[Dangerous poll #2] Who played the most important role in the Cobra?

[SunDude]

In other words, whose role was completely indispensable in making the Cobra what it was?

Please vote, and feel free to explain the reasons for your choice.

[Doug I]

The fastest car in the world is just a collection of stationary parts until someone makes it work. Ken made it work.

[Igofastr]

Despite my personal distaste for the man's recent behaviour, Shelby was the key in getting the whole thing moving.

Without Carroll, Ken Miles is still driving his MG specials around SoCal. Without Carroll, none of the parties that got together to develope the Cobra into what it became would have met.

Shelby didn't build the car, he didn't design the car, and he didn't race the car. But he did make it happen.

[Snakebit]

Shelby mated the AC Bristol with the Ford 289, But Ken Miles did all the testing to make the car cross the finish line way ahead of the competition. Any one can build a race car, but not every one can make it a winner. Miles was not only a race driver, but an engineer who could tell exactly what was wrong with the car and how to fix it.

[Ron61]

I went with Ken Miles because he used to test the cars on the city streets and the cops could never catch him. He seemed to know exactly what had to be done to make them handle and fast. A great driver and engineer I think. And he had a real seat of the pants feel for the cars.

Ron

[mdross1]

It has always been a colaboration,between Ken miles,and others who drove the cars,and the king pin Mr.Shelby.

[parhen4]

Originally Posted by Igofastr

Despite my personal distaste for the man's recent behaviour, Shelby was the key in getting the whole thing moving.

Without Carroll, Ken Miles is still driving his MG specials around SoCal. Without Carroll, none of the parties that got together to develope the Cobra into what it became would have met.

Shelby didn't build the car, he didn't design the car, and he didn't race the car. But he did make it happen.

In my opinion the Cobra would not have become a production car without Dean Moon and his crew.Shelby knew nothing about fabrication or mechanics, and installing the Ford 221 in the AC chassis was done by Moon. And the first test driver was Billy Krause who took the car out with Wire Wheels that flexed 6 inches in turn nine at Riverside, but gave back the feedback that was needed. And Dave Mcdonald who was the best driver ever in a Cobra in my opinion.

[Cashburn]

Who wrote the checks?

[RedBarchetta]

Ford. Without sponsors/backing where would have Carroll come up with the cash to pay for it all?

-Dean

[cosbytnkid]

I agree without Ford, there never would have been a Cobra to begin with.

[RodKnock]

How about Enzo Ferrari? Without his car, there would be no war.

[Cobrabill]

Everyone BUT Shelby.

[Woodz428]

I have to give it to GM. If they hadn't refused to sell Chebby engines to CS, they would have likely played second fiddle to the Corvette. Interesting that Ford is capitalizing on that connection and GM is banking on their political ones

[Jim Werth]

Didn't CS use an AC car that was already designed to fit a european Ford engine? Jim

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Like him or not, it was 'ole Shel who put it all together. He's the one who hired the people who made the whole thing work. He had the vision.

[rodneym]

Some of these answers are getting pretty darn creative.
rodneym

[HI Cobra]

Heh heh - would you expect anything else?

[CSX 4027]

Carroll has been quoted many times saying.... "that without Ken Miles, there would have been no C O B R A"
..so would Carroll's efforts never made the history they have engraved? ..................no

[PDHse]

In my view Ken Miles was the man who was the "most important role in the Cobras early sucess".Obviously the Cobra was Carroll Shelbys idea and he got the ball rolling but as the thread title asks it has to be Miles.
Besides money a car has to be developed and from what i have read in all the books out there Ken Miles tested, tested and tested those cars until they were winners.

Its the same recently with Michael Schumacher with his years at Ferrari, he tested all the time when other drivers were taking holidays.

[somedayaurora]

It's called a Shelby Cobra ain't it .
SDR
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