[brentfenimore]

All,

AC was a supplier under contract to Shelby American from the first Cobra to the last original built in 1967. As for AC inventing or developing the Cobra, it's chassis, suspension, steering, brake system, rear end, engine / drivetrain, powertrain mounting and isnstallation, coolant system, fuel system, differential, instrumentation and seating as well as several other aspects of the Slab Side, FIA and 427 S/C I can assure you that Phil Remington, Ken Miles, Dan Gurney and the gang at SAI would tend to differ from that opinion and have piles of prints and data to prove otherwise. As mentioned AC was actually at the brink of self distruction prior to Shelby's contract with them back in 1962. If you wanted an AC product in '61 or early '62 you would have purchased an AC Ace, not a Cobra and it would not have had an eight cylinder Ford power plant (260 or 289), four speed top loader transmission, Dana rear end, 20 gallon fuel cell, rack and pinion steering or four wheel disc brakes just to mention a few.

As to my sources on the actual owners of AC I can only state what my sources have informed me of. I stand behind the statement that AC is not owned by JP or SPF. I have been informed by very reliable sources that he is managing the buildout of cars at the AC plant, however he is not under contract and does not own the assets mentioned. I will return to this issue after further clairification is recieved.

R Brent Fenimore