Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

[Bernica]

The best lawyers I have had were the biggest PIA and relentless! Rode me like a rented mule 24/7 and as David says...invaluable!

[REAL 1]

David: Please don't take my criticisms as directed at you or Kirkham. They are not. Whoever's project this is and is selling them is responsible in my book to inventory the valuable items being sold and provide build sheets. While I am not arguing or questioning whether Bill's word is good or not, if I am spending upwards of $500,000.00 for what is supposed to be in these cars I want more than a handshake and a smile.

I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars.

It would also be appreciated if the build sheet of one of these cars that is finished as close to original spec as is possible with what is available could be supplied to us on this site. It would likely be appreciated by all of us who value and appreciate historical accuracy and are always striving to improve what we have to that level. It would be a valuable reference tool cost nothing to provide it to us here provided it is ever created if it does not already exist for this project.

[Nedsel]

[quote=REAL 1;1349110]

"I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars."

You may want to read over the press release again. The one I saw did not use the term "completion" as had been used previously, but instead used the term "competition." Unless there was a second press release, that's what the DenBeste group is calling these new cars.

And as for the few original parts that they hope to magically convince buyers there are enough of for every car, did you mean to label them "precocious" i.e. the human quality of exhibiting great ability at an early age, or simply "precious" i.e. of great value?

For what it's worth, I, too, disagree with the premise of calling these CSX 3000-series Cobras. They simply aren't.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

"I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars."

You may want to read over the press release again. The one I saw did not use the term "completion" as had been used previously, but instead used the term "competition." Unless there was a second press release, that's what the DenBeste group is calling these new cars.

And as for the few original parts that they hope to magically convince buyers there are enough of for every car, did you mean to label them "precocious" i.e. the human quality of exhibiting great ability at an early age, or simply "precious" i.e. of great value?

For what it's worth, I, too, disagree with the premise of calling these CSX 3000-series Cobras. They simply aren't.

I was precocious. The original rare parts are precious. My bad.

I thought they were calling them "completion". If it's "competition" are they accurate to that configuration? I thought they were SC configurations?...

[Nedsel]

Accurate? Who knows. Here's some copy from their press release; you decide what's accurate. And where did the idea of Guardsman Blue come from? They say it's LeMans Blue, which was not a 60's color, even though they boast of period-correct details.

" The first of the 'Sanction II' 427 Competition Cobra's to be completed (CSX3065) is a spectacular 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 aluminum body clad in Le Mans Blue paint with Wimbledon White Le Mans stripes and black interior. The period correct details are carried throughout the vehicle from the engine to the race ready suspension. Each of the 34 remaining 'Sanction II' 427 Cobras come with an MSO signed by Carroll Shelby listing it as a 1965 Shelby Cobra. This series of the Cobra will also be submitted and listed in the Shelby American Automobile Club Registry. Contact DenBeste Motorsports for information on purchasing this limited edition piece of American automotive racing history."

And folks, for what it's worth, the plural of Cobra Is COBRAS. It's not Cobra's!

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Accurate? Who knows. Here's some copy from their press release; you decide what's accurate. And where did the idea of Guardsman Blue come from? They say it's LeMans Blue, which was not a 60's color, even though they boast of period-correct details.

" The first of the 'Sanction II' 427 Competition Cobra's to be completed (CSX3065) is a spectacular 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 aluminum body clad in Le Mans Blue paint with Wimbledon White Le Mans stripes and black interior. The period correct details are carried throughout the vehicle from the engine to the race ready suspension. Each of the 34 remaining 'Sanction II' 427 Cobras come with an MSO signed by Carroll Shelby listing it as a 1965 Shelby Cobra. This series of the Cobra will also be submitted and listed in the Shelby American Automobile Club Registry. Contact DenBeste Motorsports for information on purchasing this limited edition piece of American automotive racing history."

And folks, for what it's worth, the plural of Cobra Is COBRAS. It's not Cobra's!

UPDATE!
UPDATE!
UPDATE!

