Rick Kopec's "What's Your Beef?"

[Ron61]

I may be completely wrong on this, but I believe that when the continuation Cobras first came out, California refused to register them and you had to get a SB-100 number if you wanted to register it legally at a later date. Something about a new frame and it wasn't made in the 60s, so they said it was illegal and had to meet the present day emissions and so forth. I don't know if this still is the fact or not as when I heard they wouldn't let them be registered I quit looking for one.

Ron

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I may be completely wrong on this, but I believe that when the continuation Cobras first came out, California refused to register them and you had to get a SB-100 number if you wanted to register it legally at a later date. Something about a new frame and it wasn't made in the 60s, so they said it was illegal and had to meet the present day emissions and so forth. I don't know if this still is the fact or not as when I heard they wouldn't let them be registered I quit looking for one.

Ron

Ron, those were not continuation cars, they were called completion cars. The idea was Shelby build new Cobras using original left over chassis. The cars were to be sold for 500k each, with most of the proceeds going to charity (another story that doesn't need to be discussed here).

Of course it was soon found out that no "left over" chassis existed and that Shel had McCluskey build the cars from scratch. When CA found out, they banned them from ever being registered in Cali.

Now, through whatever brand of Cobra I have had at the time, my view has been the same. If the car was sold by either Shelby or AC, and they call it a Cobra, then it's a real Cobra. Personally, I do not see how anyone can argue that point. How on earth can anyone tell the selling company that what they are selling is not really what they are selling?

Seems pretty simple to me. If Shelby says it's a Cobra, it's a Cobra. If AC says it's a Cobra, it's a Cobra.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Seems pretty simple to me. If Shelby says it's a Cobra, it's a Cobra. If AC says it's a Cobra, it's a Cobra.

Does it follow Sal that if he says an SPF is a Cobra, it's a 'Cobra' (in the sense that it originated from his organization)??

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Does it follow Sal that if he says an SPF is a Cobra, it's a 'Cobra' (in the sense that it originated from his organization)??

Obviously we all know that Shelby granted SPF the right to use the Cobra name. So yes, an SPF can be called a Cobra (even though it doesn't matter as we all call them all Cobras). It's a Superformance Cobra, which is a replica of a real Shelby Cobra, which is a Cobra sold by Shelby.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

It's a Superformance Cobra, which is a replica of a real Shelby Cobra, which is a Cobra sold by Shelby.

...therefore if Carroll says anything's a Cobra, then it is- which also makes it a replica of his real Cobra.

But it's been expressed here that a replica is exact to the original in every way. Something no SPF is.

So if I get this thread (to Jamo's amusement) an ERA (for example) is neither a 'Cobra' nor 'replica' for the following reasons:
A. He didn't allow them to say it is.
B. It's not a 'replica', exacting in duplication to the original (rectangular tube chassis for example).

So I conclude an ERA is-an 'ERA', an identity unto it's own. When asked, I always refer to my car as an ERA -not a replica or Cobra. It's a hand built sports car that closely resembles Shelby's Cobras.

It's my opinion that Shelby seriously dilutes the pedigree of his cars, so fervently championed here by their owners, by the licenses he grants to carry the name.

The tin can K-car owners and crap ERA owners (among many others) are not burdened by a fierce need to demonstrate superiority and propagate resale value by belonging to the franchise.

Flame away.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

...therefore if Carroll says anything's a Cobra, then it is- which also makes it a replica of his real Cobra.

So I conclude an ERA is-an 'ERA', an identity unto it's own. When asked, I always refer to my car as an ERA -not a replica or Cobra. It's a hand built sports car that closely resembles Shelby's Cobras.

Chas -- When I had him sign my car I think there was a 50/50 chance that he would have written "ERA732 Cobra" had I asked him to.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Chas -- When I had him sign my car I think there was a 50/50 chance that he would have written "ERA732 Cobra" had I asked him to.

...so you wrote it after he signed it-that's great. You should send him that picture-you're a lawyer and would have a fighting chance against his legal staff.
Well for about a month maybe-then they'd burn your money to the ground for years.

How much did he charge for that little enhancement?

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

It's my opinion that Shelby seriously dilutes the pedigree of his cars, so fervently championed here by their owners, by the licenses he grants to carry the name.

The tin can K-car owners and crap ERA owners (among many others) are not burdened by a fierce need to demonstrate superiority and propagate resale value by belonging to the franchise.

I made the point earlier allowing it to be ignored first. I'll requote myself here since Pat's and these are better examples of my thought. I forgot the Oldsmoblie-powered Series I, Turbo-powered 'Dodges' - ad nauseum.

[RodKnock]

Uh, tin can? Tin sure shines up good.