Shelby AC Cobra

[Mark IV]

I apologize if the tone of my post was "hostile"...I did not intend it to be. I have NO problem with you personally, heck, I don't know you so it would be wrong for me to be rude to you. I am sorry if I came off that way.

But I will stand by my statement based upon personal knowledge that AC was not taking 1000 man hours to build the bodies. Do the math, at $10.00 per hour (and those craftsmen don't work for that) you would have a big chunk of cash in the tin!

Rick

[brentfenimore]

Jamvan,

The CSX1000 vehicles will have no affect on the CSX4000 aluminum car buyers in the form of the product or waiting period. We will continue to purchase the Kirkham body / frame assemblies and build out the CSX4000 vehicles just as we have for the past four years.

I apologize that we were not able to inform the customer base in advance of the press release, it is not standard practice in the industry but I certainly understand your point and concern.

Please e-mail me directly so we can set up a specific time to discuss the issue in the morning if you would like.

Mark IV,

I understand completely, no hostility here.

As for the 1000 hour issue, the hand formed body of an AC / Kimmins/ Metal Crafters or any other quality builder aluminum body costs a lot more than $10,000. The 1000 hours was not just the forming time of the panels but also includes welding, body wrap of the cockpit, door, hood and trunk closeout and the skinning of the doors, hood and trunk. An experienced craftsman would not be able to shave a lot of time off the 1000 hours but if you know the shortcuts I would certainly like to sit down to discuss.

R Brent Fenimore

[Excaliber]

,,,some how I was under the impression that AC at some point did in fact build "plastic" cars as well as alloy.

Like Shelby is building right now! But you gotta know what serial numbers represent what model to figure it out the manufacturing details.

No big deal really. I'm sure whatever AC has built or is building are nice cars. But they aren't "Cobras" until Shelby "signs off" on them!

Ernie

[clayfoushee]

Originally posted by brentfenimore

1000 Hrs X 10 Hr. = $10,000. Excuse me if I misunderstood, but since when was an "experienced man hour" available at $10/hr?

Jamvan,

The CSX1000 vehicles will have no affect on the CSX4000 aluminum car buyers in the form of the product or waiting period. We will continue to purchase the Kirkham body / frame assemblies and build out the CSX4000 vehicles just as we have for the past four years.

I apologize that we were not able to inform the customer base in advance of the press release, it is not standard practice in the industry but I certainly understand your point and concern.

Please e-mail me directly so we can set up a specific time to discuss the issue in the morning if you would like.

Mark IV,

I understand completely, no hostility here.

As for the 1000 hour issue, the hand formed body of an AC / Kimmins/ Metal Crafters or any other quality builder aluminum body costs a lot more than $10,000. The 1000 hours was not just the forming time of the panels but also includes welding, body wrap of the cockpit, door, hood and trunk closeout and the skinning of the doors, hood and trunk. An experienced craftsman would not be able to shave a lot of time off the 1000 hours but if you know the shortcuts I would certainly like to sit down to discuss.

R Brent Fenimore

[clayfoushee]

So what was the price of a man-hour on those bodies?

[CSX 4027]

An aluminum bodied CSX4000 Shelby roller less paint runs approx. $74,000 pending options (most upgrade to the premium interior package, brushed closeout panels, racing harness, floor mats, etc. which brings the price up to $78 to 79K).

Kirkham with their 39.9 deal plus some necessary options brings their roller at the mid 50's with the really good and trick suspension. Why so much disparity in price if you are both essentially selling the same car? How come you don't use their new suspension. It appears to be superior to the old stuff. Also, Willwoods appear to be a lot more brake for the money than the Baer. Shouldn't their car be offered just in one configuration so the only difference will be the CSX Number? It just appears to me to be around $20K for a serial number. I am sure to many, it is worth it but don't you think that their new trick chassis components that they CNC developed have any merit in the Shelby version?

[DaxSC]

Originally posted by brentfenimore

1000 Hrs X 10 Hr. = $10,000. Excuse me if I misunderstood, but since when was an "experienced man hour" available at $10/hr?

