[Rickd]

Wow .. thought this thread had ended after page 2 with the unanimous "no Shelby = no cobra", but now I see some Brit apparently feels that somehow it was AC that is responsible for the birth, existence, and success of the cobra? Because in hindsight "the Brits had the talent to have done it if they had so chosen"? But they didn't. It is like saying, after looking at yesterdays winning lottery number, "Oh I am familiar with those numbers, I could have arranged them in that order and won".

Shelby was not some old washed up race car driver. He was an incredibly competitive racing program developer. He needed a lightweight sports car to put a small block V8 in. Requested chassis modifications from AC to handle the power. Got Ford to pony up a 260 to start, and after getting 289's in the car .. took it racing on the US circuit from coast to coast. Had to sell some due to homologation rules. So the "public" got to drive and race as well.

Shelby had a vision, and a plan. The plan was attacking the USA sports car racing circuit as part of developing a race car to compete in the FIA circuit. AC had a nice little - very pretty - car, on an island just off the European continent, and no plan or vision whatsoever, other than primarily getting another 4 cylinder engine to continue enjoying the countryside.

No Shelby .. no cobra .. and no cobra "replicas".