Factory 5 buying SAI

[Colonial Cobra]

Taz hit the nail on the head

[Jason Lee Nye]

I really do not know the current history of Shelby American but if they are owned by a company and keep losing money, then I think it would be prudent for them to unload the company if they cannot turn it around. If this does happen, it would be interesting to see who does step in to buy them.

If Shelby American went down in ashes and was never able to turn a profit due to overpriced replicas of the original ones made in the 60's, I would think the past ones would go up in value such as Real 1's.

For investment purpose I have no problem admitting that the Shelby replicas hold more value than the regular replicas. I would be a fool to deny that.

I am not sure what constitutes a FFR groupie though? Perhaps you view the replica industry like the food chain. At the top you have the real ones from the 60's, then anything made beyond the 60's is a replica. Within the replicas you have the Shelby Americans at the top for obvious reasons and so on. Like how the rich view the poor, I guess FFR owners are at the bottom and we do nothing but envy the other replica owners. I think some people need to come out of the clouds. While a person might consider the FFR's a pile of $hit below their feet and actually think that we feel that or believe that, it goes both ways. The Shelby American replica car owners are piles of $hit below the Real 1960's Cobra owners. Or simply they are groupies of the real Cobra owners.

To compare a FFR to a Shelby American Cobra replica is like comparing apples and oranges same as comparing a Shelby American Cobra replica to a real on of the 1960’s. Yes they are Cobras but they are still replicas when compared to the real deal.

It is weird, I walked out and actually touched my Spec Racer and realized it was real car. Out of respect for the real one of the 60’s, I would never say mine was a real Shelby Cobra. And as for badges, I will have the Factory 5'’. After all it is a real Factory 5 you know. In the end, unless you own a real one from the 60’s, you are simply a poser. Some posers are more elaborate and put more money into their replicas. If Van Gogh had made a continuation of his real paintings anything painted after the real one, would be a replica of the real one. However the replicas with his sig on it would be worth more than the replicas without it.

Please don’t speak for all of us FFR owners. You really do not have a clue as to the reasons or motivation behind why we love and build these cars. We love these cars because they are Factory 5’s and how they perform. At least the ones I know, have a clear understanding that theirs is not a real Cobra. The Factory 5 does well enough by itself to stand alone and compete on its own off or on the track. If I were concerned about value and money and a brand name, I would buy a Shelby American. Since I am practical and buy things with more uses in mind, the Factory 5 Spec Racer fit the bill. There are those that will wear nothing but designer cloths and then there are those that are more practical and want to get more bang for the buck. God forbid a middle class person should share the same room or space that a person that has so much prestige and class. Some things and people will never change and by their comments, they clearly expose who they really are. Some people need to get over themselves and what they own and realize their $hit smells just as bad as the rest of us.

I thought the thread was a joke to begin with. However it must have scared the $hit out of some people or appalled them when they thought about the idea. How absurd was probably one of the thoughts from our elitist friends who own Shelby American Cobra replicas. God! Lighten up people!

[KeithBrown]

Is this thread still going?

[Jason Lee Nye]

Even though they are not buying SAI. I think it is clear the Smith Bros would run a better ship and turn out a better product and still make a profit unlike the current management at SAI. I guess time will tell if the management there has gotten its $hit together and the upper management figure out how to reach more of a customer base.

[REAL 1]

New CSX insult of the day for the FFR rabid. "REAL fake Snake".

Gotta love it!

You see the fundamental problem is that some guys refuse to acknowledge or accept the fact the CSX is a REAL/genuine Cobra. Not original but a genuine Cobra. They love to continually knock the CSX I guess because it makes them feel better about what they have. Thats fine. Small minded but fine.

Are the continuation CSXs replicas of the original. Duh! Of course they are. Never said they weren't How else to you make it exactly like the original. Duh. Difference is its a genuine Cobra.

1. There are the originals. 2. Then there are the new Shelby Cobras (Continuation Cobras). 3. Then there are replicas of Cobras that aren't Cobras. Those are the facts. I didn't make them up. Its just what it is.

You FFR guys are great! On one hand you love to insult the new CSX but God forbid anyone suggests that FFR is not on par with some of the other replicas. Whoa! Watch out!



Owning a REAL (produced) Continuation Cobra and lovin it!



P.S. Respect is a two way street.

[Bart Carter]

What I don't understand is how SAI could be losing money when they pad so much profit into a car.

[Jim Colman]

Real 1,

I certainly am not privy to all the specifics, however I do have it on good authority that FFR is exploring the options regarding the Venture/SAI situation.

Whatever the outcome, it's going to make for some interesting dynamics in the coming months.

Cheers
Jim

[Jason Lee Nye]

I am sorry if I took the groupie comment wrong. I just pictured a bunch of mindless women owning Factory 5’s with wet tank tops on and ….ok I will stop there. As far as FFR being par, are you referring to the values? If so, that is a given and I wouldn’t be the first to admit that they will always be valued on the lower end. Are you talking performance and reliability I think action speaks louder than opinions? I think there are track times and races that document this and prove they are equal or better performing. I will be moving closer to Bob Bondurant's and will have to make my trip there and take a hot lap in a Factory 5 Spec Racer. Have you seen the latest footage of Bob taking one of these cars around the track? Quite cool.

