Continuation Cars

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by SunDude

It was my understanding that, for the CSX4000/6000 continuation series Cobras, Shelby Autos was producing original-style, round-tube chassis frames using tooling that was made by Mike McCluskey for the so-called "completion cars," and that the aluminum, fibreglass and carbon-fibre bodies were sourced from third-party vendors (i.e., Kirkham, Hi-Tech, HST and so on).

That is wrong. They receive completed, painted rolling cars from HST and HiTech.

And you cannot really separate the body and frame on the aluminum cars. The Kirkham-sourced ones were frame and body and other various parts, but short of a roller. Suspension, etc. was completed by SA

Do the new CSX4000/6000s use the original round-tube frames, or are they using the same square-tube chassis as the SPF cars?

They use the round-tube frame, built to SA specs

[jhv48]

Thanks for all the clarifications!

Clear as mud!

[REAL 1]

Jhv: Keep it simple. It boils down to this. Any Shelby of the new generation is a Continuation Series Cobra.

Completion series as pointed out by Ron is a different being constructed with "oringal frames".

A Spf is not a Shelby. Its a replica of a Cobra authorized by Shelby American/Autos. End of story.

Yes, I can sense these threads. Kinda like Spiderman's "spidy" sense.

While you guys whine about me all the time just think how bored you guys would be if I wasn't here.

[xlr8or]

Now that the original question is all cleared up can we start the Evan bashing??

Just kidding Evan. This actually stayed pretty civil.

[lamaluv]

My God, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree on something with you Evan , you do keep these treads from getting boring. Also from the other tread; the picture of your car is very nice and I can understand why you are proud of it.

Dick

[Excaliber]

SPF, it's just a licensed Shelby product. Got a coffee mug you would like to associate with Shelby to increase sales? No problem, pay the licensing fee and your in. That doesn't make it a genuine or real Shelby product, but, hopefully, it is a nice coffee mug.

In some cases somebody might fudge the advertising just enough to lead a potential buyer into thinking it's a "real" or "genuine" Shelby coffee mug, it is not. It's JUST another coffee mug among the thousands of coffee mugs available all over the world. What makes THIS mug special is it's association with a powerful "brand name" through a paid endorsement licensing deal.

Now what Evan has is in fact a genuine Shelby product, not a license deal, it is the "real" deal.

[RodKnock]

Ernie, you may get the SPF owners upset, since you're comparing the SPF to a coffee mug.

[Excaliber]

...it's a very nice mug you see, not some made in China mug. This would be a genuine South Africa mug.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by SunDude

This is an interesting thread.

It was my understanding that, for the CSX4000/6000 continuation series Cobras, Shelby Autos was producing original-style, round-tube chassis frames using tooling that was made by Mike McCluskey for the so-called "completion cars," and that the aluminum, fibreglass and carbon-fibre bodies were sourced from third-party vendors (i.e., Kirkham, Hi-Tech, HST and so on).

So my question is: Is Hi-Tech Automotive supplying Shelby Autos with fibreglass bodies only? Or are they producing a rolling chassis, similar to the Superformance cars? Do the new CSX4000/6000s use the original round-tube frames, or are they using the same square-tube chassis as the SPF cars?

I don't think this was made clear in the other posts.

My HST-built carbon fiber (CSX4005LA) has a round tube frame.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by xlr8or

Now that the original question is all cleared up can we start the Evan bashing??

Just kidding Evan. This actually stayed pretty civil.

I'm still reeling from the fact that he invoked the name of my favorite superhero since childhood. Now I have to go and pick another superhero, since he's tarnished Spiderman.

[REAL 1]

Rodknock: Ssshhh, don't tell anyone.....I am Spiderman.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Rodknock: Ssshhh, don't tell anyone.....I am Spiderman.

uh-huh.....

[jhv48]

I always heard that those "leftover frames I had stored in a warehouse that I forgot about" was a bogus ploy by CS to build some more outrageously expensive "original cobras".

But California caught on and denied the registrations.

Fact or fiction?

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by jhv48

I always heard that those "leftover frames I had stored in a warehouse that I forgot about" was a bogus ploy by CS to build some more outrageously expensive "original cobras".

In business, there is a fine-line distinction between "bogus ploy" and "very clever marketing plan".

The story is basically true, but there are a lot of twists and turns that got to the finish line...that the completion cars with the CSX30xx serial numbers could not be licensed for the street in California.

[computerworks]

From a SAAC editorial....

In December of 1992, Paul Dean, an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, contacted Shelby. He was working on a story which was eventually titled “A Donor With a Heart.” It ran in the January 28, 1993 edition and it described Shelby’s building of 427 Cobras and their link with his charity, The Shelby Heart Fund. Shelby stated that the cars would be sold for $500,000 each and that proceeds would go to this charity. Dean spoke to dozens of people around Shelby and the resulting article portrayed him in a very positive light.

Two and-a-half months later Dean wrote a follow-up article which sand-bagged Shelby. Using the good will created by his previous piece, the reporter spoke at length to a number of people about the 427 Cobra S/C project and gained their confidence. They later found their comments used to cast Shelby in the worst possible light. The second article questioned Shelby’s right to give 44 new cars 1965 serial numbers and use 1965 titles. It called into question Shelby’s integrity and offered quotes from several so-called (but unnamed) “experts” who maintained that these cars were little more than over-priced replicas. After interviewing representatives of the California DMV, Dean succeeded in getting them to initiate an investigation of Shelby. Then he used the fact that Shelby was being investigated to allege potential wrong doing. In the end, Shelby was not allowed to use Manufacturers Statements of Origin to title the cars as original 1965 models (which would then not have to conform to any federal or state motor vehicle requirements). Instead, they would have to be sold as competition vehicles, which could not be registered or driven on public roads.

[dcdoug]

But the Continuation 4000/6000 cars have 1965 MSO's. So how did that happen? Is that because he relocated to Vegas (not sure when he opened a plant in Vegas, sorry if that's a dumb question, I probably should know that), or does that not have anything to do with it?

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Is that because he relocated to Vegas ?

[A-Snake]

Quoted from the 2008 SAAC World Registry,

“CSX4000 Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO).

The model year, given as “1965” on all CSX4000 MSO’s, is actually incorrect because it is supposed to indicate the actual year the car was manufactured. Instead, Shelby American used it to describe the year of the car they were building (because it was a recreation of a car that had been built in 1965). They were concerned that describing the car as a current year (i.e. 1997) model would mean that it had to comply with safety and emission requirements for a new car. This sidestep eliminated that problem for Shelby, but has caused problems for owners later on when they attempted to register and/or insure their cars because DMVs or insurance companies caught the discrepancy of a car that was constructed in, say, 1997 as being described as a 1965 model on the paperwork. Fortunately, most states are rewriting their motor vehicle laws where street rods and replica vehicles are concerned and allowing them to be registered as the year of the car they most resemble”

By the way the Registry is available for purchase at

http://www.saac.com/index.php?page=s...hk=1&Itemid=45

[dcdoug]

Interestingly, the NADA site, which is what DC uses as the exclusive determination of value for any used car, lists Continuation 4000 series cars as 1965 model year......http://www.nadaguides.com/default.as...i=86228&d=6292

Glad it does or I would have had a lot of difficulty getting mine registered......

[Got the Bug]

Hey, whatya say we start a new thread exactly like this thread in say a month or two so we can re-visit history and confirm the facts.

I'm going to take my "South African coffee mug" out for a drive tomorrow.