Real vs. Replica, Classic Motorsports Magazine Sept issue

[Dangerous Doug]

The September issue of "Classic Motorsports Magazine" has two Cobras on the cover, one is an original and the other is a Superformance. I'm about halfway through the article and it's well-written and has a realistic point-of-view. They also have a section on various replicas of GT-40's, Corvette Grand Sports, Lotus', and well, more Cobras. Featured are ERA, Kirkham, Backdraft, FFR and so on.

Whatever happened to the Lister-Corvette replica by Beck?

This is a pretty cool issue of what I've found to be my favorite automotive magazine. Always lots of vintage racing stuff, and the editors and staff are all car guys.

As a Cobraphile, I tend to pick up every car magazine with Cobra stuff in it. If you're like me, this is one you'll want to pick up.

DD

BTW: Anyone here own the SPF or the CSX featured in the article?

[Got the Bug]

Doug,

Is the magazine generally available at book stores (i.e. Bookshop Santa Cruz or Borders)?

[RodKnock]

I subscribe to the magazine Doug, so when I finish with it, I'm happy to send it to you. Specialty bookstores Borders or a cigar shop with a big magazine rack should have it.

They compare a real 427 Cobra against a SPF with a 427W. I think an aluminum CSX4000 with an FE might have made a better comparison, but what do I know.

[Dangerous Doug]

I see Classic Motorsports magazines at the Los Gatos Borders all the time. I'd imagine the SC Borders would have it as well.

Also, note that the CSX has a 428 with estimated HP around 340. I'd imagine that a SPF with a stroked 351W would pump out more HP than that.

www.classicmotorsports.net is the web site for the magazine. Worth subscribing.

DD

[Got the Bug]

Thanks Rodney! If I happen to see it, I'll pick up a copy. Is the magazine worth a subscription?

[RodKnock]

They also have a sister publication called Grassroots Motorpsorts, which is geared to the subscriber who takes they're newer (mostly) BMW, Evo, Corvette, Subaru, Lotus, etc. to the track.

Classic Motorsports features old classic British and other European as well as American cars. Very eclectic and the articles are somewhat brief and superficial in my opinion. Lots of ads too. They're doing a multi part/issue spread on restoring a Sunbeam Tiger, right now, which is nice. I subscribe to it, so I suppose it's worth the price of a subsciption.

[CobraEd]

I thought that by some peoples interpretation, a Superformance is a "Real" Cobra. Both are "Shelby Endorsed" like the continuation cars.

They shoulda compared a Backdraft or Classic Roadsters to a real one.


.

[Traveller]

Does the artice make any references to "perky butts"?

[Dangerous Doug]

You mean like the one in my photo gallery, or the FFR type?

DD

[Traveller]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

You mean like the one in my photo gallery, or the FFR type?

DD

Well Doug, in order for me to answer that question, I'll need to take another (5th) look at your gallery again...............

[1985 CCX]

CSX3288 is a fantastic Cobra and also very original. Hands down 3288 is an excellant example of what a Cobra is all about. A vintage car that is true to its lineage. Raw, real, and rare....

[Baxter@gretschp]

Thanks for kind words, guys.

If anyone's unfamiliar with the magazine and would like to try it out, just go to http://classicmotorsports.net/try/

If you do it within the next couple of weeks, you should get the Classic Vs. Replica issue.

You can also get a copy of GRM if you'd like to try it out:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/try/

[REAL 1]

Nah. I not going to slam anyone for suggesting the Continuation is a replica and should've been in the comparison of a real vs. replica. They're either just misinformed/ignorant as to the Continuation series or just being a jerk by again putting the car down most likely due to sour grapes. Anyway for the misinformed, to educate themselves they should visit www.saac.com which clearly explains SAAC's official postion and view of the Continuation series. Last I read this site is fully behind SAAC and supporting it.

Also as Ernie pointed out Shelby's endorsement doesn't make the Superformance a "Cobra". CobraEd do some more reading on what an endorsement is or study what Ernie said.

Very simply the comparison by Classic Motorsports between the Superformance and an original Cobra was an interesting comparison. One is a Cobra the other, very simply is not and merely a look a like that is not but merely referred to as one in a generic sense. The two cars differ in drastically in composition, specification and design.

