AC 289 Original

[hey,littlecobra]

nicely said, what'sacobra....
I believe the Heart Fund/ transplant organization is a worthy accomplishment for CS, unless of course he was just a figure head at its conception, and nothing more than a celebrity figure at this point. I don't know the details, but surely that would be considered an accomplishment? Wonderful posts, by the way.
Kristen

[Excaliber]

Organizations need "figure heads", I don't have a problem with that. I think it's great that Ford has recently recognized the Shelby connection with the recent new design on their prototype Cobra and REALLY recent NEW design of their GR-1 "Daytona Coupe".

I won't assume for a second that ol Shel had "that much" to do with either design, really. BUT, it's nice to acknowledge his relationship with the two marques, even if it is in a "figure head" capacity.

He's old man, with a terrific auto history. I belive "history" will be kind to him in the end, overlooking much of the "controversy" that surrounded him on occasion.

...and thats OK with me.

Just call me, "Captured by the spin" and grinning from ear to ear!

[What'saCobra?]

We agree that CS is an old man.

And we are frequently thankful that he provided us with the object of our art and admiration.

But, we have to remove the spin to play tennis, politics and history. While this is neither tennis nor politics, except for my occasional outbursts, history requires accuracy and objectivity, without removing credit for ideas either well-founded or well-executed.

CS did both with the Cobra, of course.

Although, we could argue about how he dumped the Cobra 289 in 1964 and the 427/8 in 1967 and how he bad-mouthed everyone that tried to keep at least the shape available.

i saw Pete Brock take a piece of CS's buttinski during a mutual appearance one night in Boulder CO, where Pete thanked every "copiest" of the marque; Pete credited them with keeping the spirit of Cobraness awake through all the years of CS's ignorance, intolerance and nattering nabobs of negativism about continuing the cars in any way. Pete was surprisingly frank about how negative CS was through the years and was highly supportive of the glass car vendors.

Anyone want to comment on Brock's subsequent involvement with the SuperPerformance Daytona? i think it is a great job on a great car, though perhaps a slight too much weight. Peter did the right thing.

Ps: at the risk of seeming a tad pedantic, organizations don't need figureheads, except perhaps for non-functionals at the top of fund-raisers (which seems to me would predict a failure of the task.)

Organizations need executive leadership to steer them through problems and accomplish their stated goals and create new ones. CS accomplished several biggies. But, then he left the court and went to Africa and other things. Too bad, for him and us. He could have done more, as he now ruefully acknowledges to himself, if not aloud.

IMHO, of course.

[Excaliber]

The world is filled with figure heads, Hollywood stars being the most obvious. Where the real leadership comes from is often obscured. When the battle is won the General gets the glory, but perhaps the critical decisions came from a brilliant team of advisors? All through history it is repeated, more oftne than not, ONE man gets the credit. Iaccoa for the Viper, Duntov for the Vette, Shelby for the Cobra, etc.

I don't know about the Vette, the Viper and the various war Generals but I suspect as in Shelbys case, they had a great team of advisors. Perhaps great men assemble great teams? In the case of the latest Ford projects some "leader" within Ford decided it was best to stay anonomous and promote the "game plan" using Shelby as a figurehead/spokesman. I guess they could have used Jack Nicholson, but his reputation doesn't fit with high performance cars. Shelbys does. As a "leader" it makes perfect sense to put this guy, Shelby, on their "team".

While WE, those of us who study and soak up the history of the marque, have a greater understanding (NOT perfect) of the "truth", the "people" will know what History records. For now I will tell my son (a young man) of the great things Shelby has done. To my son Shelby IS a great man, a "hero". In time he will learn some of the darker "truths", I will not hasten that time nor will I hide it,,,,,,, in time.

But heck, pic a hero any hero, a leader any leader. Look hard enough at their life and I'm sure you will find plenty of stuff they did wrong. You might even find that more often than not they were terrible to work for! Hard headed, single minded, brilliant a$$holes!

[What'saCobra?]

Someone recently wrote that President Reagan had a sign in the oval office that said something like, "you can accomplish great things, as long as you don't mind who gets the credit."

Actually Iacocca gets credit for several things. Firstly, the Mustang, for sure. It made his name.

Secondly, both getting the largest loan ever from the Federal Government to refloat Chrysler and putting the convertible back on the US market. They paid back every dime and interest payments.

Regarding the Viper, though, Shelby did have quite a bit of initial input, but he was pushed aside when he started to get pretty dopey and obnoxious about what he wanted. Of course, the Viper and the Plymouth hot rod were tour-de-force window dressing to attract Daimler-Benz.

The rebuild of Ellis Island was Iacocca's project along with the creation of the data bank of immigrant's arrivals.

But, in each case, Iacocca had serious personal push from the beginning and pushed until it was finished. He moved mountains in each all the way through the case to get the job done.

But, we would hardly use Hollywood as our standard of a management model. It is true that massive egos are frequently the byproduct of brilliance. But, it is also the byproduct of a combination of inept inter-personal skills and excessive power concentration. Every pain in the buttinski isn't brilliant, most are unimaginative bores that use an offensive behavior to defend their errors and lack of imagination.

As powerful and appealing as the imagry of the Cobra is, that image has little to do with who CS is or was. It is easy for the young or less rigorous or less informed to be misled into confusing the man and the machine. In fact, frequently the car itself doesn't actually live up to its own image.

A $50K new 'Vette doesn't have any trouble zaping a $350K original Cobra either on the track or on the street. They are, of course, not comparable. Yet, the image of the Cobra is simply overwhelming, isn't it?

And, although i don't make it a practice to knock the many different kits available and their variable completion results, most kits haven't got a chance against an original on the track.

As far as FORD using Shel's imagery on their new cars, perhaps it is a good idea. Certainly if it is using the Cobra moniker, it might work. But, in the end, Shel is Shel and his rascally nature will eventually prevail. The man isn't suited to corporate life, for sure. Watch and see.

Look, i love the guy's natural obstinacy, just like i love heros like Parnelli Jones and AJ Foyt. Their performance and personalities allow them a certain excuse from the genteel life of manners and morals, at least to their fans. Their families might argue, however, that they get away with murder.

But, i am a fan, like yourself. i wouldn't expect CS to do any more about the Heart Fund than make sure he got a young man's heart and loaned his name to the effort to pay for it. He doesn't have an obligation to do more, unless he feels his conscience calling. But, maybe he is not a big conscience guy.

But, none of this detracts from his success as the originator of the Cobra ideal and motivating the team to drive the wheels of the cars in the day, actually.

The automotive industry is littered with the personalities of giants who failed to get much of anything done once they left the comfort of the giant corporate protectorate. People like DeLorean are the norm. Kaiser and Colin Chapman are the wonderful exceptions.

If we want to identify an automotive manager today that is enormously successful and who avoids the spotlight, look at Jean Todt, at Ferrari. Look at the results of that team under his magical tutelage. And who is he? Hard to tell, from here, isn't it? Of course, Shuey is the greatest F1 driver ever, some say. But, Todt has changed Italian behavior. Fastest pit stops in F1. Remarkable.

And look at the Ferrari street cars. Beautiful and production car racer quick. Just like the Cobra in it's day, aren't they?