Quote:
Originally Posted by RodKnock
I can understand why some folks choose the Shelby brand over others, because each of us has a value equation in our minds. Even though I'm a lifelong genuine Shelby Cobra and Mustang fan, I saw no value in purchasing the Shelby brand, OTOH, Evan sees value.
But, in terms of the alloy replicas, Shelby and Kirkham, since Kirkham provides the entire 50th Anniversary Edition, there's an easy comparison, what would be your guess when those two cars are re-sold in the secondary market? Do you think that approximately $65,000 Shelby premium will increase, remain the same or decrease when the original owners sell their cars?
If I were a betting person, I'd put my money on the Shelby premium declining from $65,000. If so, then there's a "penalty" to buying a Shelby replica. All specs being equal, besides the CSX plaque of course.
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By the way, Kirkham built cars tend to appreciate, or at least hold their own, as well. The appreciation of both may in part be due to the price increases of new ones (but I'm not looking to explain it just describe the market). It may also be supply and demand - lead times on new alloy cars from either is now in 2 years, right? While not a lot of either come to market often, it may be that people choose an existing car over the new build due to the wait time.
The value was there in the 2008 time frame - a painted Kirkham and a CSX alloy were within 10% of each other. An exactly equipped glass SPF and a Shelby CSX were within 10% of each other. I thought the paint jobs on the CSX glass cars was better. (Mine was a carbon fiber HST car, and at the time there were a few dealers that would only accept HST cars for their inventory.)
That said, the alloy cars have diverged in price [Shelby alloy now way more than Kirkham] but joined in manufacturing. Alloy cars used to be built in house, then at Kirkham to Shelby specs, but now they're just off the shelf which makes it harder to justify, [but that difference is reduced signifcantly if you paint the Kirkham]. The conjoined history hasn't been around long enough to set a history yet. However, I will guess they will maintain their separation. You really have to understand that the largest majority of CSX buyers don't even know about this place, and a fair who do, avoid it, so are not influenced by the info here (whether that info is right or wrong.)
The glass cars have a higher spread now than then too, but I prefer the CSX like I said because I can fit in it. At the time, the carbon fiber was especially appealing because of the hail.
It is quite likely another Cobra will be in the hunt in the future. Which one it will be is
TBD. I do know it will NOT be 427-based. Who is invited to the bake off will be a topic for the time and will start just like the last time: fitting of the suit (car) at the tailor shop (car shows).
By the way, there was a polished CSX7000 car at the Mothers booth at Barrett Jackson in Vegas. I thought it looked horrible - scratches and swirls everywhere. I was there the day before the area was open to the public and thought maybe Mothers was going to polish it up. It just sat there like it was. I don't think it did either Shelby or Kirkham a service.