"Is it real?"

[trularin]

I often wonder if people know the difference.

Worst, what is to stop you from saying, "No, it is your imagination."

Everyone should respond with, "Yes it is real. I think, therefore, I am."

And, then tell them to go look at something else.

Geez!

Just my rant, sorry.

[klayfish]

Trularin,
This subject has turned ugly numerous times. You might want to duck for cover.

To me, my signature line says all I need to say.

Steve

[427 S/O]

When asked I always say nope It's a kit,
then I tell them If it was real I would have sold it a long time ago. They usually
don't have much more to say after that except, 'nice looking car', I say thanks and move on.

[Sizzler]

ask them to tell you, and why or why not.
don't ever tell them the answer, just "oh really", "you think that", "you certainly know a lot about cars"...and walk away yourself.

[trularin]

Okay, I will take your advice, and duck for cover.

Thanks for the info.

I was just wondering.

[anchor2]

I had a guy recently come up with his buddy and ask is it real? Well this guy already had the smirk going that you want to slap. So instead of giving him the oportunity to say something stupid I said "yes it is". His buddy said cool and he just frowned. I think I ruined his day.

[KobraKarl]

is it real?............about 75%

is it a kit?..........nope,.....its a custom......


I find either of those answers is enough to throw the would be wise guy off balance, without kicking the ignorant in the shins.

[Back in Black]

I have only run into 2 bad apples. One of them was so jealous of the car that he and his hillbilly buddy yelled some "super dumber" comments out the window of their Chevy pickup truck. They did not likely even know what it was but probably were "chevy" dudes and knew it was Ford powered. Poor pathetic neantherthals

The other hundreds of persons I have met in the first 4 months of driving her have been in awe of the car and quite respectful. Some were drooling and yet kept the drool off my paint And I have received no less than 2,000 "known" thumbs up, no telling how many I have missed seeing. At least where I live, people love these cars and don't care much if it's a REPLICA. I tell them that mine is a modified and highly improved replica of a 1966 Shelby cobra. They ooh and ahhh and go away with giant grins.

[Excaliber]

As to "REAL":
If Shelby built it, then it's a "real" Shelby, end of story. So if Iw as driving a Shelby my FIRST answer would be, "Yes, it's real!"

But I find more people asking if it's a "kit" than asking if it is "real" these days.

To which my FIRST reply is:
"No, it's NOT a kit". In MY case that is 100% true.

If I have the time and they have the interest, I will elaborate.
"It's a 1994 Excalibur, one of 130 plus built only by the Factory and never offered as a kit OR as a 'roller'."

If they STILL have the time and their head has not yet exploded:
"It replicates the 1966 Shelby Cobra model year."

I understand CERTAIN Cobras are offered ONLY as rollers, NOT kits, per se. Therefore, saying your SPF or your ERA is NOT a kit would be accurate. Kirkham? Depends on how you bought it!

OK, so you think they are all "kits" (exception being the Excaliburs)? Then I guess the CSX4000 series and up would be "kits" (ouch, I HATE saying that)!

Kirkham offers a "body" or "body/frame" combo, this I would consider a "kit" (but what an "exclusive" kit that is)!

In some cases there is no quick, easy answer to, "Is that a kit?"

Ernie

[JAM1775]

I usually respond with much pride that it is a "reproduction".
If they ask is it a kit ? I say Yup. Then they ask is it a 427?
I say nope....a worked small block. Then they say wow !!
Looks great. Wow ! Sounds great !! And they drive off.........
in their PT Cruiser . ( My daily driver) It happens at shows, in parking lots and at red lights. It is what it is. I have never felt that discussion feeling bad. Mostly every time they are admirers of the original Cobra and I am proud they even noticed. If someone intended to rip on your car...well ..there are recent threads on that topic . Me ? I'm happy to just be driving it!

[ohekk]

I'm with Ernie!

My response is "NO...It's an Excalibur!"...and go from there depending on:

- Their level of knowledge
- Their interest
- My patience
- My time

Tom

[Roscoe]

Paging Evan....Paging Evan....Base to Evan....

Roscoe

[SSS]

Hmm. My car is being built, so I've not had a conversation with anyone who is checking it out at the same time, but I already have difficulty explaining to people what it is. The words "kit" and "real" already pop up just talking about the genre.

Unfortunately, the word "kit" has a lot of negative connotations. A "kit" is used to make a little plastic model. A "kit" is used to vainly try to turn a miata into a cobra or a fiero into a ferrari. Maybe the industry should find a different word to define a bunch of components that when put together become a vehicle. Heck, Ford could sell you all the parts to make a Mustang and that would be a kit. You'd still end up with the same thing that comes out of the factory.

Superformance builds their car from a "kit", just like any FFR owner does. The only difference is who built it, and what the components are, which have nothing to do with whether or not it is a "kit". Maybe we should start using the terms "self-built" and "factory-built" instead of "kit" or whatever. The components they're made from are different, but they're still component cars, and the group of components could be called a "kit".

Also, the word "real" is basically useless. I think the word "original" is better. An SAI built today is "authentic", but it's not "original". Any Cobra replica that Shelby officially markets as a Cobra is "authentic", no matter what the components are or where they come from. It's still a replica, and it's not "original".

Whenever someone asks if it's "real", they should be informed that it is "real" but it's not "original". If it's a replica, of course. If it's an SAI replica, it is "real" and "authentic" and "a Cobra", but it's not "original". If it actually is an original Cobra, they should be informed that it is "real" and "authentic" and "a Cobra" and "original".

[good2go]

There was a thread here a while back with this same subject and I have been using what I feel was the best response that was listed at that time.

My response to the "Is it real?" question is give a kind of dumb look and say, "The guy that sold it to me said that it was."

People either dont want to deal with that one or feel that I am just too slow for good conversation....LOL

Dave # 88

[427 S/O]

Gimmie a break guys, you really worry what folk's might think if you say, no it's not a real one or, yes it's a kit replica or whatever. If it's not one of the originals built by CS then it's NOT real.
Just drive it and enjoy it...........

[REAL 1]

As to my car.

Q: Is it REAL?
A: Yes. However, its not a vintage Shelby its one of his new continuation Cobras.

Q: Is it original? (knowing the question is really asking is it vintage)
A: No.

[wilf leek]

Evan - will miss you this coming weekend.


Everyone else - do we really have to go through this again??? I know, lets debate the pros and cons of sb vs bb again. it's been a while.

LOL

[REAL 1]

Sorry I couldn't make it to the fling.

Have fun.

[terry lee]

Originally posted by SSS


Superformance builds their car from a "kit", just like any FFR owner does.

I HAVE TO TAKE EXCEPTION TO THIS STATEMENT !!!
NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
THE NEW SHELBYS, KIRKHAMS, AND SUPERFORMANCE VEHICLES ARE SOLD AS A ROLLING CHASSIS. THESE ARE BEST DESCRIBED AS COMPONENT VEHICLES, BUILT BY EXPERIENCED PERSONEL IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS USING STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT. THE OWNER ONLY MUST INSTALL OR HAVE ANOTHER PARTY INSTALL THE DRIVE TRAIN.
SIMPLY PUT, THIS DOES NOT IMPLY ANY FORM OF A KIT.

[BlueRooster]

Yeah I agree Terry. Someone above said it best, a kit is turning a miata into a ferrari. The three you mention do anything but.