There are people who love cars — and there are car enthusiasts. Sometimes, it can be difficult to draw the line between which is which. A person who loves cars usually loves their cars in particular. They’re proud of them, but they don’t know the ins and outs of why they work, and they wouldn’t know what to do if their car had serious issues on the road. They might not know the complex history of vehicles either, or the difference between a typical vanity vehicle and a true sports car. They certainly wouldn’t be able to build a car from scratch. That is the job of the true car enthusiast. More and more, enthusiasts are no longer content to just buy a car from a dealer, or even have a car made for them. They want to make it themselves. One way through which they can do this is through replica car kits. Replica car kits offer people a creative outlet — they can end up with the car of their dreams, and if they use upgrade parts, something even better. More and more often, those who choose to use replica cart kits choose a Shelby Cobra kit in particular. An AC Cobra replica is something to be proud of. Let’s look into the history of this car, as well as why people choose to build their own Shelby Cobras.
What Is A Shelby Cobra?
The AC Shelby Cobra is an Anglo-American sports car, originally designed with the intention of beating Corvettes while at the same time being much more lightweight than Corvettes. In fact, the typical Shelby Cobra weighs about 500 pounds less than a Corvette, and is lighter than most race cars to this day. The Shelby Cobra quickly became admired as much for its sleek appearance as its speed — though the way it was made was quite admired as well. Outfitted with 260 cu in, the Shelby Cobra had a V8 Ford Windsor engine. Coming onto the scene in the 1960s, this vehicle quickly made quite the mark. In 1964, the Shelby Cobra made headlines when it reached speeds of 186 miles per hour. This was on a British motorway. Sooner rather than later, however, the car began to make international rounds. In the Geneva Salon, the lightweight version of the already light Cobra debuted. It was 2,360 pounds — this compared to the 2,620 pounds the Cobra previously weighed. Its power had also increased up to 370 horsepower at 5,750 rpm. It’s no wonder that people loved the Cobra then, and that love has only persisted. The question remains, however — why make one on your own?
Why Use Replica Car Kits?
Replica car kits are not the easy route, and nobody would argue that they were. But with that being said, there are many benefits to using replica car kits. In some cases, enthusiasts end up paying less for a much better car than they would have had otherwise. Essentially, after all, they are buying cars that are sports vehicles meant for the raceway. If bought outright, such cars could easily cost much more. For that matter, a smart car enthusiast could take a replica car kit to the next level by investing in upgrade parts. This is another pro of using car kits. Essentially, car enthusiasts are able to build their cars as they want them to be, versus settling for a car that they only like. Most car enthusiasts have specific purposes in mind when building a car, and they deserve to love that they’re paying for.
Am I Ready To Build A Replica Car?
Car kits make it easier for enthusiast to build replica cars, to be sure. But you need to be sure that you know how to put a car together before committing to a kit. With that being said, many have found that it’s helpful to have a mentor in such situations. Car lovers can learn from those who built replicas before them, and can make contacts within the community. It’s doable — just be ready to work!
