AC Cars re-starts assembly following supply agreement with Shelbly

[Excaliber]

No way Shelby will drop the Kirkham body as at least ONE of their suppliers. NO WAY a UK Cobra body/frame could begin to compete in price and quality with a Kirkham body.

......but maybe,,,,,, they don't have to be as good as a Kirkham!

If there made in England (with reproduction jigs, bucks or whatever won't make any difference really) that fact alone may carry the product as "worthy". Perhaps even the little potential flaws will be noted as a true "work of art" and fine English craftsman. A "one of" kind of thing.

Aston Martins are "one of"! If you need a door for your DB-X you cannot just go out and buy one! Each door, fender or whatever was "handcrafted" and fit ONLY that one car! It seems to add to the "flavor" of the end product, not detract from it!

I'm guessing an AC "roller" will sell for $80K plus with few "options" on that "base" model. I'm also guessing they WILL SELL.

Ernie

[CSX 4027]

Whatever Shelby ends up doing it will still be an Shelby AC Cobra made in England.
Now can someone make me a Malted?
-From Malta of course

[ToyCollector]

I can make you one, but one from Scotland is the only way I know how . Computerworks is gonna get rich when he writes the book on all the 2000 era Cobra history.

[CSX 4027]

It's hard to believe so much is constantly happening and the amount of posts over this old primative go cart. Who woulda thunk? Do you thing when guys like McQueen and the like had foresight that this would happen 40 years later when he first saw the Cobra? Can you imagine 10 years from now with CSX40000? Blocks cast in Japan and a joint venture with Mazda. Talk about Zoom Zoom Zoom and a limited edition 427 Hiroshima model.

[SNAKEYE]

Hi there, just thought I would throw ina couple of interesting facts regarding the topic...

Fact: On Alan lubinsky's request Jim Price (Hi - Tech Automotive)took over AC Factory in Frimley as there were on their way to being liquidated and he wanted to save a name that is a big part of motoring history. He also wanted to continue building the original AC car.

Fact: Taking over the factory definately helped Superformance in the Shelby case. If Shelby was 100% successful in his case against Superformance Shelby would have gone after every replica Cobra manufacturer for royalties. If it wasn't for Superformance "taking the blow" from the court case every other manufacturer would be doomed.

Fact: Alan Lubinsky (being the person we all know him to be) went behind Jim Price's back to do a deal with Shelby.

Fact: Jim Price was immediately forced to shut down the Factory in Frimley because of Lubinsky's sly move.

[wilf leek]

Whatever the "facts" of this issue, as a true-blue Englishman, I can only express sadness that a British low-volume specialist car manufacturer like AC is shut.
The whole story of AC Cars and their tribulations over the years is a shame. Mr Lubinsky does not seem to have helped particularly.

When I speak with the cobra (replica) folks here they barely want to acknowledge the contribution from Shelby to the car - they view it as an AC Cobra, rather than a Shelby Cobra.

Many of you guys across the water diminish the contribution of AC Cars to the Cobra as well, majoring on the Shelby connection, if the truth be known.

The truth is that it took all the parties to create this automotive icon. And it is a shame that one of the original partners has ended up in the state it has.

I shall wait to see what actually emerges from this latest twist.

[TerrysSPF]

..........who was that masked man (Snakeye)????

I don't know how this will effect the market (if any) or Kirkham's sales. I still believe, for those who are seeking "the best" will be calling Kirkham. I didn't see anything about Shelby recieving these bodies from AC. -Why should they? They already have a 40K roller of their own. I just don't know what kind of quality one will recieve from AC for 40K. How can they produce a car THAT inexpensive over there? .....I don't think they can.

As for the SPF connection.......who knows? I remember seeing a completed (less motor & trans) AC roller at a Superformance warehouse not too long ago (someone had pictures of it on this forum in fact). There was an article about the 2 companies "getting together" in some kind of joint venture. ......Haven't heard anything about it since.

[Excaliber]

Wilf thats an interesting point about the AC vs Shelby connection. I can understand across the pond where the emphasis would be placed on the manufacturer rather than an "independant builder", namely Shelby.

I see it as similiar to the "independants" over the years who have modified Vettes, Camaros, Mustangs, etc. Saleen has done as much for Ford as Ford has done for him.

While AC had a great car, the Shelby influence took it to a whole new level. Hard to separate the two "builders". I tell you one thing, I'm sure glad Saleen didn't start with a Camaro instead of a Mustang. Could have gone either way!

TerrySPF, by the way, was that AC roller with the SPF connection a "glass" or "metal" car? I never heard which one.

Ernie

[DKing]

I hear you on the Kirkham quality --- they make a really fine car. (My hierarchy of Cobra desirability is Shelby aluminum, Kirkham aluminum, Shelby 'glass... in that order, notably in descending price scale...).

From what I hear about the SAI 'glass car, it's looking high quality as well. (Again, whiney-butt Shelby bashing can go find another thread upon which to snivel).

