How do you answer, "Is it real?"

[Alfa02]

Can't we all just get along ??? We are all here, because we own cars we're proud of, I couldn't care more or less for my cars because their not the "Real Thing" In this day and age, we have more IMPORTANT things to worry about. Please all my friends here "Stay Safe" Cheers TommyRot.

[FredG]

The "is it real" question will always be followed by an attempt to engage the question asker in an intelligent conversation centering around the pluses and minuses of owning a real Cobra and by real I mean a car from the 60's vs all the continuations, replicas or kits and that usually doesn't progress very far. If you were really looking to stir the pot say "yes it is" and see where that goes.

Fred

[cycleguy55]

It's not virtual, so it must be real.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Anthony

….the way I view it is that this is what Shelby has done, offered basically the same car he sold 55 years ago…..

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Yep. Jaguar did precisely this. Everyone praised them and in the same sentence condemned Shelby…..

Are Shelby’s cars really the same as 55 yrears ago? Weren’t they supplied without engines for a start?

On the other hand, Jaguar, with the D-Type, and Aston Martin with the DB4GT Zagato, did actually produce cars that are as close to the originals (true “nut-and-bolt” replicas) as is possible. Because of the accuracy of the reproductions, they of course cost megabucks to produce and even more megabucks for a select few new owners.

Does that sound like Shelby Cobra Continuation cars?

Another point of difference, because they are accurate replicas of 1950’s and 1960’s cars, they (I believe) are not road-registerable.

Cheers!
Glen

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Are Shelby’s cars really the same as 55 yrears ago? Weren’t they supplied without engines for a start?

On the other hand, Jaguar, with the D-Type, and Aston Martin with the DB4GT Zagato, did actually produce cars that are as close to the originals (true “nut-and-bolt” replicas) as is possible. Because of the accuracy of the reproductions, they of course cost megabucks to produce and even more megabucks for a select few new owners.

Does that sound like Shelby Cobra Continuation cars?

Another point of difference, because they are accurate replicas of 1950’s and 1960’s cars, they (I believe) are not road-registerable.

Cheers!
Glen

The "without engines" roller is how all the manufacturers get away with producing a 60s (and even other "old" cars). It applies to more than Cobras - some are also making reproductions of 32 Fords and others. Since they are not a completed vehicle they are exempt from safety and emissions. In some ways this is a loophole.

Recently Shelby did in fact do exactly what Jag did - they produced (or will produce, to order, most likely not building all on speculation) an "original" Cobra built on a stash of frames that were in Shelby's warehouse when he died. These are built as completed cars, but because of that, are sold on bill of sale only suitable for parking in your living room or a museum or for vintage racing. They were not offered by Shelby American but by the family through the Shelby Foundation, and built by a variety of the old time builders and also Kirkham as a separate business.

[xb-60]

Tony, is that "stash of frames" the same stash that Shelby found maybe 20 or 30 years ago, or a different "stash"?
From (vague) memory, that original stash was found to stretch the definition of "original" somewhat.

Cheers,
Glen

[LMH]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

The "without engines" roller is how all the manufacturers get away with producing a 60s (and even other "old" cars). It applies to more than Cobras - some are also making reproductions of 32 Fords and others. Since they are not a completed vehicle they are exempt from safety and emissions. In some ways this is a loophole.

Recently Shelby did in fact do exactly what Jag did - they produced (or will produce, to order, most likely not building all on speculation) an "original" Cobra built on a stash of frames that were in Shelby's warehouse when he died. These are built as completed cars, but because of that, are sold on bill of sale only suitable for parking in your living room or a museum or for vintage racing. They were not offered by Shelby American but by the family through the Shelby Foundation, and built by a variety of the old time builders and also Kirkham as a separate business.

!!
Larry

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Tony, is that "stash of frames" the same stash that Shelby found maybe 20 or 30 years ago, or a different "stash"?
From (vague) memory, that original stash was found to stretch the definition of "original" somewhat.

Cheers,
Glen

Different. I have pictures of them on a shelf in his warehouse.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Are Shelby’s cars really the same as 55 yrears ago? Weren’t they supplied without engines for a start?

On the other hand, Jaguar, with the D-Type, and Aston Martin with the DB4GT Zagato, did actually produce cars that are as close to the originals (true “nut-and-bolt” replicas) as is possible. Because of the accuracy of the reproductions, they of course cost megabucks to produce and even more megabucks for a select few new owners.

