Johan: You are entitled to your opinion. I understand your position.
All original bodies and chasis for the roadsters were indeed built by AC. Given. However the chasis for the Daytonas were not totally built by AC nor were the proto-type 427s which had extensive testing and develpment by SAI and Ford NOT AC. AC had no role in the design of the 427 body and chasis to my knowledge and had no role in its conception. Nor did they design or develope the improvments to the 289 Cobra that made it a world champ. Without the develpments and improvements made by Shelby there is no way the car was capable of winning world championships. Nor did AC develope the modifcations that gave the FIA 289 and USRRC 289 its appearance.
In the end it was Shelby that put the "Cobra" in the Cobra. AC fabricated the base for Shelby. SAI took it from there. Thats pretty much it.
The cars made by AC aren't made by the same people that made the car in the 60's. Any skilled/competent fabricator can make the body and chasis. In fact but for the labor rates SAI wanted to fabricate the body and chasis for the 427 in the 60's. Kirkham/SAI now build the car to the exact 60's Cobra specifications. The workmanship and fabrication is second to none and eclipses that of the originals.
Today Shelby produces the Cobra he and his talented staff at SAI developed and made famous in the 60's with a new fabricator of body and chasis then in the 60's but to the same specs. The Cobra was his baby and always will be his baby. Period (Sorry couldn't resist)
