How do you handle the questions?

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by lnfletcher

Many of us did build it in our garage, it's the only way I could control the quality myself!

I myself consider that a plus.

My point is that if you tell them it is a kit, when it was delivered as a roller they will then start asking questions about building it. When they find out you can buy a complete vehicle from a factory and have another company install the powertrain most are surprised. Like others have said, "kit" to most people conjure up images of a bunch of parts in your garage. That's not how my car was delivered.

[snakebitekit]

When they ask if it is a "kit car" I look at them give a little smile and say "it use to be, now it's real"

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by azfordman

As far as I am concerned, the attention and the questions are part of the charm of these cars.

Agreed, but I'm sorta with Max on this one:

Originally Posted by madmaxx

To be honest I got so tired of the attention at a light I simply look straight or play with the Ipod. Gas stations are another pain....

Quite often the intent of those who try to gain my attention at the stoplight is to see who can be first to the next stoplight, a game which I do not play. I do smile and give a friendly wave at those who are taking photos with their cameras or cell-phones .

Most of the time, though, I really feel the questions at the gas station come from a position of misinformation at the least, or perhaps no information. I find that many who ask "...the question" are totally unaware that there is a "kit-car industry" out there. Once they find out what the original Shelby cars are worth, they are even more interested in finding out about replicas in general and our roadster replicas in particular. I can see the dream in their eyes when I tell them that I paid no more for what they see me driving than what they might have paid for the car they are driving, and often less.

There IS something primal about the stance, the "look" of our beasts. It stirs desire in the heart and the soul. There are BOUND to be questions from those who feel that lust stirring within themselves. For me, it's not an issue of ego, not an issue of pride, it's more a quest to educate those who ask "....the question". There is no need for us to reply with anger or disgust, as I have found that to a person those who ask "....the question" are not interested in insulting us, they are truly curious and just don't realize that we hear ".....the question" SO MANY TIMES that it brings about in us a momentary impulse to "strike back". They simply didn't know.....

Cheers from Dugly

[SMOKNAC]

Its unReal

[SP01715]

I disagree that people are just asking "the question" most of the time to find out if it is an original. I have had people come up to me when I have had one of my high end boats in tow and ask straight out how much it cost. If I felt like being a smart ass I would reply "probably more than your house". IMO alot of people are obsessed with the value of things and don't understand it is rude to ask someone what something cost. My.02

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

They just want to know if it's original or not. I tell 'em it's "Fake" and just smile. They still give me the thumbs up.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

They just want to know if it's original or not. I tell 'em it's "Fake" and just smile. They still give me the thumbs up.

I like that - it answers their question honestly, probably with what they wanted to hear anyway, but still leaves them wondering if you're pulling their chain.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by xb-60

I like that - it answers their question honestly, probably with what they wanted to hear anyway, but still leaves them wondering if you're pulling their chain.

Tempered by the fact that at this point in time, my only Cobras are a Scalextric 289FIA slot car, an Exoto 1:18 scale 260 slabside, and a GMP 1:12 289FIA, nothing bigger but I certainly aspire to a bigger one, I'm modifying my ideal response to "Yair mate, it's a cheap fake."
This would work OK if it's a kit, a turnkey, or CSX2080 that I might have just bought at auction. Bottom line, I agree, is we don't want to take ourselves too seriously, we just want to enjoy for ourselves whatever level of ownership we have.

[tin-man]

now that's providing I get my car sometime soon, since there are now fit and finish issues with the engine and the new delivery date is late March early April.....

Is it real?......

"No, its not an original 1965 Cobra if that's what you are asking, I cannot afford one of those since they go for about 4 million bucks, whereas this Cobra is a 2010 Superformance replica and only costs me US$130,000, its got a 511cu inch engine rated at 573HP with 556 pounds of torque and can take any car on the road."

Now, if that don't gobsmack them, they're idiots.

Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

[HealeyRick]

I suppose answering, "It's real and it's spectacular!" is out of the question?

[Paul F]

Delete. Deleted.

[TButtrick]

I'm approaching 80,000 miles and ten years with this car. I've been asked that question more than I can count and I can only remember a handful that asked the question in a derogatory manner. Even then, I would never respond like a pompous p***k. I think that the majority of the people are asking the question for a simple confirmation... If it's real, you're one lucky bastard. If it's not, a car that nice is possibly within my reach. My conversations typically go like this...

"is it real?"
"no, it's a replica"
"wow, thats' nice. did you build it?"
bla, bla, bla...

[SunDude]

"Is it real? Is it real?"

I don't let this question bother me. Just about everyone asks this question sincerely.

Most people don't realize just how rare and valuable original 427 Cobras are today, and that the odds of seeing one on the road are virtually nil. Those who do are just trying to figure out whether they've actually made such a once-in-a-lifetime "spotting."

Some people know someone else who is building a Cobra replica, so they often wonder if they're seeing the finished version of the same kit.

If nothing else, these questions show me that someone is interested in my car and gives me an opening to tell them a bit about Cobras and Superformance replicas.

[RichardCSX6000]

Is a 2011 Mustang Shelby GT500 a replica? If no, why not, if yes why?

[Buzz]

No more so than a '69 Mustang is a replica of a '67. Same company, same model, different year, different car. Replica/kit cars are a different matter entirely.

I know what you're getting at with the Shelby continuation cars. However, you still can't compare current production models from an auto manufacturer in continuous operation with Shelby who decided to start making component copies of a car he used to manufacture as an entirely different entity back in the sixties. They are indeed Shelby Cobras, but they are also replicas of the originals. Not bad, not good - just the way it is.

[rms427]

The last few years I have been asked more times which replica or what is it. I find there are folks that really know what a cobra is and assume it's a replica and those that know nothing about the car and think it's an old Corvette, Austin Healey, etc. Even when they ask if it's real they don't expect a yes answer. I am not offended if folks think it's a replica or whatever since the reason they usually ask is they think the car is cool. Now don't get me wrong it's fun to have and original and be able to say that when asked.

[RichardCSX6000]

Yes and no. Being my age I have had alot of those cars, a L-88 Vette, a 67 GT500, a Superformance (1787), a 2010 427 Shelby S/C and more. The are what they are. Why represent them as a replica to anything? My Superformace was just that, a Superformance, great car that I put 13K on without a snag. When ever I am ask what it is, man up and tell them. Now, the current Shelby I have is just that, a 2010 Shelby 427 S/C, thats it........what else would you need to say? If you want to drive a Shelby Cobra, buy a Shelby. If you want to drive a Superformace etc, buy it, but be honest.

[Snakebit]

I think we get hung up on the Kit Car thing because it brings back memories of an exotic car body bolted to a VW Bug floor pan. All show and no go. My response to "is it real?" no it's a replica, or if they ask "is it a kit?" I'll answer yes. Most of the time they will come back with "it looks real to me" and I thank them for the nice compliment.

[jbcobra67]

I always let them know its a kit. And I'm proud of it, I built this car from the ground up by myself. I do refer to it as a replica myself. Even after learning that it's a replica I always get great compliments and it's still just gel coat. Never once a negative. The most asked question to me is what's the name of that car, twice this weekend, I just say its a Cobra and leave it at that. Some seem more impressed that I built my own car.

[lcrabtree]

Maybe it's the area that I live in? If I hear "great looking car" or "I love your car" it's positive talk, but if the first think out of their mouth is "kit car" then I hear the negative in their voice and they almost always start talking down with the kit car talk.

Lester