Best response to, "Is that an original?"

[imagine2frolic]

I believe when most people ask is it REAL? They are really asking if it is an ORIGINAL!

Until I found this site a little less than a year ago. I thought of kits as those stuck on VW's to look like a Mangusta, or something exotic. Shoddy workmanship, and rattles on most I ever saw.

I am a much smarter person today, and this is also when I found out there is a continuation of CSX#'s. REAL does not make it original, but it can still be a Shelby. Now if you look at this as a kit, or a REAL Cobra it will never be an ORIGINAL, and ORIGINAL is what they really want to know.

[trularin]

I'm not sure, I think Muphy has the best great reply to "is that the new BMW"

[imagine2frolic]

LINESLINGER,

I am hoping that's a bullwhip, and not a fishing rod...LOLOLOLOL.....time to give a spanking I think?

[CHANMADD]

Is it real??? I knock on it and pat it ..... "Feels real to me!!!"

[CBattaglia]

Is it Real... "Ya, its real fast"

Reminds me of a when my grandfather asked a guy with a high performance custom pick-up truck. "You haul stuff with this thing?" He replied "Yup, I haul ass."

I had to hold back the laugh!!

[STL Mark]

Originally Posted by CBattaglia

Is it Real... "Ya, its real fast"

Reminds me of a when my grandfather asked a guy with a high performance custom pick-up truck. "You haul stuff with this thing?" He replied "Yup, I haul ass."

I had to hold back the laugh!!

I like that answer the best so far!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm dealing with this topic now - and my car isn't even here yet (should be home in 2 weeks though).

I called the Highway Patrol to schedule my inspection for my new SPF. And the officer asked "Is it real?" In his mind - does it have a VIN number - hence the need for the HP special inspection. Anyway, I said, "No, it's a replica." He said, "Oh, it's a kit car".

I replied, "No, it's a fully manufactured car, bought brand new like any other car, just without an engine and transmission. It has an MSO, and a chassis number, but no VIN number. He said - YEP IT'S A KIT CAR!

I didn't want to argue the point further - since he ultimately is in control of how soon I will be able to drive this car on the street. So in his mind, "real" cars have VIN numbers - cars that have no VIN numbers are kit cars.

So, does a continuation Shelby have a VIN number? or just a chassis number? I really don't know - someone tell me. In the minds of the Missouri State Highway Patrol - NO VIN = Kit Car ... go figure. Just another interesting facet to the age old question of "is it real?".

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by STL Mark

I like that answer the best so far!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm dealing with this topic now - and my car isn't even here yet (should be home in 2 weeks though).

I called the Highway Patrol to schedule my inspection for my new SPF. And the officer asked "Is it real?" In his mind - does it have a VIN number - hence the need for the HP special inspection. Anyway, I said, "No, it's a replica." He said, "Oh, it's a kit car".

I replied, "No, it's a fully manufactured car, bought brand new like any other car, just without an engine and transmission. It has an MSO, and a chassis number, but no VIN number. He said - YEP IT'S A KIT CAR!

I didn't want to argue the point further - since he ultimately is in control of how soon I will be able to drive this car on the street. So in his mind, "real" cars have VIN numbers - cars that have no VIN numbers are kit cars.

So, does a continuation Shelby have a VIN number? or just a chassis number? I really don't know - someone tell me. In the minds of the Missouri State Highway Patrol - NO VIN = Kit Car ... go figure. Just another interesting facet to the age old question of "is it real?".

The CSX cars here in California are registered under SB100 as a "Special Construction" vehicles just like the rest of our cars. No they do not have a Vin# like a regular vehicle but are given an ID# by the state. I was in law enforcement and if you were to run "CSX4xxx" it would come back as "No Record Found". You would have to run the state id#.

[joey_hv]

I wonder if I can get away with saying, "it's a scratchbuilt" ?

[Yetiman]

I think it's more a case of 'car that you have to ad an engine and transmission to in order to complete = kit car' to them. The registration process is the same to them.

