Carroll Shelby & the 50th Anniversary CSX 8000 Cobra

[CSX Cobra]

Yes as far as I know all 50 are sold out. Unless a few of the customers can't come up with the deposit of $35,000 for fiberglass. In that case a few more can come available. Quite Amazing overall. I worked the event and the 289 cobra for the entire Barrett Jackson event. It was the most popular and photographed car of the event. The cars were selling super fast. Absolutely stunning color combination. I think this is the single most significant car that shelby has put out in 45 years. Can't wait to get ours.

Gregory Motorsports
Fresno CA
559-960-8844

CSX 4000 series cars also brought good money at the auctions. Steven's and Ours included, CSX 4929. Overall the Event was a monster success.

Special thanks to Gary Paterson and John Lutz for all their hard work and dedication. There was a tremendous amount of work to get this car built, transported, and marketed at the event. Plus the Shelby Bash was the week before.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by CSX Cobra

Unless a few of the customers can't come up with the deposit of $35,000 for fiberglass.

Forgive me for sounding dumb, but is it legal to hold a 50% deposit (on fiberglass) on something that doesn't exist and may take several years to build? Who holds the money? An escrow company?

Does each dealer have a different deposit agreement?

[CSX Cobra]

All Deposits are forwarded to Shelby by the dealer. In this case you needed $35,000 (half of the $70,000) to get the roller ordered on the 50th anniversary 289. Shelby will not build the car without half down to start.

Here are some pictures of the 50th Anniversary Car at Barrett Jackson 2011. Absolutely stunning.












I'm going to be finishing a number of these cars for customers with ford 289 hipo. The traditionalist build. Anyone who wants help putting it together give me a call.

Also for those who missed out. Shelby America builds the CSX 8000 series car, which is what this car is. It can be ordered in any color and option package. It just will not be a 50th anniversary car. It also will cost $10,000 less. So $60,000 for the roller in Fiberglass.

[RodKnock]

A few things that I noticed that the CSX8000's have and that the "base" Kirkham 289 does not:

1. Black paint job (with I'm sure a lot of body prep or at least I hope so)
2. Red interior
3. Spline hubs and wire wheels
4. Upgrade to Wilton Wool carpeting
5. Anniversary emblems of course
6. Leaf springs, non billet/hybrid suspension
7. All the bright work such as the grill and bumpers
8. Floor and trunk mats
9. Shelby provenance and prominence

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

A few things that I noticed that the CSX8000's have and that the "base" Kirkham 289 does not:

No doubt that the "base" Kirkham 289 is "just another kit car."

[twobjshelbys]

How about comparing it to an original? Anniversary has a red interior. This one is black. CSX2052. Unmolested original (and driven annually in the summer). Otto Werlin's car. 260ci engine.

[stephen_becker]

just talked to Gary Patterson, VP of Shelby American, who is on-the-ground at Barrett Jackson and SAI has taken deposits for/sold 15 of the 50th anniversary cars since the cars introduction on Monday night - I would have to guess the 50 to-be-built cars will be sold out by EOM.

http://www.goplanetcobra.com/50th-an...ary-cobra.html

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by stephen_becker

just talked to Gary Patterson, VP of Shelby American, who is on-the-ground at Barrett Jackson and SAI has taken deposits for/sold 15 of the 50th anniversary cars since the cars introduction on Monday night - I would have to guess the 50 to-be-built cars will be sold out by EOM.

http://www.goplanetcobra.com/50th-an...ary-cobra.html

Would he know the ratio of aluminum versus fiberglass purchases?

[computerworks]

Would have been nice to get some answers instead of a drive-by post.

...Stephen??

[PANAVIA]

Just reviewed this with Lance Stander, -The 50th Anniversary Cars are available in fiberglass or Aluminum. - the cars are primarily constructed in South Africa, then finished at Shelby in Las Vegas.

Fibreglass is from South Africa ,- just like the CSX 6000 cars.-- The aluminum body is sourced from the same factory as other poland based cars.

However, they did stress this highly. - they are Shelby cars , not anyone elses.

The quality of the current construction is very very high, as I just saw a 8000 roller in Denbeste's when I was there the other day, Dropping off a Shelby motor to Bill.

They are using a 3" tube, leaf spring 289 car for the Anniversary Edition Car -- the leather is upgraded and the fit and finish on the 8000 cars is way above my 4000 series.

A great time to be a Cobra Buyer!

So far there are about 20-30 of the 50 that have sold. -they expect the rest to sell out by Friday night. --

wish I could afford one, but I have too many projects anyway,

-- especially with the one that Peter Brock is helping me with -- TOO COOL>!

Guaranteed these will be the best built 289s from Shelby.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

The aluminum body is sourced from the same factory as other poland based cars.

However, they did stress this highly. - they are Shelby cars , not anyone elses.

