New "ugly" Ford Shelby Cobra

[BANDIT 1]

It's "official":

The cover of AUTOMOBILE magazine has the "Ford Shelby Cobra" concept car at the top (very small I might add...) and it says "

FORD'S SHELBY COBRA CONCEPT SAYS:
"WERE OFFICIALLY OUT OF NEW IDEA'S!"

On page 74 were the article starts it says:

SHED THIS SKIN!
UNDER ITS UGLY EXTERIOR, THE FORD SHELBY COBRA HAS THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT SPORTS CAR.

This quote says it all:

"To our eyes, the Shelby Cobra is a large, brutal cartoon of a car, and it misses the essence of the roadster that came out of Shelby's shop forty years ago, which was a sensuous, rebenesque nude with a big motor. The shelby concept doesn't revive the past, it tortures it. Only when this snake sheds its skin and reveals the gorgeous aluminum work beneath does it capture the spirt of the original."

The article pretty much says what we have said on this forum...

Chassis/engine..... A+
Body.......................D-

Oh, by the way....the article also had this little statement added to it:

"....but you can see elements of the original Cobra ( itself a bulked-up version of the AC Ace, a British interpretation of the barchetta-style bodywork for the Ferrari 166MM)."

[SPEEDEAMON]

I for one disagree. It is refreshing to finally see something newer than the same old shape and various interpretations. This new design needs tweeking like making the grill opening round at the bottom corners and you've got a winner.

Shin

[anchor2]

I think you need to look at what it is. It’s a modern high performance sports car that they happened to name Cobra. The name Cobra was picked for a reason…the name sells.

I was a bit sad to see it come out but then again it’s a heck of a car from what I have read. The original will never be replaced in the eyes of a “real: car person.

[valpodoc]

To my eye daisy represents the difference between old and new...namely technology. The new cobra appears to be a technological wonder packed with the "goodies" to compete with the Z06 et al. Problem is these cars are designed on CAD. The computer saves time and money. Enables the designer to try on many styles and angles witout the investment of time and money. Unlike the originals whole teems work together forming the final product etc etc etc....

The originals were designed by a handful of guys with high school educations and a love for cars. The original looks better. The new cobra looks sterile.

Roland

[StephenC]

Just a thought.............

If this car had been named the Avenger GXT, or the GT550, or even Daisey (anything but "Cobra"), would you like it any better?

I think a large part of why so many people don't like it is that by naming it a "Shelby Cobra", it automatically gets compared to the legendary cars of the 60's. It's bound to lose in such a comparision, especially among those of us who populate this forum.

I saw the car in person at the NAIAS in Detroit. It looked pretty good until you made the inevitable comparison to the cars we love SO much. Great car? Sure is! Cobra to steal our hearts? Highly doubtful, probably not.

When compared to other 2004 prototypes, however, it holds its own fairly well. Maybe, we need a poll to see if the problem is not so much the actual car, but its use of the name/heritage.

If you love modern, hi-tech cars, how could you not appreciate this one? Maybe the problem really IS the name, "Cobra".

[Dior55]

Originally posted by StephenC


Just a thought.............

If this car had been named the Avenger GXT, or the GT550, or even Daisey (anything but "Cobra"), would you like it any better?

Who said we like it? Other than the great sounding aluminum V-10 under the hood, I think the car is stinky looking. Sort of a TT looking POS. In fact, I wish they did name it an "Avenger" or MorpheusMachine", anything but Cobra. When I watched the "Rides" show where they propped up ol' CS for a few minutes (I got a kick out of seeing him look at the computer screen of the CAD program, like he was really giving ANY input to these talking faces!) I knew they were just trying to market some new $hitbox with a proven winner's name. PS, wouldn't be the first time Shelby has been accused of that -- can u say MOPAR???

I didn't buy Jorache jeans in the 70's, and I won't buy them now even if they are in "style". This new car is definitely for the country club set wanting to say, with a stuffy ego-centric voice, that they have an ORIGINAL Cobra (something we've all gotten fairly bored of!) They can stick it right where Janet's right breast belongs!

[StephenC]

Mister 55............

When I used the phrase, "like it any more", it was inferred that most didn't like it very much at all.

I didn't mean to get anyone all wound up here, it was just a simple question about a topic that, in the larger scheme of things, really isn't very important. Just something to do on a cold winter's day in Michigan.

Good thing we weren't discussing world peace or weapons of mass destruction.

Why all the hostility? It was meant to be a friendly question.

Sorry.............

I'm outta' this thread, the fun's gone.

[Jim Downard]

I knew I wouldn't have to start this thread, but I'm glad someone did. O.K., I do like the rear of the car a little, but the front is GAWD AWFUL. Spelled about as nicely as it looks. Maybe Ford should drop this idea all together and find something else to build. I know. How about a Ford Expedition with a Turbocharged 4.0 liter diesel that makes about 175 hp and 400 lb ft of torque. Should get in the mid 20's mpg wise, much better than my 98 with the 5.4 triton getting 13 mpg.

Jim Downard

[TerrysSPF]

Stephen: I understood what you were getting at and I agree with you. I think it's all in the NAME. You (we) automatically associate it with the Cobra's of the 60's and it just doesn't match up. Maybe someone should e-mail the photo's that were done here a few weeks ago, that "changed" the looks of the car. I can't remember the guys name, but he did a hell of a job making the car look better!
The Engine in the car says "Cobra".......but the body says retro "yuck!"

[BANDIT 1]

The car is ugly regardless if it is called a Cobra or not. I do think that as BUZZ has shown us, the body can be fixed with some minor "tweeks" here and there. What is sad is the fact that they said they tried to "modernize" the GT and it didn't work, so they left it looking very close to the original GT40. They should of done the same with the Cobra and then I think no car out there could touch it...

[Nedsel]

To Mr 55:

When you suggest an original Cobra is something "we've all gotten sort of bored of," I don't know how many of us you actually speak for. You damn well don't speak for me. I have loved these cars since I first got a ride in one in '64. That was 40 years ago. Still love them/ can't imagine the day when I won't. It's probably pointless to remind you that without the "original" Cobras, there wouldn't be anything for today's builders to copy. So - if you're bored with the originals, that's fine. Just don't tell me all of us are.

[SPEEDEAMON]

I believe that most of you who don't like this car actually don't like the fact that the proposed price is "up there" with other exotica. Had the price been around $65K, you would all line up to buy one. What else would you buy at this price? A Viper?, A Corvette? A Porsche? A NSX? I don't think so. I would buy it too but I do't even have the extra $65K to spend right now. I need the money to maintain the cars already in my garage.

Shin

[rdorman]

Thank you Automobile magazine, I could not have said it better myself. Go the route of the 40 (closer to original) on that chassis and drive train and call me in the morning!

Rick

[flipper35]

I wouldn't buy it regardless of price or name. I think all the cars mentioned above are better looking and the performance is better than average. The GT is too clase to the original. They should have used more styling from the GT-90. The new Cobra is a tub with wheels and a chunky nose.