I see your point Bill, AC was a manufacturer of cars, had been for many years/decades. How they got the job done might be compared to Honda's being built in Tennesse, or where ever, with parts from Japan and all over the world. Point is, when the car is done, it's a wholly manufactured car called a Honda legal in all aspects of the market where it is sold.
As opposed to the continuation Shelby's, which are in every sense of the word a component vehicle, assembled by the buyer or his agent. It is significant that the buyer assumes the liability for licensing and registration of said vehicle at his own risk because the car was not made by a recognized vehicle 'manufacturer', like Honda, or AC/Shelby was back in the day.
A corporation owns the 'Shelby' BRAND NAME and will continue to make "Shelby's" after Carroll has gone horizontal. Maybe they will continue to be a great product in the future, maybe... Just like Saleen's continue to modify Mustangs, but Mr. Saleen himself is no longer with the company. Saleen's are trading on the BRAND NAME, maybe there a great company still, maybe. Schwinn builds mopeds in China. The Chinese are trading on the BRAND NAME, those mopeds sell for considerably more money than the SAME PRODUCT with a different name. And I mean IDENTICAL product(s) in every sense of the word and in many cases superior to a Schwinn in fit, finish, engine assembly and overall quality. But that BRAND NAME sell's.
Shelby continuation Cobras, for the most part, are a quality product and will likely continue to be for many many years to come. Maybe... Kirkhams are also a quality product, with a respected brand name, but it doesn't carry the weight of a Shelby brand name. That could change, in time, SAI is doing a remarkable job of tarnishing the brand name, will the product follow suit? Suit, hmmm, now there's an interesting term...
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