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Any builder recommendations in So. Cal?

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2.4K views 16 replies 14 participants last post by  TNCobra  
#1 ·
I haven't yet decided if I'm going to build it myself or not but after hearing some horror stories (i.e. it sat in the garage for 10 years half-finished) I'm very interested in any recommendations you folks might have in a professional builder in So. Cal, preferably in Orange County. Considering both turn-key and purchasing rolling chassis w/engine and trans.

I met Rocky Holton from Cobra Engineering (FFR referral) in Upland, CA a few months back and had a good conversation but have not asked him for references yet.

Also, my thanks for everyone who contributes here, I've already learned an unbelievable amount from the FAQ and reading the past month or so of posts here, and even got a response to a forum registration problem (which was probably my fault) at 10PM. I'm already thinking of adding some additions I never would have thought of (like vented footboxes).
 
#5 ·
Thanks Matt, I would choose you too!

But remember that us SoCal dufuses are very picky who we build a car for. It's more of us interviewing the prospective owner than the other way around. I learned that from years of managing mega yachts.

Last month a guy on a very expensive modified Harley asked me to pull my black FFR over to ask questions. I took him for a ride. We hit it off and his new black IRS FFR will have every detail polished or chrome to match his Harley. Big brakes and wheels. The kit arrives June 1. After we prep the body it's off to his bike painter for a no limit paint job.

Black seems to be in this year as we are in the final stages of finish to a Santa Barbara FFR.

On the flip side I terminated an arrangement with an ERA owner just yesterday. We went to his house with the trailer to bring his body down to the yard on the agreed to date and hour but his check book was mysteriously unavailable. Like any other yard on the water front how can you not understand the phrase NO CASH NO SPLASH?

Roger
949 275 5702 9-3pm PT
 
#8 ·
If you want to make a little trip to Phoenix, we are the oldest and largest builders in the west. We also have a written warranty on all our street cars. You will also save several thousand dollars in sales tax. I can be reached at 480-446-8442.
 
#11 ·
You're more than welcomed to check-out Katherina (my Cobra). I'm in Thousand Oaks area. E-mail me. See what you think. Rob Weatherbie (www.speedyasscars.com) did a fantastic job.

Edwin V.
 
#12 ·
I had #2937 built by Roger Stine. He and his guys(Art and Joe) did a great job. The turn-key effort from start to finish was ten(10) weeks. I picked it up on a Friday night in mid-Nov., filled it up with gas and my dog Buffy and I drove it 300 miles to my place in Arizona. It now has about 2500 miles on it with no problems. I'm obviously very pleased with the detail work, paint(Roger has a new paint shop next door to him),performance, et al. Plus, the most important thing, I gained some new friends and it was a FUN project. :D :D :D
 
#13 ·
I too had 2510 built by Roger. Great guy to work with and Joe and Art are the best. Kit arrived at Roger's at the end of March 2001 and I picked it up end of July. What I liked was that Roger was open to ideas I had, of which some weren't exactly main stream.

Image
 
#14 ·
ariel ayubo built my car (310 302 1913) and he did a super job. he drove it from LA to new york city and back for an 8,000 mile shakedown trip. one of the greatest guys you will ever meet.

ive undone and redone almost every bolt on the car now, but im always coming across little extra details he added. my car has over 400 autocross runs, 21,000 miles and its never let me down.

-james
 
#15 ·
James

Ariel is cool. He has an apartment in Venice Beach with no garage. He built your FFR in the parking lot in the CRATE! Hence the thread Man in the Box on cobraforum.

During the build he brought the wiring harness over to my house one day for some pointers. He painted the body in Mike Seniors front yard. Ariel did a great job doing the cut and polish.

His trip to New York began as soon as the car was driveable. He went to see his dad. During his stay in NYC he left me a message that he lost the battery switch key down an elevator shaft or something to that effect. I shipped him the key out of 1225 that day.

About a month later he and the FFR returned from NYC little worse for wear and some interesting stories.

Roger
 
#16 ·
hi roger,

one of the things i regret is not saving the "man in the box" thread from the old cobraforum. one hell of a story, and part of the history of my car that i wish had been preserved. my favorite quote about the 'box build' was that "that car is being built with a lot of passion".

well, now that basic car has had a lot of updates!

im amazed at how well the paint turned out! it is still my all time favorite color on a cobra. someone told me mike's neighbor's car has some of the overspray on it.
Image


-james
 
#17 ·
dd,

I think an important aspect is to go visit the individuals and see their shop, shake their hands, see some projects in process, talk to some of their customers and get a good overall feeling. I visited both Roger and Gordon before finding a car (that Roger helped build) that was for sale down in So. Cal. I felt comfortable with either one and I think their track record (no pun intended) is very good.