AC 289 Original

[Excaliber]

I always cringe a little bit when someone "points out" how the COBRAS were "really" made in England and all that was done here was to "drop in a motor and trans".

What was "done here" was considerably more than what AC could manage to do. It took Carol Shelbys "team" to figure out how to make the car a winner. Substantial up-grades across the board were incorporated by AC at SHELBYS DIRECTION.

Now how does this sound coming from an American directed at our English friends:

"AC was little more than a group of craftsman who under Shelbys direction made cars for him. LOTS of people can make cars, only a few can make successful RACE CARS. AC was not one of these people."

When someone "points out" that the "real" Cobras were made in England by AC as an American, I take offense.

Some statements while "accurate" are not "true". Stated in such a way as to deceive, exagerate or lead to one to a wrongful conclusion of the facts.

The history of Cobras is full of such statements. "All Shebly did was drop in the motor and trans." Accurate, but hardly true! "A real AC Cobra for sale." NOT the first time I've heard that and won't be the last.

Call me prejudice and I'm sure some will disagree, but my conclusion on the matter is there are NO COBRAS now or ever produced in England. There are uniquely American. Those cars produced for sale in England or elsewhere (COB or COX) may be "called" Cobras by some, an "accurate" but in my opinion, NOT TRUE statement.

The name and the car would never have existed were it not for Carrol Shelby.