prospective of those with more knowledge the myself.
Thanks Guys!
Off topic, but I see your Boss was the SBY color. I thought those were sharp, but my wife hates the color. I think part of her distaste is influenced by the name because she always calls them SBY vice just yellow. What was Ford thinking when they used that name. Anything relating to a school bus doesn’t invoke a thought of good handling or speed or even good looks! 😩😊
I will float the position of having cake and eating it too. I have buddies that trade cars after a period of time and we share these machines w/ each other. What is life without different experiences? Every car is way different. So to get more experiences, go in 1/2's or 1/3rds like we do with airplanes and have access to many while spreading out the cost. It works out pretty well.
Another thing to consider, the economy is crashing, I am a veteran of investing, things are about to become very inexpensive, I plan to buy a Ferrari for $30k or less and 10 homes to increase my wealth base, when the crash comes.
Kevin
Another thing to consider, the economy is crashing, I am a veteran of investing, things are about to become very inexpensive, I plan to buy a Ferrari for $30k or less and 10 homes to increase my wealth base, when the crash comes.
Kevin
I have never lumped all model year GT500s together in past discussions. I’d have to have data for the 60s/70s GT500s if that was the case, which I do not. I have lumped all of the S197 GT500s together when talking about 07-14 GT500s as well as lumping together all of the S550 GT500s together when talking about 20-22 variants. If you want to compare all GT500s ever made 60s until now to all AC Cobras ever made 60s until now, I have no idea on those numbers.
The OP has a 20-22 GT500. There are roughly 15k of those in existence. There will be no more made ever. Yes, there very well could be a future Shelby, but it will be something different entirely.
@Calif-GT500 I get what you are saying about a sea of Mustangs… very true! There are a ton of S550 Mustangs on the roads today.
Lol yeah that is a polarizing color for sure. Sort of like Twister Orange. Lol
I specifically wanted the SBY and found my car in Oklahoma. Bought it sight unseen from original owner. Great guy and fellow car enthusiast. Funny story we had be chatting back and forth for a month before settling on the deal. He held the car awaiting transport which took 2 weeks to get picked up. I told him “that car was my Unicorn car. Right car, right price, right owner”. He laughed. When the car arrived it was perfect as expected and there was a stuffed “Unicorn” plush toy on the passenger seat. Thought that was cool. Lol
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I think you're gonna find this to be the final answer .... only YOU can decide what's right for YOU.
(even those who say "you're crazy" will still admire it )
Best of luck ... enjoy the hunt and test drives ... you can't lose just looking !!
P.S..... I still remember test driving a "Magnum P.I." Ferrari 308 ..... glad I didn't buy it, but a very memorable test drive !!
It does remind me of a grown up GoKart. I had a friend that bought a river runner. Short wheel base Chevy 6 cylinder pickup with a custom set of fenders from 55 gallon barrels and a multipoint rollbar and a whildshield. It was very very fast and just crazy fun offroad, 3 speed and a tall rear end welded together. It drove like a nitromethane R/C car. All of it with around 18mpg. GREAT fun factor 3x!
Kevin
That is a very tough decision, the Cobra is the most fun I’ve ever had in a car, but it is a hard car to own when it is your only car!!
We all watch the weather very closely when we take her cars out, but with the cobra, there is no room for error as a quick afternoon thunderstorm could really ruin the day.
I have owned to Backdrafts and would love to own another one, but when I was looking over the winter, a new cobra is the same price as a CFTP GT500 with what Covid did to the market, and as much as I love the cobra, there is no comparison between the two cars for the same price, the GT500 in technology alone along with all the modern conveniences is the best all around car!!!
I have been fortunate to own another car each time I have owned the cobra, and to be honest, that is the only way I would do it again!!
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We all watch the weather very closely when we take her cars out, but with the cobra, there is no room for error as a quick afternoon thunderstorm could really ruin the day.
I have owned to Backdrafts and would love to own another one, but when I was looking over the winter, a new cobra is the same price as a CFTP GT500 with what Covid did to the market, and as much as I love the cobra, there is no comparison between the two cars for the same price, the GT500 in technology alone along with all the modern conveniences is the best all around car!!!
I have been fortunate to own another car each time I have owned the cobra, and to be honest, that is the only way I would do it again!!
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