IMHO, the only reason the Old Man settled with SPF is he needed a source for manufacturing his cars since he was so far backordered he was in danger of going bankrupt from cancelled orders. I don't think it had a thing to do with royalties on the SPF coupe, but it may have had something to do with an agreement to share the originals designs/drawings with SPF of the Coupe in order to persuade SPF into building Shelby cars.
Since SPF had the manufacturing facilities and man power in South Africa, he was able to catch up his orders in a fairly timely fashion and probably for far less than other sources were costing him at the time.
Now what do you think would happen if SPF and Ole Shel' came to a disagreement over something like, oh, nonpayment by Shelby Enterprises or something like that? I'm pretty sure it hasn't been the first time....
Since Shelby only has SPF making his glass cars and Kirkham is making his tin cars, it's pretty safe to assume those two won't be in the lawyers glare until at least the bigger boys are taken care of.
If by some miracle FFR loses this suit (not likely), how long do you think before all the other smaller manufacturers fall, the side/cottage suppliers are gone, and everything Cobra is controlled by Shelby Ent. Inc?
Even as a scratch builder, I can't imagine what it might cost to source Shelby controlled parts and I don't really want to know. I'm with the majority that believes we should be supporting FFR in this fight for our own good and that of the kit car industry as a whole.
Maybe FFR could apply for some of that bail out money right behind GM, Ford, and Chrysler?
Bob
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