[Scott Smith]

My God, what a lot of horsepuckey! It must be that time of month for ole CC.

Of course Keith Martin, B-J and others attempt to demean our cars. It's in their economic interests to do so! Don't forget, they're in the business of hyping and selling USED CARS or the magazines that glorify them!

While it's wonderful to see the meticulous over-restored cars like Ralph Lauren's Bugatti, remember there's damned little in that car that is truly original. People are just buying into an illusion.

Why do people buy them? Well, with the laudable exception of the Rob Waltons and Rich Masons of the world who buy and exercise their cars, most are buying them in the sincere hope that there is at least one more shmuck out there who is willing to pay just a bit more for the car. How many Ferrari 512 Testarosas are languishing in garages in the desperate hope that one day they will once again be worth $400,000?

Many here have said they would love to have an original 289 or 427. Why??? Will you drive and enjoy it like Hal drives his SPF? Doubtful! Very doubtful! It would just sit in your garage, never get scratched or dinged, and occassionally you would wax it in the fervent hope you can sell it later at a profit to put your darling ankle-biter through Wharton! If you want to invest, buy equities, bonds, or real estate. Just stop whining about whose brand will be worth more at some indeterminate time in the future.

As far as the branding, F5 vs ERA vs Shelby, everybody buys into branding, ie some wear Men's Warehouse and others Armani. I don't give a damn what you wear (I certainly don't want to see your ugly naked ass!), it's what I wear that counts when I plunk down my hard earned money. What counts is that you've made an effort to look good. Same with our cars. I'd much rather see fellow Cobra enthusiasts in ratty F5s than brand new Datsun Zs. Oops, I mean Nissan.

Now, push away from the keyboard, fire up your Cobras, and get a life!

Scott