[Jack21]

I'm a Street Rodder at heart, not a pureist for British originality. Don't get me wrong, I had my right of passage with owning or repairing/upgrading MGA's, MGB's, TR-3A's, TR-4's, Healy 3000's, and Sunbeam Tigers. Had my love/hate relationship with Mr. Lucas, "Prince of Darkness". And Mr. Smiths, "Prince of misinformation".

In '63 -'66 we had a British sports car manufactured by AC, shipped to LAX, and fitted by Mr. Shelby with Made in USA engine and trans. (The plaque under the hood/bonnet stating car was Manufactured by Shelby American is a complete misnomer).

Todays Cobra, mine included, may have some OEM British AC Cobra parts for originality. Front and rear bumpers, side mirrors, windshield with sun visors and windwings, Lucas windshield wiper assembly, and Lucas park, turn, and brake lights, but that's where the similarity ends.

The front suspension, steering and brakes are all Ford or aftermarket replacements. The rear suspension and brakes are all Ford, or aftermarket replacement. Drivetrain is all Ford with more or less aftermarket components. Call it a fiberglass, two seat Mustang with a hot rod engine and as loyal a following as T-Bird had in '55, '56, & '57. The crime/shame of it all? This could have, and should have, been a T-Bird vs Corvette starting with the '58 model year. This simply was not to be.

Since '58, the 'Vette has been the only American sportscar, challenged only briefly by the hybred Cobra.

So what happens to a Species when there is no competition for food, water, market share? It gets fat, lazy, and overconfident that it has no challenger. Todays' version of the T-Rex, the Corvette. It might as well be a 4 wheel, 2 seat Cadillac. But wait, Cadillac is coming out with their own 4 wheel, 2 seat Cadillac!
Ford? No chalengers! We DIY kit, and semi turn key guys have our '65/'66 Cobras. British sports car handling with American made components from the unlikeliest of sources. (Mustang II? That was the worst example of automotive engeneering fostered on the car buying public since the Corvair.)

Bottom line, if there is such a thing as a bottom line, or common denominator with Corporate Giants who provide cookie cutter transportation placebos to the we unwashed masses.

But there is an automotive subculture that first showed its' head in the '20's & '30's, and got stronger every year.

Today, the Vette has no challengers as it did in the '60's. And the only thing that will give a Cobra a tussle iss anotherr Cobra.