How to deal with questions/comments where the answer is....well....you know...

Argess · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:42 AM

I've read enough on this site that most of us are faced with similiar questions by the curious public. "Is it real?" must top the list. That one just gets me tongue-tied. I prefer to be polite in my response and not resort to snotty or sarcastic answers, so that limits things a bit. Words like "kit" don't do the car (or me) justice. "Replica" is only slightly better.

Questions/Statements I need to be better able to deal with:

___________________________

Q1/ Is it real?

A1/ I have still not come up with a good, polite, informative answwer on this one.

____________________________

Q2/ "You can't get very good gas mileage with those two carbs"

A2/ I want to say "I dont' care", but this comment just comes from someone who can only see an automobile as transportation. No appropriate response comes to mind.

_____________________________

Q3/ Why does it say 427 on the fender, but 428 on the valve covers?

A3/ I try to explain the 428 being a street engine vs the 427 being a race engine, which isn't exactly the reason, but is a fairly easy answer. I think in the end, I may swap valve covers to ones that say "Cobra LeMans"

_____________________________

Q4/ What kind of car is it?

A4/ I just say "It's a Ford". Odd, but they don't ask for further details after that.

So.....can anyone think of some nice, polite, informative, short answers?

Any other common questions I didn't think of, and "nice, polite, informative, short answers" for those?

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:53 AM

For # 1 I used to tell them it isn't an original Cobra but it is a real car . I think 90% of the people asking Is it real mean is it an original.

For # 2 I only had one carb so I never got asked that question. I did have a 427 tunnel port in a car in the 60s that had 2 huge Hollys on it and a woman asked me why I had two on it and I jokingly toldher it doubled the gas mileage.A few minutes later her husband was over at my car asking me why I told his wife that as she was now demanding that he have two put on their car. I explained to him that I was just joking and never thought she would believe that and everything was ok.

For # 3 I always used whatever badges were the same as the engine I had in the car. Not correct I know but nothing about my car was correct to the originals.

Foe # 4 After answering the first 3 I don't remember ever being asked that but once and a woman once asked me if that was the same kind of car that James Dean was killed in.

Ron

Dangerous Doug · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 08:59 AM

I usually just reply that mine is a Cobra replica. If they seem interested, I'll get more specific in that it is a replica of a 289 FIA Racing Cobra, of which only 6 were made. I'll then point out the cut-back doors, front grill opening, hood scoop, forward-braced roll bar. If they are still hanging in there, I'll explain the slabside, FIA and 427 Cobras. Most people don't know, and like the history.

If they act like, "Oh, it's JUST a replica..." I typically will add that the last 289 FIA I saw for sale the asking price was $6M, which was outside of my budget (and more than likely, their's, too.).

lovehamr · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

i've read enough on this site that most of us are faced with similiar questions by the curious public. "is it real?" must top the list. That one just gets me tongue-tied. I prefer to be polite in my response and not resort to snotty or sarcastic answers, so that limits things a bit. Words like "kit" don't do the car (or me) justice. "replica" is only slightly better.

Questions/statements i need to be better able to deal with:

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

q1/ is it real?

A1/ i have still not come up with a good, polite, informative answwer on this one.

Best I've read; "of course it's real, you're not imagining it."

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

q2/ "you can't get very good gas mileage with those two carbs"

a2/ i want to say "i dont' care", but this comment just comes from someone who can only see an automobile as transportation. No appropriate response comes to mind.

Well, I didn't really build it for milage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

q3/ why does it say 427 on the fender, but 428 on the valve covers?

A3/ i try to explain the 428 being a street engine vs the 427 being a race engine, which isn't exactly the reason, but is a fairly easy answer. I think in the end, i may swap valve covers to ones that say "cobra lemans"

Good call on changing the VCs or put on fender badges that just say Powered by Ford with no CID.

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

q4/ what kind of car is it?

A4/ i just say "it's a ford". Odd, but they don't ask for further details after that.

How about some enthusiasum? "It's the baddest sperts car of all time!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by argess

So.....can anyone think of some nice, polite, informative, short answers?

Any other common questions i didn't think of, and "nice, polite, informative, short answers" for those?

I know, I know; I'm a smart**s

Steve

Argess · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:13 AM

Thank-you for the replies. I have had people just turn around and walk away after asking the "Is it real"? question and getting a "No, it's a replica" answer. Rude of them, but two wrongs don't make a right, and I like to give people the benifit of the doubt first.

I know there are other threads on how to handle these type of questions, but....well....er....I read a lot of things I'd like to say, but not many things I would say.

The younger guys seem the best. They usually are polite and come over to look and say how nice it is, and sometimes I just say "Thank-you" but if I have a few minutes, I ask them if they'd like to see the engine. Once the hood opens, they usually have pretty good questions after that.

