Which Cobra would you buy.

[gary osborne]

SPF was my choice before and would be again --- even at a higher price. Reasons just stir the debate pot. I guess I am just blindly loyal.

[Greg Kulp]

David,

You doth test me sorely. Really, I would love to get into one of your Hybrid cars with a SS chassis. But... even though my wife is really a gem I think she would skin me if I got rid of the ERA so soon after completing the build. I am sure you will be around in a few years, then we shall see.

Thanks!

[Excaliber]

Loyalty is an admirable trait, nothing wrong with that. I feel a certain loyalty toward Classic Roadster, which is the way I would go (among other reasons). There was a time, like most of us, when I considered many different brands. Indeed Kirkham was among them.

Ernie

[clayfoushee]

No problem Pat.....I was wondering if you had particular reasons for that statement.

Turk, Unique has been in business since 1977 with the same people involved. They moved from AZ to AL in the 80's.

[lewismc]

If I had the $$$ I would by the "Real Deal". Period. However, all of the replicas mentioned in this thread are great cars!! No question.

Lew

[REAL 1]

Turk: You see thats where you are wrong. The ERA, while a great car does pretend to be something it isn't. A Shelby Cobra.

See thats the whole beauty of the Continuation series. You can have the REAL deal for less than buying an original series Cobra and not have to worry about driving it and enjoying it.

Its so simple yet still eludes many or not acknowledged by many for their own reasons. Amusing actually.

[rdorman]

Originally posted by REAL 1


See thats the whole beauty of the Continuation series. You can have the REAL deal for less than buying an original series Cobra and not have to worry about driving it and enjoying it.

That is always how I have seen it. When it comes up in conversation with people I tell them there is no way I would buy an original Cobra unless I could afford two. I would be so worried that something would happen to it. You destroy one and you have lost a piece of history. While with the new Cobra, so long as they are making them, you destroy it and pick up the phone and order a new one. The only loss is my insurance agents! Now once they stop making them.....................

By the way, I don't think ERA pretends to be a real Shelby Cobra. It just looks one he!! of a lot like one! They don't advertise or promote there car in any way to be a Shelby Cobra. Their litterature, web site, etc all clearly states that ERA is not connected in any other way. Unless of course to look like is to pretend then there are a LOT of pretenders out there. God bless them all!

Rick

[Chaplin]

Evan,
Step away from the keyboard. You're starting to lose focus. You've generally been right in your rants regarding the CSX; until right now. ERA does not pretend to make a Shelby Cobra. They make an ERA 427.

From their manual: "Our objective, when we started on the design and production of this kit was to create a Cobra replica better than all the rest." (emphasis added). Pretty obviouosly states it is a replica.

From their website: "'Shelby', 'GT40' and 'Ford" are registered trademarks. E.R.A. is not connected in any way to holders of these or any other rights involving the original Ford or Shelby automobiles." Clearly states that is not connected to Shelby.

I could probably pull at least another dozen examples from ERA materials, but you get the point.

Although the ERA 427 may be a visual clone of the original Cobra, the above demonstrates that ERA is not in any way trying to pass off the ERA 427 as a Shelby Cobra. After all, as you have argued ad nauseam (and correctly so), the thing that makes a "Shelby Cobra" a "Shelby Cobra" is having the legal right to call it a "Shelby Cobra." Thus, as you have aptly stated, the only cars that can legally be called Cobras are those cars made by CSI, since CSI holds the legal rights to the name "Cobra".

Therefore, using your definition of what is and isn't a Cobra, i.e., having the legal right to a car a "Cobra"-- and noting that ERA does not have the legal right to the name "Cobra" and has not once referred to its car as a Shelby Cobra- ERA is clearly not trying to pass its car off as a Shelby Cobra. ERA may contend (and rightly so) that the ERA 427 is an exact visual duplicate of a Cobra, but they're not saying it's a Shelby Cobra.

But, I'm sure you would agree that if ERA or Hyundai, licensed the name "Shelby Cobra" from CSI, then ERA or Hyundai would be selling Shelby Cobras.

Glad I could clear up the confusion for you

[thorconstr]

It would seem that every Cobra made after the originals in the 60's is a replica. Be it a continuation series, (made from replicas) or any other of the fine replicas out there. If a csx# is your form of viagra, have at it. Each and every guy & gal that owns a Cobra, first run csx or replica, owns it because it makes them excited and they love the feel, the power, and the pure joy of having a Cobra. Each and every one is "REAL", not a figment of their imagination, to say otherwise is not REAL!

[SPF604]

If I had to do it over again, I'd still choose SPF. I guess it's a case of brand loyalty at this point. But, I am biased by the excellent dealer support, fit and finish. A well built Unique is certainly on par with any of the other cars on the list, in my opinion. Unique would be my second choice.

[REAL 1]

Chappy: Whoa! You're kidding right? Then why does ERA make there cars look like the Shelby Cobra and not the famous Edsel???. Come on lets be REAL here.

