Looking at the specs on the car is looks a little weak, sorry my opinion.
The motor is quite inexpensive to do, a pull out at that with (maybe, cannot verify) some forged internals. Iron heads, maybe just standard E7 castings with oversize valves. No match for inexpensive aluminum heads with CNC porting. Webers aren't that high if you know where to look.
No AC, no upgraded brakes - a fairly basic car.
Based on that and today's market I wouldn't go 85k on the car. As mentioned above, you can get some serious performance for that kind of money and a good car.
Just as an example, take CAV with a $59k roller, ad Wilwood brakes, 6 pot front, 4 rears, built tranny, 342/347 stroker with all forged, 4 bolt block, good heads, AC, leather, knock ons, and you'll be around $75k. And have, in my opinion, a better car. Add electronic 8 barrel fuel injection if you like for another 5k. Still not $85k and now a lot better car.
The same can be done with Roaring Forties as well - about the same price for a tunrkey outfitted similarily.
Certainly there are those that will argue the ERA is in a league of its' own and should not be compared, but I think that gap has narrowed significantly, been closed, or been surpassed depending on who you ask. At the least it has significantly been narrowed.
I like the ERA cars I've seen and want to visit the factory sometime when I'm up that way. But $59k for a fairly incomplete kit is not cheap these days - you've still got to get uprights, transmission (ZF only), engine, and lots of assorted parts which are not so cheap. It is easy to see why a completed car is attractive.
Ron
[ July 17, 2002: Message edited by: R. Earp ]