Not Ranked
Some additional musings about Shelby. Shelby American, not Ford, won the International Championship. Ford subsequently used the name on some pretty pathetic cars unashamedly for pure marketing. Carroll Shelby on the original arrangements for the Cobra: "Primarily my letter was addressed to Charles Hurlock of AC... In this letter I didn't mention Ford specificially, or in any way, because what I had in mind was a Chevy engine, maybe, or a Buick aluminum engine, or something from Oldsmobile." Source: "The Cobra Story" (book) by Carroll Shelby and Lyle Kenyon, 1965. GM turned down Shelby, the marketing people thought that the project would compete too directly against the Corvette. Shelby must be saddened about the application of the legendary name COBRA on cars ranging from rolling total losses to anemic Fords. He really appears to be trying to protect the legacy of Shelby American. However, even the automotive press commented on the sickening Mustang II being badged "COBRA" in the emission laden 70s. I submit that overall the replicar market dignifies the legend, and that the real damage was done by Ford. Related, Harley Davidson sued the Japanese mfgs for building V twins, on the basis of the sound of a Harley was an infringement, which is obviously reaching and as I recollect lost. Suits against replicar mfgs threaten their financial health, and they may have to stop badging them or calling them Cobras, and may pay damages for using the name in a detrimental way....but doubtful will cause the shape to be off limits. One of the lesser reasons that I chose ERA was that they have been loyal to the legacy. If they ever got in a legal scrap with Ford or Shelby, where are the damages? They have done nothing but publish the legend for free. The legend has passed to a new generation that wave, scream and thumbs up when they see and hear the most radical, cool car (to them) on the planet drive by. God bless Carroll Shelby. Think of the void in our lives had he retired to be another Purdue type chicken farmer. Ford owes us each a bottle of Scotch as a token.
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