How do you answer, "Is it real?"

[RET_COP]

Look how nice this thread is going without ....Ev...eehhhhmmm......

[EM-0785]

I just smile, look them right in the eye, shake my head, and in a straight forward and welcoming manner say “It’s not an original”.

That generally satisfies their curiosity and either ends it (if they’re a hater) or if genuinely interested, as more often than not, they follow up with, when was it built, what manufacturer, did you built it, etc., and we go from there.

My alternate reality….I cycle through all the options in my head, “you should say this, you shouldn’t say that, it’s not called this, it’s really called that, maybe it’s called this, but he said it’s this, the documents say it's that,’ and as the person walks off wondering why the heck I’m standing there just staring through him, I realize, darn it, I didn’t think fast enough, I should have just directed him to our prior threads on the topic! ☺

Brent

[SFSDFGT]

I tell them “yes, it is a real, aluminum-bodied Shelby Cobra, but unfortunately not one of the rare originals from the sixties”. Then, if they ask what is the difference, I tell them “about a million dollars!”

[1795]

I usually tell them that it is a faithful reproduction of the original 289 race cars, with the exception of the fiberglass body. However, there have been a couple of times with this car and my former ERA that some old person has been so ecstatic that they finally got to see an "original" and that they have been waiting their whole life to see one and they were certain that my cobra was one, that I could not bear to ruin their moment and did not say that it was a replica.

[1985 CCX]

Jim, great stuff

I usually say "it's really here" and that it is a faithful reproduction of the original style car. Most are still happy to look it over and talk details.

Had a guy last year say, I was just about to take my magnet to it and see if it was all aluminum. Still get, "is that a 427?" ugh....

Lets face it, if I had the $1MM to get a real one I would but this is the best I can do.... Most folks get it...

[Luce]

Do you see any square roots of negative numbers here?

[xb-60]

It would be safer for me to just say "no" rather than attempt to dazzle the questioner with my knowledge of real numbers

Cheers!
Glen


edit: I could say...
"no, but I'm flattered that you asked"
or
"yes" if my circumstances had changed
.

[F355FTS]

I've been waiting for that very same question David

[HealeyRick]

Just trying to be helpful:

[Ron Scarboro]

Shelby built or Shelby branded?

[MOTORHEAD]

David: I'm sure the bare aluminum was tip-off!

Ted

[RUFdriver]

My car is en route, but if someone asks I’ll tell them straight up it’s a replica Cobra. Anything built after 1967 is a replica, some are more expensive than others, my opinion of course.

[concobra]

My answer: Well it's not a mirage.

[Danr55]

This last week I was at a show and the first four people ask THE question. After that, I began replying, "What do you think? I've had 19 people ask me that today and I've given four different answers. So now it's your turn. Look the car over and tell me if you think it's real." Then when they come back and say, "I don't know", I ask them why it makes a difference... at this point they usually get frustrated, pissed off or confused and just walk off. I take some great perverted pleasure in this.

[jhv48]

I can’t figure out why some of us get so offended by being asked “the question”. We built our cars to mimick the original so why get pissy when someone asks if it is, in fact, an original. Seems to me that’s a compliment. Tells me my car is practically indistinguishable from an original to the uneducated spectator. Sure beats having a guy check out your car and then say “kit car” and move on.
Here we’ve got people obviously interested in knowing about our cars and we shine them on or give them some BS answer.
If you’re going to show your car, you better be prepared to answer “the question” as long as you are standing next to it. If you don’t want to be bothered answering them, have a sign printed up that says “This is NOT an original 60’s Cobra. It is a custom built recreation of a past legend.” Or, better yet, stay home and let those of us who do enjoy informing the curious how our cars came about.
Last thing I want is some dad with his kid walking away saying “what a prick” just because he was the fiftieth guy who asked me if “it’s a real cobra” and I gave him a smart-assed answer.
But, that’s just me.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jhv48

I can’t figure out why some of us get so offended by being asked “the question”. We built our cars to mimick the original so why get pissy when someone asks if it is, in fact, an original.

Yep, it's kind of like when a pro ball player gets irritated because fans are waiting outside for an autograph. And remember, the vast majority of people don't have a clue about our cars. I remember a show about ten years ago. There were two twenty-something girls that came up to my car and one said "this looks like James Bond's car." The second one then said "I bet it's worth a lot - maybe ten thousand dollars." I just smiled politely. Who knows, they may very well be in Congress by now.

[Chicagowil]

Originally Posted by Danr55

This last week I was at a show and the first four people ask THE question. After that, I began replying, "What do you think? I've had 19 people ask me that today and I've given four different answers. So now it's your turn. Look the car over and tell me if you think it's real." Then when they come back and say, "I don't know", I ask them why it makes a difference... at this point they usually get frustrated, pissed off or confused and just walk off. I take some great perverted pleasure in this.

Dan, your just a mean man! I like it!

[EM-0785]

Then there’s times like this…

We were making a right turn out of a motorsport shop parking lot. A guy was coming the other direction on a red/white road going type superbike (Yamaha I believe). The second he saw the Cobra he cut hard across lanes and sped up, an evasive looking move, straight at us. I had to stop half way into my lane so as not to hit him, as he curved around to a hard stop at my door.

Big, bruising biker dude now looking down at me, peeling his helmet back like a hockey player. A spitting image of Darrell Sheets of Storage Wars (I still think it was him). Was he about to pummel me? Had I cut him off?

We’re still both out in traffic, cars stacking behind him. He slowly looks our car over, front to back, back to front again. He turns with a growing grin and says ‘damn, that’s an ugly car you got there!!!’ Just sitting there shaking his head in admiration. Enough said, no further explanations needed.

I pointed to his bike and said ‘hey…you too!” We both laughed, talked for a few seconds, seemed like a very cool, fun-loving guy, with a captivating character. We admired the machines a few seconds longer, gave assuring nods and went on our ways…a fun little moment in the Cobra.

There’s a man with his priorities straight…the world can always stand still for a few moments for a Cobra!

Brent

[lnfletcher]

Originally Posted by jhv48 View Post
I can’t figure out why some of us get so offended by being asked “the question”. We built our cars to mimick the original so why get pissy when someone asks if it is, in fact, an original.

It's not the question that bugs most of us, it's the response when we answer.

"Oh, well, it's still a nice looking car."

I usually answer, "Nope, this is a painstakingly hand crafted replica that I built myself."

[concobra]

My answer of "Well it's not a mirage" usually gets met with a laugh or two as I say it with a smile on my face. Then I explain that it is just another kit car. Or in other words just a rolling pile of metal, glass, rubber, leather, plastic and some glue. Good for another laugh. That usually leads to many questions about what was done to it and how close is it to the original. Makes great conversation with the show attendees. It's all fun.

fun story
One time I was displaying at a show and was walking through the show when I returned to my car there was a crowd around it. One younger man was explaining to the crowd that my car was an original and he had them captivated with his knowledge. I made my way beside him and asked him many questions about how he could tell how this car was an original. He told a pretty good story!!!! I then told him that I was pretty sure it was a kit. When he asked why I thought so I told him I owned and built the car. The crowd got a good laugh and I placed my hand on the shoulder of the you man. To save him future embarrassment I told him that it happens all the time (which it really doesn't) but hey, he was a nice kid. He then sat down with me and we talked about Cobras and his love for them all afternoon.