RedBarchetta, as is in the 1949 Ferrari Barchetta? Without a doubt! And your point is well taken. The '49 Ferrari influenced auto design for decades following it's introduction. It was a water shed event in automotive design. The Austin Healey could be included in that group! MG certainly, Masserati as well. Heck is there ANY a foriegn made 'sports car' from the 50's (and continuing well into the 60's) that you couldn't link to the Barchetta for styling cues? I doubt it. Long hood, short wheel base, curved body lines. Curved body lines being the biggest single factor. Consider the MGTD, clearly NOT influenced by the Ferrari.
The Ferrari was as profound a statement on 'modern' styling as the original Mustang was. which inspired a classic design for many years to come, the 'pony car'!
I always thought it a little strange this idea that "Superformance" makes continuation Cobras, they don't, Hi Tech does. Mere semantics? Not to me anyway, a distinction worthy of note. Superformance is licensed by Shelby for their product, a REPLICA Cobra. Like any other product you might obtain 'licensing' rights for. A guitar, a bowl of chilli, mopeds (yes MOPEDS), etc. etc. There are a HUGE number of things 'licensed' by Shelby, Superformance is only one...
...and now back to AC. At least with Shelby there is a substantial link to the 'man' himself, one man, Carroll Shelby, still with us, still making the dream. It could however be reasonably argued, concerning the validity of todays continuation Cobra, as to wether it should be considered 'real' or 'what ever'. Personally I accept them as 'real' as it gets, but I understand the argument. Ferraris are forever linked to Enzo, even though he has passed on, his heritage is intack and continues, as will continuation Shelby Cobras.
AC is considerably more complex. There is no single 'man' per se, the lineage is far more convoluted than the modern day Cobra. To me it's SO screwed up I'm not sure a 'real' AC exists anymore. All though I understand the argument that it does. At best it's a 'licensed' product!
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