Seems the older a "gawker" is, the dopier the questions and the more rude their reactions to the answer. But regardless, I like to be as polite as I can.

RedBarchetta · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q1/ Is it real?

"It's a manufactured replica, built in South Africa on an assembly line much like a Lamborghini would be built, by hand."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q2/ "You can't get very good gas mileage with those two carbs"

"I really don't pay much attention to gas mileage in this car." (said with a chuckle

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q3/ Why does it say 427 on the fender, but 428 on the valve covers?

"Ford's engineers were better at rounding up on the math than Carroll Shelby."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q4/ What kind of car is it?

"An AC Cobra replica, circa 1965."

-Dean

WarrenG · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:16 AM

#1) Yes, it's a hand built real original ERA sportscar that replicates the AC/shelby 289 FIA cobra.

#2) isn't a problem for me because mine gets over 20 mpg highway.

#3) Mine says powered by Ford on the side (like the originals) so also not an issue for me. You could try explaining to them that the 427 was really a 425 and the 428 the true 427, then go on about the 390... by that time they're either lost or you've peeked their interest.

#4) See #1

Argess · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:27 AM

Hey, I'm getting some answers I'd feel comfortable using. I won't say which ones as I appreciate all the replies.

Now I'll have to make crib notes and leave them in the glovebox.....

Or I could fill up the trunk with copies of Brookland's "Cobras and Cobra Replicas Gold Portfolio" and hand out copies.

Maybe just a copy of my crib-notes entitled FAQs and ask for 5 cents to cover my costs and when they pay me, ask if the nickel is "real"? Nah....I wouldn't do that.

But I'm getting some ideas....thank-you.

elmariachi · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q1/ Is it real?

No, I wanted to build my own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q2/ "You can't get very good gas mileage with those two carbs"

If I cared about gas mileage, I'd be driving a Prius.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q3/ Why does it say 427 on the fender, but 428 on the valve covers?

I don't get asked this because I have a 427.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

Q4/ What kind of car is it?

Its a replica of a 1966 Shelby Cobra.

My personal thought is its not a Ford, so I'd never say that.

Excaliber · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Q3/ Why does it say 427 on the fender, but 428 on the valve covers?

Very honest answer is that 427 denotes the MODEL not so much the engine.

jwd · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Its a replica of a 1966 Shelby Cobra.

Your Hurricane is a replica of a 1965.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Very honest answer is that 427 denotes the MODEL not so much the engine.

Very true considering the majority of them had 428's.

csx wnab · #12 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:10 AM

when asked if it real, i usually answer with something like,,,,,,,,yes, it's a real car, not your imagination.

Buzz · #13 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:32 AM

QUESTION: Is it real?
ANSWER: No.

The truth will set you free!

Bill Bess · #14 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:37 AM

No it's not an original shelby cobra, it is although a real cobra replica.
Bill...very simple.

SKINNEDR · #15 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:01 AM

A year ago at a cruise in, a guy came over and was admiring the car and all he could say was this..." YOU HAVE TO BE SELLING DRUGS TO AFFORD THAT CAR"..., AND HE WALKED AWAY..
Dex...

MaSnaka · #16 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 12:27 PM

If it walks like a duck, quakes like a duck then it must be real, not!

I never hesitate to say it's a replica of a '65 Cobra. I am not ashamed to say that it is not "real".

If you see 30 cobras parked side by side, there mightbe an actual '65 in
there but good luck picking it out.

I agree there is no reason to be rude if someone asks a stupid question, only if they let their dog pee on your tires, then it's ok.

John

elmariachi · #17 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwd

Your Hurricane is a replica of a 1965.

No, yours is a '65.

Mine went through a time warp when the previous owner did his title work. It will ultimately get painted like CSX 3034 so I was okay with it being a '66.

SKINNEDR · #18 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

If it walks like a duck, quakes like a duck then it must be real, not!

I never hesitate to say it's a replica of a '65 Cobra. I am not ashamed to say that it is not "real".

If you see 30 cobras parked side by side, there mightbe an actual '65 in
there but good luck picking it out.

I agree there is no reason to be rude if someone asks a stupid question, only if they let their dog pee on your tires, then it's ok.

John

Did you ever had a DOG pee on your tires?
Hope that never happen to me with the owner around...

jwd · #19 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

No, yours is a '65.

Mine went through a time warp when the previous owner did his title work. It will ultimately get painted like CSX 3034 so I was okay with it being a '66.

Regardless, the MSO for your car and all other Hurricanes states 1965.

elmariachi · #20 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwd

Regardless, the MSO for your car and all other Hurricanes states 1965.

Well, let's just say that when that MSO was handed over to the state of Michigan by the original owner, that's not how they saw it.