AC 289 Original

[What'saCobra?]

Someone recently wrote that President Reagan had a sign in the oval office that said something like, "you can accomplish great things, as long as you don't mind who gets the credit."

Actually Iacocca gets credit for several things. Firstly, the Mustang, for sure. It made his name.

Secondly, both getting the largest loan ever from the Federal Government to refloat Chrysler and putting the convertible back on the US market. They paid back every dime and interest payments.

Regarding the Viper, though, Shelby did have quite a bit of initial input, but he was pushed aside when he started to get pretty dopey and obnoxious about what he wanted. Of course, the Viper and the Plymouth hot rod were tour-de-force window dressing to attract Daimler-Benz.

The rebuild of Ellis Island was Iacocca's project along with the creation of the data bank of immigrant's arrivals.

But, in each case, Iacocca had serious personal push from the beginning and pushed until it was finished. He moved mountains in each all the way through the case to get the job done.

But, we would hardly use Hollywood as our standard of a management model. It is true that massive egos are frequently the byproduct of brilliance. But, it is also the byproduct of a combination of inept inter-personal skills and excessive power concentration. Every pain in the buttinski isn't brilliant, most are unimaginative bores that use an offensive behavior to defend their errors and lack of imagination.

As powerful and appealing as the imagry of the Cobra is, that image has little to do with who CS is or was. It is easy for the young or less rigorous or less informed to be misled into confusing the man and the machine. In fact, frequently the car itself doesn't actually live up to its own image.

A $50K new 'Vette doesn't have any trouble zaping a $350K original Cobra either on the track or on the street. They are, of course, not comparable. Yet, the image of the Cobra is simply overwhelming, isn't it?

And, although i don't make it a practice to knock the many different kits available and their variable completion results, most kits haven't got a chance against an original on the track.

As far as FORD using Shel's imagery on their new cars, perhaps it is a good idea. Certainly if it is using the Cobra moniker, it might work. But, in the end, Shel is Shel and his rascally nature will eventually prevail. The man isn't suited to corporate life, for sure. Watch and see.

Look, i love the guy's natural obstinacy, just like i love heros like Parnelli Jones and AJ Foyt. Their performance and personalities allow them a certain excuse from the genteel life of manners and morals, at least to their fans. Their families might argue, however, that they get away with murder.

But, i am a fan, like yourself. i wouldn't expect CS to do any more about the Heart Fund than make sure he got a young man's heart and loaned his name to the effort to pay for it. He doesn't have an obligation to do more, unless he feels his conscience calling. But, maybe he is not a big conscience guy.

But, none of this detracts from his success as the originator of the Cobra ideal and motivating the team to drive the wheels of the cars in the day, actually.

The automotive industry is littered with the personalities of giants who failed to get much of anything done once they left the comfort of the giant corporate protectorate. People like DeLorean are the norm. Kaiser and Colin Chapman are the wonderful exceptions.

If we want to identify an automotive manager today that is enormously successful and who avoids the spotlight, look at Jean Todt, at Ferrari. Look at the results of that team under his magical tutelage. And who is he? Hard to tell, from here, isn't it? Of course, Shuey is the greatest F1 driver ever, some say. But, Todt has changed Italian behavior. Fastest pit stops in F1. Remarkable.

And look at the Ferrari street cars. Beautiful and production car racer quick. Just like the Cobra in it's day, aren't they?