Sir, I believe I see your point in terms of Shelby produced products. Both vintage automobiles and currently sold CSX vehicles
are Shelby.
The key difference however is not defined by Shelby or even SAAC, but by the DOT. Originally, Shelby (and AC), the "Automobile Manufacturer", produced and sold their cars through the Ford Dealer Network already certified for DOT use.
( Ford's new-gen GT500 is similar in philosophy to the '68 through '70 Shelbys,ie: Shelby in name only - not touched by Shelby employees)
Another example is the the '05 - '06 Ford GT , it certainly has DNA linage to the original homologated street GT40's, and it's a complete car produced by Ford.
So the Shelby's last vehicle certified for DOT use was the Series I, period.
The CSX cars of the last 20 years are/were sold as incomplete units, by law. Shelby chooses to call them "component vehicles"- some were even purchased in "less-than-roller" configuration to be finished by the owner/shop. It doesn't make the Shelby part/component any less authentic Shelby, it's just not a "complete operating vehicle" as was the case in the '60's. So whether kit, replica or various other descriptors are used the inference is to the incomplete nature of the vehicle, that's all, no big deal.
Best, Bret.
