AC enters the fray

[brentfenimore]

Carroll Shelby has never laid claim that he was the only person responsible for the creation and refinement of the 289 Street Car, 289 FIA, Cobra Daytona Coupe or the 427 S/C. Come to think of it he has not ever to my knowledge claimed that SAI and Ford were the only companies involved in the development, engineering, prototyping, production, racing, marketing or the World Manufacturers Cup Championship. As a matter of fact anyone that spends much time with CS can confirm the fact that he always gives the credit for his and the many projects he has been involved with success to the team of engineers, designers, fabricators, technicians, drivers, sales, marketing, management, ouside services and companies as well as the clean up crew. I realize most of you have not had the oppertunity to sit and chat with him on a one to one basis but be assured he is not a credit monger by any means.

I have heard a lot about JP putting his money were his mouth is and what a fine businessman he is and this is not intended to sling mud on those statements or Mr. Price.

Carroll Shelby visited several European manufacturing facilities in 1960 & 61 in an attempt to solidify an idea he had about a sports car that would dominate the racing industry. Utilizing his name in the racing to get him through the doors of multiple companies he finally came up with a company that was needing a true platform in order to stay in business. Shelby then had the balls to go to his contacts at Ford, with nothing in hand, and present an oppertunity portrait that would combine the handling and nimbelness of a European sportscar with the power of an American V-8. His next move was to secure a $25,000.00 loan in order to build a prototype that could be presented in person to the top executives and get their buyin to build a car that would kick the Corvettes ass as well as compete in international racing and win.

If I have to complete this story you should go to the library and check it out for yourself.

I would like to think that we are all fans of the COBRA and that we are all proud of it's heritage no matter which stories we care to believe. I have been fortunate in that I have lived a dream of working with a car and a company I could only dream about as a child. I am prejudice towards CS and SAI however I can say that Shelby was not only the father of the Cobra but also the man that propelled it to the greatness we all speak of today.

We have several projects on the plate at this time and can only hope that they will be half as successful as the platform that kicked Farrari's ass back in the 60's.

R Brent Fenimore