What happened to calling it an AC cobra?

[Nedsel]

I come down on the side of those who believe all 60's Cobras were, first and foremost, AC's, as they were built by AC Cars. How one refers to them is, to my way of thinking, secondary. I got around the issue by acquiring an AC that never went to Shelby's factory, so there is no question about it: it's an AC Cobra.

[DMXF]

While anyone can choose the name they wish to use for the cars based on their own desires, the official, real designation is what is shown on the Manufacturers Certificate or Statement of Origin. Ned, don't all 427 cars and most 289 cars (sold by Shelby American) show Shelby American as the official manufacturer of record? While AC had substantial input on the design and manufactured the bulk of the cars composition, they were nonetheless simply subcontractors for Shelby. An analogy would be computer components or appliances - a Dell computer or Kenmore washer may have had the entire machine made by another company, but they are still legally Dell and Kenmore products. In fact, everything you buy from Sears is made by other outfits, including all lawn equipment, but they are still Sears tractors, etc.

[razerwire]

Donald Trump built the Trump Towers. I'm sure their were a lot of skilled craftsman involved and lots of great sub contractors and suppliers, but it was Trumps money and vision that built it. If he did not build it I'm sure the vacant lot would have been used but the building would not look like the Trump Tower.

[rsk289]

Originally Posted by razerwire

Donald Trump built the Trump Towers. I'm sure their were a lot of skilled craftsman involved and lots of great sub contractors and suppliers, but it was Trumps money and vision that built it. If he did not build it I'm sure the vacant lot would have been used but the building would not look like the Trump Tower.

By which argument, it's definitely an AC Cobra. Shelby didn't build anything - he assembled a Ford engine into an AC car. I'd say John Tojeiro had a greater claim to 'fatherhood'!

[Nedsel]

DMXF, I do not refute your point, as the Shelby cars were called out on the MSO as having been manufactured by Shelby American, Inc. But among the buyers and the pundits of the period, they never assumed a common nomenclature; they were variously referred to as Shelby Cobras, AC Cobras, AC Shelby Cobras, Ford Cobras, etc. Meanwhile, the Cobras that were retained by AC Cars for sale in Europe were always considered AC Cobras, as AC built them from start to finish rather than ship them somewhere for installation of the drivetrain.

[A-Snake]

To Ned's point, these photos are from the 9/63 issue of Road & Track. They use all the terms.

[Nedsel]

Looks like the Motor Trend article to me, Jim!

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Looks like the Motor Trend article to me, Jim!

oops...You are correct!