A comparison between the Continuation series Cobra and a vintage Cobra would not yield much difference except if the engines were different or spring rates were different. They are identical in specification. The Continuation if set up with the same spring rates and engine output should be identical in performance to the vintage. Not much to read about there except one is older and one is newer.

BTW standing behind what your car is in the face of "put downs" doesn't make you a "snob" nor is being proud what it is. For those that believe it makes you a snob then I confess to being a snob and will continue to be. Just a brief response to a wise a$$ remark directed at me on another thread.

[Rickd]

Doug, that is a great shot of the ERA custom rear suspension in your gallery (the perky butts are nice too!!). Rick

[Excaliber]

A celebrity endorsement of a product does'nt make that product any more special or different than what it was before the endorsement.

A celebrity who makes a product and sell's it under his name is substantially different. Paul Newmans salad dressing products are 'real', his endorsement of someone else's salad dressing simply says he is getting paid to say he 'likes it'.

Due to the popularity of the SPF brand name it is a logical choice for a comparison to an original Cobra, based on sales numbers. But I agree, might as well compare a Classic Roadster or an FFR! A more interesting comparison would be a modern Shelby CSX, built closer to original spec with similiar engines, etc.

FFR small block, 'race specs', might just clean up in such a test! Maybe it should compare to an FIA instead. Now THAT might be interesting.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

A celebrity endorsement of a product does'nt make that product any more special or different than what it was before the endorsement.

A celebrity who makes a product and sell's it under his name is substantially different. Paul Newmans salad dressing products are 'real', his endorsement of someone else's salad dressing simply says he is getting paid to say he 'likes it'.

Due to the popularity of the SPF brand name it is a logical choice for a comparison to an original Cobra, based on sales numbers. But I agree, might as well compare a Classic Roadster or an FFR! A more interesting comparison would be a modern Shelby CSX, built closer to original spec with similiar engines, etc.

FFR small block, 'race specs', might just clean up in such a test! Maybe it should compare to an FIA instead. Now THAT might be interesting.

I'll just stick with my CSX 4250 and all Shelby, including the motor. Let the other guys sort their own destiny. Time will tell....

[amy B]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

A celebrity endorsement of a product does'nt make that product any more special or different than what it was before the endorsement.

A celebrity who makes a product and sell's it under his name is substantially different. Paul Newmans salad dressing products are 'real', his endorsement of someone else's salad dressing simply says he is getting paid to say he 'likes it'.

Due to the popularity of the SPF brand name it is a logical choice for a comparison to an original Cobra, based on sales numbers. But I agree, might as well compare a Classic Roadster or an FFR! A more interesting comparison would be a modern Shelby CSX, built closer to original spec with similiar engines, etc.

FFR small block, 'race specs', might just clean up in such a test! Maybe it should compare to an FIA instead. Now THAT might be interesting.

Ernie, was this article based on the Superformance licensed vehicle that has no CSX number or the ones we actually finish in Las vegas that do get a CSX number? I couldn't find the article, but am interested in your "endorsement" quote. I assume the Modern CSX you refer to is the ones we build from scratch. Thanks

AMy

[Dangerous Doug]

Good point on the celebrity endorsement. I might start another thread on "Paul Newman's Salad Dressing: Real or Replica?" Boy, won't that one get inflammatory quickly!

The guy makes some great cookies, too. I tasted some last night. Tasted real to me.

On Classic Motorsports, yeah, they look at eclectic cars, but isn't that part of what this interest is all about? The Brock Datsun Baja 240Z article in the same issue is pretty cool to read. I haven't read the restoration story yet, but I'm getting some interesting history of the car.

Comparing a 335 hp 428-powered original Cobra vs. a 550 hp stroked-351W in an SPF is not a fair comparison. There are other, more gnarly originals out there, but they are a small magazine and probably went with the best connections they had for the comparison. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining read.

DD

[RodKnock]

Hey, I'm just happy Evan hasn't slammed me for suggesting a better comparison would have been an aluminum CSX4000 in an article entitled "Real versus Replica."

The magazine features cars much more eclectic than a 240Z, not that a 240Z is eclectic.

[jolsen42]

The original Car is a street car owned by our own Jim Maxwell who also owns an original 289 slabside. And yes, the magazine is worth the subscription. John O