[Mark IV]

The dealer is NOT an agent for Shelby American. A dealer agreement (sometimes a "franchise") states that the dealer is a separate entity from the manufacturer and is prohibited from binding or otherwise commiting the manufacturer.

I have written dealer agreements for two small volume manufacturers, they were not "franchises" as most states have a very involved and legally expensive process for registering a franchise (check out a McDonald's franchise agreement or a Ford dealer agreement sometime if you want complex) so I suspect it is either a "dealer agreement" or possibly a "personal services agreement" (which is what Mercedes uses in the US). Either way the dealer cannot bind or commit the manufacturer and is limited to what the mfr represents such as warranty, etc.

As to the legalities, several here feel the difference between the "dealer" doing a completion and the "manufacturer" doing the turn key allows the dealer to do so. I propose: What if the dealer bought every individual part to build the complete vehicle, that is he assembled it from 1000 pieces. Would this make him a "manufacturer? Now suppose he does it using an assembled rolling chassis and only two other "parts", the engine and transmission. Is he a "manufacturer" now? Is there any difference? NHTSA thinks not...............