Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

I don't know the state of restoration or completion for every original cobra out there. I doubt anyone does. A lot of these original parts were obtainable individually on a limited basis. So if the owner needed an original park here in there there were sources to go to.. Very few of them were unattainable.

It's just that no one knew or thought it was a stash – the size of which would allow 47 cars to be built. I just find it very hard to believe that such a large stash was kept secret for over 50 years and all of a sudden now is shown to the world. How do we know the parts in the stash are all original and many are not repros?

I am not saying that a wealthy owner of an original car could not buy one of these cars to use as a parts car. This just seems to me a very expensive way to obtain some original parts. And this would obviously destroy or damage whatever value the completion car had to begin with. Such a trend would also in my opinion completely undermine the value and desirability of this new completion car in addition to the issues they already have trying to carry off CSX 3000 vins.

First, the Resurrection Cobra is a replica to me. Canabilizing it is a means to an end. I mean really, it's another special limited edition replica to me. Second, David K. is on record stating that some of these OEM parts are/were unobtainable.

And any one buying one of these Resurrection Cobras for $500,000, with of course $50,000 being potentially tax deductible, has more money than brains, unless they strip it to finish the restoration of their genuine 1960's Cobra.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

First, the Resurrection Cobra is a replica to me. Canabilizing it is a means to an end. I mean really, it's another special limited edition replica to me. Second, David K. is on record stating that some of these OEM parts are/were unobtainable.

And any one buying one of these Resurrection Cobras for $500,000, with of course $50,000 being potentially tax deductible, has more money than brains, unless they strip it to finish the restoration of their genuine 1960's Cobra.

Just which parts are unattainable? How significant are they? Who in their right mind would spend $500,000 to obtain a real Lucas rearview mirror?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Just which parts are unattainable? How significant are they? Who in their right mind would spend $500,000 to obtain a real Lucas rearview mirror?

Here's David's post, but I'm sure his list is not an exhaustive one, but a sampling.

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Guys,Regarding the CSX3000 "Continuation Cars" (at least that is what I think they are calling them) we have already made one. It was sold before we finished it. Bill DenBeste spared no expense. He wanted everything RIGHT.

Bill gave us a ton of original parts to work with. Bill has a MOUNTAIN of original parts. I have no idea where he got all of them. (Some from Mike McCluskey, some from Shelby, and probably some from God). I mean he has a literal MOUNTAIN of goodies. He has original, copper radiators, original 16 inch steering wheels, original switches--still in the Lucas packages. It is fascinating to walk through his treasure trove. Smaug would be jealous of that hoard. There are parts in there I have never, ever seen before (keep in mind I have been working on Cobras now for over 25 years).

Bill and Joe Conway wanted everything perfectly correct and handed us a chassis, a pile of parts, and told us to go for it. The cars are literally clones of the original Cobras. If you placed one of them beside an original car at a show and you saw some difference I can tell you the error will most likely be with the original car.

Partial list of the specs:
many parts are original--as in I took them out of the original box.
some parts are EXACT reproductions. (And yes, some are Kirkham reproductions made from billet but you'd be very hard pressed to figure out they weren't original). You know, if we got something wrong (probably did) let me know and we will improve! There is an extreme level of commitment here on the part of Bill and Joe.

Goodies include:
original copper radiator
original fuel log
original 1 3/8 roll bar
Lucas switches/electrical
Lucas headlights (still in the box)
original seat tracks
original iron differential
original 1/2 shafts
original 1965 iron side oiler block
original 1965 forged steel 427 crank
Shelby heads (new Shelby heads). I really don't mind they are "new" heads in the slightest--Bill makes really nice stuff.
Top Loader transmission
Original reproduction suspension
solid rotors--like original
Girling reproduction brake calipers (Kirkham billet, you can't tell the difference--they are SWEET pieces made from high heat resistant 2219 aluminum).
original, in the box, voltage regulator
original, in the box, Lucas electrical everywhere
Smith's gauges
Original Lucas wiper motor!!! (Impossible to find)

David

All I'm suggesting is that if indeed they are a lot of unobtainium-type NOS OEM parts, they actually may increase the value of the original genuine '60's Cobra more than the loss of value on the Resurrection Cobra. How much do these wealthy individuals spend on a restoration anyway? I'm sure there are some 1960's Cobras (drives me nuts that I have to state 1960's Cobra) that need ALOT of work. Is it smart? I dunno, but as David said these Resurrection Cobras will be dead nuts original. And you can't and/or won't drive them anyway.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Here's David's post, but I'm sure his list is not an exhaustive one, but a sampling.



All I'm suggesting is that if indeed they are a lot of unobtainium-type NOS OEM parts, they actually may increase the value of the original genuine '60's Cobra more than the loss of value on the Resurrection Cobra. How much do these wealthy individuals spend on a restoration anyway? I'm sure there are some 1960's Cobras (drives me nuts that I have to state 1960's Cobra) that need ALOT of work. Is it smart? I dunno, but as David said these Resurrection Cobras will be dead nuts original. And you can't and/or won't drive them anyway.

I'm not saying some eccentric nut wouldn't do what you are saying but the main problem would be if that becomes a trend or happens even once this could increase the size of the "cloud" IMHO that already exists by virtue of (1) using 3000 vins (2) referring to these cars as "Completion" cars (3) referring to them as dead nuts 100% percent accurate which they can never be. Not an original body or chassis. By the way are the bodies the same thickness as the original? Moreover, we would need to see a COMPLETE build sheet to be assured of such a 'LOFTY" claim and (4) they would all have to be build to Competition specs to be "historically" accurate as far as the remaining 100.

However, I am glad to see you are making progress with your "denial" syndrome. Don't let it drive you nuts. Just relax and breath deeply. You'll be fine and feel better!

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

I'm not saying some eccentric nut wouldn't do what you are saying but the main problem would be if that becomes a trend or happens even once this could increase the size of the "cloud" IMHO that already exists by virtue of (1) using 3000 vins (2) referring to these cars as "Completion" cars (3) referring to them as dead nuts 100% percent accurate which they can never be. Not an original body or chassis. By the way are the bodies the same thickness as the original? Moreover, we would need to see a COMPLETE build sheet to be assured of such a 'LOFTY" claim and (4) they would all have to be build to Competition specs to be "historically" accurate as far as the remaining 100.

However, I am glad to see you are making progress with your "denial" syndrome. Don't let it drive you nuts. Just relax and breath deeply. You'll be fine and feel better!

What progress? You can call them whatever you want and SAAC can refer to them anyway they want, but in the end, every single Cobra made after roughly 1967-1968 is a REPLICA. Some REPLICAS are more accurate than others, but the bottom line is that Shelby isn't the same company, not the same employees, not the same materials and they're being copied 40-50 years after the originals.

Everything is about marketing and money and the limited special editions will continue to be sold to the gullible.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

What progress? You can call them whatever you want and SAAC can refer to them anyway they want, but in the end, every single Cobra made after roughly 1967-1968 is a REPLICA. Some REPLICAS are more accurate than others, but the bottom line is that Shelby isn't the same company, not the same employees, not the same materials and they're being copied 40-50 years after the originals.

Everything is about marketing and money and the limited special editions will continue to be sold to the gullible.

Ok. Calm down. Whatever you say.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Everything is about marketing and money and the limited special editions will continue to be sold to the gullible.

That is how it see it too!