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Old 11-28-2010, 06:18 PM
Excaliber Excaliber is offline
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I agree, the term "kit" is some what misleading and has for the most part, in recent years, fallen out of common use here on Club Cobra. It carries a negative connotation for many. Never the less, even with a "roller" (a more accurate term for an SPF, BDR or Shelby) it is not entirely inaccurate. A customer can still finish the end product to suit his personal taste and choices, install the running gear and other accessories. This is in essence a "kit".

There are even some examples of an authorized Shelby Cobra built entirely by a private party, not a roller from Shelby. A collection of pieces, though that is rare and I'm not certain one could do that today. I know personally of a CSX8000 series car built that way and an original Kirkham that "morphed" into a Shelby, with a CSX number, along the way. Neither left the Shelby factory as a roller.

I would expect HQ to be loath to even consider the term "replica" applied to a Shelby Cobra product, certainly not the term "kit". But I thought it important enough to at least make some suggestions as to terminology.

I'm proud of my ERA, for what it is, a genuine replica of a Shelby Cobra. I sense that feeling is becoming more profound for other replica's as well. The desire for a Cobra emblem on the hood or trunk is slowly being replaced by a desire for a badge of the actual manufacturer. Others prefer an AC type badging. BDR and ERA owners, in particular have been asking specifically for an emblem that reflects the manufacturer. If I had a Shelby Cobra, I'd be proud to display the appropriate Shelby Cobra badging. Just keeping it real...
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