An exotic car dealer nearby has an original 427 Cobra with less than 20K miles for $495K. Previously owned by Nicholas Cage. Obviously a collector’s piece, but another identical Cobra, 427, all steel and aluminum was $129K. The dealer said it is an original 68 (maybe 66 I forget) also, but assembled this year. According to him they sell the frame and body and motor separately and he assembles them. What’s the story?
I thought they had "discovered" a bunch of old frames manufactured back in the 60's lying around. Since the frame is the foundation of the car, they were able to legally build 1960's Cobras but built in the modern day.
I also thought these cars were going for the $100k range. I don't think it's a replica, I think it's probably one of these cars, and I *belive* they are real Cobras - at least much moreso than the replica kit cars.
I thought they had "discovered" a bunch of old frames manufactured back in the 60's lying around. Since the frame is the foundation of the car, they were able to legally build 1960's Cobras but built in the modern day.
I also thought these cars were going for the $100k range. I don't think it's a replica, I think it's probably one of these cars, and I *belive* they are real Cobras - at least much moreso than the replica kit cars.
DING, DING, DING! Mikey got it right...real Cobra...not a replica...frames and bodies is what I heard...
Carroll Shelby stored a number of unsold cars, frames/bodies/etc, in 1965, in 1995, he started selling them, since they were built in 1965, they are titled and viewed as 1965 model year cars.Even to DOT and EPA.
It uses some newer technology, if you look in front grille, it should have two electric radiator fans.
They sold in 1995 for $500,000.
They are classified as 'real' Shelby's.
i consider the Shelby cobras built today by his company to be real Cobras. they may not be 1960s Shelby Cobras but they are 100% real Shelby Cobras built to the specs of the man who created the car to begin with. for collecting purposes, a distinction should be made but not for a car enthusiast who just wants to get his hands on one of the great all time sports cars!
"but another identical Cobra, 427, all steel and aluminum was $129K. The dealer said it is an original 68 (maybe 66 I forget) also, but assembled this year."
Go to Cobra Club, this arguement will go on forever. The car you are talking about above sounds like a Shelby American. Please note the aluminum body is made by an actual replica maker called Kirkham. It is a Cobra or "continuation series" but it is not an original 60's Cobra. The frames ect are assembled by prison labor in Nevada, bodies made by a replcia company in Utah. The "dealer" gets the roller and puts the drivetrain of your choice. You are not paying for a better Cobra (in fact Kirkham makes a better Cobra and that is why the bodies are bougth from that company)....you are simply paying for a name...you are not buying an opriginal from the 60's rather a continuation roller with Shelby's stamp of approval.
As for Cage's original I would first check with the dealer as to the CSX#. To give you an idea the difference between a 1960's Cobra and Shelby's current "continuation Cobra" when they had a big Shelby get together SCCA, the CSX4000's owner were asked to step aside for a group photo of Cobra Owners.
I myself do not see any difference between a CSX4000 and the rest of the replica companies. But if you visit the Cobra Club site you will see the CSX4000's owners have a much different opinion after they slapped $100k down for a "continuation Cobra".
A guy in my club here in Arizona bought an original 289 slabside and paid about $140K for it. The same day he bought it he had several offers going as high as $180K and that is for the 289. But everybody knows the 289 is the one who made the name for the Cobra and was generally faster on the track than the 427. Even on tracks today the little blocks handle better because of the weight distribution and you can easily get 500 HP out of them. Don't tell the big block guys this, they are a bit touchy at times. [img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
You know it is funny because the Viper is like the Cobra being it was not designed to be a drag car but it seems they are the benchmark of their time for production cars for drag racing ect. When Shelby came onto the scene, Chevy had to scramble. When the Viper came onto the scene, Chevy is still scrambling. Quite funny. All Chevy has to do is lose the "I want to conserve gas and save the planet attitude" and put a nice 427 in the vette. Then we might see Dodge scrambling? It shoudl be interestign to see if the Ford GT will once again make a name for itself as it did in the 60's as the GT-40? I suspect Chevy as usual will let down their fans and stick with the 350 with petty HP numbers. They of course will assume the position of 2nd or 3rd. When it comes to 2nd best, Chevy has a lock on that. [img]/images/graemlins/laughing.gif[/img]
The best way is to look at the title.
All kit cars, including Shelby's, are classed as kit cars.
The ones I mentioned above, would be titled as 1965's.
I think it was Car Aand Driver that I saw thw article in.
Their were only an amount that would have sold within a year or two, not enough to keep going.
They were 1965 frames, bodies, the ones you are mentioning could be AC cars/bodies with new frame,etc, thet would not be real.
I heard some rumor about him working with CAV or soemthing to make a lower bottom line to go up against Superformance ect? Just rumor and not sure but the CSX4000's are probably pi$$ed or rolling over.
Also from a close source F5 was very close to purchasing Shelby American or somethign to that nature. Lets just say someone might have been moving to Nevada that I knew. But it appears that has fell through but was very real at one point.
Shelby had the wrong mind set. He didn't go after the big one like Factory 5 in the old fashioned American way of matching their product. He went a losing legal route which really didn't win him anything but legal fees. He walked away from the Cobra 427 body style. At a certain part he didn't own the design of the body style. People started making money and he got the wrong attitude, that simple. Slaughter could explain this better as to why Shelby lost.
He is still making money but could have made so much more He could design great cars but he had zero business sense and that still has not changed with his antics with Factory 5. We do owe him a lot, he did a lot to make racing history and too bring titles home to the United States.
A shame Shelby has to keep Whoring his nameto Ford, Chrysler, and
to Chili companies- buy hey, it tastes pretty good so I can let that one slide. He does donate a bunch of his earnings to heart research charities, and coming from a long line of heart attacks I admire him for that :thumb:
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