Try multiplying that figure by six!

[southernfriedcj]

Originally posted by southernfriedcj


Mr. Fenimore, is the intent of the new venture with AC to exactly duplicate the original 60's Cobras, with regaurd to materials and level of finnish? By this I mean the same type and size of frame tubing, and the same bodyshape, as two examples(as a reference, the Kirkham body is a different alloy and a thicker panel than the 60's CSX body).
I do not post these questions as a setup to attack the car, but I'm curious as to wether the car is going to be an exact copy or appear to be an exact copy, but with a stronger frame(I'm not saying one is needed), or a stronger body(you never know when Jamo will sit on your fender).

?

[southernfriedcj]

Originally posted by Jamo


Hey!

Sorry Jamo, I meant "write" on a fender.

[jamvan]

Brent:

Had a long talk with Billy Andrews this morning regarding this thread. I believe he completely understands my feelings and will be discussing the matter with you later this week at the upcoming dealers meeting in Vegas.

Should I like not what he tells me when he returns, I will give you a call next week to further discuss.

All I can say is that if I ever treated my customers/clients this way, I would not be in business very long. I stress the fact, you need to communicate better with your customers "one on one."

jim

[Excaliber]

Curios,,,,, why would it make any difference if SAI is building "other" cars here or there or getting into some other side line like "super chargers" or what ever? As long as they are focused on building the car a guy ordered at the price they quoted how could "expansion" of a company hurt the customer?

....or perhaps the problem is they are NOT focused on building the car a guy ordered? Just musing here,,,,should probably keep my mouth shut!

Ernie

[Jamo]

Oinie...you are a bit of a curio.

[brentfenimore]

Javman,

I will call Billy in the morning to discuss, I need to understand what the bottom line of your issue is and do not want you or any customer to think that we are undercutting your purchase by offering a new and exclusive product to our line.

Ernie,

You are correct, if we moved our focus from any of our current products the introduction of a new product would be and should be upsetting to our current customers with work or contracts in process.

The production of the CSX4000 aluminum bodied cars have not been affected due to the delay in the glass car production and we have in fact increased the production output over the course of the last six months. The CSX1000 product will not have any affect on the production of the CSX4000, they are two very different products processed through seperate means.

The introduction of the CSX1000 was not and is not an attempt to dilute the focus but rather meant to offer a limited edition product that has been requested by several customers over the course of the past several years.

R Brent Fenimore

[KeithBrown]

Brent,

Good luck with your new products. I will never own a CSX 1000 series due to its high cost, but I like the fact that Shelby and Kirkham are always broadening your product lines to appeal to the various pocketbooks and tastes.

Regards,

Keith

[southernfriedcj]

Originally posted by southernfriedcj


?

I guess I can't take a hint.

[John Place]

Brent:

I received yr adverts for $39,995 to be made by CAV, an established GT40 manufacturer in SA. It seemed a great idea and clearly you want to compete with Superformance.
Now SAI apparently caused a major upset for CAV, ending up with taking everything and CAV staff to own their own plant. This is NOT the way we as customers want this industry to act. Now customers are waiting for Shelby cars to be produced by a new plant, without any experience, still to be trained, in a country where the labor (labour) do not speak English. Clearly you have problems as you offer to refund deposits. I lived in SA and know it is a troubled region. You lost a valuable partner, CAV, and now face off with Superformance, who are well established???
Also I believe SPF own AC in UK!!

John

[TerrysSPF]

...........I'm not touching that one!

Just when things were starting to get friendly around here......

[clayfoushee]

Terry...you just did!!!!

[The Deacon]

Seems to me that a few threads need to be merged from this Shelby Manufacturing forum and the all Cobra talk as well. There seems to be valuable insight in both, from Shelby (Brent F.) and others. Just a thought.

[Allan A]

Show us some pictures of the new AC cars at SAI, I hear two painted alum cars just arrived.

Allan