AC enters the fray

[Johan]

Originally posted by REAL 1



Evan says:
"Who is considered the original manufacturer of the original Cobras? (forget who fabricated the chasis and body prior to completion) Shelby American or AC? "
Johan says:
If I forgot about AC the answer would be Shelby, but....
panels and chassis not made by AC would be non-original. I wish that Shelby had teamed with AC to build his current Cobras, and this was the plan in 1990/1991, but Brian Angliss/AC wanted about 140,000 for a Mk III roller, and Shelby thought that was too much ( I agree), even though he planned to sell them in the 500,000 range for the completion cars. AC made a very few MK IV's to MK III specifications, some with 427 so engines, but Shelby sought to stop AC from production instead of buy from them. Lawsuits were filed, but AC came away with the right to produce the car and call it a Cobra, except in the US, where the Cobra name was reserved by Ford.
All this said, I'm not some sort of "AC" nut. If I was going to buy a Cobra today, I would probably get a Kirkham 289, put AC badges on it, and race it. I do not hold AC or any other brand as superior . I helped my neighbor build and paint a factory five and we really had a good time doing it, something that is lost with the purchase of any roller. The Factory five looks a lot better than mine does.
Evan says:
" I'm not knocking anyones car nor is that my intent."
Johan says:
Evan, either you are fibbing now, or you were fibbing then, but I can't count the number of times that you have compared two or more cars and declared your car to be the winner. The biggest reason I would not buy a Shelby is because you own one, and you are creating a bad image for the "typical CSX4000 owner", in my opinion.
Evan says:
"A subject is being discussed and I'm discussing it stating the facts ."
Johan says:
Your opinion and the facts are two different concepts. If I had to sit next to you on a cross country flight , there would be an ambulance at the terminal when we landed because I would have tried every way imaginable to kill myself.
Evan says:
"Had I not bought a Shelby I would certainly consider an AC. "
Johan says:
Please Evan, do not buy an AC. I really like my car, flaws and all, and I have way more money in it than I could sell it for, but I can't stand the thought of having the same kind of car as you. I'll be your buddy and drink a beer at a carshow but I don't want us to have the same car. You're sort of like my co-worker that always wears the Searsucker suit (or maybe he got it at Cox's) , doing cold calling in the elevator handing out business cards talking loud, and then people look at me and I keep my cards in my wallet and just wish a hole would open up in the floor of the elevator.
.[/b]