Just a note on registration, without an MSO you cannot use the designated VIN's for the MK V, since you cannot use the designated VIN, the cars are worth that much less in a collectors eyes unless he is planning to hang them on his wall as modern art.


Bill S.

There is a related thread at:

http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/...p?TOPIC_ID=216

Interesting to read Trevor Legate's views on the MkV.

AC have responded to comments regarding the MkV on the AC Owners Club Forum (http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/...p?TOPIC_ID=216) as follows:

To all members of the AC Owners Club,

I love this Brand and on occasions I look at some of the forums set up supposedly to support it. Up until now I have refrained from lowering myself to the level of some of the contributors to respond to some of the ridiculus comments. But now having seen my name being quoted in some of the comments I believe I need to put the record straight. I sincerely hope this is the only time I will ever feel compelled to respond as to be honest I have a lot of better things to do.
.................................................. ...

This statement is prepared by John Owen in response to the many comments being posted on the AC Owners Club chat Forum.

AC Cars is currently based in Malta. We brought 10 - 40' containers of parts, machines, Jigs and equipment over from the UK. We took over an empty factory without any services, we have installed all the equipment, employed 15 local staff with various skills, trained them, made new moulds, jigs and tooling, established a new network of suppliers both through imports and local sources.

Believe me it has not been easy for many reasons. A number of cars have been produced, the early cars being prototypes which were used in the training the staff and prove out of the new moulds and processes.

We are now in a position to and have proved we are capable of producing cars of the quality expected by AC owners.

The AC MKV is a new model, it is not referred to as a 'Cobra' although obviously has many common features. The car has to comply with current regulations which has necessitated a number of design changes to the build spec. Many of the MKIV and CRS donor components are now obsolete and have therefore had to be replaced with modern equivalents. We have upgraded the car mechanically with the selection of new high performance brakes and the addition of power steering, initially on the RHD variant. All of this takes time and a lot of effort.

I read some of the comments on the Club forum and it depresses me. Not one person who make the comments has visited the factory, no one has contacted me at the factory to ask questions about the cars, the factory or even about the beautiful island of Malta. I object to my name being used (sometines spelt incorrectly!) in speculation as to my personal feelings working with AC.

All I read in the Forum is speculation about what is supposedly happening in Malta, which is mostly totally unfounded.

2007 will see more cars being produced to a quality level I am personally proud of. This the beginning of a new era for AC,it has taken time to get going and if anyone doubts our commitment they should have a go at producing a complete car from raw materials.

I have been in Malta for just over 2 years, I love the place and I have enjoyed the challenge, albeit being very hard work. I appreciate that the only way we will shut up many of the critics is to produce cars, This is what we will be doing this year, we have orders and will supply.

I welcome anyone who comes to Malta to contact me to arrange a visit the factory to see for yourself what we are doing.

If someone has a question about AC past or present, technical or otherwise ask me and I will do my best to give them an answer as I have all the historic records here, they haven't been scrapped!!

We are setting up a parts supply facility for many of the cars past and present and will help where possible to supply the parts from stock or advise where best to obtain them.

I hope this may put a few of you straight on what is happening at AC and may be stop some of the ridiculous comments being made and maybe I might read some support for the company that without it there wouldn't be a club!

Maybe next time I visit the Forum I will be pleasantly pleased at the comments and not be depressed!!

Statement by:
John Owen (Maltese sun)
Chief Engineer
AC Cars
owenjfo@gmail.com
+356 79289427

The way I see it, John Owen is in the same boat that Amy B was in when she took over Shelby. He's got years of bad legacy to overcome, and now has to prove the company all over again. Benefit of the doubt is long gone.

Just like the rest of AC's recent "promotion", it's all talk until people start taking delivery of cars, and they are of high quality. Hearing professional media publications pitching AC's "great new cars" for years, and then seeing the two prototypes listed on ebay many times and NOT selling, doesn't do much for AC's reputation.

Just my 2 cents.

Sal is right!

There seams to be more activity here on Club Cobra than their e-bay sale? I too am in manufacturing and it is difficult to overcome the past at times. However, if I were to bring a high end car to market I would not start on ebay, kind of tacky if you ask me. If the first cars are high quality get them in the hands of people that can express their quality and performance character to the masses. Can they hold their own against CSX, KMS, ERA, CCX, Hi-Tech, or SPF? If they can't they will fail especially when priced above an aluminum car. Are they really a stand alone car? To me it is all Cobra with a sort of the odd rear end tailight set up and interior lines. Call it what it is and it is not even close to an MKIV in my eyes. I think the MKIV was a GREAT car and being aluminum still classic! This MKV is another replica coming to market with a name that has long been put to rest.

Would I buy AKL-MKIV? YES! Very high end car would love to own.
Would I buy a CSX, KMS, SPF, ERA, CCX, Hi-Tech, or UM? YES!

