Yea REAL1, I see what you mean. All those guys that ripped off the '32 Ford design and set up businesses without giving anything to Henry, what a bunch of jerks.

Woodz,

You have a point!
However I don't see GM and Chrysler screaming bloody murder when Ford reissues T-Bird or Mustang and even the F150.
They regroup and try to do one better. They compete!

TURK

Turk,

Correct that GM didn't raise a big issue when Ford re-issued the T-Bird and Mustang, but that was their car to start with. However I wonder what they would have said if Ford had came out with a copy of the Corvette or Viper. That more or less is what the replica companies did with the Cobra, and if it wasn't for our states insane laws I would now be talking to SAI about one of their new cars. I have just never seen any benefit from name calling and bashing other cars no matter what they are. I even thought about buying an Corvette once and then found out it was made by Chevy. :LOL: :LOL:

Ron :LOL: :JEKYLHYDE :D

You live in them hills. Get yourself a 4WD SPF!


TURK

"Many of the "rabid" SPF owners (they have in many cases become worse than some of the FFR owners) have some misplaced allegiance to the "replica" manufacturers. They got their panties all in bunch because Shelby sued FFR/SPF. See above comments. "

Evan, you poor celebate, malaligned plumber. Once again you've distorted reality and felt that we pick on you because you have a "REAL" cobra. Since I'm probably one of the greatest offenders of picking on you, let me clarify my intent. Inspite of your undaunting allegiance to Shelby American, despite the fact that you are an attorney and regretfully reside in New Jersey, I fire salvos across your "brow" because I'm one of those "rabid" SPF owners that "REALly" enjoys you. I'd be exactly the same if you drove a "Backdraft", which admittedly would be a more appropriate moniker to pick on you for AND as far as "having our panties " in a wad, as a Gashole, we pride ourselves in seizing opportunities when you're out of town. We KNOW why you attend the Spring Flings unaccompanied because if the Mrs. REAL1 met any of us, she'd soon realize that you are indeed a replica.
The reality is 15 years from now, we'll still be arguing about Shelby who will probably be just as cantankerous in a wheel chair with cheater slicks and absolutely no one, will know, care about or desire, the subject of our passions. If you ask any 15 year old who Carroll Shelby, Peter Brock or even more recently who Tom Gale or Bob Lutz are, they'll squint and look at you like you are rabid. Welcome to the club. Thanks for being stedfast and keeping this place lively!

;)

In regards to the comment made by the Kirkhams about the President of Honda Motors, how you guys gonna like the four-cylinder Cobda or Honbra when it comes to market..???

Soon there will be tons of Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, etc. powered Cobra style cars running up and down the highway.

The Japanese versions will look period correct and have a top, A/C,heaters, etc.. and 400HP. Maybe Honda will approach Carroll Shelby and he'll allow them to use his name. CSX/J 1001
Carroll will sit back,, eat sushi, and reap the profits and not have to build anymore replicas...AAAHH, the golden years...;)

Ditto about the BS part....

Your Pal Al

I wouldn't trade all these postings from Evan for a Real Cobra....
:)

Turk,
You should have your mouth washed out with Ivory Soap for saying that!;)

Loosely translated I think it says Ban the Semkos. :LOL:

Ernie

Evan: If you don't think that people & companies in this country take products, make some changes to it, improve upon it, find ways to make it at a cheaper rate, and then offer the same, or similar product to the public at a competitive price...........then you aren't living in the USA. It IS the American way. Those companies that have products and designs that they wish to keep for themselves, patent them. Shelby didn't try and put an end to the replica's until AFTER he saw the money they were making. If that isn't bitterness & greed, then what do you call it?

You can continue to argue until you're blue in the face, over the Cobra's being produced today by Shelby as being "REAL". I'm not one who has argued with you over that. I indeed think that the cars they are making today are REAL Shelby Cobra's (with CSX numbers and everything!). "Genuine", however, means something totally different (to ME anyway). "Genuine" means "authentic". Authentic, to me, has to do with History / or the past......which means "original". The noun definition for "original" in Websters states "original work". ........The original work on Cobra's was done in the 60's.

I'm not "pissed" (as you put it), that Shelby has dicided to compete in the market. I think he should have done this a long time ago! -THAT'S my point!! His competing in the "lower priced" roller market is NOT why I think he is "greedy", -just the opposite, in fact! ....The greed came from NOT competing in this price range in the first place, but instead, he wanted to try and sell his cars at a much higher price (because of his name). When replica companies kept selling more and more cars, (at least more than he obviously like seeing them sell), then he tried to get RID of the replica companies that were doing well, by SUING them out of existence......thus eliminating the competition and FORCING people to by HIS product (at a higher price) if they wanted to own a Cobra. That would be like Coke suing Pepsi, or Levi suing Bugle Boy, or anyone else who decides they want to make jeans and sell them at a competitive price. Eliminating the competition is NOT the way to go (although a lot of companies try). COMPETING, is the American way, and I'm glad he has decided to try, BUT.......he only decided to try it AFTER LOOSING in the court room. Do you think we would have ever seen a 40K roller out of Shelby had he been successful in his litigation and retained the "rights" to the shape of the car (AC's shape, by the way.......but let's not go there!). HELL NO !! Instead, he would have kept a lot of us from ever owning a Cobra..............because we would'nt have been able to afford it.

