Ok, Ok, enough's enough. I don't retract my original post, but I get the point.

Man, you replica guys are sensitive....

It is important in intellectual property to immediately act to protect your creation. Once copies are being made uncahllenged, they eventually become part of public domain. Chrysler did not challenge the "Jeep" grill design for the Hummer when it was a military vehicle. When GM bought the rights to the Hummer, GM bought the rights to its distinctive characteristics -- including its grill. When Chrysler decided to challeng GM in court for using the "Jeep" grill, they lost and GM won. Chrysler should have acted with an explicit agreement with AM General at the beginning to protect its rights to "its" grill. They did not and thaey lost the right.

When CS did not challenge the replicas originally, he set the precedent for lossing control over "his" property (the Cobra design). He created an industry by not acting quickly. The competition has made the car available to a much wider audience. It has expanded the market. CS is just doing business his way.

He is the father of the Cobra, but sometimes the "children" do not always fully respect or obey the father. Innovation occurs by not strickly following the line. I appreciate Carroll Shelby. I love the Cobra. I also appreciate the fact that I can custom-make my Cobra my way.

Russ,

You might do a search for the "Carroll Shelby Speaks Out" Article, it will explain more.

This is a tuff call, because it's easy to see both sides. I've been a Shelby fan for many years and have great respect for the man and what he accomplished - especially behind the wheel. It does seem to me that he has gotten greedy over the years, especially considering what he has put his name on after the success of the Cobra: pick-up trucks, 4 banger cars (loved those "Omni's"), motorcycles, even guitars and chili! But hey, a buck is a buck and business is business. It's hard to say what WE would do if we had a name like his and people were offering us money to use it.

The replica business IS making money off the shape of the Cobra - no doubt about that. It's the most popular replica out there. I find it strange, however, that he didn't start the law suits until he noticed how popular the cars were getting, but that might have been an attorneys idea, and not just his. I guess I would be more convinced to side with him if he had created the shape himself, from scratch at a drawing board vs. taking a car already built and throwing someone elses engine in it (Ford, after Chevy told him they weren't interested). I know, I know, he put some flares on it and tossed in a hood scoop, but C'mon.....who didn't do stuff like that back in high school? In fact, a HS friend of mine and I took a Vega, tore out the 4 banger, and tossed a beefed up 327 V8 in it. Car was fast as hell! Bottom line is, we still called it a "Vega". Heck, maybe I should have flared the wheelwells a little, put a hood scoop on with some rivets, and called it a "TERRY". It could be ME signing all your dashboards today! Damn! .....if only I had a lawyer back then! ;) :D

When Shelby ended his run of Cobras, there weren't enough buyers for the cars. The market was sold out. Shelby moved on.

A little later people were offered replicas. Shelby was amused. He couldn't see why any one would be interested in "that old car."

Over the following years the replica manufacturers created the new Cobra market. Not Shelby. He had abandoned it.

When Shelby figured out how to make a buck again on those old cars, he tried to squash the competition.

How ironic. Shelby created the original dream. Then the replica manufacturers created the new market. Then Shelby tries to steal the market that they created.

Well now there is competition. Everyone is prospering if they have a good product. I just don't like Shelby personally dissing replicas as badly engineered and put together with worn-out parts. He should sell his cars on their own merits instead.

Russ ~ I respect your questions and in many aspects it is no different than the "which is the best replicar" or "should I buy a SB or BB" questions. Some people are just darn tired of rehashing the subjects.

In fact, I betcha that if some of us were in CS's shoes, we would have done or be doing the same things in regards to the replicar/kit market.

Its too bad, but seems as though life revolves money and sometimes money = greed.

Brian

p.s. I'm probably one of those guys that would be doing the same thing as CS if I were in his shoes. We may not like it, but its all about the business.

I like this Russ guy. He makes very good points for a newbie.

ITS WORKING! IT's REALLY WORKING! Can you believe it? The Fling is working!

Look how nice everyone is playing. Aint it great?

By the way, the Ol' Grouch, (0ne of the kinder names lately) helped sponsor "our" picnic last year and called weeks ago to offer their help for this year. Just thought you might want to know.

DV.. Practice is over! The picnic is starting soon.

I can't recall ever posting an anti CS remark(Evan will now spend 2 hours searching for one ;) ), but I can no longer hold it in. CS's chili mix SUCKS! There, I said it. I feel better.

Do a search of my old posts. You'll see I said he should be spending more time on those CHILI recipes :LOL: :LOL:

Was and is a great man. Whoever pays his lawyers.....:(

Great minds ........

We need to have a DSCC chili party in the fall.

Gee, a guy who approved this ad can't be all bad...

:)

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...php?photo=5735

That makes up for the crappy chili mix!

Another viewpoint--

You make the incorrect assumption that buyers of Cobra replicas are attempting to duplicate Shelby's car. That's just not so, at least not in every case. I did NOT choose to order my ERA because I wanted to mimic Shelby's Cobra-- I wanted an outrageously powerful, lightweight, well-built big block sports car, and the only body available happened to look like Shelby's car. I personally find Shelby's recent behavior bizzare, and I'll leave it at that. I ordered my ERA in spite of Shelby, not because of him. I, for one, refuse to put anything on my car that has Shelby's name on it, including the Cobra emblems.

Shocking!
 

btsai,

That's incredible! I have only seen CS in later years. He evidently used to be a lot better looking. Even his hat fit better back then!!

You got any nudes?????

Great Asp :3DSMILE:

Shels' hat?
 

Boy it took five trys to lock on to the hat. I don't think it's an original, looks kinda like the photographers replica hat, not shels' original.
Nice dual manifolds tho!
grumpy

And those babies are not replicas!

Keep your badges off..it dosn't matter! Everybody knows who made that car what it is today..

Ever notice how CSX owners and replica owners never see eye to eye? Gee, I wonder why!

Ever notice how many CSX3000 and CSX4000 owners dont see eye to eye either!!!!!!!

:CRY: :CRY: :CRY: :CRY: :CRY: :CRY: :CRY: :CRY:


Replica and CSX400O owners do share one thing....

WE ALL LIVE THE DREAM

:3DSMILE: :3DSMILE: :3DSMILE: :3DSMILE: