Dave Despain on Assignment - The Shelby Legend

[Buzz]

Just watched the show on Speed. Big disappointment from a Cobra lover's perspective. While it is always nice to see the old race footage and hear from legengs like Gurney and Miles, the story focused almost totally on Ford's racing efforts and Shelby's participation in the GT40 program. Passing justice was done to the awesomeness of the early Cobras, and the Daytona Coupe received due mention of its accomplishments.

What I found disappointingly lacking was even a note of homage and respect paid to the 427 Cobra, which is the single solitary reason that Shelby's name was able to endure and remain iconic over the decades after he gave it all up and turned his attention to cattle.

We don't need a rehash of the facts about the big block Cobra being the most replicated and iconic performance car ever despite never being raced as part of an official factory backed effort. Nor do we need to re-establish that it was the leaf sprung small block car that brought home the trophies.

The reality is that Shelby was able to rise again like a phoenix from the ashes of automotive irrelevance to rebuild himself as a generation crossing icon of the performance car culture because the 427 Cobra - more than any other car in history - captivated and held the imagination of automobile enthusiasts all over the world, long after its production run had ended.

I get the impression that Ol' Shel really resents the Cobra, and would like nothing more than for it to disappear. Truthfully, he was forced to reluctantly acknowledge his abandoned bastard child, defend its name, and to even start producing his own replicas of "that old car" (his own words) because of the booming replica industry and its indication of the massive popularity of the once orphaned and forsaken car.

Now that he has regained his justified status as a living legend of automobilia and is once again breathing his magic fire into Ford's Mustangs, I get the impression that subtle efforts are underway to marginalize the black sheep Cobra and downplay its role as the acknowledged jewel in Shelby's crown.

One bile-inducing look at the recently posted CSX4000 vs Supersnake video is enough to convince me that the great Shelby's endorsement of and participation in "Dave Despain on Assignment - The Shelby Legend" was conditional on downplaying and editing out all homage to the incredible, indomitable 427 Cobra.

Anyone else get that impression?

[computerworks]

With LeMans coming up this weekend...the focus would be on the GT40s...45 years after 1966.

[mickmate]

I'm as nuts about Cobras as anyone and I really enjoyed it. Hardest part for me was trying to read credits at the end with all the fantastic pictures flashing above them.

[Rich_ACC]

Hey Mr. Buzz,

I think you got real close for me. The local Cobra tribe in Las Vegas drove up for C S birthday in Las Vegas and not a sign of a O'l Shell to be seen. Lots of Mustangs but we were the only Cobra's, 12 you can't miss 12 cobras, deff you say. You will still find us at LV Cars and Coffee willing to answer questions and tell lies Ahhhh stories to the young guys that show up.

Take care

Rich

[Buzz]

If it had been a show about Le Mans or the GT40, I would agree Ron; but I find that titled as it was, there was a conspicuous omission of the car that truly made Shelby a legend.

Racing enthusiasts, historians and proponents of the 289 Cobra will be satisfied that Shelby's important accomplishments were duly noted, but looking at the real essence of what constitutes a popular folk legend, how can the Cobra - especially the 427 - be justifiably downplayed?

[Buzz]

Hey Rich - heck of a group you guys got there in Vegas. Thanks for keeping the flame alive and and thanks again for the hospitality. One of memories I'll treasure forever is how everything and everyone came to a standstill when Mr.007's Cobra pulled into the busy valet area in front of my hotel to drop me off after Cars n' Coffee.

Too bad Ol' Shel couldn't make an appearance for his birthday, but it may have been health related. The Shelby guys at the Ferrari smackdown said he wasn't feeling too well even back then.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Buzz

.... how can the Cobra - especially the 427 - be justifiably downplayed?

There is a cynical but easy answer to that question...

There is more money in royalties for C.S by flogging of the new than there is the old.

If he gets 10 people excited about the new car, they purchase & he gets royalties on 10 cars sold.

If he gets 10 people excited about the old: 3 might buy FFRs, 2 might buy SPF, 2 might buy BDRs, 3 might buy 1 of either an ERA, Kirkham, or Other.

I'll bet next to none buys a new CSX series and no royalties are paid on the capital gain of an Original CSX3... series.
So it is my humble summation he gets... pocket change on the licensing of SPFs which he endorses.

PS: In many ways, I guess that's good business sense.

[redmt]

I enjoyed it! Sure it could have covered a lot of things more in depth but damn!! The guy has been around for 2 gazillion years! They couldn't cover everything. I enjoyed it for the entertainment value.

[Buzz]

So did I, and all due respect to Mr.Shelby. The man is way bigger than life by any standards, but I still question the honesty and journalistic integrity of the show.

[mickmate]

The 427 Cobra as awesome as it is and as much as we love it didn't do much in racing. The 289 was the big acheiver there. The project was almost knackered as it came out of the stable just with the timing and overlap with other projects. The race and street cars were too expensive, they couldn't get parts like wheels, they had to dream up the fastest street legal road car gimmick to get them off cinder blocks and moving in the market. If I was him I wouldn't want to talk about the 427 much, talk about hindsight being 20/20.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by mickmate

The 427 Cobra as awesome as it is and as much as we love it didn't do much in racing. The 289 was the big acheiver there. The project was almost knackered as it came out of the stable just with the timing and overlap with other projects. The race and street cars were too expensive, they couldn't get parts like wheels, they had to dream up the fastest street legal road car gimmick to get them off cinder blocks and moving in the market.

That's all well established, but the relative hoards of buyers and enthusiasts it took to fuel the Cobra replica industry and thus keep Shelby's name alive weren't motivated by the racing successes of the 289. It was the 427, in all its caricaturish, under achiever glory that captured the imagination of car enthusiasts across the globe. The 289 has a more limited connoisseur appeal among a smaller group of fans and cognoscenti.

If I was him I wouldn't want to talk about the 427 much, talk about hindsight being 20/20.

My point exactly. Unfortunately, through the efforts of invested parties, history is often edited and censored to reflect and pander to their special interests.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Dimis

There is a cynical but easy answer to that question...

There is more money in royalties for C.S by flogging of the new than there is the old.

If he gets 10 people excited about the new car, they purchase & he gets royalties on 10 cars sold.

If he gets 10 people excited about the old: 3 might buy FFRs, 2 might buy SPF, 2 might buy BDRs, 3 might buy 1 of either an ERA, Kirkham, or Other.

I'll bet next to none buys a new CSX series and no royalties are paid on the capital gain of an Original CSX3... series.
So it is my humble summation he gets... pocket change on the licensing of SPFs which he endorses.

PS: In many ways, I guess that's good business sense.

Agree 100%. It's called "talking your own book." He's not living in the past, even though he's not going to live forever. You gotta hand it to the to guy though...what a ride!!

[Jamo]

Oh hell...it was fine.

This is what Speed used to be and what it should be now...damn tired of NASCAR.

[twobjshelbys]

I think it was true to the outline he stated - 1962-1967 and the path the LeMans. Truthfully, the 427 Cobra was not a factor by this time. The body style of the Cobra was not competitive - it was like driving a 4x8 sheet of plywood. It had done its job, got the base for the Coupe in place, but even the coupe wasn't what the racing community was driving - the GT40 was the right shape and everything.

He did homage to the 427 Cobra from his boyhood.

The 427 was hardly irrelevant - it's presence was not lost but probably just not a factor in the story they were trying to tell tonight.

Shelby's tribute to Ken Miles was the best part.

His promise to drive a TT Ford GT at 230+MPH (at the Texas Mile) is going to be worth the wait.

AJ Baime got to tell some of the story too.

I give it a B overall... It'd be a B+ but there were too many commercials.

[Rick Parker]

Don't forget that Shelby wanted to go racing not sell cars. Granted at the time the 289 Cobra had everything more than covered hence its dominant success on the track or street. Fast forward to November 65 and 427 Cobras were king of the street but certainly not the track. Can Am was where it was at by then. Privateers attempted to race the 427's in SCCA but soon realized theier success was to be limited. This show was about a mans achievements not necessarily what tools were used. I thought it was pretty well done.

[Ralphy]

I enjoyed it. Glossy, rich in historic photos and film. Wish it was 2 hours long, so they could have gone more in depth. I was not aware CS left the Daytona project for the GT40 in 1965.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

And on top of all that has been said, don't forget he's 88 years old and is the longest living heart transplant patient in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yep, that's another record he has..........
Can you imagine the pills he has to take everyday?????

David

[Buzz]

In no way do I disparage Ol' Shel or downplay his accomplishments. As I said - he's way larger than life by any man's standards and a formidable achiever in many more ways than one. I suppose in light of all that the man has earned the right to remember his own story the way he sees it and to have it told in a way that pleases him. Not many folks in the automotive world as enduring and accomplished as Mr. Shelby.

[lamaluv]

Originally Posted by Buzz

In no way do I disparage Ol' Shel or downplay his accomplishments. As I said - he's way larger than life by any man's standards and a formidable achiever in many more ways than one. I suppose in light of all that the man has earned the right to remember his own story the way he sees it and to have it told in a way that pleases him. Not many folks in the automotive world as enduring and accomplished as Mr. Shelby.

Well said Buzz--- Love him or hate him I think all should respect his accomplishments in the auto world. If it wouldn't have been for him none of us would be enjoying our love affair with our Cobras.

Dick

[LightNFast]

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