Carrol Shelby on Wind Tunnel Right Now!
- Thread starter gp001
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6Stang7
New Member
HistoricMustang
Active Member
You mean the "NASCAR" channel?
Sorry I missed Shelby................there is only "one" of him - what a salesman!
HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
Sorry I missed Shelby................there is only "one" of him - what a salesman!
HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
zookeeper
Founding Member
I was lucky enough to meet Shelby at an autograph session at Monterey last year, and came away pleasantly surprised. He is a very nice, decent person. He is polite to everone and really seems to enjoy meeting people. He is also extremely sharp and has a very good memory. I also can't help that notice the folks who bitch about him have never actually gotten a chance to meet him. So what's the problem? Are they pissed because he made money doing something with cars? Don't see anyone whining about Bill Ford, Lee Iacocca, or Dan Gurney and they all did the same, and the truth of the matter is that if any of us had the opportunity, we would, too.
zookeeper said:
I don't feel one has to personally meet someone, for a brief time, to really know them. Personally, I don't know the man, so I can't comment on what church he may or may not attend. I don't know his brand of drinking liquer so I can't comment on that either. I do have my opinions on his latest escapades, and those are what I draw my conclusions on. Making money is a good thing, nothing wrong with it. Going out with some class is desirable as well.
HistoricMustang
Active Member
Do not misunderstand me when I say he is a "salesman". It is a compliment!!
Anyone that can take one Cobra and "sell" it to a lot of different groups by painting it different colors is tops in my book. If he had not "sold" first the rest would not have happened.
We are lucky to have had him around.
HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
Anyone that can take one Cobra and "sell" it to a lot of different groups by painting it different colors is tops in my book. If he had not "sold" first the rest would not have happened.
We are lucky to have had him around.
HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
zookeeper
Founding Member
I respect your opinions and we are all entitled to share our viewpoints, but I feel the man is judged here on this forum by people who don't know the entire story behind this guy and are quick to pass judgement. What exactly did he do that's so bad? