Eric -
I appreciate your response, but still unclear about your locale choice.

Durt

Eric,

Are your neighbors mad (to use your words)? It seems you have gone from a mutually beneficial relationship to a competitive one...

Joe

Durt-what the hell difference does it make that someone else's business decision is unclear to you? Do you own stock or have some other financial in Superformance? Yes, I have read a number of your posts, and in my humble opinion, the question of clarity in your case is at best murky, and my opinion of how many oars you may have in the water, I shall keep to myself. Did you really believe that ol Shel was going to swoop down and take your car?

Wayne Turpin

Now let's play nicey nicey...:p

BTW Wayne, how the heck are ya?

ToyCollector-
thanks for your response.
My beef has never been with SAI's right to compete. But, in a nutshell, I'm disappointed at all the late-to-dinner revisionist outrage and litigation directed at the manufacturers whose only sin is profitting in an industry that Mr. Shelby had no interest in until the cash register rang loudly enough.
As any smart businessman / race car builder would have done, once the Cobra became obsolete, all attention to it vanished, and unfortunately for Shelby, he made no provision for it's resurrection 30 years later. I even read that he considered dumping the Daytona coupes into the English Channel rather than pay to ship used up race cars back to the states.
For 25 years, Shelby allowed the replicar industry to operate freely - Arntz, in particular, sold kits in the early '70's.
It wasn't until Factory Five and Superformance started successfully manufacturing replicas that terms like "horse thieves" and other colorful Texas coloquialisms began creeping into the landscape. It's difficult to believe that all this sturm and drang was simply a result of outrage regarding trade dress piracy.
If SAI wants to plunge into the replica business, I think it's wonderful. But don't peddle your cars as 'originals,' don't hand out CSX numbers like Halloween candy, don't sue, intimidate and diss the competition that opened the door for you and don't portray the people who stayed in love with your car long after you lost interest as villains.
Carroll Shelby has within his grasp something more valuable than Bill Gates' empire. He can still go out a hero. But the longer he tries to portray himself a victim, that window gets smaller every day.

Sorry Wayne -
I'll try to use smaller words and simpler notions.

Jamo- I am doing great. Pretty much back in the saddle at work with several med-mal cases coming up for trial in the next few months. Hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday Season.

Durt- thanks and as a former resident of the L.A. area, I am sure we suffer from the same afflictions, it must be something in the air and surely not the grass.

Wayne Turpin

I think that Ron Rosen et al at Dynamic is too smart and shrewd to let this happen. Keyword LET. I have a suspicion that this may have been well orchestrated. I find it almost inconceivable that they would allow their top engine builder to get away from them!
There is definitely more to this we know at this point




Steve

Steven Cantor...................BINGO. I would say that you're "getting warmer".

Toy Collector: I understand your point about "ol Cal" and the "family tree". You're absolutly right. I don't know if I would go as far as to say that there would be "no replica biz" and no SPF. They would only be producing "other cars" (which a lot of the companies do, including SPF). But I see it a little differently, as well. IMO, there would be no business for Shelby today if it weren't for the replica mfgrs. keeping his car ALIVE. Without them, if someone would have mentioned the name "COBRA" today, people would say...."you mean MUSTANG"?
Yes, CS liked to "compete".......back in the '60's. I wouldn't call what he's doing today "competing". In fact, if he really wanted to "compete" with the replica mfgrs., why go to court and try and put your "competitor" out of business? There would be no one to compete with........which is REALLY what he wanted (no competition = more $$$ for 'Ol Cal, and HE can set the "market price").

Durt: You're right on the money, my friend. I think your story about being at the SAAC convention and CS walking by and stating that "that's one of them I'm going to put out of business" pretty much tells the tale of what CS is all about today. IMHO, he's turned into a vindictive, greedy, old man, who is on a mission to DESTROY, not COMPETE. The irony is, he should only be blaming HIMSELF for not coming up with what the Replica mfgrs. did years ago: A replica of a Cobra that could be put into the hands of the MANY....not the FEW. In other words....one that was well built, fast, fun to drive, and AFFORDABLE.

Terry,

I find it interesting that you do not have the same blood and desire that I have. I am in a very competitive business (overhead cranes), every time I walk into a facility that has the other brand, I desire to put them out of business with all of my hart. Will that happen maybe not, but that is a mind set for me. I do not want to compete with them, I want all of their business. We are already at a disadvantage (US Crane Manufacturers) since most of the competition comes from Europe, these guys sell their products to the American subsidiaries showing zero profit in the US to avoid paying taxes here. Sounds familiar!

Allan

LAST YEAR MY FRIEND RICH MASON AND I WERE IN RENO PICKING UP ANOTHER FRIENDS BOSS 429. RICH,WHO OWNS CSX3304. CSX2427 (DRAGONSNAKE), AND CSX2196 (FLIPTOP) AND I DECIDED TO STOP BY THE SUPERPERFORMANCE SHOP AND THE DEALERSHIP NEXT DOOR HANDLING THE 4000 SERIES. IT WAS INTERESTING GETTINT THE "PITCH" ON THE SHELBY CAR. HOW EACH WAS FAR BETTER THAN THE ORGINALS ETC. RICH EVER THE GENTLEMAN, SMILED AND SAID NOTHING. EACH DEALERSHIP, THERE NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER HAD NO PROBLEM DEGRADING EACH OTHERS PRODUCT!!

Durt,

I went back to some of my prior posts from what is almost exactly a year ago to the day and here are some of my sentiments (I was an SPF owner back then:cool: ) I guess my sentiments towards him have changed some, but not much with regards to the lawsuits.

"Soooo, this is what Club Cobra Replica is all about!! [Kidding]

If you come to my garage, you will see I hold Ol' Carroll in high regard and I think he created some of the best automotive wonders ever, especially for their day (so simple and pure). The present day Carroll is unfortunately spending too much time with the lawyers/barristers (barristers--that's for you Wilf) and being taken to the cleaners by them. I'd prefer he perfect his Chili recipe personally--it'd be something he could achieve a higher success rate at.

To build on what Turk says, just imagine how rare a Cobra sighting would be if only the 60s era originals were around? How many thousands (I thought through that number BTW) make money and their livelihood off the "continuation" market?

Come on Shell, you were the one who gave Enzo fits--that would put a smile on my face permanently. And what I love most is how you will sign your autograph on just about any glove box door whether it is off a real Shelby or not. What's your price? Or do we have Shelby signature/autograph replicas as well??????

You were the MAN."

Just a few words,

SAI has been in the process of increasing the size of its independant dealer network for the past 12 months.

To be quite honest Carroll has had nothing to do with the process and is not trying to undermine SPF by placing dealers next door to their dealers.

We have worked off of a map using preveous sales statistics and targeted cities and or areas that we have not had dealers in but have shown car sales activity. From that information we have sent out information to over fifteen different shops. We have also added a dealer in San Diego and San Francisco and are in the process of completing an agreement in Denver.

As far as the CSX4000, we have built and delivered over three hundred and fifty of the vehicles since 1997. It is through the reduction in labor costs and overhead in South Africa as well as increased purchasing quantities that has allowed us to reduce the price of the fiberglass version of that the 427 S/C. The quality will not be different than any other glass car we have built in the past.

R Brent Fenimore

GET THE HECK OUT OF TOWN!!!!!
 

Eric and the boys are a Shelby dealer! Who would of thought.

As for the location. Most of you know that I am not found of what CS business tactics have been of recent. But he is a business man. I see nothing shocking nor unethical about putting a shop right next door to the competition. I think any business man would make a move if it fealt that it gave him a competitive advantage. Performance Engineering moving over to Shelby is a double strike for Superformance in that area.

Just my opinion.

Rick

I think Eric has made it clear that he has decided to go into the Cobra buisness. I would probably guess since Dynamic has a huge part of the country as their "Superformance market", Eric probably chose to go with someone else (AKA, Shelby). He nor Shelby Inc. "moved next to a Superformance dealership", Eric has had his buisness located there for years. I would probably guess that Eric contacted Shelby, not the other way around.

Brent F: Quote....."We have worked off a map using previous sales statistics and targeted cities and or areas that we have not had dealers in but have shown car sales activity".