Cheers!
Glen

I would think Shelby American would build you a completed car as well, truly identical to one of the originals, as there were differences among them as well, if that's what you want, unregisterable of course, and megabucks as well. Although initially I think he wanted to sell some cars like that, he got caught, and that ended that. His goal I think was to get his new Cobra's out on the road, and somewhat affordable, to compete with the other replica manufacturers, unlike Jaguar / Aston Martin, who just wanted to build museum pieces. Maybe they could build / sell rollers, but I think there's little , if any, replica market for those cars. Not sure how much money there would be to make selling Jaguar D rollers at much lower prices. There's a niche for almost everything.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

they produced (or will produce, to order, most likely not building all on speculation) an "original" Cobra built on a stash of frames that were in Shelby's warehouse when he died. These are built as completed cars, but because of that, are sold on bill of sale only suitable for parking in your living room or a museum or for vintage racing. They were not offered by Shelby American but by the family through the Shelby Foundation, and built by a variety of the old time builders and also Kirkham as a separate business.

I've got that deed to the Brooklyn Bridge waiting for your $1,000,000 cash deposit. Remember, I prefer small, unmarked, non sequential bills


Bill

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Uhhhh, how many pieces of an original CSX3xxx car would I need to graft on to my ERA before I could call it an original Cobra?

Just my 2 cents worth as a newby here but.....given the amount of ground up restorations, rebuilds and modification so many of the 'original's' have had prior to being auctioned off for all those hundreds of thousands of dollar (millions even) the real question is how original are the originals nowadays.

How many could truely say they still have all the parts and paint that Carroll himself stuck on them before they went out of the factory door.

[t walgamuth]

There are some out there.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

There are some out there.

Cars, yes, unbuilt "original" frames from the 60's, no

[Blue66]

This other time in BAND CAMP We found 4 frames at Shelby's ranch when we down there for a band recital. I wonder if those are the frames ? In one spot they had MMR on them.. Have no idea what it means.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

I've got that deed to the Brooklyn Bridge waiting for your $1,000,000 cash deposit. Remember, I prefer small, unmarked, non sequential bills


Bill

I'm curious. Just what college did you go to to get a PhD in D***head?

I don't care if you believe them or not, they exist. Two have been built and documented here, in fact one of them got in a wee bit of trouble for doing so since they trumped the official announcement.

Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

The topic includes a post from David about them. And you're there too, just as negative as ever.

[mrmustang]

Just saying

But then again, you were on the original thread, so you know the facts are there, as you just linked to it again

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I'm curious. Just what college did you go to to get a PhD in D***head?

I don't care if you believe them or not, they exist. Two have been built and documented here, in fact one of them got in a wee bit of trouble for doing so since they trumped the official announcement.

Mystery solved. Shelby Trust to sell Real Cobras

The topic includes a post from David about them. And you're there too, just as negative as ever.

Two such attacks in one day, I do so enjoy when someone has an agenda trying to rewrite history, while I do not. The facts are here on the forum, in the SAAC registry and in multiple news articles in various trade type publications for all to search and find, you can rehash them all you like, change your wording, but the facts themselves will not change, no matter who sends out a press release. Have fun with it, does not bother me at all.

Bill

[peterpjb]

Angliss, the greatest producer of AirCars, the ultimate reference to Shelby issues, lol

[peterpjb]

Angliss, the greatest producer of AirCars, the ultimate reference to Shelby issues, lol

[ERA 626]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Are Shelby’s cars really the same as 55 yrears ago? Weren’t they supplied without engines for a start?

On the other hand, Jaguar, with the D-Type, and Aston Martin with the DB4GT Zagato, did actually produce cars that are as close to the originals (true “nut-and-bolt” replicas) as is possible. Because of the accuracy of the reproductions, they of course cost megabucks to produce and even more megabucks for a select few new owners.

Does that sound like Shelby Cobra Continuation cars?

Another point of difference, because they are accurate replicas of 1950’s and 1960’s cars, they (I believe) are not road-registerable.

Cheers!
Glen

This sounds like a very logical post. Good job.
That being said, this fourm is full of guys (not all) who like to put down or otherwise demoralize the cars and people who own continuation cobras. They are if fact made by Shelby and have a shelby vin #. on this web site people laugh at us who paid a premium for a CSX car, its getting exhausting.
Look on the international forums and it is quite opposite. This thread is full of arguing, fighting and fussing over whos car is better... Quite juvenile in my opinion. I owned a top shelf replica (ERA ) for 17 years, loved the car. is it better than my CSX car? different topic all together. Guys, we all need to stop arguing about whos car is better whos car is "real" and who has a "kit car" its really making the entire cobra group look like a bunch of 8itches arguing over nothing... RANT OVER...

[jolsen42]

I just say no, I built it, but thanks for the compliment. Simple, honest and concise.