New name for Replicas by Barrett Jackson

[Jamo]

[REAL 1]

Bill: To answer your "second" question as to why I changed my user name.

Simple: Because I like it!

[Super-Snake]

anyone read the "Big Trouble Brewing" thread?

[Jason Lee Nye]

Do you have the link to Big Trouble Brewing?

[Scott Smith]

My God, what a lot of horsepuckey! It must be that time of month for ole CC.

Of course Keith Martin, B-J and others attempt to demean our cars. It's in their economic interests to do so! Don't forget, they're in the business of hyping and selling USED CARS or the magazines that glorify them!

While it's wonderful to see the meticulous over-restored cars like Ralph Lauren's Bugatti, remember there's damned little in that car that is truly original. People are just buying into an illusion.

Why do people buy them? Well, with the laudable exception of the Rob Waltons and Rich Masons of the world who buy and exercise their cars, most are buying them in the sincere hope that there is at least one more shmuck out there who is willing to pay just a bit more for the car. How many Ferrari 512 Testarosas are languishing in garages in the desperate hope that one day they will once again be worth $400,000?

Many here have said they would love to have an original 289 or 427. Why??? Will you drive and enjoy it like Hal drives his SPF? Doubtful! Very doubtful! It would just sit in your garage, never get scratched or dinged, and occassionally you would wax it in the fervent hope you can sell it later at a profit to put your darling ankle-biter through Wharton! If you want to invest, buy equities, bonds, or real estate. Just stop whining about whose brand will be worth more at some indeterminate time in the future.

As far as the branding, F5 vs ERA vs Shelby, everybody buys into branding, ie some wear Men's Warehouse and others Armani. I don't give a damn what you wear (I certainly don't want to see your ugly naked ass!), it's what I wear that counts when I plunk down my hard earned money. What counts is that you've made an effort to look good. Same with our cars. I'd much rather see fellow Cobra enthusiasts in ratty F5s than brand new Datsun Zs. Oops, I mean Nissan.

Now, push away from the keyboard, fire up your Cobras, and get a life!

Scott

[casaleenie]

Also we can live in peace if you don't recognize the CSX as a REAL Cobra. Its just a car and a hobby. Besides factually and legally I'm right anyway.


So there!!!!!!!!

[rdorman]

Gee! Isn't this a lot of fun

I have noticed over my entire time here some folks sound like an old married couple! You arn't are you????

Can't wait for the Fling, Hell for spring!

[Jason Lee Nye]

Lets just stir it a tad

Here are the facts as I understand them:


The original Cobras came from the AC factory and were modified by Shelby.

The continuation cars do not come from the AC factory and the bodied are made by a replica company named Kirkham.

If part of a car is made from a replica company then is it true to its origins?

What if I bought a rolling chassis from Shelby or even acquired one and put a Kirkham body on it, is it not a Shelby? If not a Shelby what is the defining difference?

As for the comment of Shelby not liking the replica industry I never said it was relevant, rather I found it humorous because his continuation cars are half replica made or all if you want to get technical being the chassis is not even and AC car.

I have noting against Shelby American and I think their cars with a replica body looks great. I would just give them more weight if Shelby American stuck to the true origins with the continuation series and used AC cars. To me anything that is sways from the true path or bloodline is nothing but a copy. How much are copies worth when compared to the real thing? To each his own and what really counts is that the owner is happy and content with the money spent.

One thing that cannot be disputed is the CSX4000’s are about the closest thing a person can get to a “real” Cobra. Last I heard Ford owned that name.

[Edley Rondinone]

If it is built/fabricated/assembled/put-together by SAI, it is, indeed, a REAL Cobra. Please excuse my previous posts/rants, as my NAF replica Cobra was in the shop for a leaky gas tank. I got it back this morning, and after a quick 100 mile jaunt thru the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, I am all better now! The 'Rogue!

[REAL 1]

Jason: The 60's were then. This is now.

In the 60's the sub contractor making the bodies and chasis for SAI was AC.

Today the subcontractor is different.

The receipe followed as to specs is EXACTLY the same. The new car is a clone of its predecesor.

Both series are Cobras. One original. One new series.

End.

Whats important is that we enjoy what we have and respect what others have.