I can see why why you would want shops in San Diego, San Francisco, and Denver.................but ROSS Ohio??? You've had a lot of "car sales activity" in Ross, have you? I believe there are more COWS in Ross than there are PEOPLE! If you were looking for something in the Mid West, why not Chicago? We are a little more "in line" population wise, with the other cities you mentioned.
Let's see.........why don't we put a shop in.......San Francisco.... San Diego.........oh, and maybe one in Denver, ....But we just HAVE to get one out there in ROSS OHIO. -Hey, That's a happening town! I think it's really going to be the next big up-and-coming city!! ......If we can only get rid of the cows....

No, you're right. Putting a shop there had NOTHING to do with sharing a driveway with an SPF dealer. Nothing at all.:rolleyes:

Good Luck! .....and I DO mean that sincerely to Eric. He's a great mechanic and I hope things go well for him. I don't know how this is going to play out.......but we'll see, and hopefully EVERYONE does well in the end.:)

I was under the assumption that Eric wanted to go into the Cobra buisness himself. There is no mystery that ALL manufacturer's of Cobra's are looking to branch out. If Eric says he wanted to start his own Cobra buisness then that is good enough for me. Do you all really think that Shelby employee's actually contacted Performance Engineering (whom they all know does alot of Dynamic's engine installs...) and asked him to become a Shelby dealer?

If I was SAI, I would build a better Cobra, set my price point at that of my target competition, and put my store directly across the street from the competition. Ala, Home Depot and Lowes. My aim would be to get the highest possible return for my shareholders, and to put everyone else out of business.
How can you fail when you are the only one who can make real Cobras? Seems like easy picken's to me. :confused:

Gentleman...

In the past Shelby American has always chosen a dealer by general locale, and sales activity in that given area. The Dealer has always been his own man, and has determined where he will place his actual location. A given Dealer will serve a much larger location then just the town he places his actual dealership, so picking Ross, Ohio has really nothing do with who is next door. It most likely has to do with other factors, such as assessibility and affordability of the location. Have any of you visited Ross, Ohio lately?? For my money, I do not believe that Shelby had anything to do with the choice of location by the Dealer.

Guy Childers....

.....Please guys.......save your breath.

Bandit: I'm just going by what I've heard, and also what Brent wrote in his earlier post: "SAI is in the process of increasing it's size......." and...."WE (meaning SAI) have SENT OUT INFORMATION to over 15 different shops....."
So, who contacted who first? Who knows for sure. Hell, who cares? ....But just think what the SAI, CSX boys would be saying if it were the OTHER way around! Let's say SPF started building dealerships right next door to Shelby dealers......especially before this "new" low priced SA car came out. I would be willing to bet that they could have taken quite a bit of business away from Shelby buyers heading into the SAI showroom floor.........just due to price ALONE. Just think if you were driving to Vegas looking for the Shelby plant and you came across an SPF dealership IN THE SAME PARKING LOT ........ nice, well built cars, excellent paint quality, fully independent suspension, Smith gauges, Wilwood brakes, Bilstein coil over shocks, Halibrand style wheels, SS fuel tank, leather seats, Moto-Lita steering wheel, soft top, side curtains and Tonneau cover INCLUDED in the price, etc.....etc..... GREAT performing cars that could easliy be set up to out perform the CSX cars that were "right next door"...........for about HALF the price.
-The CSX guys would be having a COW.....and DON'T try to tell me they WOULDN'T be!

Deacon: I HAVE been to Ross Ohio lately (have YOU?). I know EXACTLY where both dealerships are (do YOU?). You say that "you don't believe that Shelby had anything to do with the choice of location of the dealer....." Well, you're right.....they didn't have anything to do with the "choice of location" of the dealer --- because the "dealer" already HAD the location prior to Shelby's involvement. Are you trying to imply that Shelby didn't know EXACTLY where the "dealer" was located???? -Ha!
Please.........pull my OTHER leg.........it plays Jingle Bells.

If you don't think the guys at Shelby knew what was going on, or aren't getting a kick out of this, you're only fooling yourself. Now, weather they start "laughing all the way to the bank"........will be another story.

Merry Christmas.