This memo is mostly addressed to customers that have placed deposits on the new CSX4000 cars that are in production at the facilities in Cape Town however it sounds like the rumor mill also needs some updating on the issues as well.
I had hoped to update our customers on a more personel basis through the dealer network but could not delay any longer due to the mis-information flying about on the site.
Although we have run into production delays at the plant in Cape Town we have by no means shut down or slowed down on the process of getting up to full production. The bulk of the delays have been due to the demands of Shelby that the product is a true representation of our CSX4000 Series Cobra Component Vehicle. Shelby will not compromise the quality of their products and is making every effort possible to guarntee the units are built to our standards and quality.
Through past experience I know several of the skeptics out there will turn this into just another excuse by Shelby but this too will pass in short time.
I just returned after a ten day visit and inspection of the facilities and production in Cape Town and am pleased to report that we have 16 production units in process at this time and are in the process of installing two more units per week into filling the system.
Although our original schedule had called for the completion of the first twenty units by January 1, we have reduced that figure to six complete and twenty in process in order to insure the units are built to the above mentioned standards.
When we are in full production and producing ten units per month starting in March of 2004 we will have aprox. 35 units in production at the South African facility and six to eight completed units in transit at any given time.
I want to make sure to state that Carroll Shelby, SAI and CAV are totally dedicated to this project and that we are sorry for any delays in getting you your Cobra. I will be putting out a status report on my trip addressed to our independant dealers this coming Monday and they will of course forward it to each of you that has placed or plans to place an order for a 427 S/C Cobra.
FYI: CAV has several facilities to include a 25,000 sq. ft composite plant, a 18,000 sq. ft automotive assembly plant, 14,000 sq. ft marine assembly plant as well as several remote offices throughout Cape Town, South Africa with aproximately 110 employees in total. Superformance is located in Port Elizebeth, Soth Africa, aprox 500 miles from Cape Town so please don't take a Taxi if you wish to see both facilities in the same day.
I did not want to mix one subject with another but wanted to take the time to make a first hand comment on the Series 1 program.
No customer in the 248 cars that were contracted, built and delivered was ever forced to accept a price increase above the sales price that was given them at the time of their original deposit and contract. As a matter of fact over 40% of those customers have returned their cars for additional performance upgrades through Shelby Performance after the original delivery of their Series 1 vehicles. Another interesting figure is that over 15% of those customers have purchased Cobra Component Vehicles after the delivery of their Series 1 and I am sure their will be more to come.
As someone mentioned,in spite of the holidays Shelby was able to respond to our requests within a day.
tddnepa posted the details of his email ,on the 28th. Brent replied on the 29th.
When the emails I did not receive got posted in here, I was able to reach the Vice President of Shelby American and as far as I am concerned, they did respond to the questions raised professionally. It satisfied me. Then again I wasn't the one raising the questions.
All I wanted to do was to make sure the right people got the message, since they don't monitor the forum like most of us do. I delivered on what I promised. I personally couldn't care if I got any emails from anyone. I was simply trying to facilitate an inquiry from a new member. I guess it got lost in translation.
You can send an email to someone when they link their email here on the forum.
Such as ate@chevs.com
This way you will not have to worry about misspelling, and your emails will get delivered.
Thanks Turk for handling this as a moderator very well, it's a good example of getting the information we all want to have and not dwelling on the unimportant.
And, thanks Brent for the quick and detailed reply.
Pat, I got your point. But, my point is we already have a moderator for the forum, and he seemed to have the situation handled to his satisfaction. Oops, but then I guess I am playing a bit of a moderator role with my comments too. Just cause other forums aren't friendly doesn't mean this one needs to be unfriendly, does it?
thanks for the reply. My reason for posting the question here was that i understood you people at Shelby review this, and i could get a final answer from you. i appreciate it. believe me, next time i have a question for you like this, i'll just call.
turk, thanks for your help, and maybe something did get lost in the translation. You certainly SEEMED to care very much, when even after i cut/pasted the email here, you went through all your emails looking for it. That certainly seemed to fire up the natives.
i said from the start there was no mystery, that i had probably made a mistake.
Anyway, no harm, no foul, and thanks for facilitating the answer. i clearly have no idea how to interact with this group constructively, so i'll just call the manufacturers from now on.
Cobra Make, Engine: Crendon, windsor 408 stroker, tremec. Also GSX008
Posts: 1,406
Not Ranked
tddnepa - taking your leave of this place will deprive you of the knowledge and experience of the most knowledgeable and experienced bunch of cobra enthusiasts around. And that is because all makes are represented here.
That would be a shame. Maybe just chalk this episode up to experience and try again? You managed, I assume innocently, to tickle a collective sore spot first time out.
maybe youre right, wilf. I certainly had no idea this would be such a sensitive, emotion-laden topic as it seems to have been. i thought a few people would weigh in on things they'd heard, and someone like brent would give the story, and that was that.
tddnepa - Please don't title you next post "Big Block vs. Small Block"! This thread demonstrates the passion for these cars that exists on this site. You can imagine the wealth of knowledge behind it all.
I've seen several threads get going this way and it almost always happens when a person with only a couple of posts on their ID brings up a controversial topic.
Hope you stick around...most others bailed early...you passed the test
__________________
"There are 10 types of people out there....the ones that understand binary and the zeros that don't."
.......Geeez, I feel like Evan; only on the other side of the coin!
PatBuckley: My "derogatory" statements on the Seires1 cars came from a number of articles I've read about them (and what had happened with production and pricing) from numerous, reputable, car magazines. It is no secret that production was delayed quite awhile, and that the price of the car went up quite a bit from the original price quoted. I was under the impression (again, from what I read) that the folks with deposits on these cars had to pay the "new", full price for them, vs. the price they were originally quoted. I have also seen post on THIS forum that were quite similar to the articles I read.......without a lot of rebuttal from Shelby fans. In fact, some CSX owners concurred with the statements.
For the record, I have been hard on "other" Cobra replica mfgrs. Especially when they don't deliver WHEN and WHAT they promised. It wouldn't matter if it were SPF or Shelby......it's just that Shelby seems to be getting a reputation for "delays", "price issues", and "other" things. I have only wished for the best to those who have deposits on the new SA rollers. I honestly hope they get a great car for their money. In fact, I myself contacted a Shelby dealership when word of these new rollers came about because of interest in buying one. I have had nothing but positive comments on the Shelby FE alum. blocks on this forum, as well as others.........along with other Shelby products that I either have, know someone who has them, or would like to purchase in the future, (And NO, I don't mean the popcorn).
Brent Fenimore: I'm happy for the folks who have money down on the SA rollers that you responded here, as well as future, more "personal" responses, that you said they will (and should) get in the future. That's just good business. There has been a lot of speculation about why there have been delays in production, and many people have made comments on the facility in SA being closed. If the delays are due to Shelby demanding production of a "better built" roller, then your customers will be the winners. Some specualtion has been in the S. Africa plant itself. Was there, or was there not, supposed to be a different "Shelby" facility (not the CAV buildings where you mentioned) at one time? If not, then I apologize for the misunderstanding. Believe me, I'm not the only one that has been mis-informed about this (if, indeed the "other" plant never exhisted).
As far as the Series1 cars go, my comments were based on information obtained in articles of reputable magazines, as well as info from other forums.
When you say that 40% of the 248 Series1 owners came back to Shelby for "performance modifications", all that tells me is there were 100 people that weren't happy with the performance of the car........or at least what they felt they should have recieved for their money. It's a beautiful car, but it's no secret that it doesn't perform as well as cars in it's price range. ....Of course (I must admit, after saying that), I wouldn't "kick one out of my garage".
I wish you and Shelby the best of luck with these new SA rollers. Actually, I'm excited about seeing them on the road! I have a buddy in Ohio that is placing an order (he may already have done so) despite the talk that has gone around.......and NO, I didn't try and talk him into "something different". In fact, I told him I highly doubted that Shelby would hault production on the car, and that when one comes out, it would most likely be a good product. I'm not "married" to any certain manufacturer (regardless of what some folks might think!). The only reason I use "TerrysSPF" as my name is because they are the mfgr I decided was best for me while shopping over a year ago (when I 1st joined CC). I had plans to buy one then and they fell thru. I kept my name the same, but continued to shop around. I could have easily changed to TerrysCSX, or TerrysERA had the circumstances been a little different. I didn't like the long wait for ERA, and I wanted to be able to see and drive a CSX for myself before buying one. That didn't happen before I ended up with a car (which happens to be an SPF......who, IMHO, puts out a nice product for the money).
I'm married to the "car" itself.......not the company who builds them. ....And, of course, the FUN that goes along with driving one (from ANY mfgr) !!
I thought Brent F.'s statement of the facts was very clear.
1. Production continues at CAV.
2. Nobody had to pay a price higher than quoted for a Series 1.
Interesting that so many customers had enough "extra" dollars to buy both a Series 1 and another Cobra! No doubt the rest of them would have, IF they had the money!
Some people, no matter what the facts, will continue to believe what they choose to believe.
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby CSX 4780...after 19 months finally in Vegas. Now, if they can get the paint right :(
Posts: 47
Not Ranked
As long as Brent is watching and listening, all I care about is the best information from the most informed, most reliable, and most unbiased person out there. Right now that person appears to be Brent from SA. Saves me having to call out there tomorrow and bug the poor man.
Excal: I didn't say that I didn't believe Brent. In fact, I'm more than willing to listen to ALL sides of the story. As far as what's going on with the SA rollers, I would think people should take his word as gospel..........especially those with deposits!
What Brent said about the Series1 cars is the first I've heard of it going down like that. I would assume that he knows better than most of us on what happened there (unless there are any Series1 owners in here somewhere!). I am more than willing to take his comments as "fact". In fact, I'm glad I heard from him about it! For years, I've had a bad taste in my mouth about what was written in a number of articles about the situation. The beef shouldn't be with ME, but with the editors of the publications that printed the articles. .......Don't shoot the messenger over the message. I know you shouldn't believe everything they read in the paper (so to speak), but when it's written in a couple of reputable magazines, are you supposed to ignore it?
Next time, I guess I'll have to call CS himself. Geeez.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.......for cryin' out loud!
Last edited by TerrysSPF; 11-30-2003 at 05:32 PM..
...........Went for drive today (50's in Chicago!!!), and while I was out........I could have sworn I saw a deer.......hmmmmm.
tddnepa: Stay around buddy...........there are a great bunch of guys here with a ton of information on just about everything to do with Cobra's. .....Just don't ask for help on your engine choice if you're confused between a BB and a SB! ;-)
Happy Holidays Pat!
Last edited by TerrysSPF; 11-30-2003 at 05:48 PM..
I would have hoped Brent's post would have the been the one conclude this thread, but I guess I was wrong.
We are in the manufacturer's area. Questions were asked, and they were answered. Can't we leave it alone for a while until the next set of of rumors arise?
I recommend another thread be started by those who want to continue this endless, and senseless bickering elsewhere.
It IS the manufacturers forum, seems like enough has been said already, and Series ! is probably of very little interest to anyone unless you own one.
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