1st Cobra was a Vette!

Buzz · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 05:03 PM

Say it ain't so! Shelby's original idea for a lightweight European sports car pumped up with American muscle. Personally, I'm glad GM turned him down. Nice car but I like the Cobra better.
http://www.michaelmccafferty.com/mmmvette.htm

Cal Metal · #2 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 07:21 PM

I believe the one at the Peterson has been for sale, although the price is far from the $500,000 that was bid on the other car. Didn't one of these go for around $175,000 at BJ three years ago?

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 07:34 PM

Rumors and talk about Shelby and Chevy's have abounded for years. IF this particular article is "believable" it is as Spock would say, "Fascinating".

How would the car have done? It's not a "slam dunk". I wouldn't make the "assumption" that those same records set by the FORD Cobra could have been duplicated with the Chevy Cobra! Maybe, maybe not!

One BIG reason they might have "failed" was indeed Chevy Management not being able to see the "big picture". They were clearly more focused on the Vette and even IF they had allowed Shelby to go forward I think they would have tied his hands and NOT given him the "free reign" and ultimatly the support he would have needed to be successful.

It is noteworthy the NO GM car has been allowed to be built that was FASTER than the Corvette. When Buick did it with the GN V-6 (FASTER 0-60 mph than the Vette for ONE year only) GM was on Buick like white on rice. GM FORCED Buick to "back down" and slow the GN for the next year!

No one is allowed to be "faster" than their "precious", the Vette is "Lord of the Rims".

If your a Vette lover perhaps this little quote is fitting:

The saddest words that were ever penned are these, "What might have been".

Long live the Ford Cobra! Hoo Rahhh.

Ernie

George Snyder · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 07:58 PM

Vette lover? Cobra lover? INDEED! I have one of each. Wouldn't want it any other way.
Bud

Excaliber · #5 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 08:04 PM

I was going to get a second "hot rod",,,,,so I bought another Cobra. Not that I'm prejudice, no no,,,,not me! LOL

Ernie

G.R. · #6 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 08:40 PM

I think that is one sweet looking car

Could've been the "cobra' we all lust for today

if only....

Wouldn't mind owning a replica of one of them--but I've always loved the SB Chevy

computerworks · #7 (**permalink**) 05-27-2003, 08:51 PM

Thanks, Buzz...great reference.
I don't know if CS's involvement was as strong as they say, as those three cars were actually made..

Interesting addition, from the Cobra Story... about who else was approached:

Besides GM, I went to other companies, trying to peddle this idea. I went to Jensen in England...I talked with John Wyer of Aston Martin; I talked to Maserati and to de Tomaso; I argued the point with people in all walks of life and at all levels of the automobile industry--in fact with anyone who would listen.

Buzz · #8 (**permalink**) 05-28-2003, 06:40 AM

Interesting. I can see the concept being a tough sell, particularly to the Italian manufacturers who would consider it sacreligious to accept that an American V8 would be an advantage over their own small displacement, high-winding 8 and 12 cylinder powerplants. Good point about GM and the Corvette. Even if Shelby had gotten the initial green light, the Corvette beater would soon have been canned or had its wings clipped in favour of the corporate wunderkind.
Ford on the other hand seems to have always wanted a Corvette challenger but hasn't had the inclination to build one themselves so they were a shoe-in to back the Cobra idea. Later on they had a similar plan with the Pantera: European 2-seater with Ford V8 power as a direct competitor to the Vette. Let's hope this time around with the new Cobra (if it becomes a reality) they'll do it right. They need to build a real sports car with full factory resources behind it that captures beauty and brutality of our Cobra, functions well in the real world and beats the bejezus out of Vipers and Vettes. I can't wait for the concept sketches so we can see where they intend to go with this.

Tommy · #9 (**permalink**) 05-28-2003, 07:14 AM

It looks like a cross between my two cars.

Cal Metal · #10 (**permalink**) 05-28-2003, 08:30 AM

Do remember guys that until Corvette production hit over 10,000 units it was a money loser for GM. It took until the 1960 model year for them to do it. If it wasn't for the Ford Thunderbird ('55) the Corvette would probably not be around. That year GM sold a paltry 715 cars, after coming off the '54 year with 3,400. Not exactly a bonafide success story.

You can see why GM, lover of the Corvette or not, was not going to cannabalize sales of their flagship. Also, the AMA ban was still on at GM, and the idea of building a car for CS to go racing was definitely contrary to existing corporate policy at the time.