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Originally Posted by 427sharpe
A lot of the consternation comes from a lack of understanding of what SAAC truly is (IMHO). It IS and WAS a club set up and run by guys with an fervent PASSION for the 'true' Shelby-American cars. I think the club made errors is expanding to the late model vehicles (Dodges, Series 1, non 2-3000 CSX and late Mustangs) because they did not have the PASSION for those cars. This is the root of the lamented 'elitism', again only IMHO. I see owners show up with cars (a lot of clones fall here) and expect to be treated as the owner of an original and that is just not going to happen around a bunch of guys who have carried their passion (and SHELBY) on their back for 30+ years.
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427sharpe, you are certainly correct about the nature of SAAC. It should be for owners of originals. Period. As the owner of a fake (Superformance), I should not be a member.
The problem is that on one hand Shelby, his lawyers and branders want to go to war with the anyone associated with the replicas, yet they troll around here and other places frequented by their supporters hoping to get our support for their next great thing. Hey, we can buy club memberships, shirts, hats, decoder rings and other trinkets of the brand, and they will have a smile on their face while they take our money. All the while they have a lawsuit against the manufacturers of our cars.
I love the originals, wish I owned one and am sort of envious of those who do. But trolls like Amy B who come here to put the smiley face on should get lost. Amy, go make a club or something out of owners of originals and leave us alone. See how much money you make from those few good people.
In my opinion the manufacturers like Kirkham, Superformance, ERA, Factory Five and others are responsible for the current popularity Ol' Shel enjoys. It is not the handful of original owners. Not big enough for critical mass. But instead of welcoming them, they are targets of lawsuits.
Also, in my opinion owners of fakes are more delighted customers than those who have purchased authentic Shelby "branded" cars in the last 30 years. Check out the current thread about Unique and their Eleanors. Or the dying guy who bought a one of Ol' Shel's continuation cars and had to wait until he was almost dead to get it. On and on...
Jack