Brent,
Sorry for the delay in responding...lots of relatives and friends around here lately--and lots of questions on my email.
Brent asked, "Are you offering the vehicle that has been shown at a price of $39,900 to ther {sic} general public or is it just a one time offer?"
Currently, this is a one time offer. We are doing a marketing experiment and listening very carefully to what the responses and comments are on this thread. It is too soon to say how the experiment will turn out.
Brent asked, "Does the price include wheels and tires or are they to be chosen and paid for along with the diff, radiator and half shafts?"
The purchase price of $39,900 includes the wheels and tires which are on the car right now, (the ones which are in the pictures).
Brent asked, "Is this a one off or do you plan to build additional units in order to offer them in quantity to perform a true market study?"
We have sold several cars on ebay. This is part of our ongoing market study we started long ago. If you have watched the auctions, you will have noticed we have mixed up the auctions to see which cars have the most interest. Our market experiment is not limited to cars on ebay, but is based a great deal on the customer comments on this site.
Brent asked, "Will the 2004 price increase on the 427 body and frame assembly affect the product in mention?"
I am not sure you want me to discuss our pricing with Shelby here.
Nevertheless, as everyone knows, when the Euro was introduced it quickly fell to 0.80 Euros/dollar. Now there are about 1.25 dollars/Euro. We have lost about 35% of the value of the dollar against the Euro over the past while. We, of course, have taken this all into account and have shifted a great portion of our production to the United States so as not to be caught in world currency markets. Poland generally only makes the frames and bodies now, (with a few other parts). We have invested heavily in several CNC machines here in Provo and have purhcased some some in Poland. As I am sure you can imagine, if a CNC machine is running 24 hours a day, it doesn't really matter if you are paying US labor rates or Polish labor rates as no one is watching it anyway. So, our costs in Poland have gone up, and our costs here in the US have gone down. We live in a global economy now and so you have to look for ways to gain a competitive edge. Low labor rates are not always the answer.
Brent said, "I have to admit the vehicle is a beauty however I must state that it is not a new concept. Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles and AC built several (26) of the 289 / 427 concepts back in 1964."
Thank you very much for your kind words. Carroll and Ken certainly did have some wonderful ideas.
Brent said, "I can only wish you the best on the project, Miles always said the 427 chassis and suspension with a small block (351 cu in) would have beat them all hands down (although he did not ever mention that the FIA body style made any differance on the performance)."
I too think a small block on a 427 chassis is a great combination. However, I think Ken was actually referring to the 289 engine and not the 351 as the 351, according to my understanding, did not come out until 1969--long after his untimely death.
David
