Is a Shelby Mustang a Cobra?

[Flash]

I can't beleive the prices that dealers are getting on these cars. What are your thoughts?

[smeredith]

I personnally don't think of a Mustang Cobra (94-2006) as anything close to a Shelby Mustang(GT500). The first mustangs that went under the Shelby knife were considered Shelby Mustangs. In 67 you start seeing the Cobra emblem on the side, dash etc but they were never called a Mustang cobra. I believe Ford later purchased the "Cobra" logo from Shelby to use on some future Mustang II's and then again in the mid 90's. When Shelby and Ford made up, the new Mustangs are marked as Shelby Mustangs without any mention of Cobra (just like in 67). Some people don't even think of the 07 GT500's as true Shelby's because Ford built the whole car. The new Shelby GT's are going to be delivered to Vegas and go under the Shelby knife just like the old days so they might be considered more of a Shelby??? This is the way I understand it which might or might not be correct. You hear a lot of stories from a lot of different sources so who knows. I know I hate to see a Shelby Mustang sit on the dealer floor with a "market adjustment" of 20K, but I guess you could offer to pay sticker and see what they say. I like the new Shelby GT's and have heard they will only be 3-4K over sticker.

[Excaliber]

Why would a modern Shelby Mustang be any different than a modern Saleen Mustang?

It's the interpretation of two different guys modifying a production car to their specifications.

As for the Cobra nameplate, it's just a name, Ford's specs on a particular Mustang. Of which there seems to be no end to the variations. Like the modern Mach 1 or Bullit edition, etc.

[Russ Dickey]

Originally Posted by Flash

I can't beleive the prices that dealers are getting on these cars. What are your thoughts?

They'll come down. Just look at eBay, where bids of $55-60K aren't meeting reserves and the cars aren't selling. They'll just continue to sit on dealers lots until they realize that the majority of the buying public won't pay that much for the cars, just like the Ford GT.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Why would a modern Shelby Mustang be any different than a modern Saleen Mustang?

It's the interpretation of two different guys modifying a production car to their specifications.

The only difference I see is the modifications/options each do/offer to the cars.......in the past Saleen had a large # of options including different engine packages as well as suspension packages that Shelby does not offer....The Roush Mustangs offer three different packages, which includes engine/suspension upgrades........

IMHO: I like the Roush cars best, but Shelby has the name............

David

[Chris Mulvihill]

The big difference is the Shelby Mustangs are Ford Factory endorsed (factory warranty); the Saleen is not.
In the mid 1980's I was a Ford rep in LA and the warranty problems w/the Saleen's soured many customers. If there was a warranty issue with the Saleen 'conversion' the customer was lead to believe the 'Ford' warranty would cover all. In actuality, the 'authorized Saleen dealer' was to fix the problem(s) and seek reimbursement from Saleen.
Not the best arrangement for the car owner.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Chris;

I was not aware of that, never did consider a Saleen anyway........Last year about this time a buddy bought a Roush Stage lll Mustang, a few months later he had a problem with one of the front struts, called the dealer, made an appointment and the car was fixed pronto under warranty, not sure who's warranty, but fixed under warranty non the less.........

Warranty surely would be a big consideration for me with any auto purchase.................

David