Cobra Popularity

NeedAntiVenom · #1 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 09:04 AM

There has been a lot of banter of real vs. continuation vs. replica and how each is value (either real or perceived). After I saw the post regarding the 75 Shelbys sold for 40K each I began to wonder.

Would the Cobra have the same following it enjoys today if replica makers had not begun to produce them?

If the popularity, in whatever portions, is attributable to the unique combination of a great original car, broad replication and the economy of scale that permits, are the replica makers just as vital to the success of Cobras as CS?

Would CS have begun to produce Cobras again if it were not for the replica makers?

Thoughts?

Jim

(totally insane waiting for my title)

SSS · #2 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 09:19 AM

"Would the Cobra have the same following it enjoys today if replica makers had not begun to produce them?"

NO. If it were not possible to own a Cobra myself, I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about them. Just like I don't spend much time thinking about dozens of other cool cars from the past.

"If the popularity, in whatever portions, is attributable to the unique combination of a great original car, broad replication and the economy of scale that permits, are the replica makers just as vital to the success of Cobras as CS?"

Depends on the context. The replicas have nothing to do with the racing success of the originals. The replicas have everything to do with the Cobra being more popular today than it was originally. If you see a Cobra, chances are it's a replica. What else do you need to know?

"Would CS have begun to produce Cobras again if it were not for the replica makers?"

NO. Even if CS starts building replica Mustangs and GT40s, the market has been established by Cobra replicas.

Taters · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 09:25 AM

SSS,

I agree with you 100%.

SCOBRAC · #4 (**permalink**) 08-18-2003, 05:50 PM

No. I grew up in the 70's and the 80's without much hope of owning a car as cool as the Cobra. My Contemporary is sooo much better to drive in every way than an original car I can't begin to think about buying a Vette or even a Viper.

Carroll DeWeese · #5 (**permalink**) 08-20-2003, 11:48 AM

"Would the Cobra have the same following it enjoys today if replica makers had not begun to produce them?"

NO.

Look at the world of computers. IBM failed to go proprietary with the PC and they became the standard for PCs as various hardware and software suppliers entered the market. When IBM then tried to create a proprietary operating system for the PC (OS/2) and microchannel, they failed (although both were probably superior to the competition). Replica makers and an open market create demand and interest.

decooney · #6 (**permalink**) 08-20-2003, 02:27 PM

That's funny you bring this up. We were just talking about this last weekend at the Concorso Italiano at Seaside/Monterey. There were millions of dollars of fancy Lambos, Ferraris, Porsche's and other high dollar cars around the Corral area there. The strange thing was our row of Cobras in the English Corral section was getting an inordinate amount of attention, all day long, in comparison to other cars. We noticed this on video again later...

One conclusion we've made is that people seem to be able to "identify" with Cobras, and it's americanized history with Ford and Shelby; esepcially people who grew up with V8 Mustangs from the 60s. These people seem to know that a nice replica Cobra is "within reach" or "obtainable" for the masses now...
I believe that quality replicas have made the Cobra even more popular now with various types of people and incomes. I believe most people won't spend extra time looking at motorcars they cannot visualize themselves driving or owning at some point...

It seems that because it's more obtainable for more people now, they have become more popular each year. Also, not to mention the fact that it spans so many categories like: sports cars, exotics, roadster/convertible types, street rod lovers, LOUD sidepipes attract the Harley riders, smaller/cute shape attracts the English Cars buffs, so on and so forth.

The replica market has definitely made them more popular, and I believe Shelby joined in because it was an opportunity to try and makes some money or regained fame at it. IMHO.

Hey Carroll,
I wonder what would have happened if IBM would have given OS/2 and OS2/Warp away for free like world has done with Linux?. M/C definitely hurt them though... and Token Ring went south too... Boy, IBM sure has done an about face with Linux now, learning from their sad OS/2 experience. I gave 3 hard years of my career to OS/2. As you probably know, RedHat and SuSe runs on all of the IBM boxes now from top to bottom including Z990 Mainframes. They learned the hard way, and now they are on a mission. It seems to be working. I'm done with Sun and gone Big Blue again, all the way... See Ya.