Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

[twobjshelbys]

These cars are NOT being sold by Shelby American (Vegas) but through the Trust/foundation out of Gardena...

[REAL 1]

When you go back and read the article carefully no where do they say they are using original 1965 chassis. The quotes from the trust representative do not go so far as to say this, however, the language is misleading. They are "completing" the run of the 100 needed "competition" cars but then they talk of SC spec cars. Which are they doing S/C or comp cars? The original run was to be comp cars for homlogation.

My recollection of the entire "completion" car fiasco was that it was established there were no original chassis left. Is my recollection correct or am I imagining this? If that was already conceded how is it now that they found original chassis again?????

I think we are reading into the article too much but as noted it is misleading. You need to read it VERY carefully.

Also, AC never just shipped chassis to my knowledge. They were turn key minus in todays terms as someone already noted. The CSX chassis numbers would have already been stamped in by AC at the factory so why do numbers now need to be assigned? Also if the chassis are left from 1965 why did McClusky need to fit up jigs?. Buck and tooling for bodies yes but jigs for chassis? What for if they already exist?

I think what we will find is that this is a special run of "comp" Cobras to be finished to comp specs by DeBenedeste with all the bells and whistles or SC spec cars all assigned CSX 3000 numbers picking up where they left off with the last run of "completion cars" for which a premium will be charged for the 3000 serial number and for "charity".

My take.

Why doesn't someone here call the number in the article and find out?

NYGuy you seem interested and the investigative journalist type why not follow up and report back? Seems like you have plenty of time on your hands.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

When you go back and read the article carefully no where do they say they are using original 1965 chassis. The quotes from the trust representative do not go so far as to say this, however, the language is misleading. They are "completing" the run of the 100 needed "competition" cars but then they talk of SC spec cars. Which are they doing S/C or comp cars? The original run was to be comp cars for homlogation.

My recollection of the entire "completion" car fiasco was that it was established there were no original chassis left. Is my recollection correct or am I imagining this? If that was already conceded how is it now that they found original chassis again?????

I think we are reading into the article too much but as noted it is misleading. You need to read it VERY carefully.

Also, AC never just shipped chassis to my knowledge. They were turn key minus in todays terms as someone already noted. The CSX chassis numbers would have already been stamped in by AC at the factory so why do numbers now need to be assigned? Also if the chassis are left from 1965 why did McClusky need to fit up jigs?. Buck and tooling for bodies yes but jigs for chassis? What for if they already exist?

I think what we will find is that this is a special run of "comp" Cobras to be finished to comp specs by DeBenedeste with all the bells and whistles or SC spec cars all assigned CSX 3000 numbers picking up where they left off with the last run of "completion cars" for which a premium will be charged for the 3000 serial number and for "charity".

My take.

Here was AC Cars reply to SA back in 1992. There were some chassis only shipments by AC Cars to SA, examples of this would be the Daytona Coupes. Another example would be CSX3001 known as the Bordinat Cobra. AC Cars did 'create' and stamp all the chassis numbers.

[twobjshelbys]

I don't read this that there are 40 something chassis from 1965 sitting in some warehouse, but rather they will build the remaining VINs with newly constructed chassis. The rules for being allowed to continue them don't require new old parts.

Here is my word for the new cars. We have the originals, then we had the completions, then we have the continuations,

I name these "Resumption Cobras".

[twobjshelbys]

By the way, it's entirely consistent with the mentality of this forum to totally bash this. Shelby is evil, shelby is a snake, but shelby was smart. Everyone forgets that if Shelby hadn't taken a V8 and put it in that little AC car, this forum wouldn't exist. The AC Ace would have died. You're only jealous you (1) don't own the original VINS and (2) DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE IDEA FIRST.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

By the way, it's entirely consistent with the mentality of this forum to totally bash this. Shelby is evil, shelby is a snake, but shelby was smart. Everyone forgets that if Shelby hadn't taken a V8 and put it in that little AC car, this forum wouldn't exist. The AC Ace would have died. You're only jealous you (1) don't own the original VINS and (2) DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE IDEA FIRST.

