Rumors and talk about Shelby and Chevy's have abounded for years. IF this particular article is "believable" it is as Spock would say, "Fascinating".
How would the car have done? It's not a "slam dunk". I wouldn't make the "assumption" that those same records set by the FORD Cobra could have been duplicated with the Chevy Cobra! Maybe, maybe not!
One BIG reason they might have "failed" was indeed Chevy Management not being able to see the "big picture". They were clearly more focused on the Vette and even IF they had allowed Shelby to go forward I think they would have tied his hands and NOT given him the "free reign" and ultimatly the support he would have needed to be successful.
It is noteworthy the NO GM car has been allowed to be built that was FASTER than the Corvette. When Buick did it with the GN V-6 (FASTER 0-60 mph than the Vette for ONE year only) GM was on Buick like white on rice. GM FORCED Buick to "back down" and slow the GN for the next year!
No one is allowed to be "faster" than their "precious", the Vette is "Lord of the Rims".
If your a Vette lover perhaps this little quote is fitting:
The saddest words that were ever penned are these, "What might have been".
Long live the Ford Cobra! Hoo Rahhh.
Ernie