[Jason Lee Nye]

I agree with you Real 1. After nuclear war there will be cockroaches and this debate. Problem is the roaches will not be able to drive them.

[BLACKJACK]

WOW - - -

IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF YOU GUYS MUST BE RELATED TO MY EX-WIFE. SHE NAGGED ALL THE TIME ALSO.

IN MY "HUMBLE OPINION" (NOT THAT I'VE EVER BEEN "HUMBLE" ABOUT ANYTHING) - - - - - -

* * THE CSX-4XXX CARS ARE MADE (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) BY SAI.

* * MR. SHELBY OWNS (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) SAI.

* * SAI CALLS THEIR CARS COBRAS.

THEREFORE - - - THE SAI CSX-4XXX CARS ARE "SHELBY COBRAS.

THEY MAY NOT BE "ORIGINAL COBRAS" - FROM THE 1960'S - BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY THE VERY NEXT CLOSEST THING TO IT. AND THEY ARE "SHELBY COBRAS" AND NO OTHER CAR CAN MAKE THAT STATEMENT.

WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT, ANYWAY ??

OH, I FORGOT, SOME OF YOU ARE RELATED TO MY EX-WIFE.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK

[Jason Lee Nye]

Will Shelby ever acknowledge that it is the replica industry that helped the rising value in his cars in the past 20 years? Is he not biting off the hand that fed him or helped boost the values of his cars?

[Jason Lee Nye]

Jason gets out his peace pipe and lights up

[Scott Smith]

Jason:

What's in that pipe you're smoking?

The kit cars have absolutely NOTHING to do with the escalating value of Shelby's cars over the past decades. Shelby owes absolutely ZIPPO to the clone makers. It is they who suck at the hind teat of Shelby's creation. His cars stand on their own merit. And, that certainly includes the CSX 4, 7, & 8 series.

If you truly buy into that bit of flawed logic, you probably believe those tacky VWs with the Rolls Royce grilles elevated the value of real RRs! And, of course, the fake Porsche Speedsters on VW chassis drew attention to the Porsche marque thus creating a frenzy of inflating prices. The Beck replicas are fabulous, but Ferry Porsche owes no debt to him for the perceived value of Porsches through the years.

Can you just imagine what a real Ferrari GTO, for example, would be worth today if only Ferrari allowed FibreFab et al to make knockoffs?

Wow!!!

Scott

[Jamo]

Scott
True words, but ones that allow for clarification.

Rolls Royce, Porsche and Ferrari have been in continuous production on their own for decades for several generations to admire. They have built their reputations on long lines of outstanding achievements that maintained the public's view.

Yes, Cobra replica mfgs may have suckled from Shelby's teat, but their nursing has nutured Shelby's ability to produce milk today even though it went childless for so long...

[rdorman]

I am not so sure that the replica market has in any way made the originals worth any more. It may have helped SAI's new cars somewhat. But I definiatly agree it has helped keep the legend alive. If that is true, then one could argue that is has helped with the originals values but since there is no way to prove either way, whats the point?

As I have recently posted on another thread, I need three of them!

[REAL 1]

I agree that Shelby cars including the Cobras new and old stand on their own merit and their value have little correlation to the replica market. I think the name Shelby probably is enough to allow the cars to stand on their own value wise.

I think he should however acknowledge that the replica industry has kept the car in the minds and eye of the general public and has brought even more people into the hobby and kept the "fire" of enthusiasm alive for the car.

I wonder what the market would have been had there been no replica industry prior to the re-emergence of SAI and the new CSX's where launched. I suspect that there would have also been a tremendous demand for the new Cobras especially when you take into account the nostalgia craze over the past several years.

I also wonder if a replica industry would have followed the CSX in an effort to provide a more affordable choice to consumers.

Hmmm. Interesting. Just wondering though.

[Jamo]

That is an interesting question Evan...

About the closest thing I can think of for an analogy are the wonderful Cunningham reproductions--another sports racer (albeit from a slightly earlier era) of limited production, but which did not have a significant replica industry before the family-authorized operation began. They command a large price, and sales have been very limited.

[Roscoe]

How about a new discussion?

1) Big Block v. Small Block
2) Which is the best kit?
3) Which is the best Phillips Screwdriver?
4) Which are the best bolts to use?
5) Which 19" wheels are best?

Roscoe