Evan,
Ours is a bare, naked, brushed aluminum with ghost stripes. You can see pictures over in the Gashole Gallery. It still has the plastic on the seats and the paper on the windwings and sunvisors.

Venture and SAI not withstanding, I wonder what the Shelby name/persona really is worth. Ford and Chrysler have both made some bucks with it.

With an estimated 40,000-odd replica Cobras made and sold since the mid '70's, I'd say marketing or not, that qualifies the producers as "boutique" businesses. None of the "Big Three" have any particular use for SAI as a going business, but that name is surely interesting to at least two of them.

I can almost see Ford or Chrysler acquiring the name and re-inventing SAI to produce specially modified versions of their marketing toys. Maybe a Shelby Prowler or a Shelby Viper. How about a brand new Shelby Mustang ready to go to the track or drive to a cruise in. Don't tell me that won't increase brand awareness. That's worth money. Big money. The best part is that there are still a lot of buyers who remember Shelby very well and today, a lot of them have a few bucks to spend on toys.

Ask yourself, would you (if you were able) spend $45K on a car that would meet emmisions, turn 11 second 1/4 mile times and still corner like a go kart? Put a few ads on TV showing that Mustang dusting a Corvette and a very long line magically appears at the dealerships, buying not only Shelby Mustangs, but other Ford products.

Like the old Tasco Ford slogan, "If it wins on Sunday, it sells on Monday."

Al

Al,
I think that we share the same sentiments. The Shelby "boutique" analogy is pretty accurate considering that Shelby has autographed lithographs, motorcycles, guitars, peanut butter etc. many of which remain relatively unknown to the average consumer outside of the cobra family.

Ha ha,,,,as the years go by and one day C.S. is no longer with us......

someone will find in an "attic" somewhere "original" design specs for a Series 3 car that C.S. never got around to building. If fact, they also found some "space age" metal frames hidden away in the warehouse. Of course in Carols own handwriting, "notes" on the assembly techniques so advanced in nature they weren't possible in "his time". I tell you it WILL happen!

He will not go easily into that dark night, LOL.

Ernie

LOLOL

Does this last hypothetical scenario comtemplate continued CSX Cobra production?

I would prefer to see SAI continue their own production without a controlling take over resulting in a change in product.

If not, however, the new CSX 4000 just became a rare and limited comodity. Espeically the aluminum can species. Can you say increase in value???? Yeah. I think so. ;)

Oh boy,
Evan, did you read the latest statement from Shelby regarding cobras in this weeks AutoWeek?
I think the price of all CSX's are about to spike like a new pacemaker!

Well spill it Dan,,,,what did it say???

hmmmmmm......thinking I should "invest" in a CSX before the market goes nuts! Remember 1966-67 when nodoby thought the Cobras were worth "that much"?????

Ernie


It's dejavu all over again...........:LOL:

AutoWeek April 21, 2003
 

AutoWeek Page 8 "Flash"...... Bankrupt Venture
Carroll Shelby says he hasn't received any money from Venture in two and a half years, he blames Venture for the fall of the Series1, and says he has set an April 15 deadline for Venture to pay up or else. Venture Industries has filed bankruptcy.
So is that the end of the Cobras?
" Carroll Shelby will continue to build Cobras and will continue to honor agreements from those who have made deposits," says Shelby.
Exactly where and how he will build those Cobras, along with details of the new Series 2, will come in the next exciting installment of this story.

Ernie,
if you have money in the wall, now's the time to get it out!;)

Special Note: Thank You Bob Marsh for helping to make our CSX a reality. Your timing was absolutely impeccable.

Now just a butt wallopin minute, What on earth do you guys think the failure of venture cap . has to do with SAI? , I think SAI cashed that check a while ago. I'm sure SAI has some fiduciary responsibilities to Venture, but I'm also sure ventures financial fumblings cannot accelarate SAI's performance responsibilities !

I suppose this situation could limit future growth of SAI ,but if they are relying on a regular infusion of capital to keep the show running then they are dead any way, I suspect not.

SAI is certainly only a boutique operation , if they are padding accounts with investor dollars then they are not even that.

If the Kirkham boys can do it at a profit at 20k less than SAI , I cant see any obvious reason SAI should be considered vulnerable ......... just my .04 worth :)

KobraKarl,
You may be correct but as I told Ernie, if you have some investment cash handy, it might be a great investment now.
Certainly with the significant stock market beatings over the past year, a tangible investment seems pretty sensible.;)