Quote:
Originally Posted by twobjshelbys
By the way, it's entirely consistent with the mentality of this forum to totally bash this. Shelby is evil, shelby is a snake, but shelby was smart. Everyone forgets that if Shelby hadn't taken a V8 and put it in that little AC car, this forum wouldn't exist. The AC Ace would have died. You're only jealous you (1) don't own the original VINS and (2) DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE IDEA FIRST.
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While Tony has painted broadly there is more than a kernel of truth to his statements as to this forum and many (not all) of the participants.
I for one would love an original 427 or a 289 truth be told but I am not willing to upset my retirement applecart to get one. I am quite happy with my Continuation Shelby.
I would also love to have a Continuation Series 289 FIA or a GT40. But can't have it all unless your Prince Yabba Dabba Doo or Jay Leno or Seinfeld.
Shelby did both good and bad in his life. But that's all of us. On balance he did more good. He created a charity for children with heart problems, he brought us the beloved Shelby Cobra and Cobra lore and history. He is and will always be a legend.
Did he make bad decisions?...you bet. Examples are the lawsuits against FFR etc..., the effort to sell "Completion" Cobras that were well, not "completion" cars really....but on balance he did more good than bad IMHO.
In my travels and experience I have not found any venomous attitudes of Continuation owners towards owners of originals. Not one that I can remember or any specific incident or comment that I can recall that would draw me to such a conclusion. I guess Bill has a different experience.
In fact, my experience is quite the opposite. I find many owners of originals are dismissive of the continuation series and contemptuous of their owners. I get it, they want to be the only REAL Cobra on the block and don't like the appearance of the new series. Even many notable and well known owners of originals have this attitude. Doesn't bother me though since none of them have "God" like status in my book just because they are lucky enough or have enough dough to buy an original. This is regardless of who they are. The facts are the facts and history is history. Not even they can change that. The SAAC Registry put the issue to rest and the true expert and final arbiter, Carroll Shelby made his position clear. That's all I need.
If this new "Completion" series is sitting on a newly manufactured chassis it is going to be nothing more than a continuation series with a CSX 3000 vin. As far as I am concerned everything that SAI does after Carroll's death is diluted now that Carroll is no longer around. Some with the money may find it worth it to pay high six figures for a Completion car but unless it sits on a 1965 chassis it would not be worth it to me and in my book is not a true completion car.
At least the Continuation series is what it purports to be. A Cobra of a new series and new Cobra that continues the production of Cobras by SAI.