I posted the details of what was said and printed in the past, along with proof positive of what the resolution (at least what was used in court). These facts are hard and fast facts, not conjecture. Not posted for any other reason than for clarification. For you to make such an assumption as to 1 or 2, and then group all of us together, is a gross mistake of your judgement.

Now, with that said, I do of course, in my travels and Shelby circles, find that quite a few of the "Continuation Series" owners have such a venomous attitude vs owners of the real CSX2K & 3K cars. Which of those is jealous of the other seems to be the key as the "Continuation Series" owners appear to feel slighted by those CSX 2K & 3K owner group(s).

In closing, some of us are wise enough in our years to never talk about dollars in public. Or post exactly what we do, or do not own as if it defines who we are, or are not.


I'll leave it at that.

Bill S.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

By the way, it's entirely consistent with the mentality of this forum to totally bash this. Shelby is evil, shelby is a snake, but shelby was smart. Everyone forgets that if Shelby hadn't taken a V8 and put it in that little AC car, this forum wouldn't exist. The AC Ace would have died. You're only jealous you (1) don't own the original VINS and (2) DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE IDEA FIRST.

While Tony has painted broadly there is more than a kernel of truth to his statements as to this forum and many (not all) of the participants.

I for one would love an original 427 or a 289 truth be told but I am not willing to upset my retirement applecart to get one. I am quite happy with my Continuation Shelby.

I would also love to have a Continuation Series 289 FIA or a GT40. But can't have it all unless your Prince Yabba Dabba Doo or Jay Leno or Seinfeld.

Shelby did both good and bad in his life. But that's all of us. On balance he did more good. He created a charity for children with heart problems, he brought us the beloved Shelby Cobra and Cobra lore and history. He is and will always be a legend.

Did he make bad decisions?...you bet. Examples are the lawsuits against FFR etc..., the effort to sell "Completion" Cobras that were well, not "completion" cars really....but on balance he did more good than bad IMHO.

In my travels and experience I have not found any venomous attitudes of Continuation owners towards owners of originals. Not one that I can remember or any specific incident or comment that I can recall that would draw me to such a conclusion. I guess Bill has a different experience.

In fact, my experience is quite the opposite. I find many owners of originals are dismissive of the continuation series and contemptuous of their owners. I get it, they want to be the only REAL Cobra on the block and don't like the appearance of the new series. Even many notable and well known owners of originals have this attitude. Doesn't bother me though since none of them have "God" like status in my book just because they are lucky enough or have enough dough to buy an original. This is regardless of who they are. The facts are the facts and history is history. Not even they can change that. The SAAC Registry put the issue to rest and the true expert and final arbiter, Carroll Shelby made his position clear. That's all I need.

If this new "Completion" series is sitting on a newly manufactured chassis it is going to be nothing more than a continuation series with a CSX 3000 vin. As far as I am concerned everything that SAI does after Carroll's death is diluted now that Carroll is no longer around. Some with the money may find it worth it to pay high six figures for a Completion car but unless it sits on a 1965 chassis it would not be worth it to me and in my book is not a true completion car.

At least the Continuation series is what it purports to be. A Cobra of a new series and new Cobra that continues the production of Cobras by SAI.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

In fact, my experience is quite the opposite. I find many owners of originals are dismissive of the continuation series and contemptuous of their owners. I get it, they want to be the only REAL Cobra on the block and don't like the appearance of the new series. Even many notable and well known owners of originals have this attitude. Doesn't bother me though since none of them have "God" like status in my book just because they are lucky enough or have enough dough to buy an original. This is regardless of who they are. The facts are the facts and history is history. Not even they can change that. The SAAC Registry put the issue to rest and the true expert and final arbiter, Carroll Shelby made his position clear. That's all I need.

Personally, I'm OK with the owners of real Shelby Cobras (CSX 2000's & 3000's made prior to circa 1970) being dismissive, snooty and contemptuous of replica owners (Shelby Continuations, KMP, BDR, SPF, FFR, ERA, etc.). They should be. We're diluting the brand and their value of their cars. I get it. And I'm sorry for it. My apologies to the REAL Shelby Cobra owners. But I'm not selling my Kirkham.

