While perusing the Russo and Steele auction site, I read the description
of this Cobra. This car has a colorful racing resume, but was basically
destroyed in an accident with only a few bits recovered. In 1985 the
owner then took the CSX3012 MSO to Autocraft (not Shelby, not AC), who
basically build him a new car around the recovered bits. The "new" car
then went on to win numerous vintage races, shows and awards from the
SAAC community, certainly with Shelby's blessing.
Very interesting. By our standards, this car should be considered a
fake, and whoever buys this car is really getting a Cobra version of an
Alger. Following this logic, I could basically drop a V-8 into an
Alpine, rivet in a Tiger VIN plate, have it titled and call it..well...a
Tiger. But we all know that is not Kosher in our little community.
We have had many discussions about restoration "authenticity" on this
board. Since they are treating this car as real, what does that imply?
Certainly, one could make a strong case that this Cobra is a fraud, just
a very expensive kit car, so why hasn't anyone? My take on it is that
it's all a matter of money. This Cobra is unique, one of only a few
big-block S/C cars with a racing pedigree, so regardless of the content,
the concept of the car and its history is retained, and therefore the
value. I'm sure this car will go for Big Bucks at the auction, primarily
because the Cobra community has accepted it as a real Cobra.
Is this right? If our Tiger's values suddenly climb up into more lofty
territory, will an Alpine-bodied Tiger suddenly become legitimate?
This should be an interesting discussion....
http://www.russoandsteele.com/collector_car/1966_shelby_cobra_427_csx301
2__roadster/39-1018.html
Bugz
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