[A Snake]

Venture and SAI not withstanding, I wonder what the Shelby name/persona really is worth. Ford and Chrysler have both made some bucks with it.

With an estimated 40,000-odd replica Cobras made and sold since the mid '70's, I'd say marketing or not, that qualifies the producers as "boutique" businesses. None of the "Big Three" have any particular use for SAI as a going business, but that name is surely interesting to at least two of them.

I can almost see Ford or Chrysler acquiring the name and re-inventing SAI to produce specially modified versions of their marketing toys. Maybe a Shelby Prowler or a Shelby Viper. How about a brand new Shelby Mustang ready to go to the track or drive to a cruise in. Don't tell me that won't increase brand awareness. That's worth money. Big money. The best part is that there are still a lot of buyers who remember Shelby very well and today, a lot of them have a few bucks to spend on toys.

Ask yourself, would you (if you were able) spend $45K on a car that would meet emmisions, turn 11 second 1/4 mile times and still corner like a go kart? Put a few ads on TV showing that Mustang dusting a Corvette and a very long line magically appears at the dealerships, buying not only Shelby Mustangs, but other Ford products.

Like the old Tasco Ford slogan, "If it wins on Sunday, it sells on Monday."

Al