[REAL 1]

TerrySPF: I didn't say I dismiss what BB or Oltoff said about the SPF. Read what I said. Are you saying that you accept what they say without question or consideration of motive and the possibility that they are putting the product in its best light in view of their business connection and profit motive. Is it because they are speaking of a SPF that TerrySPF blindly believes?

Bob Bondurant said according to you that the "SPF was the car Shelby should have built". Lets discuss this a little shall we?

What does that mean? Why? Do you agree with it? Why? I'm not so sure I agree for many reasons. Does this mean Shelby should have built fiberglass and incur a weight disadvantage? As to engine, were 351's even available at that time and if so were they comparable to the 351W of today and its performance? If the 427 Cobra wasn't born and it was a 351 Cobra instead how would that have changed history? The 427 still would not have been homologated in time for FIA. The GT40 program still would have eclipsed the Cobra and most of all putting a SB in the Cobra instead of the vaunted 427SO may have torpedoed the Cobra from becoming the legend it became and is today which in short means that maybe SPF wouldn't even exist because there would not have been a market for Cobra replicas.

What about Mr. Bondurant's statement "SPF was the best of all replicas by far". Thats sounds like more a statement of fact than an expression of opinion to me. So I say Whoa! Not so fast there bucko! I don't care if he is Bob Bondurant I don't necessarily have to buy what he's selling. And lets be clear he was selling. SPF the best replica? No way. The "best by far"? Double no way. Its a nice car and good product. But the "best by far"? Very, very debatable. Moreover what does "best" mean.

When push comes to shove I think that the ERA is better for many reasons from aesthetics, to chasis, to suspension espeically with ERA's new outboard rear brake option. Thats my humble opinion. Not that I'm slamming SPF but a top of the line ERA trumps a SPF.

It seems to me that Bondurant's quote you posted as to SPF being the best was "puffing" shall we say.

As to Oltoff's statement its clear he has close ties to SPF. He admits it. He is close with the owner and was involved in the development of the SPF itself. Clearly he has some bias. Not that thats bad. We all have bias'. But we must look at the bias when weighing the comments. Oltoff statements are clear statement of his opinion. He is entitled to his opinion. Everyone is. I just disagree that the SPF is the "finest replica". I also disagree that its the finest replica of the "finest road going sports car ever made". I don't think the Cobra was the "finest" road going sports car ever made. It was the fastest in its time and offered more performance than any other. But finest? Nah.

More puffing. But thats OK. They are entitled to puff and put their product in their best light. I'm sure Oltoff does believe the SPF is the "best" replica. I just disagree. I just weigh the statements accordingly.

Let me ask you this. If Bondurant and Oltoff where extolling the virtues of the CSX based on a business relationship with SAI what are the odds that you would be discounting what they had to say? I'd say those odds would be pretty good.

SAI wasn't around again when B.Bondurant or Oltoff began their relationship with SPF. Maybe if SAI was around Bob or Oltoff or both would have chosen to be a SAI dealer. Who knows.

Also the fact that they chose SPF doesn't impress me either. As far as I know SPF was the only company offering a dealer network at the time. But I can see why they would want to be a dealer. The SPF is a nice product and was made available to customers immediately.

Anyway the point is I always consider the source and possible motives for making the statements. Not that I would automatically think they are not true, just that I would weigh them in light of the circumstances before accepting them as 100% true without embellishment.

BTW Bondurant as I understand is no longer a SPF dealer. Why not? Do you know? I don't. Just curious.