Shelby to enter 'kit" market?

mr bruce · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 07:14 AM

Now that Shelby has entered the high end of the market, much to the consternation of many. How long untill the long awaited CSX "k"(k for kit) donor cars arrive.Bodys and frames from SA, all other parts from a "donor" ,say like a 94 on up Mustang, priced at $14,995.When that happens (remember, no one thought you would ever be able to buy a 'real" CSX car for $39,995.) he will truely put every one outta business

4RE KLR · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 07:39 AM

Just thinking out loud here, but if that happened I think it would devalue the street value of a CSX number. Then anyone that allready has one would be at a great monitary loss. The earlier ones that had real value would have to explain, to everyone, that they were the original CSX cars and not the "K" CSX cars.

Don't you think?

Dan Semko · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 07:48 AM

You guys are merciless. Poor Evan is just getting adjusted to his new medications and now you have to spring this on him?

Cracker · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 08:06 AM

With this latest release the CSX 4K cars are already de-valued and the owners are now separated into three classes of Shelbys.

Why not add a fourth? Come to think of it a "kit" Shelby would be like 4th class - whatever floats their boat!

Chuck R · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 10:24 AM

Things sure have changed at Shelby. I was out to the Speedway on Thursday and stopped by. The showroom is empty, the concession stand is gone, most everything is gone except Series 1 and FIA related stuff. They moved to a warehouse across the street, the only marking on the building is a poster with the 39,900 advertisement. The name is still on the main building but no one is home.

xlr8or · #6 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 01:51 PM

Mr. Bruce you are probably right. I could see several companies takng a big hit from a 14,999 CSX just like SPF will from the 39,900 SAI CAV car.

KLR, Mercedes worried about that for several years before introducing the 190 to the US market. They were afraid it would dilute the value of the product line. Turns out it just brought the customers in at a younger age and got them hooked on the brand. Now they have cars from the high 20's to over 100K.

mr bruce · #7 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 02:09 PM

Diluting the market?, I doubt that that is a concern at SAI anymore. The money equasion is in play now. A $15k "kit" would sell like hotcakes. "Stealing" the donor concept is a no brainer, and with the exchange rates and government subsidies afforded in SA, SAI could have the numbers rite.This car may already be in the pipeline.

Rick Parker · #8 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 02:11 PM

Chuck:

It is sad to hear that the building is near empty and void of the bulk of CSX product. Just indicative of the changing of the "Guard". Your description sounds much like the "Original Building" in Venice.

Rick

4RE KLR · #9 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 05:16 PM

ok
But did SAI and FFR get hooked up for a business deal or is that just hearsay?

Just a question NOT a staement!

Years Ago · #10 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 05:55 PM

Chuck, did I meet you in the parking lot at Shelby Thursday? Someone and his wife (I assume) drove up looking for the museum and we talked in the parking lot. Perhaps it was not you.

Something needs to be clarified. When we opened the Shelby facility in the building you saw empty, we had 10,000 Sq. Ft. allocated to Cobra. The Cobra operation has greatly expanded. The new facility is dedicated solely to Cobra, and consists of 30,000 Sq. Ft. (in my calculation that is three times the size). The company is hoping to have another 3,000 sq. ft. at the new location dedicated to a showroom operation in a month or so and a re-start of the daily tours.

The larger vacated facility will hopefully not be vacant for long. The current vacant building is a result of the "splitsville" situation with Venture Industries, which is the party currently working with bankruptcy problems. The existing Series 1 stuff (of which there is quite a lot) is in storage in part of that complex still awaiting Venture determination as to how to get it back to the market.

I worked with both sides while I was at Shelby, and am pleased to see Shelby forging ahead as Shelby Automobiles, Inc.

While working with Shelby was somthing more than Venture knew how to handle, before castigating them totally, keep in mind that they invested millions into the operations, and have a vested interest in trying to get back what they can.

Hopefully, Venture will be soon able to resolve their situation at the plant and the facility can return to Shelby for full production of product being develped through the newly disclosed alliance Shelby has struck with an old friend.

