Parsaver
08-26-2015, 10:30 AM
Greetings!
I've been lurking about for a quite a bit and it seems every couple of years I come back to the idea of building a Cobra. Every time it come back it seems to resurge with greater appeal and this time I decided to take some steps. Ordered the Brochures and DVD and while I was waiting for them to arrive I did a search and found a replica for sale not to far from my house. It wasn't a Factory Five and my first impression was not a good one. It seemed like a kit car. The lines weren't great and the engine (from a much older Mustang) just looked out of place. the real heartbreak came when I tried to sit in it. I am 6'4" and 240+ LBS and I had to wedge myself into the car and could barely shut the door. The car was an automatic and it was so cramped I don't feel as though I could properly and safely operate it. A friend who went with me described it best.....I was devastated.
I had remembered seeing something on the forums where someone had talked about a "Wookie" sized driver and the modifications needed to fit in the car. I bit the bullet and registered so I could send a PM and ask them what they did. A couple of emails later and I'm cruising up the coast to go meet David Hodgkins. What a stand up guy...I cant say enough nice things about him. We grab a quick breakfast and head to his shop. A bit of instructions and I slide right in in the front seat of his MK III. Not only do I fit, there is room to spare!! I asked him what changes he had to make and he opens up the shop and shows me on the MK IV he's working on. (It is apparent the difference in quality between this one and the other car that wasn't a Factory Five). Just a step by step guide on how I can make one that I can fit into. We talked about build times and budgets and how I have little to no real mechanical experience. Then, back out to the MK III for a quick drive around the neighborhood. Great Experience.
I went there unsure about how things would turn out but I left a changed person. After seeing a build in progress and being able to fit into a car I left with a feeling of "I can do this". Something that has been a fantasy for so long now has the potential to be a reality and I am extremely excited. Moral of the story is David is awesome and in the future I will probably have a thousand questions about what I'm doing, but I am positive about the final outcome.
I've been lurking about for a quite a bit and it seems every couple of years I come back to the idea of building a Cobra. Every time it come back it seems to resurge with greater appeal and this time I decided to take some steps. Ordered the Brochures and DVD and while I was waiting for them to arrive I did a search and found a replica for sale not to far from my house. It wasn't a Factory Five and my first impression was not a good one. It seemed like a kit car. The lines weren't great and the engine (from a much older Mustang) just looked out of place. the real heartbreak came when I tried to sit in it. I am 6'4" and 240+ LBS and I had to wedge myself into the car and could barely shut the door. The car was an automatic and it was so cramped I don't feel as though I could properly and safely operate it. A friend who went with me described it best.....I was devastated.
I had remembered seeing something on the forums where someone had talked about a "Wookie" sized driver and the modifications needed to fit in the car. I bit the bullet and registered so I could send a PM and ask them what they did. A couple of emails later and I'm cruising up the coast to go meet David Hodgkins. What a stand up guy...I cant say enough nice things about him. We grab a quick breakfast and head to his shop. A bit of instructions and I slide right in in the front seat of his MK III. Not only do I fit, there is room to spare!! I asked him what changes he had to make and he opens up the shop and shows me on the MK IV he's working on. (It is apparent the difference in quality between this one and the other car that wasn't a Factory Five). Just a step by step guide on how I can make one that I can fit into. We talked about build times and budgets and how I have little to no real mechanical experience. Then, back out to the MK III for a quick drive around the neighborhood. Great Experience.
I went there unsure about how things would turn out but I left a changed person. After seeing a build in progress and being able to fit into a car I left with a feeling of "I can do this". Something that has been a fantasy for so long now has the potential to be a reality and I am extremely excited. Moral of the story is David is awesome and in the future I will probably have a thousand questions about what I'm doing, but I am positive about the final outcome.