If you are considering a replica car kit for your current vehicle, you have probably noticed the large selection on the market. It seems that there are replica car kits for every type of vehicle imaginable. There are even duplicates available for some of the most common vehicles, like the Shelby Cobra. How can you choose one that best fits your vehicle and your driving needs? How can you ensure that you are getting a replica car kit that produces the best results? How can you accurately measure those results to ensure an authentic replication?
Base your results on RPM and engine features
Not everyone purchases a Cobra kit to take their vehicle to the track. Some simply want the overall look of the Shelby Cobra, including the RPM and engine factors. After completing your replica car kit project, pay attention to the RPM factors. Has the engine power increased at all? Are you able to rev the engine to a higher number? This is a basic method for measuring your replica care kit results.
Compare your vehicle to the replication
If you purchased a replica car kit to duplicate the overall design, you can easily compare your results. How similar are the cosmetic features to the vehicle that you attempted to replicate? Are the colors and designs the same? How close do the features resemble the authentic model? This is one of the easiest results to test for, as you can simply compare your vehicle to a photograph or to the real thing to see how closely it matches.
Take your vehicle to the race track
If you completed the replica car kit to achieve a higher speed, the only real way to test the results is to take your newly designed vehicle to the closest race track. Many local race tracks allow you to test out your speeds in different measurements. You can test out the overall speed by racing around the track a couple of times or you can test the speed in the quarter mile. Among average races, there are short tracks, speedways, and super speedways that range from 0.5 to 2.5 miles long. Having an intended goal in mind is always helpful, so you can measure how close you are to the actual road and track times. Measure each of the race option times and then compare it again, after you have completed additional car kit work.
Take a drive in the authentic version
This option may not be a possibility for everyone, especially if you are replicating an extremely rare vehicle. However, if you do have the possibility to take a drive in the authentic version of the vehicle, this can help you measure the performance driving and overall feel of the build. Replica car kits cannot mimic the vehicle weight, which can affect the overall drive feel. The lightweight version of the Cobra debuted at the 1990 Geneva Salon, the weight was down to 2,360 pounds compared to 2,620 pounds and power was up to 370 hp at 5,750 rpm. Some racing cars or roadsters can weight up to 3,400 pounds. Cobras are known for weighing much less. Taking a drive in the real thing can help you compare the different weights.
Replica car kits give car enthusiasts the opportunity to turn their current vehicle into the vehicle of their dreams, at an affordable price. However, it can be difficult to measure the results and ensure that the best replica car kit was used. There are some ways to measure the results including comparing it to the actual model in terms of design and drive, testing out the different components of the engine, and actually taking it to the local track for race times.