Don't mourn, Shelby is still moving vigorously ahead. Amazingly so, given the difficulies in arranging the separation from Venture.

I don't quite understand Chucks reference to "only FIA and Series 1" with a $39,995 poster at the facility. The new operation is full of activity with CSX4000 (prison fiberglass) CSX4000 Aluminum (mostly Kirkham sourced bodies) CSX4000 Fiberglass expected this week from CAV, CSX7000 and CSX8000 rollers (289 and slabside) and finally CSX4000 and CSX8000 anniversary editions.

The Shelby part of the operation has had its strongest year to date in 2003, and once resettled into their own dedicated building should do just fine. The down time of the move and change in operation, will of course, put a hole in the middle of the year. (Production is and has been continuling during all phases of the move, and product is still going to market)>

As to the other reference elsewhere, FFR and Venture have talked together about using up Series 1 materials in a creative way.

Venture and FFR together in the future? - perhaps - however, it has nothing to do with Shelby.

FFR & Shelby together? Don't hold your breath. A Shelby is what Shelby designed and is under Shelby control, not what looks like something Shelby designed designed by someone else. A factual statement, not ment to be an afront to the proponents of either.

Incidently, the new location is across the street, a football field length away from the vacant building at the Speedway.

computerworks · #11 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 09:48 PM

(I'm sure the sig line omission above was by accident)

The above post was by Wayne Stoker, former exec at SAI.

(hiya, Wayne....good to see you post here again.)

KobraKarl · #12 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 10:25 PM

A big , tip-o-th-hat to anyone from Shelby , present former or future for seasoning the constant speculation with a fact or two.

Much appreciated,
kk

Turk · #13 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 10:59 PM

I may be a masochist, but I HOPE Shelby comes out with a cheaper and Donor/Kit or something like that. Under $20,000.
That would be a blast.
For the do it yourself crowd.
How nice would that be!!

foothills gary · #14 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 12:04 AM

Just don't call it a "K-car"!

Durt · #15 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 02:35 AM

"I may be a masochist, but I HOPE Shelby comes out with a cheaper and Donor/Kit or something like that. Under $20,000.
That would be a blast.
For the do it yourself crowd.
How nice would that be!!"

We can only hope that such a wish carries the same impact that Wal-Mart has on communities across the country. The complete homoginization or elimination of local establishments by monolithic machines designed to eat small business and poop on diversity.

I personally long for the day when enterprises like Home Depot, MacDonalds and Shelby American become benchmarks of steamroller commerce. Discouraging examples of the futility of competition in the new economy of the 21st century.

A chicken in every pot - a Shelby in every garage.

How noble.

Lowell W · #16 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 07:22 AM

I hear SAI is planning to introduce a signature glove box door, complete with a CSX serial number plaque. It will be available with a hinge for installation on the dashboard of the "kit car" of your choice or a stud and wing nut on the back for installation on cars which have no glove box cutout...

Aw...just kiddin...

BMK · #17 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 07:53 AM

Hi all,

With only just over four weeks to my visit to the States I am pleased to read that there is possibly plenty to see at Shelby Inc.

Will check out LV after the Run N Gun mid week about the 20th.

Any thouhgts on what else to see

Drop me a quick email at

kni-time@bigpond.com

Will keep on eye on this forum and post a Thread about a week before I fly out.

Nearly finished my car - but in Gel coat. Ready for the Australian Cobra Nationals in early October. Second car so I am getting better

The Australian Forum has more details on the Nationals.

Cheers

Bernie

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia

Home of the famous Blue Lake

Dan Semko · #18 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 08:26 AM

OH my God, Walmart, noooo, I'm NOT going there!

Welcome back Wayne!

Years Ago · #19 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 08:57 AM

Dan

Why not Wal-Mart. If my memory serves me correctly, either you or one of the gassy gang you hang out with pre-registered me for a job as greeter at Wal-Mart after my retirement from Shelby. The pay would have been great, but I had to walk too far to get there.

Wayne

Turk · #20 (**permalink**) 09-07-2003, 09:50 AM

TURK