Heck, CS should be HAPPY that replica's are out there. They have kept the Cobra popular by putting them into the hands of more and more people. I would argue, counselor, that replica companies have even improved HIS business and financial status (he probably never would have started making Cobras again had the replica companies not proved their popularity and demand). I think a lot of people get into a replica of something as a "stepping stone" on the way to having the REAL thing. I'm sure CS has sold more than 1 CSX car to someone who was a previous "replica" owner.

Am I "pissed" (again, as you like to put it....) that "in the end, when it comes time to sell the 'ol SPF, it won't bring what it used to". ???
No. Not at all. In fact, nobody yet knows what will happen to the used Cobra market. Time will tell, and a lot will depend on what type of car you actually get for your money. SPF puts out a good product for the dollar. So does ERA, and many others. There will always be a demand for "good products". Besides, I didn't get a car for a "monetary investment". -I would have gone with something entirely different if my retirement was riding on the car I bought! The only investment I made was in "making life more FUN". ........And in THAT department, I'm getting a very nice return on my money!:D

AGAIN ????:D

Terry,
I have read everything you have written and responded to most.
It wasn't until the end of your post I could agree with you 100%.
I wish you had done it earlier. I would have drank 4 less cups of coffee,smoked one less pack of cigarettes, and would have typed 3000 less words.



When I read that, I felt better. I said to myself, By God! He gets it!! Believe it or not, I know a lot of people who bought a Shelby Cobra for the very same reasons. Not for the snob appeal. I couldn't care less as to the name but, opportunity was there to own one of his cars, and that alone gave me the satisfactuion I was seeking.

See, we have more in common when we focus on why we are here at the first place. We are not here because we want to convert, we are here to converse.

TURK

TurK: I don't want you getting health problems due to my posts!

I'm sure you do know a lot of CSX owners that bought their car for the "fun factor" (You, for one!), and not the "Snob" factor (I won't mention any names here...). And you know what? It's most likely the car I would have picked had I been able to afford it. Would I be going back on my principles? I don't think so. No, I'm not happy with the way CS had conducted himself in his latter years, but I don't HATE the man. I know a lot of replica owners that would NEVER buy a Shelby even if they could afford it. Heck, a lot of them won't even put the "correct" badges on their car because they don't want anything from "him" to be associated with it! I'm not one of those. I appreciate and admire what he did in the 60's and figure, if it weren't for the Cobra, the replica companies would have nothing but '32 Fords to build! I just feel he went about "competing" with them the wrong way. That's all. In fact, he didn't try and compete at all......he tried to put them out of business, and IMO, that was wrong.

You're right........when we focus on what these cars really mean to most of us (FUN!!), then we all become brothers. And that in itself, is part of the "fun factor" of owning one of these. -Meeting some fellow "brothers" that share the same passion for these automobiles.
Like I say.........Cars, Friends, A good woman.....and an occasional beer, makes for a healthy & enjoyable life!:)

Don't you worry about my health.
I have been dead for years. I am writing to you from the Big Cobra in the Sky.

"Cars, Friends, and a good woman, and beer"...! hmmm
Ok.
One of these days if we meet, I'll bring the beer...You bring your friends, cars and the woman.... and you guys can have my beer and have fun , maybe play cards or something. I'll keep my self busy.

Now, tell me a little more about the woman!! Buddy!!

TURK

Casaleenie,Honda already has there Cobda-the S2000,soon to be the S2200.If Honda is looking at the Cobra closely,there's a D@#M good reason.Imagine the silky smooth 240h.p. engine that is in the new Accord coupe put under the hood,tweaked and boosted to a realistic 400+h.p.,with all-wheel drive,all the conveniences,excellent resale(any one who has ever owned and sold a Honda knows what I'm talking about!),and a price under 40k.Though it probably wouldn't affect we old timers in our buying decisions,it would definitely affect buyers my kid's age.It might even take a bite out of Corvette and Viper sales.The Japanese,being master emulators,and detail freaks would make sure the car was dead dependable for 400-500k miles to boot.A factory in the heartland would guarantee instant acceptance.Why would I post this in this thread?It will be just one more variable that will probably affect resale on our cars in the future,especially as smog requirements get tighter,You can bet Honda will be making power,with ultra low emmissions.I am facinated by the Lexus powered,all wheel drive Cobra being built by a CC member,as this may be our future,and a challenge to maintain the bodystyle we love,with maximal originality to meet 21st century demands.

Gary,

I rue the day when people start putting snow tires on the front of their Cobras... CSX/J's
Is nothing sacred?????

Casaleenie,is that a rhetorical question,or do you already know the answer?(LOL)

Gary,

Yes, you may be right about Honda. But in order to get the 400 HP they will have to keep the rpms at 7000-8000. I will stick with displacement.

Allan

Allan,
I'm surprised that you accepted the "333" engine number especially with being superstitious. ;)

Allen,the engines I can foresee Honda squeezing into their roadster are the 3.0/240h.p. V-6,or the 3.2 AcuraTL V-6 that naturally aspirated has 270h.p.@6200rpm and 238lb/ft of torque@5000rpm.The bottom ends on these V-tecs are bull strong,and I think could easily be brought into the 350-400lb/ft torque range at fairly low rpm with twin turbos.Certainly not a contender for a BB,but for a mildly built 302 that would be as durable,and like many choose to put into their cars in the $25-$40k price range,Honda could find a niche.I'm certainly no expert on these things,just musing.What do others think?