Perhaps but then again who knows - I have never seen anything that would apply to this situation on a federal level - Plus, back in the 1990's CS/SAI built turn-key CSX alumn body cars and sold them for, what, $ 500,000.00 each?? Those cars were turn-keyed at SAI using Shelby Engine company alumn 427 motors, etc. etc.

Those turn-keyed cars were eventually deemed to not be "street legal" in California and the state would not register them. They were the ones initially marketed as an assembly of some leftover 60's parts. ;-)
I don't believe the new aluminum 427 existed then, they were touted as using NOS (60's) 427's.

The following is a copy of an email and my response back to Stephen Becker this morning. Hoping this bring some clarity and transparency to this issue, once and for all. In closing I would like to thank the members of this forum for the advice, opinions and encouragement that you have given to me over the last several months, it's very much appreciated. This will be the last that you will hear of me speaking on the subject. Best regards George


RE: CSX 8050‏
11:31 AM
Reply ▼
GEORGE HARGRAVE

To stephenbecker

Stephen, you got to be kidding me, I have no idea what you are talking about, you know as well as I do that Shelby American has no financial responsibility to me in our transaction. You are the one that sold me the automobile, cash my checks, took delivery of the roller, install the engine and drivetrain and then shipped it to me in a deplorable condition. Why you did that I have no idea, maybe you were just in a rush to get the car out. To remind you when I received the car , here were the initial issues:



__________________________________________________ __________

"1. Speedometer was registering 20 miles off because of wrong gear in transmission.
2. Tachometer wasn’t working because dip switches had not been properly set.
3. Carburetors were blowing raw fuel on to the engine, floats were set to high.
4. Brakes were only working at around 50% had to flush and adjust.
5. Left wheel bearing had to be adjusted.
6. Radiator expansion tank was leaking antifreeze into the engine compartment, had to be replaced.
7. All four wheels were out of alignment and had to be realigned.

After 200 miles, I experience the following additional issues.

1.T-bar reverse lockout on the shifter broke.

2.Remote starter solenoid failed and had to be replaced.

3.Exhaust system improperly installed and was generating excess heat in the cockpit area; mufflers after 100 miles were beginning to burn the drivers and passenger side floor pans out. Exhaust system re-engineered and interior as well as exterior heat reflected material installed.

After 300 miles, the following additional issues came up.

1. Transmission will not shift into third or fourth gear; this issue will have to be addressed when we receive the car back from the upholstery shop.

2. Parking Brake does not fully disengage rear wheels this issue will have to be addressed when receive the car back from the upholstery shop"

__________________________________________________ ___________

In addition ,as indicated above, after we received the car back from the upholstery shop it was found that the transmission would not shift after the car had gotten hot, however after it cooled down it would work just fine until it got hot again. After chasing that rabbit and others into various rabbit holes for months we finally gave up and installed a TKO 600 transmission and a Mcleod Street Pro Clutch, ever since the car has performed as it should. So basically after taking delivery, from you, in May 2012 we have replaced everything you installed with the exception of the engine. Thanks!

None of those issues involved Shelby American whatsoever, in fact they have been very helpful to me in finding parts , giving advice and their opinion. I would give a special shout out to Tony in Las Vegas who has been most helpful.

So I am at a complete loss to your question in this morning's email to me. Shelby American has no financial obligation to me nor should they. I do not understand how you can go on to this form and make these claims, which will certainly prove not to be in your best interest.

The true facts of the matter is that in October 2012, see your email below, you gave me assurance that you would reimburse me for certain expenses as you also know those expenses have not been reimbursed, however I patiently wait. I'm sure you're going to make it right one day. Thanks, George


__________________________________________________ _______

Emails receicved

Stephenbecker
To georgehargrave@msn.com
From:

stephen becker (stephenbecker@bellsouth.net)
Sent:
Sun 1/06/13 8:37 AM

Will you please share with me what, if anything, SAI has told/sent you in reference to reimbursement for the items on your car?To date I have heard nothing back from them & I know you submitted info on your own and I was following – up with you
Thank You

SGB

__________________________________________________ _________


From: stephenbecker@bellsouth.net
To: georgehargrave@msn.com
CC: margerychilds@msn.com
Subject: RE: CSX 8050
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:54:02 -0400



Margery

Pls cut a check to reimburse George for these one-time expenses on his CSX 8050 car

Thanks


__________________________________________________ ___________


From: GEORGE HARGRAVE [mailto:georgehargrave@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 3:43 PM
To: stephenbecker
Subject: CSX 8050


Hi Stephen,

I appreciate your willingness to take care of these expenses on the Cobra. The following are the total expenses associated with repairs of the vehicle. I’ve attached invoices which better explain the following.

