Yes, When Shelby puts his name on it whether it be a Ford Mustang or a AC Cobra or a CAV 427SC....it does become a Sheby.
Don't have to like it, I don't, but that is what it is.
It doesn't mean it is a better or worse car, just that it is a Shelby.
As a matter of fact when he puts his name on guitars or caramel-corn it does become a Shelby. Doesn't taste better. Just commands more money.
Those who don't like that, try putting your own name on it and see if it works.
I tried, it doesn't work. Unless your name is Shelby, Tiger Woods, Kobe, Jordan nothing happens to average product.
I have shirts at home that doesn't say Polo, an they are just as good. Just not as expensive.
Those who don't care for Shelby endorsed products will probably still sit on the sidelines and throw rocks.
There's nothing wrong with that either.
You can NOW buy a $40,000 Shelby CSX or a $40,000 something else.
Everyone will adjust and will have a ball, and if all goes well, there will be more Cobra owners in the future. Real, Replica, copy whatever.
Just more Cobras.
That's what I am rooting for.
If the sudden influx of inexpensive Cobras are a concern to what happens to the values of those who paid more than the current going prices, do not shed tears for us. We'll be OK.
However I would wonder what would happen to the values of many others who decide to unload their $50,000 Cobra to go buy a $40,000 Shelby.
Guys, you know something? Market has a way of dealing with the ups and downs. It will balance out just fine and new thresholds will be established.
When GM announced "ZERO" percent financing almost two years ago, I was wondering what would happen to the late model used cars. Who would want to buy a 2001 Suburban at 7.9% when they could buy 2002 at o% with lower payments.
It all came to pass, the trade in values of one year old Suburbans went down so low, the secondary market of used Suburbans didn't change. What they are worth changed.
We sold just as many as before, except the new market decided the trade ins were worth a hell of a lot less.
Before we start slinging mud again because we kind a enjoy to see the CSX owner get kicked in the teeth because they are CSX owners and they paid too much, sit back and wonder what it may do to the value of everyone's car and what it may do to other manufacturers.
Crashing market, whether it be in Real Estate or in cars do not benefit anyone other than hurt a lot of people.
When a market takes a dive, the beneficiaries of the doom and gloom are OTHER consumers who can buy your car or mine for a fraction of what we all thought they were worth.
So market prevails once again. While punishing us, it rewards others. THIS IS THE FREE MARKET. This is what made us better than others.
We'll be just fine.
My Kirkham is only gonna be worth 1/2 of what I paid for it? Who cares, so is my 2002 F350!
Will someone please go to Evan's house with a defibrilator.
Steve,
The rules just changed and we'll soon see effectively "a manufacturers price war" where no hostages will be taken and the consumers will benefit. If we look closely at the developments over the last two months, we've watched SAI enter the mid range glass market and AC (SPF) enter the alloy "original market."
As Turk stated, the market will balance. As SFC said, his Kirkham may be worth half but if any of us purchased our cars purely in hopes of a speculative investment, now would be the time to start Prozac.
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DDS/The First Edition
"In debates on ethically contentious issues, it is never wise nor polite to deride or belittle another person's delusion."
Shelby was getting killed by SPF with the monetary exchange rates. He's now fighting them with their own ammo . Plus he has his name and the coveted CSX numbers, and is the only MFG legally able to use the word Cobra .This development will turn the whole industry price structure on it's head. He should have done this years ago, instead of trying the easy way with the lawsuits.
Ernie,
I just took my ERA to a car show in Danville, CA the other day. LOTS of people there.
90% of the people there think they are all just "kit cars"
Unless you are educated about Cobras, alloy vs. glass it does not matter...The only people that know the difference between a KMP or a Shelby are us here.
It is STILL my opinion that unless you have a '65 it is still a replica, some are cheap kit cars and others are high end replica's.
BTW I am a little bummed to see a Shelby roller for less than I paid for my ERA, but I will get over it.
I guess it is a great excuse for me NEVER to sell my car
Quote:
Originally posted by Excaliber
It's still just a GLASS car, BIG difference between that and a Kirkham or alloy Shelby.
Guys Guys just look at it this way. If you own a CSX just buy another one and hedge your bet that's all. The wife could use one anyway. And if you paid say 60,000 for your painted roller and you buy one these at 40,000 it drops the cost of your first car down to 50,000.....see that you just saved 10,0000. These cars are going up to about 48,000 in four weeks anyway from what I hear. right!
Well Brett I get the impression this is an "introductory" price. But if the "numbers" based on volume work out, who knows!
MrMike,,,,point well taken! But then again, those people at the show arent "in the know". That would change when and if they go into "buying" mode? Arm chair analyzing is a complex science, lol.
MrMike,
You have a GREAT car in your ERA.
Just not a Shelby. A car being a Shelby does not necessarily make it better than your car. It just makes it a Shelby.
Yes you could have bought the new Shelby car for less but could you say you would be getting a better car?
Like I said elsewhere, the new introduction is a CAV with a CSX number. I must admit I know very little about the CAV cars. Labelling them Shelby doesn't make them a better car than an ERA.
TURK.
I repeat, I think this is good for the hobby and the industry.
Unfortunatly , this dosn't strike me as a lot different than the sale of many of the old name brands that were synonymous with quality.
After many years at the top of the heap, many a great company has found the expence of building a better mouse trap is slowly reducing their market share and their cash flow regarless of the esteem they might enjoy with the public at large.