As for the possible next batch of Shelby replicas, as Liam Neeson says in the movie Taken 3, "Good luck."

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Personally, I'm OK with the owners of real Shelby Cobras (CSX 2000's & 3000's made prior to circa 1970) being dismissive, snooty and contemptuous of replica owners (Shelby Continuations, KMP, BDR, SPF, FFR, ERA, etc.). They should be. We're diluting the brand and their value of their cars. I get it. And I'm sorry for it. My apologies to the REAL Shelby Cobra owners. But I'm not selling my Kirkham.

As for the possible next batch of Shelby replicas, as Liam Neeson says in the movie Taken 3, "Good luck."

Would not expect any less from you.

As far as I am concerned any owner of an original who is dismissive, snooty and contemptuous of replica owners can kiss my a$$.

This goes especially as to their attitude toward the Continuation series cars. SAAC and Carroll have spoken. "Oh well" for them. Read it and weep as they say.

Also glad I'm not the only one who noticed their lousy attitude.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Would not expect any less from you.

As far as I am concerned any owner of an original who is dismissive, snooty and contemptuous of replica owners can kiss my a$$.

This goes especially as to their attitude toward the Continuation series cars. SAAC and Carroll have spoken. "Oh well" for them. Read it and weep as they say.

Also glad I'm not the only one who noticed their lousy attitude.

I have attended many events that also had original CSX's there and have almost always been treated well by their owners and without attitude.

The only time I felt out of place or "dismissed" was when I participated at the Dana Point Concourse d'Elegance and the organizers parked me right along side 3 pristine originals out on the golf course.

Hell, I even said "crap! why did you park me here?" , then endured a whole bunch of comments from a couple of the other owners asking why I was in "their" group.

Not surprisingly, out of 4 cars in the category, I ended up in 4th place!

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

SAAC, Carroll and m-o-n-e-y have spoken.

FIFY.

As did the extra roughly $1,000,000+ in revenue for the additional SAAC Registries sold to the owners of continuation GT40's, Daytona Coupe's, Cobra's, etc.

[JBo]

Jesus's...will this never end?

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JBo

Jesus's...will this never end?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "greed makes good people do bad things".


Bill S.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "greed makes good people do bad things".


Bill S.

Speaking of "not enough drama".....

[Dominik]

I get the point: They are building cars based on un-used VIN numbers. Like Jaguar did.
Where does this start and end? Can one proceed after the last VIN of a sequence, or does there have to be a gap?

How about if they continue after 3363, or whatever the last one was, until they hit 4000?
To be safe, restart at 3400 - yet, leaving another gap for future generations ;-)

The point could be to proove that it's an old car, else you need a 17-digit VIN.

[kanuck]

There are people that send money, to free stranded princesses in castles, then there are those who send money to foreign banks to free up a long lost Inheritance. and lastly there are those who think they can buy provenance, and as long as there are, there will be people who will be willing sell it to to them. the thing that is unique in this case is that, both the buyer and the seller truly believe this is what they are buying and selling, Sad.

Dean

[Trevor Legate]

I'm pretty damn greedy, but even I know this to be a Bad Thing.

But maybe we should let these people build these cars and call 'em whatever they like. Then maybe - just maybe - this whole sorry saga about the 'missing' (read: non-existent) 427's will actually stop? Or will we have another half-century of finding even more gaps to be filled??

Somebody please make it stop - my medication ain't strong enough.....

[ACademic]

If I had a bazillion dollars, I'd line up to buy one. Just because I could. Which is exactly why they would offer these.

And to Rodney's previous point, it would also be legally titled and driving the streets of So Cal without issue. ;-)

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ACademic

If I had a bazillion dollars, I'd line up to buy one. Just because I could. Which is exactly why they would offer these.

And to Rodney's previous point, it would also be legally titled and driving the streets of So Cal without issue. ;-)

Line up to buy what? A car that won't/can't be driven anywhere? I still call BS.

[Bernica]

One might wonder if this isn't some kind of loophole being used to allow SAI to sell directly to buyers and bypass their dealers once again, like the 50th anniversary editions?