OT for "car guys"

[bradtx]

Dave, Looks fishy to me. We had a SuPerformance Mk.III for quite some time, which was a hoot once we rebuilt the engine and upgraded the rear suspension.

SuPerformance has some sort of agreement with Shelby following some legal activity. Also loaded with all sorts of AC parts.

Brad

PS This it?
Race Ads | For Sale: AC Cobra Shelby S/C 427 SideOiler

PPS One other point, Shelbys start their VIN with CSX.

[John Kepler]

Classic cars....unlike most firearms, have provenance up the gazoo if you look, particularly "one-off" stuff like Shelby's. There IS a Shelby Registry, and if the VIN ain't on it, it's time to start walking.

We get into the same thing with Yenko Stingers in the Corvair World. It's a fairly easy car to "replicate", and the difference in value between the "real" and "Memorex" version is 1000% give or take! Thankfully, real Yenko Stingers are easily identified by the GM/Yenko VIN series.

[clowdis]

Shelby, not being one to turn down money, has started a "continuation" series of Cobras. I think they are made with a licensing agreement with Superformance and they all begin with the CSX4xxx series. They are fiberglass bodies and the owner is correct in saying that is a Shelby car, but it isn't one of the original Cobras from the '60's. The original aluminum body cars start with the CSX2xxx serial nos. and are well into the six digit price tag. I think I am about correct on all this, but my memory fads a bit with time. Whether a kit or not they are badassed little cars and a heck of a lot of fun to drive.

[John Kepler]

They were/are a PITA! I got to work on a couple we raced back in the early 70's! Shel couldn't change the fact that his base AC Ace was designed for a Bristol motor generating a whopping 130 HP! You couldn't own an old Shelby without owning and knowing how to use a TIG as well! Little things like changing the battery in a Cobra was also an involved and VERY costly adventure!

[clowdis]

They were/are a PITA! I got to work on a couple we raced back in the early 70's! Shel couldn't change the fact that his base AC Ace was designed for a Bristol motor generating a whopping 130 HP! You couldn't own an old Shelby without owning and knowing how to use a TIG as well! Little things like changing the battery in a Cobra was also an involved and VERY costly adventure!

John,
Actually I agree somewhat. The first ones with the leaf spring front suspension were awful. The later 427SC suspension with the coil springs weren't too bad. The aluminum body panels were always cracking and twisting. Still mine isn't much fun to cruise around town in, it's a much better road car. 510 hp and 2300 pounds is a different kind of car to drive. You have to be dedicated I guess, but it's time for me to sell mine and buy more guns.

[dogtag]

When those first came out they sold for $9,000. [that may have been the 289]
427 version, 0-60 in 3 1/2 seconds, since equalled, but not beaten.

[Dave]

bradtx--thats it! I knew the wheels were not right and neither is the steering wheel. Now the Vin was 2988 and was marked with the English AC company name and and address. So plate was real or a repro stamped with a number. The numbers started with CSX 3001, Nov. 64 and ended with CSX 3358 in Feb.66. So 2988 would be a real number. There were European market 427 bodies sold with 289 engines #COB6101 -COB6127. The US car cost $7495 for the street version. The ad states CMC body, who is that? and unless a misprint he says vin is OSX, whats that about? But I'm sure I read CSX on vin plate.

[BrianQ]

CMC is Classic Motor Carriage a replica car kit builder.

[Tom Doniphon]

It had to be a replica. Some of them sell for $40,000 or so.

An original 427 Cobra in excellent condition would probably be worth 8 to 10 times the $41,000 price he was asking.

[jsaviano]

Probably a kit. 427 Cobras (there were only about 35 built, all others were 428cuin) started with CSX 3xxx serial no's. None were CSX2xxx; those were 289 cuin. My brother & I built a 427 kit in '88. Fiberglass. But you couldn't know it unless you looked at it or felt it.