[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Wbulk

My better judgment tells me to stay out of this one but what the heck. I think it is understood by most that “legally” the Shelby Company is the only one that can call their cars a Cobra. In reality this car is so unique that the majority of replica owners, who are the vast majority, accept that a cobra is a broad range of cars built by many companies to varying degrees of authenticity and quality, and the word cobra has evolved to mean a look that closely resembles those original cars built in the 60s. I think that includes Shelby cars built after the 60s. If you go to the store and see those toy cars and see one that looks like a cobra, you tell your kids it is a cobra. For the most part the vast majority of replica owners say that their car is a cobra replica. Depending on the brand and builder it may be better than an original. I have a friend that has driven a wide variety of top end cars including originals and I was told the originals were not very good.

I think it is understandable that the owners of the brand name want to keep the lines clear. After all it’s all about protecting the investment. The reality is the replicas is what has keep the cobra in the publics eye and is the primary cause of the original cars great increase is value along with other replicas like Kirkhams and other top end brands to varying degrees. In my opinion original owners owe Dave Smith of FF a major debt of gratitude. If not for him, and his sales of 8,000 plus cobra replicas those original cars would not have increased so much in value.

From the way the OP asked the question it was opened to all brands, original or not, which tends to corroborate what I believe most have come to accept that a cobra is a cobra, then there are originals and the there are replicas.

I am sad that there was no attempt by anyone to give some information as to why one brand is better that another. No discussion of body lines, engineering, handling, or any of the things that really matters. Maybe no one here knows, it just comes down to what they own. I am lucky enough to live by Kirkhams plant but I do not own one but have ridden in them. I go there a few times a year to walk around the plant and take in the art and beauty of their engineering. There is no better cobra today, original, continuation, or replica. Not even mine that I built.

Just what I said but better, Kirkham, no need to explain, best quality, best service, did I mention best quality...