[computerworks]

Natural progression or scam?

..I would say somewhere in the middle.

Yes, last year's Eleanor was shilled at the auction, and I have no doubt the same was true this year on the 350SR.

Take two steps back...what are these cars?

They are very nice rotissere restorations of 66-67 Mustangs, dressed up to look somewhat like an original GT350R and the movie car, respectively. They are commissioned and built by an independant marketing company that has sought and obtained a royalty-based endorsement by CS, Inc.

This is key: these cars have never seen a facility owned by CS, Inc., nor have they been touched by any employee of any company owned by CS, Inc. They are not sold thru the SA dealer network.

So, they are a continuation of what?

At least the CSX4000, 7000 and 8000 cars are connected to the family tree, as replicas made by the same corporate namesake of the company that made the real things 40 years ago.

These new cars from Sanderson aren't even in-laws or distant cousins; they are specialty cars that pay tribute ( and royalties by license ) to cars of days gone by.

As I have said many times before, if SAAC recognizes and registers these cars, they will have hopelessly diluted the validity of the Registry process. They might as well add sections for the motorcyles, guitars and cans of popcorn, if endorsed products qualify for registration.

These are pretty cars. (well, at least the 350SR is pretty...the Eleanor is a visual nightmare). Their target market is apparently rock stars and neo-buffs.... but to me, they are not part of the family.