Why don't they just put another body on it of lets say a Model T or some other car. Lets be fair. They are cloning the look of a Shelby Cobra. Thats the intent and the goal and it has always been their intent and goal. Thats why you wanted one because of its aesthetic accuracy to the Shelby Cobra. Would you have bought an ERA if they were made to look like the German Kubble Wagon? No, I don't think so. I have no problem with it, and they do it better than all the rest IMHO, but thats what they are doing.

Yes, it is all in the licensing and the rights. There is no magic in the object itself. Just as it was in the 60's. No one else in the 60's could make Shelby Cobras either regardless of who the fabricators were. Any man made object can be remade by others but its the right to make and sell it legally that counts.

Thorconstr: I don't think you get it. Then CSX 3003 is a replica of CSX 3002.

[mrmustang]

Evan,

Same old same old.


Bill S.

[casaleenie]

Well , I guess I can stop reading this thread... nothing here that hasn't been said FIFTY farkin' times already... Evan's posted his now legendary #37,#53 and the ever popular #69.

Luv ya!

I'm outta here!!!

[Chaplin]

Evan, no doubt about it, ERA is cloning the shape of the original Cobra; that is the nature of the replica business itself- make a product that looks like something else, but it isn't. Because ERA just happens to make a product that looks very much like an original, doesn't mean they're trying to pass it off as a Shelby Cobra, however. They just happen to be good at what they do.

Your point all along is what separates the CSX from other replicas (and I believe you have agreed that the CSX is a replica) is that it is the only replica with right to be called a Shelby Cobra, after all, w/o the CSX designation it would just be another replica, like ERA or SPF or FFR or . . .

By your rationale every replica manufacturer must trying to pass off their cars as Shelby Cobras. Or is ERA the only one trying to pretend to be a Cobra because ERA has got the body shape right? What about other replicas that don't capture the shape of the original as well as ERA or cars with strectched foot boxes or longer wheel bases? Are they just "sort of" pretending to be Shelby Cobras because they don't capture the original shape exactly? What if they decided to change their bodies to exactly mirror the shape of the original and made them more like ERA's? Would they then be "more guilty" of trying to be Shelby Cobras?


As you said, it is the right to sell it legally that counts. ERA (and every other replica manufacturer) does not have the right to call its products Cobras and has not done so. It is unfair to suggest that they hold themselves out as a Shelby Cobra- an excellent visual replica of a Shelby Cobras yes- but a Shelby Cobra, no.

And to answer your question, ERA's not making replica Edsels b/c they're butt ugly (sorry to the Edsel fans out there) and there's no market for them. And ERA is not making or pretending to make Shelby Cobras either.

Let me know if you are still confused

[REAL 1]

Al: Thats a great idea! I should just number all of the factual arguments so they can just be referred to by number. Saves time and space.

[Chaplin]

Casa,
Come back. It's just getting good!

[clayfoushee]

Evan,

.....might as well give it up....you're never going to convince everyone to agree with you on a topic that's been controversial for at least 2 decades. People are going to think what they want to think and defend their own choices, why else would we have made them? If we didn't do that, we'd all be crazy!

The market will decide for itself, no matter what you or CS do or say. That's the way economies work....it's all about supply and demand.

Just enjoy the fact that you have a real1, and let everyone else think what they want to think. Everything else will take care of itself.

[REAL 1]

Chappy: I'm not confused in the least.

No, ERA is not pretending to sell Shelby Cobras or passing off their cars as Shelby Cobras but they are selling cars that imitate exactly Shelby Cobras in appearance by design and intent and they clearly intend for it to be an exact replication aesthetically of a Shelby Cobra as possible. There is a difference between passing a car off as something its not and selling something as a replica which is intended to be exactly like the car its replicating. You know exactly what I'm saying.

All other manufacturers whether making extended chasis or 90 inch wheelbase cars are replicating and intending to replicate as best they can the Shelby Cobra utilizing their chosen platform. Many in fact tout how exact their body shapes are to the original or that they use "r4" round tube" frames like the original. The extended wheel base cars were in fact intended and sold to guys who want that Cobra look with more room. There intent was to without any doubt to capture as closely as possible the aesthetic look of the Shelby Cobra. Is there really any doubt in your mind as to this. I thought the argument was how the "replica industry saved the Cobra and kept it in the public eye". Are you saying this was accidental? You can't have it both ways.

While there is a subtle difference it is an important difference. The CSX is a Cobra that replicates exactly, as it must by default, its original ancestor and therefore in one sense of the word is a replica of the original series. The difference is is that it is a Cobra not a replica of one while the others are replicas of a Cobra but are not Cobras.

While the replica manufacturers are not selling cars they are trying to "pass off" as Shelby Cobras what they are selling is a car that creates the illusion it is a Shelby Cobra when it is not. Theres a difference.

Hope this clarifies things.

[Chaplin]

I love arguing semantics. . .
I agree with every thing you said except for a few words in the second to last paragraph.

I don't know that I'd say they sell a car that creates the "illusion that it is a Shelby Cobra when its not", but I would agree that they sell a car that "looks like a Shelby Cobra acknowledging that it's not."

See, I knew you'd get it eventually.

[ERA649]

I don't know which car is better but, I do know my ERA 427 is better then a FFR.

Evan,
When the weather breaks we can switch cars for a short drive and then I can report back which car is best.