Did the Cobra exist before Carroll Shelby visited AC?

[Russ Dickey]

Bandit:
The whole point of this thread was whether the Cobra existed before Shelby, which I said no and attempted to defend, and you have attempted to dispute. Most of which is in your most recent post has nothing to do with the topic.

I'm glad you have done some great things for charity, and I commend you for it. My point was that by always bantering on that "Shelby is only about money", you had better not live in a glass house before casting that stone. I am sure that at one time or another, you may have had a business deal go bad, or made a bad decision in your business. But through it all, you had to look out for #1: yourself, your name, and your organization; while at the same time remaining as profitable as possible. How is Carroll Shelby different???

In addition, you didn't answer my last question: What would YOU do if you developed some kick-butt piece of electronics equipment, then years later someone copied it almost exactly? Wouldn't you feel obligated to a piece of the action???

Even though the Cobra was sold through Ford dealerships, it was a product of Shelby American, not Ford, much like the current relationship with Saleen. Steve gets his own royalties and license agreements, and so should Shelby with respect to any car that replicates in shape, form, or fashion, a Shelby Cobra ('cuz it didn't exist before him).

Russ