Sounds too much like government double talk. What does this mean? Are they sourced from Kirkham or are they "private label"? Does Shelby have his own aluminum Cobra body factory in Poland?

[PANAVIA]

Every Manufacturer has their strong points, -I personally Like the Seats as constructed in the KMP cars as opposed to the CSX cars. The welding I have seen on the Poland Chassis is impeccable. I reviewed the CSX 1000 ( AC / British ) cars with Gary P. when I was in Vegas, - and it was different than the poland car, -- it looked british. -- but I dig that, the same way I dig Spitfires. (the Merlin powered ones)

Comparing a South African CSX, to a Mexico CSX, to a AC CSX to a KMP,

- is Like comparing a 1999 Charleze Theron to a a 1986 Brigette Nielson vs. to a 1949 Lauren Bacall. --then comparing them all to a 1980 Catherine Deneuve,

Think of it as an Ice Cream thing, -- some guys are all about strawberry, some guys are all about chocolate. -- some like vanilla with peppermint schnapps (me) .

The Kirkham Product with David and Thomas ( and sandwich ) is a great product, but its not a Shelby and does not purport to be, some people like that , some people dont.

The current Shelby cars coming out now are great cars ! . One thing, -Good days ahead for being a Cobra Guy, - you can pick from your flavors and get the best for you.

Example; For RodKnock, it was a KMP, - for me it was an SPF, for Denbeste - he loves them new Shelby cars.

If I didnt have a couple of projects that were sucking up all the spare $ -- I would be calling in an order for an anniversary 289.

Afterall --I can make a 331 look like a 289 Cobra Hi-po

Steve

[Jamo]

Good post and that should be the end of the discussion about the relative merits. If the body/frame is sourced in Poland...then Kirkham is the incubator.

Be that as it may...what a beautiful Shelby!

We offer pruning 24/7.

[Excaliber]

For cost benefit analysis:

Kirkham, alloy street, minus paint of course, $61,995
Shelby, alloy street, special edition, with excellent paint, $134,995

Suspension bits vary between the cars and that impacts the cost in either case. I would not jump to the conclusion that the Shelby name alone is the sole reason for the higher cost. But certainly a portion of the higher cost is due to use of a brand name.

Both are in the registry, so I wouldn't think that is a significant issue in a cost/benefit analysis.

This is a picture of a black/red street Kirkham from 2006.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

For cost benefit analysis:

Kirkham, alloy street, minus paint of course, $61,995
Shelby, alloy street, special edition, with excellent paint, $134,995

I think you have left off a couple major cost elements on the street 289 from Kirkham.
The leaf spring suspension adds $15,995 to the $61,995. A brush finish just to get close to a surface that can be painted adds another $7,999.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

I think you have left off a couple major cost elements on the street 289 from Kirkham.
The leaf spring suspension adds $15,995 to the $61,995. A brush finish just to get close to a surface that can be painted adds another $7,999.

From the FAQ section of the Kirkham website:

"Q: If I eventually plan to have the car painted, what is the best aluminum finish to order ?

A: The filed finish is best for painting. There is no extra charge for this finish and it is the best finish for your painter to start with."

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

I think you have left off a couple major cost elements on the street 289 from Kirkham.
The leaf spring suspension adds $15,995 to the $61,995. A brush finish just to get close to a surface that can be painted adds another $7,999.

The filed finish is the best finish for painting the car. There is no reason to spend the money to brush the car if you want to paint it. The painter will have to sand the body right before priming the car anyway so the file marks are not a problem.

As for the price. The price really doesn't seem extremely high to us. It looks like the Shelby 50th Anniversary cars are coming with some very expensive options. Paint, red interior, glove box, wire wheels, bumpers, etc. The same car from us would probaby cost over $100,000 as well.

David

[Excaliber]

16K (suspension) +62K (base price for the K car) +8K (paint prep) + ?? = $?

I like math, anyone got a number for the paint, following the 8K prep already noted? More $ for the chrome wire wheels? We need some more numbers to nail down the cost/benefit!

[Excaliber]

Still,,,, allowing $8K for the paint job (total amount), with original suspension and the base price we stand at:
$86K Kirkham vs $135K Shelby (round numbers).

The chrome wire wheels, featured on the Shelby, are an additional upgrade amount on the Kirkham? It's possible the Shelby leather, carpeting and other interior appointments could also increase the Shelby cost? The Shelby alloy rear end housing is an upgrade over the Kirkham. Additional features/benefits to the Shelby edition vs the Kirkham edition might be...?

[RodKnock]

I think you're/we're also making an asssumption that the $16K original type suspension that Kirkham offers on their website equals the CSX8000 suspension. It would be interesting to know if they're one in the same.

Regarding the wires, I would assume you would get a credit for Trigos, since Kirkhams come with wheels, but the splined hubs would be extra.