Why the fuss on "original" Cobras?

[Carroll DeWeese]

Can some of you with more experience than me explain why such a fuss made on having an “original” Cobra?

When ever I have seen a Cobra each is unique and original. One of their attractions is that they are custom cars with classic appeal. They come with all kinds of engines, transmissions, suspensions, tires, brakes, shocks, roll bars, etc. Each is a unique piece of art. No two are exactly alike. Virtually all are showstoppers and turn heads. They all exude raw sensual power and sex appeal. They appeal to young and old, male and female.

You can put any reasonably built “replica” side by side to cars costing ten times as much and the Cobra will still get attention.

The people who worship at the altar of “original” have lost sight of what a Cobra is all about. The original “Cobras” represented a revolution. They had the biggest engines available in light body that could be driven on a street and raced on a track. If Shelby had access to modern engines, tires, suspensions, etc. he probably would have taken advantage of all of them. He would have had a 750 hp plus version. He would have had an improved internal frame. He would have had many of the goodies seen on the so-called replicas.

It is interesting to me that even the earliest Cobras were in constant change. I have read reports that Shelby painted the same car different colors on many occasions to give the impression that more Cobras existed than actually existed. Modifications were constantly made on engines. Is the “original” the first edition of the car or the version after tinkering for racing, etc.?

The effort to have an “original” is an effort to find the Holy Grail. It does not exist. Certainly some of the early Cobras are around and people debate the Cobra that is most “original.” The fact is that each is what it is. They are early representations of a classic. These cars are artifacts and totems of the raw, radical spirit of the Cobra. These early versions are worth having and appreciating, but they are frozen in time. Their spirit moves on.

Cobras are meant to drive. Many of the so-called originals are seldom driven and are kept in climate-controlled conditions. They cost too much to put at risk. Perhaps their appeal is “I have enough money to afford one and to maintain it.” Often this is accompanied by an attitude of arrogance and looking down at the so-called replicas. We have seen recently terms such as “Tupperware” and “Plastic” being used for these so-called replicas.

Many of these so-called replicas are more in keeping with the spirit of the originals than the originals themselves. Some have been modified to make them more drivable on the street. Some have been modified to make them safer to race and faster. Many of the modern versions can outperform the originals on both the street and the track. Many have features that Shelby could not even envision back in the mid-60s. Virtually all of them are radical, raw, and classic compared to modern cars. They are a modern artist statement and embodiment of a classic ideal.

Shelby used aluminum. That is what he had. It is strong and lightweight but not a perfect material. Dents and bangs are hard to repair. Rivets come loose. Fiberglass is easier to repair and cheaper. Carbon fiber is strong and light weight. Each has their place. None is better than the other, except within the context of their use.

The people who pay the very high prices for an “original” depend upon all the “replicas” that they sometimes put down. All these other vehicles comprise are the base of the pyramid that supports their high prices. Their cars are desirable in large part because the dream lives on and is affordable to thousands.

I am actually offended by the use of the term “replica” as a putdown. I am building a car that for me is better than the original. As I change, the car will change. It will have all the cosmetic appeal of the original. It will also have some features not on any original. This does not make it any less of a car. For me, it makes it more of a car.

I do not understand the implied haughtiness, arrogance, and high-mindedness associated with so-called “original” Cobras. What is the fetish all about? Why do so many of the so-called “replica” owners seem to have at least a small sense of inferiority and sense of apology for not having an “original”?

We all have original expressions of a classic ideal. I do not understand why someone wants to be stuck in time and frozen out of his or her own individuality. Can someone please explain?