Hmmm. As I mentioned, I haven't followed the press releases; I am reading about them here. We are just too busy. Maybe we didn't make that one in the press release after all. I don't know anything about CSX3065; we built CSX3066 for DenBeste. I just assumed we made the one we were talking about in this thread, as we just delivered it to DenBeste.

Maybe they wrote the number down wrong?

Maybe that one in the press release isn't the one we built? I'm pretty sure we are not the only one building these.

David


EDIT!

I just got off the phone with the guys at DenBeste and they confirmed we did NOT make the car in the press release. The car we made hasn't been painted yet.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Maybe that one in the press release isn't the one we built? I'm pretty sure we are not the only one building these.

David

I see this ^^^ as a potentially significant problem. If Kirkham isn't the only company responsible for the production of the "Resurrection" Cobra series, then QC (Quality Control and Inventory Control) may/will be compromised. Unless it's someone like Mike McCluskey or Kirkham, I wouldn't be a buyer. And hopefully, there's only one source for this treasure trove of OEM parts.

[David Kirkham]

[quote=Nedsel;1349113]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

"I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars."

You may want to read over the press release again. The one I saw did not use the term "completion" as had been used previously, but instead used the term "competition." Unless there was a second press release, that's what the DenBeste group is calling these new cars.

And as for the few original parts that they hope to magically convince buyers there are enough of for every car, did you mean to label them "precocious" i.e. the human quality of exhibiting great ability at an early age, or simply "precious" i.e. of great value?

For what it's worth, I, too, disagree with the premise of calling these CSX 3000-series Cobras. They simply aren't.

Great to see you jumping in! I would LOVE to go over the build in detail with you to see what we did right and what we did wrong. (Ned knows more about these cars than just about anyone else).

David

[NewYorkGuy]

David,
Is it safe to assume without your company's involvement, Shelby would not have any Cobras to sell, present and future?
What exactly does Shelby manufacture these days?

[Bernica]

Maybe just start with one of Vernon's (TheTurd) master parts list for the original 427 and check off all the parts included? I have one of these books and it's almost 1/2" thick. Every nut and bolt...

AC Cars Shelby American 427 Cobra Master Parts List Bill of Materials Reference | eBay

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by NewYorkGuy

David,
Is it safe to assume without your company's involvement, Shelby would not have any Cobras to sell, present and future?
What exactly does Shelby manufacture these days?

Shelby also sources cars from South Africa (fiberglass) and England (csx1000) in addition to cars sourced from Kirkham.

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

David: Please don't take my criticisms as directed at you or Kirkham. They are not. Whoever's project this is and is selling them is responsible in my book to inventory the valuable items being sold and provide build sheets. While I am not arguing or questioning whether Bill's word is good or not, if I am spending upwards of $500,000.00 for what is supposed to be in these cars I want more than a handshake and a smile.

I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars.

It would also be appreciated if the build sheet of one of these cars that is finished as close to original spec as is possible with what is available could be supplied to us on this site. It would likely be appreciated by all of us who value and appreciate historical accuracy and are always striving to improve what we have to that level. It would be a valuable reference tool cost nothing to provide it to us here provided it is ever created if it does not already exist for this project.

I certainly don't take any offense at all. What you (and Ned) do is critical to keeping our industry on the up and up (and other industries). All industries need watchdogs (too bad there aren't more of them in politics). I am very serious when I said I dearly appreciate good lawyers (because I have dealt with so many bad ones). Everything you said is exactly what I would expect of my own lawyer.

As a buyer I wouldn't blame you one bit for wanting a detailed list of what you are buying. It is just that in my experience (among these types of buyers) they rarely want one (it does happen, however).

"I still object (for whatever that's worth) to the use of the term "completion series" and using the CSX 3000 vin for these cars."

I actually see both sides of this. Ned's (and Evan's) side is it to keep the history straightforward and matter of fact. It's very, very important you guys are around and naughtiness abounds. Shelby's side is, "Hey these are our numbers and we can do with them what we want." They do have a point.

I'll keep looking for the photos. I probably mislabeled the folder.

EDIT!

I just got off the phone with the guys at DenBeste and they confirmed we did NOT make the car in the press release. The car we made hasn't been painted yet.

David