Let's play a "what if scenarior": What if Shelby is able to pull off a high quality aluminum car, and prices a painted roller for, say, $4000 more than a Kirkham car?

How could he do this? Well, those craftsmen working at the AC plant probably would love to be working on Cobras, and probably don't have a lot of other options without relocating. To be able to stay in their location, be employed during what has been a down economy, and be employed in working on something they love (Cobras!) may compensate for moderate wages. Also, the labor rates in England (I presume) are similar to the labor rates in Ireland. Ireland is becoming a hot bed for semiconductor manufacturing because of tax reasons and lower wages. I am presuming this also applies to England.

This is just a what if scenario, which I think falls in to the realm of "possibility". You can argue the liklihood, if you want. Nevertheless, Shelby's 'glass car announcement over the Summer, and this announcement indicates some changes are taking place in the market. It would be ludicrous to turn a blind eye to these developments and assume that business as usual is a foregone conclusion.

If I were a Cobra manufacturer, I'd be watching this pretty carefully.

[Mark IV]

......for the record "Private Corp" was the UK corporation Jimmy Price bought to operate the AC Frimley works. I NEVER said Jimmy OWNED AC Cars, he held an exclusive license to build and sell alloy cars as AC'S, a license issued by Alan Lubinsky the "Owner" of the brand.

Lubinsky violated on multiple occasions the license agreement, causing Jimmy to shut down after he and another party had invested over $500,000.00 in attempting to keep AC in existance.

This is the real story, I have personally seen the documents and have had several conversations with Jimmy about this. I was offered a stake in the operation but was unable to participate. That SPF owners were claiming that Jimmy "owned" AC was a basic mis-understanding of the facts. He did indeed have title to the products and tooling but not the brand. Even though he was being questioned and some people implied he was not defending himself, that is becuase he does not need to fight in the court of public opinion-he knows the thruth and that is enough for him.

As I have said before, Lubinsky can not be trusted, beleived or counted on. I have seen AC build the bodies and chassis and they CAN NOT COMPETE with Kirkham on a price basis. There is no advantage to Shelby other than the "AC Cars" tag. I have seen the costings from AC and they cannot sell the cars wholesale for what Kirkham retails them for.

Malta is bullsh!t and there will never be a production "AC Mamba".

Mr. Lubinsky will be remembered as the man who was able to finnaly kill AC after 102 years and three previous recieverships....

I have more to say but no time now. I will probably be asked to provide documentation for these claims, I have such documents but as I am only an indirect party to them I will not publish them without the express approval of Mr. Price, such approval I would not even dream of asking for. Jimmy's word is all the assurance I need.

Rick

[Excaliber]

Rick as you explained it here it makes sense and certainly seems plausible.

I THINK England has some pretty strict laws as far as "wages" go and the "workers" may not have much to say about it. It is what it is as dictated by the Government. That as I see it is why the price will be way high.

Ernie

[REAL 1]

Well that pretty confirms my thoughts. The "press release" by Lubinsky just didn't add up.

Further, I spoke to my dealer, HRE and they told me that no such deal is in the works. There has been no press release from SAI. It would be cost prohibitative to use AC bodies and chasis espeically when Kirkham can provide just as good if not superior product, meet demand and at a reasonable price.

The pieces of the puzzle just don't fit. All of the above and common sense seems to say its all BS.

[TerrysSPF]

Excal: I can't remember, but I want to say it was 'glass. It was painted, and nobody said anything about it being alum. It was a 289 body, painted in what I would call a "teal" type color (very light blue / green color). It was a great looking car, but I haven't heard "BOOO" about it since. There was an article about it in one of the SPF publications as well (maybe the SCOF newsletter) along with some pictures. In fact, there are some pictures of it floating around this forum somewhere - I remember someone posting them a few weeks back. Maybe someone (Computerworks?) can find them and post them here.

[Dan Semko]

That COX cobra is currently in Newport News, VA with Ronnie Kruger, CEO of Superformance International.

[Mark IV]

Terryspf

I had posted the pictures of the car that were taken when it was in Florida. I posted them here but do not have copies on the computer that I am working on now. Perhaps someone can find them and link them.

I still get a good laugh at the thoughts of Lubinsky in Bed with CS.....each trying to figure out how to 'bone" the other...




I trust that the link between Ac and SPF is now understood. Lubinsky also owes Hi-Tech for parts and cars (the AC Ace bodies and chassis that were built in S.A. for AC as well as for other items) Thios would have been worked off the royalty payments to Lubinsky. The man can not run an auto company, his skills are as a stock market manipulator (think ENRON) and not as the purveyor of quality, hand built cars.

Rick

[jhein]

Here is a link to some photos of the AC FIA style car:

http://www.performanceunlimited.com/scof/cox2610.html

I saw the car in person at Road America it's aluminum.

John
spf1421