Ernie,
What we're witnessing is the start of a "manufacturers pricing war" where the consumers will be the victors. Think about this "outside the box" because that's where the market base is found. Outside of the informed cobraphiles, joe public has no idea about quality replicas, they only recognize the shape and association with Shelby. At a $40k roller price, SAI
has entered the ERA/SPF zone with the advantage of having a CSX number and Shelby endorsement. Will it effect every manufacturers market, you can bet on it because
everywhere SPF/Kirkham/FFR or others display, SAI will be there also with the sales pitch, "why buy a replica when you can buy a Shelby." The SAI/SPF lawsuit is predicated on trade dress etc...."maybe" want to see that case sink quickly? Try researching the history on The Mabee Drilling Company in Midland, Texas 1953 and the "Mabee Special" and the Victress body. Not only will it roast the entire premise that Shelby was the first visionary but it will provide complete insight into how aluminum came to play in cobras. The world's fastest sports car was the Mabee Special averaging 187.66 mph at Bonneville in 1954. Joe Mabee drove the car to 203.105 mph in 1953 at Bonneville becoming the first non-race car to reach 200 mph. Guess who they enlisted to drive the Mabee and guess who bought Shelby his first Aston Martin for European racing? Yep,
the Mabees...so Maybe creative competition will open an entire new avenue to cobraphiles. Shelby capitalized on a great idea and probably taught Trump the true art of the deal. He has the right recipe for continuation, the name, the public visibility and has the art of placing the fly in any given ointment, because it's his demeanor.
The fun is about to commence, so pull up your favorite easy chair, butter the pop corn and pour a cold one, THIS will make any Mike Tyson event look like a Boy Scout Jamboree.
