Shelby Cobra CSX 4000- What do you think?

[NascarDave]

What do you guys/gals think of the Shelby CSX 4000's? For $80K,
you can have a "real" 427 Shelby Cobra. With the early models going
for $250K and up, do you think these will be a good investment? I
wouldn't be getting into it as an investment, but, that seems likely
especially with Shelby at 81 years old.
Anyone own one? If so, PM me as I'm curious on your thoughts.


www.shelbyautos.com

Thanks,
DN

[HOGDEALER]

My buddy is 100-K and 16 months into having Carol build him a custom CSX 427. His out the door price with 625 H.P. with an all aluminum body is $156-K.

[Craig 201 MPH]

I would rather build a GT40 replica if I was into replicas.

[SylvanSRT]

i looked at several high quality replicas ERA and Contemporary, and superformance, a few of the best. the ERA car had a roush racing 427 and wilwood racing brakes it was very well built and sorted out. the Shelby cars are not worth the premium over some of the others. nice replicas can be had in the 40-50k range. i think in a few years the cobra replicas are going to take a hit in value, including the newer series of Shelby cars, IMHO. that said when i drove these cars i just did not feel safe!!! the door are 1/2 inch tubing with sheet metal covering the door. the last part of my decision came when i was talking w/ a friend from S. Africa. they had a family friend that owned and orginal Cobra in the 70's and had his legs cut off as the car slide under an armco gaurdrail. these are very fun cars with very high performance. they are also essentially a 50's AC ace with some beefing up. they drive like the old cars they are. I'll take the extra weight and airbags and door beams, ABS amongst others. some day in the not too distant future these will be cheap(replicas). when all the guys who wanted one new and had to relive their youth cant drive that heavy clutch and brakes anymore. I do love them but there is nothing like a modern vehicle. makes a Gen I Viper seem like a modern comfortable car.

[Mark Red GTS Cooper]

I have a Superformance, I love it,, very fun, very fast, 351 stroked to 396,

mark

[SylvanSRT]

BTW if i ever decide to build(buy) one it would probably be a superformance w/ an all aluminum 351 with a supercharger, small block weight and big block power. I just can't get past the safety stuff the car does not have that and the comfort of the driving position is BAD for any extended time.

[Triple7]

I would rather build a GT40 replica if I was into replicas.

The company in South Africa that is building the new 4000 series Cobras for Shelby is the same one that builds the CAV GT GT40 replicas.

[NascarDave]

Hogdealer, sounds like that'll be one hell of a ride...and while I agree with SylvanSRT on the safety issues, I'd bet that your friend will not be tracking that car in a serious way (such as I would with a Viper for all the reasons mentioned). More of a cruiser/car show/ hit the strip a couple times. I'd think that's what most "real" cobra owners use their cars for rather than actual racing.

For the money, I think the FFR, superformance and a couple other kits are nice and as well built as the real deal. However, when you go to sell it, it will never be a "real" cobra. I think that's got value to many purists out there.

Craig201, I agree the GT40's are bad to the bone. Did you know that Shelby is now building GT40's? #1 and #2 are complete. They are sitting in the Shelby facility in Vegas...at least they were 2 weeks ago. I've got some nice pics. (about $67k out the door with 302 power)

SylvanSRT, I'll bet you a dollar that an authentic CSX cobra is worth more in 10 years than it is now. I'd also venture to say that the CSX4000's will only appreciate and will never depreciate. There is a reason that Cobra is the most imitated car in history and nothing will replace the original. I appreciate your opinion.

Great feedback, keep it coming, thanks a ton...my dilema is clearing up.

Thanks,

DN

[Carleton]

I owned a Cobra Replica for 4 years and am now getting ready to buy a Viper. I would be very careful purchasing a Cobra as an investment right now as there is civil unrest in the Cobra world between Shelby and the Replica makers. Prices IMO are going to spiral downwards. Also, although Shelby himself reconizes CSX 4000s as "real" cobras many, many in the cobra world see them as replicas and overprice ones at that.

Carleton

[SylvanSRT]

To nascardave i agree the new shelby's will be worth more than a regular replica. but they still will not be a 60's vintage AC or Ford Shelby Cobra. I just dont see the new shelbys as worth the money. you can buy a real 60's small block car for the mid 100k range why buy a fakee-doo for the same money(even if it has CSX number), so you can join the SAAC club?

[NascarDave]

SylvanSRT, Agreed, a CSX built in 2004 will never be a race pedigreed 60's vintage cobra, I don't think that's in dispute here. I think there is value to having a Shelby Cobra versus a factory five. How much? remains to be seen. But, seeing how muscle cars have skyrocketed in value, I see the CSX value rising. As far as "fakee-doo", that's just inaccurate. There is no more "real" cobra, 60's vintage or not, than a CSX. The only difference is when the vehicle was built.

Carleton, what do you mean unrest? Is it the fact that so many were making tons of dough by copying the cobra and Shelby wanted a part of the action? Or is it something more? I can see the basic dispute, but, if there's more, I'd like to get details if available.

Thanks,
DN

[Matt M, PA]

I too would agree that while ole' Shelby hisself may condier them "real" Cobras....the rest of the world, in my opinion, sees them as less than a reall Cobra.

That said...I had a good look at a Superformance car and they are first class. If I were in the market, I'd do one of them with the 2003 S/C Mustang Cobra engine.

[JGK95]

I too would agree that while ole' Shelby hisself may condier them "real" Cobras....the rest of the world, in my opinion, sees them as less than a reall Cobra.

That said...I had a good look at a Superformance car and they are first class. If I were in the market, I'd do one of them with the 2003 S/C Mustang Cobra engine.

Matt,

Your absolutely right. As an avowed Cobra enthusiast, I saw one up close and personal. The fit and finish of the car is so good you'd think it rolled off an assembly line. Great lookers.

Jay K.

[jrkermode]

The Shelby replicas seem to consistently sell for more than the others. But, who knows if they'll hold their value relative to the others. My guess is the Shelbys will do better, but I'm terrible at predicting the future.

Don't forget AC Cars also builds a 427.

Shelby had been suing the various replica makers one by one. I am not sure if that effort continues.

Many of the replicas are significantly more refined than a 1950 AC ACE. They still aren't crash tested so who knows how safe they are, but I would venture they are at least somewhat improved over the original. If safety is paramount, there's always the Factory Five racing version.

That said, I don't like replicas and wish you would choose an original something instead. I don't mean an original Cobra, since they are really expensive, but some other neat non-replica which you can enjoy.

[scottgf]

Ill throw my 2 cents in here.
After watching Barrett/ Jackson this year I was kinda disappointed with all the "real" Shelby "continuation" cars etc....
Ol Carrol is getting into a very grey area with these cars....
I consider these cars to be REPLICAS that happen to be built by Shelby....
I would think these cars would have somewhat higher value than a "Factory 5" or whatever, but I wouldnt buy one of these as an investment...
I think what he is doing is diluting the value as well as the pedigreed of the actual cars that were built at the original Shelby factory in the sixties.....its kind of a shame.
I cant blame him too much, since so many others were making money off his great cars from the past. I just wish he could have resisted doing it.....
Cheers,