How much to rent a Cobra replicar for week-10 days

[bitzman]

I envision traveling West Coast to East Coast in a replica Cobra (would prefer alum. body but will take fiberglass). Something with not too hot a cam (probably small block with single carb in a big block body style). Has anyone ever heard of renting one? By the mile would kill me--at least 2500 miles one way-- but maybe by the day?

Also I would want to do something unusual, to the car which the renter might not like, and let me know if anyone has done this--having a canvas (or vinyl tonneau cover) secured all around the cockpit by those little chrome turnbuckles but in the driver's area having a Nor'easter sewn in, hood and all, so that as I drove and encountered inclement weather, I could have pictures taken in rain & such, more of an adventure than putting a top up (haven't solved how to clean my glasses, maybe buy those frames with little mini windscreen wipers...).

I have read accounts of those on the Hot Rod power tour driving an open car coast to coast but seems to me the tonneau cover plus Nor'easter is better than sitting in a puddle...

[computerworks]

$300-$500 per day has been the market price; most allow 100 miles and then add a per mile charge.

...and you have to return it to where you rented it.

You would be better off buying a good used SPF and then selling it after the trip.... it would be way cheaper.

[bitzman]

I thought of that as a fall-back position. The other is to drive from one event like the Monterey Historic in California to another event in the East like annual SAAC meet and sell it at the second event. I did something similar buying an Iso Grifo 351-C Ford powered car, driving it to the Barrett-Jackson auction and selling it in the parking lot for $16,000. Now the damn thing's probably worth $75,000!

[bitzman]

OK, 10 days is too expensive. Maybe a week's too expensive. So now I am down to thinking about one or two days in a Cobra replica and writing about the trip. The next question would be where to drive it for the best photo possibilities?


I have driven through Big Sur a few times but never actually stopped anywhere, but it's a great place to take pictures (though no damn gas stations!). Another idea is to rent it in Monterey , San Jose or SF and driving it around during Monterey Historic week, lots going on as the cars arrive for the various events. Or maybe around San Francisco and up Hwy 1 from there to Mendocino (3 hour drive).


I keep looking at travel books for ideas. There is a book I have to look at but it cost $250 new, called A Road Trip Journal by Stephen Shore where he meticulously documents a trip around the US, down to what he paid for breakfast and the actual receipt. I guess this book is too expensive for most bookstores to stock but might be an interesting approach.