AC enters the fray

[nikbj68]

Originally posted by REAL 1

Who is considered the original manufacturer of the original Cobras? (forget who fabricated the chasis and body prior to completion) Shelby American or AC? The manufacture Id plates all say Shelby American CSX****. I believe SAI is considered the original manufacturer.....
I think there is nothing wrong with choosing an AC. Its an awesome car with a great heritage and forever linked with the Cobra and it is made by the same company that made the body and chasis for Shelby originally. Had I not bought a Shelby I would certainly consider an AC.

I just wanted to chip in with this point. AC or Shelby, whatever the Chassis plate says, from `62 to `67 these cars were produced side by side, at the same time, on the same production line, complete apart fom engine/box.(Flip-top + Coupe`s excepted....although the Chassis`did come from Thames Ditton!)
It appears to me they only became "AC`s" or "Shelbys" depending on which side of the pond you stood.(I recall reading that ALL cars were delivered to SAI with AC badges & Chassis plates, and that to this day somewhere in Venice there is a big cardboard box full of Badges & chassis plates.......but can you believe everything you read? )
You cannot say either is more 'real' or 'original' than the other....they ARE each other.
Regarding values, it is a hard call to make,and varies from vehicle to vehicle, depending on history, notoriety,provenance etc. You cannot compare the value of a 427 S/C to an AC mk111, the cars don`t compare. In the same way, the Ex Le Mans Cobra CS2131 recently sold for in excess of $600,000. How many Shelby 289 mk1 or mk11`s do that? No. it is the history in that case.

[b]Back to the thread title![b]
AC enters the fray. What`s happening now? I read in Quentin Wilson`s column in the Sunday Mirror,12th Oct 2003 that AC will build composite bodies& ship to Shelby for Engine fitting. Now this seems inaccurate to what we all know, but what I really want to know is what`s happening regards the Frimley factory closure, Jim Price/Alan Lubinsky/Carroll Shelby collaborations & IS THERE REALLY a MALTA FACTORY?