No More Series 1s

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 05:56 AM

I just recieved my July issue of Motor Trend and on Page 40 there is just a small blurb stating.-- Corbin Motors, builder of the wacky little Sparrow Car, has filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy protection...So has Venture Corporation, which held the majority ownership interest in Shelby American. Shelby Series 1 production has been halted.

As I said this is just a small blurb and is not intended to start another Shelby versus everyone else war.

Ron

Lowell W · #2 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:24 AM

If Corbin takes the same attitude towards their car customers as they do towards their seat customers, they deserve to go out of business. I ordered a motorcycle seat from them two years ago. Several months and a dozen + phone calls later, they finally sent me the wrong seat. I sent it back and cancelled the order, so they sent me the correct seat and overcharged my credit card. Each time I called, I spoke with various reps who all had a "Screw you" attitude, promised me they'd take care of my order and told me they couldn't be responsible for what another rep promised me. Their seat is a good product but I'd never put myself in the position of being their customer again.

bwana50 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:57 AM

Is Corbin Motors the same company that makes the motorcycle seats and the cool Cobra couches? Hmm, maybe I can get a seat for my bike and a couch for the garage at a "going out of business" sale....

427Aggie · #4 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 08:07 AM

The series 1 had a limited production run to begin with...I believe they had a special permit that was only good for a couple of years to build them in....to build past this year I think they have to meet crash test standards.

Matt

Bud Man · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 08:54 AM

Remember how ugly cars became in 1974 because of federally mandated 5 mph bumpers???

There are crash standards arriving in 2006 that will have a significant impact on automobiles. Fords new GT will see a limited run for that reason.

Bud

KeithBrown · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 09:17 AM

I remember that Shelby originally stated that only 500 Series One's were to built. After many delays and slip-ups (ie: passing emissions testing and such), they started production, but they are still well shy of the 500 number. I don't see how the 2006 crash standards are affecting the current Series One sales demise.

it could be that that car has been a sales pig - it just hasn't met the markets performance or fit and finish requirements for such a high dollar car.

Regards,

Keith

Rich · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 02:36 PM

The Series 1 cars met whatever crash standards that existed at the time. I saw the crash dummy car at the factory in Vegas.

Rich

427sharpe · #8 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 05:28 PM

IMHO, the Series One failed for two reasons;
lack of power and extremely poor fit and finish. I considered buying one here in Dallas when they first hit town so I 'borrowed' one for a day to try it out. Very poor power (non-supercharged) and body gaps so wide they would whistle at speed. Add on that the interior was poorly executed and you have 'NO SALE'. Really sad, as I had hoped after all the hype that the Series One really would be a Cobra descendant.

decooney · #9 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:13 PM

IMHO, I'm not trying to be super critical, but some of the early Series 1 cars were complete junk... window seals coming off, cracking fiberglass, wavy fiberglass, HUGE GAPS in body panels. It really made me wonder about the rest of the car underneath given all the early hype and praise about the chassis, setup, etc....

There was a driver test a few years back ( I won't mention names or articles) and the driver took the Series One around the big oval at top speed, quickly pulled off and stated "get me out of this thing"! For the money, I know a few guys who "were" going to buy one ended up buying a Z06 instead and saving the cash. It goes to show you, if you do it right the first time, it will usually succeed. Too bad, it seems like it could have been a very cool option to other cars for some, had it been done just a bit better. On another note, remember the Dodge Shelby Charger?

kanuck · #10 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 06:52 PM

Lately on ebay they can't even get high 50's low 60's. That's a pretty big dive when the lowest one to leave the factory was somewhere in the 125 thou range.

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 07:33 PM

Wow,,,I didn't know the Series 1 were selling in the 50 or 60's. Thats REALly low ball. Perhaps your talking about one or two and they don't represent the "normal" market value?

Ernie

Ikestaa · #12 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 07:46 PM

Hhhmmm. Wavy and uneven bodywork. If it weren't for the lack of power from the n/a Series 1, I would say it sounds like a perfect descendant of the Cobra.

But seriously, no car with zero racing history can be compared to the cobra. The closest equivalent to the cobra today is Steve Saleen and his S7.

Bill Kesner · #13 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 10:34 PM

Ernie........

You can see a couple on Ebay! One of them has a buy it now for I believe $69K. The early ones are a little cheaper. On a positive note, I have seen Shelby turn out some very nice Series 1 cars with no problems with fit or finish. As for power, the supercharged cars seemed decent...though it was a huge add-on cost wise!!

- Bill -

Ron61 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 06:22 AM

Bill,

Did they ever get the supercharged version certified so they could be sold in Calif ? The last I heard they were still trying to get it certified and I think Calif. as usual was one of the states that was fighting it.

Ron

Bubb Rubb · #15 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 427sharpe

IMHO, the Series One failed for two reasons;

I disagree that it even failed. Venture, the investment company, did.

Quote:

Originally posted by 427sharpe
lack of power and extremely poor fit and finish.

I drove one and found it very quick despite the relative lack of power. There is a big difference in "feel" due to the Aurora motor vs. a giant torquey v8. All the literature I ever read and everything I ever heard from reps was that Series 1 wasn't meant to be a horsepower pig, but more a well-rounded car with good handling. We all love Cobras with big V8's but they are nowhere near as refined as a Series 1.

There may have been some questionable early Series 1's but so what, if you like it, wait for them to get better at making them. Even Ford and almost every other OEM is guilty of not-perfect first issue cars.

Bubb Rubb · #16 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ikestaa

The closest equivalent to the cobra today is Steve Saleen and his S7.

What!! There is no S7! Oh there was a one-off or two, but Do yer homework brother!

KeithBrown · #17 (**permalink**) 06-05-2003, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bubb Rubb

What!! There is no S7! Oh there was a one-off or two, but Do yer homework brother!

Bubb,

The latest Car & Driver editors actually drove one of these mythical $400,000 cars.

Regards,

Keith

Ikestaa · #18 (**permalink**) 06-05-2003, 05:21 PM

True it has taken him some time to get rolling (This is why his cars received such a big handicap in endurance racing), but i believe production has been under way for some time now.

HIQ · #19 (**permalink**) 06-05-2003, 05:53 PM

Series 1 cars are cool but I think $125K was a bit steep for an Oldsmobile powered car. The exterior and interior also look VERY GM. Needs more power.

As for resell of the Series 1, you can find LOTS of LOW MILE examples for 50 to 60K and not just on eBay.

BANDIT 1 · #20 (**permalink**) 06-05-2003, 10:00 PM

One of the reasons I don't like Mr. Shelby is because he has no manufacturer loyality. While the Series 1 car that I tested was junk, he might have had more "diehard Ford" fans buy the car if it was Ford powered.

One of these days we might see a Shelby car that says "powered by Daewoo"...