So they sell their name to a company who completely drops their old product and re-lables some piece of crap from Taiwan, the profit margin skyrockets and the new owner makes a bundle for a few years until the public realizes that the "old trusty brand "isnt any more.......I'll bet any one here can name a handfull at least.
I'm not saying that this is what is happening with the SAI/Cav deal, I guess it is still too early to tell.....
I guess this is a personal impression, but in my own considerations about owning a CSX,a glass car was never a serious consideration, for me it was just a step too far away from the originals. The CSX# does lend a little cache'but with many hundreds driving around I think you ultimately dilute the brand, and dull the companies reputation.
At some point ERA, SPF,SAI, .......is a "pick-em"
KK
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Foolish consistancy is the hobgoblin of tiny minds
After many years at the top of the heap, many a great company has found the expence of building a better mouse trap is slowly reducing their market share and their cash flow regarless of the esteem they might enjoy with the public at large.
So they sell their name to a company who completely drops their old product and re-lables some piece of crap from Taiwan, the profit margin skyrockets and the new owner makes a bundle for a few years until the public realizes that the "old trusty brand "isnt any more.......I'll bet any one here can name a handfull at least.
I guess this is a personal impression, but in my own considerations about owning a CSX,a glass car was never a serious consideration, for me it was just a step too far away from the originals. The CSX# does lend a little cache'but with many hundreds driving around I think you ultimately dilute the brand, and dull the companies reputation.
At some point ERA, SPF,SAI, .......is a "pick-em"
KK
Great post.
Interesting comparisons.
Revere Ware pots and pans come to mind. Wonder if it will be true with Shelby/CAV's?
While TURK wants more Cobras, I relate to your point. We had a car show this weekend. Small show at a local car dealer. 50 cars maybe. The Waco Cobra Club decided to show up across the street for a "meeting" during the show. 5 cars showed up, and I didn't even bring mine. That made the Cobra the most populated car at the show, more than Camaro's or Stangs or Vettes. People didn't seemed too excited to see them, really. Only a few crossed the road (a fairly busy 4 lane road, granted) to come see them...
Seems to dilute the wow factor, as you mentioned. Now, if you'reone of those who only bought them for your own personal gratification, why even bring them to the show?
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My carbon footprint is bigger than your carbon footprint.
With any "brand name", and I think "Shelby" qualifies for that distinction, a reputation comes along with it.
Whatever my, or your, personal opinion maybe, the Shelby name packs a lot of punch with the "masses", and thats a fact!
C.S. has certainly had plenty of opportunities to "dilute" his "brand name" over the years, but it hasn't happened (despite his best efforts, lol).
Myself? I've about had it with "Sony", for instance. I simply don't believe they continue to make the quality product they used to make.
As for Shelby? Maybe I'm hard headed but I tend to think that in the car world he would not associate himself with an "inferior" product as it relates to the general competition being produced at the same point in time. Therefore I would have to conclude, the CAV association represents a "quality" Cobra when comapred to other "glass" Cobras. As good as an ERA, an SPF? Maybe better, maybe not. Time will tell, maybe it's a Sony in Shelby clothing?
Brett,
For you and I YES it would be great if we showed up some place and we were the only ones. That would provide that WOW factor some crave for.
For me, I would like to see more of them so when we are looking for a place to travel to, an event to attend we can whip up enough to make a group.
I live in the most Cobra dense pocket in the country. Yet, I can drive around for a week and never run into another.
I don't do car shows so I guess I am not all that familiar how that must feel when you show up and and 4 others do as well.
Closest I came to that, I went to a party on a friends boat and 7 people besides me were wearing a white T-Shirt. That made me sick!
I wanted to tear theirs from sleeve to neck.
At over 250,000 a year produced, Harley Davidson couldn't stop the excitement, I doubt it that CAV or Shelby will.
As a business that should be the last thing in their mind NOT to dilute the Cobra population.
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 1649, Steel Gray with Silver stripes 427W/565hp stroker from Performance engineering
Posts: 128
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Shelby from South Africa
Guys, guys, guys, regardles of where Shelby is getting his dough from, what we all fail to recognize is that Shelby has just validated what all of us previous South Africa's Replica buyers have endorsed, a well made product that recognizes and pays tribute to a legend, The Ac Cobras. Shelby Cobras from the 60's.
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Juan Lopez-Bonilla
Kentucky Cobra Club
2432 Crittenden Drive, Suite 201
Louisville, KY 40217
I'm still in the queue for an ERA and I wouldn't change my mind based on this. ERAs are pretty hard to come by. You have to wait a year to get one. The quality is there...like Turk mentioned, just because it has Shelby's name doesn't mean it's a better car.
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"There are 10 types of people out there....the ones that understand binary and the zeros that don't."
Just because it has Shelby's name on it doesn't make it a lesser car or inferior to ERA or Contemporary. You guys just don't seem to get the the fact that all replicas are compromises of the original cobras in one way or the other except for Kirkham and the new SAI offerings. I have so much money in my Contemporary that I could have purchased an original car however I never considered it more than entertainment and therapy. The way I look at it, the longer I keep it, the loss will be less on a per year basis. Kirkham and SAI are in the position of determining the market for Cobras and that is a fact whether you like it or not, and it has been a fact for years now. Any other conclusion is laughable. I am going to call both Kirkham and Shelby tomorrow and see how much cash difference they will pay me in addition to one of their cars in trade for my engine that has block #98 as it's foundation. I am going to hang on to my Contemporary as they don't make them anymore, and their prices should escalate rapidly as they were the best replica ever made or perhaps I will trade it to Turk for that old beat up Porsche and his yeller dog.
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