We all own real cars. Some of us own real Shelby’s and very few own genuine Cobras from the 60’s. Apparently it is important to you and impresses you to have the Shelby name stamped on the car. And that is fine. But to others the only thing that impresses us is the one from the 60’s and anything else is just a copy regardless of the badge stamped on it. One has to have justification for spending the money they do and there is nothing wrong with that, but it shouldn’t involve lowering another to do so.

Factory 5’s are affordable to build but that does not mean they are junk. To base performance and quality on price is quite foolish in my eyes. Money does not equal intelligence. However it does equal more choices vs one with less money.

[TAZ]

Originally posted by REAL 1


New CSX insult of the day for the FFR rabid. "REAL fake Snake".

Gotta love it!

You see the fundamental problem is that some guys refuse to acknowledge or accept the fact the CSX is a REAL/genuine Cobra. Not original but a genuine Cobra. They love to continually knock the CSX I guess because it makes them feel better about what they have. Thats fine. Small minded but fine.

Are the continuation CSXs replicas of the original. Duh! Of course they are. Never said they weren't How else to you make it exactly like the original. Duh. Difference is its a genuine Cobra.

1. There are the originals. 2. Then there are the new Shelby Cobras (Continuation Cobras). 3. Then there are replicas of Cobras that aren't Cobras. Those are the facts. I didn't make them up. Its just what it is.

You FFR guys are great! On one hand you love to insult the new CSX but God forbid anyone suggests that FFR is not on par with some of the other replicas. Whoa! Watch out!



Owning a REAL (produced) Continuation Cobra and lovin it!



P.S. Respect is a two way street.

It's just as genuine as a "genuine Ford Model T" would be if Ford wanted to start making Replica's of the Old Model T Ford. Oh, I appologize that should be a genuine continuation Ford Model T.

If you cannot see that, then I appologize, I didn't realize you had myopia.

TAZ

[KeithBrown]

Originally posted by Jason Lee Nye


I am sorry if I took the groupie comment wrong. I just pictured a bunch of mindless women owning Factory 5’s with wet tank tops on and ….ok I will stop there.

To bad you stopped, I would love to see these wet tank women and Cobra's (of any make).

Regards,

Keith

[ddimick]

REAL1, I think you'd see the same split of opinion if Ford were to reintroduce the Model T as a continuation of the original. I doubt many would actually consider it to be a "real" Model T. It would certainly be a matter of much debate, and I doubt a concensus would be easily achieved. What Ford presented as facts would most certainly be considered by most, at best, as opinion.

Of course, you own a SAI, and I own a FFR, so our relative biases are apparent.

In order for this debate to be meaningful, it has to be as important to me as it is to you whether my car is really a Cobra or not.

[Jason Lee Nye]

I think even the hardcore Shelby American Owner wouldn't mind seeing that!


Back to work, no more bad thoughts!!

[BlueRooster]

New SAIs are replicas...period "continuation of a car built in the 60s made to look like a cobra shaped shelby" What!?!

[REAL 1]

Would a new Model "T" be a real model "T " if made by Ford. You bet. Not an original. But a REAL genuine model "T" from Ford if made to the same specs as the original. The only thing separating them from the original is time. Would it be desirable as the original to collectors. Obviously not. But then again you never know.

To some REAL must mean original. Thats fine.

Is the new GT 40 Ford a REAL GT 40? You bet. Are the new Indian Motorcycles REAL Indians. You bet. Original? No. Genuine/REAL. Yes.

With facts this clear I can see clearly even with "myopia".

[ddimick]

Wow, I think we actually agree on the semantics. 'nuff said.

[Excaliber]

The new Ford Model T is actually a new Ford GT(-40). Yup, it's "real" because Ford will make it.

Now if Chevy made it,,,,,,,,,it would be a huge problem where the car would fit in the history books! Hmmmm,,,,not unlike FFR making a Cobra and Shelby making a Cobra, only ONE could posssibly be "real".

Ernie

[Mr.Fixit]

An official pedigree from Shelby may make the cobra a "cobra"
But lets not forget the vast number of differences that separate an original-style cobra (SAI or Kirkham) from a rebody kit for a late model mustang. The only similarity is that of body shape, which is pretty different if you compare them closely.

[Tom T.]

Holy crap.

TT

[CobraDan]

Actually when Ford brings out the new GT40 the 40 will be dropped because it's height is no longer 40 inches off the ground. This time around they want people to buy them, to drive on the streets not on the race track.
Dan

[PSB]

....welcome my friends to the thread that never ends....

Originally posted by Mr.Fixit


An official pedigree from Shelby may make the cobra a "cobra"
But lets not forget the vast number of differences that separate an original-style cobra (SAI or Kirkham) from a rebody kit for a late model mustang. The only similarity is that of body shape, which is pretty different if you compare them closely.

A re-body kit of a late-model Mustang? Mr. Fixit, for someone with as much knowlege of Cobra replicas as you claim to have, that's an amazingly ignorant statement! Have you ever seen a F5 chassis? It's hardly a "re-body" of a Mustang. Yes, it uses some suspension pieces from a late-model Mustang, but it has it's own chassis. In fact, the F5 chassis is VERY similar to a CSX chassis! That's like saying an ERA is a rebodied MG because it uses some MG suspension pieces


Pete