Would I buy this MKV? Depends upon the performance and quality of the car and that needs to be determined either first hand or by someone that is well known and respected in Cobra community. Buy MKV at the price stated earlier? Only if I lost my mind.

Jeff

With the Mark V having to meet modern day specs (safty, smog, etc) I would not count on performance as being their strong point.

Evolution of the Mark
 

Gentlemen, This is starting to sound like a SAAC forum at best, this arguement will never end.. The MKV is an evolution of the SuperBlower (supercharged MKIV with a better dash layout at that) of the MKIV that was an evolution of the MKIII that was an evoltion of the MKII. These two cars on EBAY were as handsome inside and from the pictures,the engine bays were correct, updated from MKIV & SB were brakes, etc The dash may be controversial, but having driven the SB with that configuration, it is just as easy to read as a MKIV that I currently own or the MKIII that I used to own. If your quibble is the body material ..quibble on, if you didn't like the inset rear backup lamps..quibble on. I can assure you the body fits are as comparible to any other "continuation, recreation, or factory manufactured roller in glass on the market and perhaps better than some. Attempting to tell the trueness of porportion from pictures or even by eye in person is difficult at best, unless you have the article you are comparing it to with you...memory plays tricks. If your quibble is where is it made or the name of the manufacturer..then we all have problems as the team in Malta owns/has the rights to names designs etc. While there may have been some "printing" under the the paint..so what..I seen brand new 250 K yachts with that issue...it is as repairable as some of the glass fibre work on replica's I've seen. Mr Owen and the group in Malta may be having some teething problems with the PROTOTYPES (as advertised on EBay), but some that have seen the production cars over the pond suggest they are good examples of the Mark. Let let it go and return to B-J and the insanity that goes on there.

Let it go? Not likely with all the press releases, promises and other misleading events related to AC the past couple of years (or longer).

If they produce a fine product and secure some market, good for them. Until then, their feet are justifiably held to the fire.

Jeez...why do so many people in this industry ignore and underestimate the value of the internet?

All one has to do...is communicate.

The people in the AC Club that John has such disdain for....are the potential customers for his spare parts business....duhhh!

Why does he think there is so much speculation?

No one from AC answers questions.

...and so it goes. :p

According to the email above, John Owen has invited people to contact him:

John Owen, Chief Engineer, AC Cars
owenjfo@gmail.com
+356 79289427

AC is dead unfortunately, I have seen what comes out of Malta! JUNK! square tubing, everything plastic! Finished, end of story. ERA or Superformance much better cars if one wants fiberglass. If you want the real thing at an affordable price, get a Kirkham! the Rolls, what should have been done with AC. Maybe when AC goes belly up for the millionth time, Kirkham can buy the name and resurrect the company, and do it right this time. Still, Brian Angliss deserves a lot of credit, he could have made it. Let's hope good things happen in the future!

Didn't you hear about Ferrari buying AC?

Heres the link...

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...236#post728236

No, AC is very much alive.

http://www.acautomotive.info/PDF/Grip%20AC-1.pdf

The whole thing is silly, I have seen photos of the mark V, just a cheap copy of the Cobra, the MKIV was a try at least, within the constraints of the modern DOT and EPA laws. The MKV is just a cheap copy built out of resine fibers, the Chassis crossmembers are made out of small square tubing! so are most of the other tubes. It is totaly different from the original or the MKIV it is just like a kit car and probably not one of the best. I would buy a fiberglass Kirkham or a Superformance before I go near one of those. I know there are a few people who are trying to hang on to AC for whatever reason but don't be fooled people, AC is dead. Rest in peace.

Please look at the thread of the AC website forum:

http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/...16&whichpage=1

About Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200090138940

Please check out the chassis photos and the front suspension, "ain't looking to Cobra like, huh" I like the reverse lights! so one can go as fast in reverse as forward, very innovative.

For $20K maybe! It is self explanatory, I rest my case!

New AC Mk V brochure on AC Cars Website:

http://www.acautomotive.info/PDF/ACMKVbrochure.pdf

http://jelloslug.com/shoforum/throwup.gif

London & John Owen
 

I have had the opportunity to see 2 of the New Malta cars in person. In my humble opinion, they are pathetic and resemble nothing to anything in AC's heritage atall.

As for visiting the factory, I am pleased to hear things have changed from the operation in England where I was forbid entrance before the demise.

Not that you'll see me in Malta but, it's nice to know I can visit.

Dave, What?, Did your horse die and you are thinking about buying a new AC MkV?;)

In AC defence
 

In AC's defense .. I own a 1988 Autocraft MKIV and all I can say is its a far superior car to 99% of the replica's I have seen produced and even then a few of the so called ones that were sactioned by SHELBY fit into that 99% ... probably the only one better is the KIRKHAM. Most are out of proportion and some with solid rear axles.

As I said one before the PANTERA factory in MODENA is up for sale. Mane fine automobiles produced in that neighborhood.. LOL