[REAL 1]

First, my add back in 2004 as "originally' written was a mistake as back then I myself was not sure how to classify my Shelby. The way I saw it, it was a real Shelby Cobra and misused the term "Original" to convey that. It was corrected based on the SAAC statement. The two buyers interested in the car, which sale I called off deciding to keep the car were made very aware of it's vin and that it was a Continuation series car. No one expected to buy an "original" Cobra even back then for $145K. No one back then accused me to intentionally misrepresenting something. The error was pointed out and corrected. Stop the smear effort. Stop.

Based on that anyone who continues to accuse me of intentionally trying to pass my car off as something other than what it is is going to really piss me off. Read into that what you want. Thats a public allegation I don't take lightly.

Second, my "wheat/chaff" comment was spun waaaay out of context and twisted for their own purposes. The context of the statement was made in relation to "what is better" discussion and that certainly depends on your particular definition of what's better to you.. If I want a modern chassis Cobra replica with advanced suspension that's modern it would be something other than a Shelby and something other than a Shelby is the wheat. If you want a "genuine" Shelby then the only wheat is an original or continuation Shelby.

Thirdly, you guys are reading way too deep into this "real" issue. The Shelby MSO must describe the car as a component vehicle to avoid having to comply with federal regs. Its just whats required today. It is no longer 1965 and the fed has buried us and the auto industry with regulations. Some good and some bad. Actually, the safety regulations are good. The Cobra is a dangerous vehicle. It has all the safety protection of a tuna fish can.

The MSO clearly identifies the vehicle as a Shelby Cobra 427.

Kirkham has the same issue. None of the manufactures today can sell a Cobra or a Cobra like vehicle as a finished vehicle. It can't be done based on federal regulations. All these vehicles and their manufactures are hamstrung by these regs. As I explained, even if SAI stayed with production of the 3000 series and were were up to CSX 3878 hypothetically even into the 1970's federal regulations would have killed the Cobra from being produced as a finished running vehicle from SAI. The same games to avoid the regs would have to be implemented by SAI even back then. Irrefutable.

SAAC is a club. A well respected club with regard to Cobras and their cumulative knowledge base is respected world wide. Actually the world's most respected authority. You don't have to agree with what they say. That's fine with me. I, however, think they nailed the issue on the continuation cars and got it right and were very fair, logical and reasoned with their approach.

Real and replica are not mutually exclusive based on the actual Webster's definition as used by SAAC. The current production Cobras are authentic Cobras. They are real McCoy Shelby Cobras. They just belong to the continuation series Shelby Cobras. They don't pretend to be original series cars, no one is passing them off as original series cars.

CompClassics is spot on. So was Jamo. So are a number of other guys here whose arguments are consistent with the Registry and what I've been saying for years and years here. Oh, so is the Registry.

My car is a Shelby Cobra. Not a replica of a Shelby Cobra. Shelby didn't intend to nor did he make replicas (i.e "fakes" as that term is commonly misused to mean) of his Cobra. He continued production. Someone other than Shelby who makes a car that looks like a Shelby Cobra is making the "replica" as that term is now commonly understood and used per SAAC..

Refer to my car as a "replica" don't expect much respect in return from me. Refer to my car as a Shelby Cobra I'll return the respect and refer to your car as we commonly refer to them as a "Cobra". We'll get along just fine.

Finally, my issue with the new Competition Shelby Cobras from DeBenedeste is not that they aren't Shelby Cobras but with the use of the CSX 3000 vins. To me know the car has cross the line and pretending to be something it's not. Part of the original series.