Ceramic plate coat headers and exhaust system, reinstall headers and exhaust, expenses associated with that. $2368.00 see page 1 of the attached

Expense to remove headers and exhaust system $650 see page 2 of the attached

Original expenses incurred in June associated with defects and operating issues concerning the Cobra, these are the expenses we talked about originally. $1121 See page 3 attached

In summary

$2368

$ 650

$1121

Total $4139

I have a meeting I’m going to this afternoon but I will call you in the morning. Thanks, again best regards George

Wow, what a mess... Best of luck to Mr.George. I hope at the end you are enjoying your car to the max:)

And I see that I didn't give a 100% update on my car either. VMS fixed my small issues without any trouble months ago, picked the car up and delivered it back in perfect condition.

I have absolutely zero complaints with the car, and more importantly, in hind sight, zero complaints about how Jay and Vintage handled everything. I don't believe it could have been handled any better, and I almost feel stupid for making this thread in the first place. However, it is nice to see for other owners and potential buyers what can and should be expected, and what should not be expected.

George, I hope this is the end of your big issues, warranty claims, and can finally drive the car without having any leftover bitter feelings.

I have a scan of a very interesting article from 1995 about these cars, the build process etc etc

I cannot figure out how to post it so if someone that knows how please can just email me at sbecker@goplanetcobra.com I will email the scan to them and they can turn around and post it here - It would be a great article for all that are interested to read

SGB

George - I was not aware of these additional items and issues that you brought up today - Most of what you had issues with belong squarely with SAI under warranty - The transmission replacement puzzles me as that was a new 4 speed transmission and you spoke with the builder of the transmission and the issue with the slip out was caused by heat from SAI not installing proper heat shields (that they finally started putting on later production cars).

Nevertheless, I am on this with SAI & their legal in the AM and will get back with you promptly

SGB

BTW - I will be happy to buy back the 4 speed transmission & accessories that was in that car when it left my dealership - I do not know why you chose to replace it with a 5 speed but that was your call -

SGB

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to make a living off of buying or selling our Cobras, building our FE engines, or anything else that has to do with this stupid-ass hobby.:cool:

Back to sorting issues? At a bit over 10k miles my rear end developed a slobbering leak that was finally diagnosed as a casting flaw by my original installer. Is this still considered sorting out? After Roush rebuilt their engine at 7k(and still uses 1qt per K!) and my rear leak, I think I'm finally sorted out at 13k and 3 years later!

Stephen thanks for the $1100 reimbursement check, I appreciate that. I was never aware of the fact that you had submitted the additional invoices to Shelby International, Las Vegas it was my understanding from our correspondents, that you were going to handle that. However, if SAI has the invoices will just wait and see what they will do toward the warranty.

As far as the transmission and clutch, unable to shift after the car got hot problem, we never did figure out what caused the problem. At one point after we had ceramic plate coated the exhaust system, we thought that might take care of the issue but sure enough once the car heated up it would refuse to shift from fourth to third or to any gear then after it sat and cool off everything would work fine. At the end it got to a point where the transmission would not shift at all hot or cold.

The only thing left for us to do was to pull the transmission and clutch then tear into both. However, given the fact that the four-speed at 70 miles an hour was turning 3300 RPMs I decided since we were going to have to pull them; we might as well replace the transmission with a five speed and replace the clutch with a hydraulic clutch. Since then the car has performed very well without any additional shifting issues.

Let me know if you hear anything concerning reimbursement to me from SAI.

Thanks,

George

I'm guessing it may be because it's the Year is 2013 and they make this thing called overdrive which has some inherent advantages over a 1960's transmission. ;) :)

Another fully satisfied VMS customer. Congrats to Jay and to "itstock"!

I think that concludes this thread. :rolleyes:

Good luck George.