[jdog]

My Vin number is:



That's the number on my pink slip & registration, & same as my license plate.

jdog

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by jdog

My Vin number is:



That's the number on my pink slip & registration, & same as my license plate.

jdog

Well being that you are from California I can tell you that an if an officer runs your registration that number means nothing to him. He will need to run your plate or state issued ID# to get any info back on the car.

[steven566]

I haven't had anyone touch the car, yet, but I'm sure I will.

[steven566]

I always woory about belt buckles and zippers on jackets. I was watching the inspector at the DMV with his clipboard, hoping he would be smart enough to not set it on the car...

It's kind of weird how a car really is just an appliance to some people, even if it is the sexiest car on the road and costs more than a house.

[Mr Barry]

Here in the South, men tend to spit out the words "kit car" like a chaw of chewin tabaccy...."Zat un o thos KITTTT KAAARS"?
Here , you have a choice...Respond by saying "No, it's a Replica" (That will appeal to the intellectuals among them)...
Respond by saying "Yes, if you can call a 150 mile per hour , masterpiece of the open road, a kit car" (This appeals to the dirt-track crowd)
Or , finally, by saying " Not in the Paint-by-Numbers" sense of the word."
(This will leave them completely puzzled)

[Madmiles442]

Tojiero would be "tohyearo" with the "r" almost being a "d". Gotta speak the Texican down here....

If I know it's going to be a 4 second conversation with an obvious unknowledgable asker, I just tell them it's a real 1965. They don't know the difference and they can tell their buds they saw a Shelby Cobra.

If it's any longer of a conversation, I'll say it's a factory built replica, delivered complete, minus motor and transmission. A visually perfect replica that uses more updated parts and suspension.

[62Cobra]

....Me and a buddy were at a shopping Mall car show 2 years ago when we spotted the typical cobra car-show guy sitting smuggly behind his homemade plastic fantastic and we decided to have a little fun.....speaking loudly to my buddy (now on the opposite side of the car) Hey Jon, is this an MG or Austin Healy??? what kinda car is this...My buddy replied loud enough for the owner to hear "I read all about this car if I remember right, this is that car built back in the 70's when Ford contracted with that lady named....Carrol somebody.. she was supposed to build a race car by using a Ford parts from a Mustang or Pinto or something and a couple a' Jaguar Parts like the gas tank and front suspension. It was a real screamer, they even put the Ford 327 in it with 3 stromboli carburators! Wow! I sure would like to meet her! By this time I glanced back at the guy who was trying to get up from his fold up chair while holding his hands over his ears.

While my wife was sitting in the cobra at Autozone, a man came up saying I have never before seen a real one of these!!! My wife replyed "still haven't"

[JBCOBRA]

LOL 62! THAT is some funny stuff!

[Dangerous Doug]

That IS pretty funny.

Did the owner survive his heart attack?

[Fred Z]

Love this thread...and some handsome answers!! I sort of follow Madmiles way...along with a few others.........
If asked......"is it real or a kit" (they never say replica)...I just tell them, "no, it isn't an original, but it IS professionally built with all new parts...and is considered a 'replica' of the 427 Cobra! If they still seem interested, and they always do, I further explain by saying that these 'replicas' are actually BETTER than originals in the mechanical sense....motors, suspension, tires, etc! But, and this is pretty important to me and most of you , I would bet..................they ABSOLUTELY NEVER EVER leave without saying ..."well, that is one beautiful car, man, and I wish I could afford it"!
I used to feel concerned, but pretty much realized......like Dickey said.....the fact that they keep asking about it...and still ask if it is the fastest car on the road still........just makes having one......GREAT!
flame on...................
fred z

[steven566]

My FFR had to get a state issued vin number here in AZ, it came from CA, where it was registered under the FFR number. I had to put the new vin tag next to the original FFR tag. But hey, no emissions and tags are 20 bucks, so I'm not complaining!!!

Steve