[Scott Smith]

Mr. 1:

Au contraire.

The specific reason I mention Lone Star is that they quite specifically claimed years ago in their advertisements that their kit was a "Shelby" upon completion. Others may use "427" and other monikers, but we all know what they're trying to convey. Shelby Cobra.

Mr. Beck, his replicas, and therefore why Porsche doesn't use "authentic" in their copy are a subject upon which I really cannot comment. Oops, Porsche doesn't make a repro of their 550 Spyder. Gee, do you really think that the buyer of a Boxster truly thinks it's a replica of a 911? That they need to see "authentic" in the ads? We all know they aspire to a real Porsche. A 911.
Cayene (sp?) need not apply.

As for the others, you can mask their intent anyway you want,
but the bottom line is they are, as Evan has so eloquently defended, sucking at the hind tit of what Shelby created. To deny that is folly, since any one of the companies could have designed their own car, but they chose to copy the Shelby Cobra.

Notice, not one of them chose, to my knowledge, to clone and market replicas of the AC Ace or Bristol, let alone the other myriad autos (Seatta, Ferrari Barchetta, Cunningham, etc.) of that era that shared that similar basic roadster design. Of course, there's that abomination of the Austin Healy, but that's a subject for another forum.

That Shelby chooses to use "authentic" should only offend poseurs. It's his right. It's his creation. The bottom line is that Shelby is the only authentic Cobra. There are some terrific clones out there, but the sellers and buyers must accept them, represent them, and admit them for what they are.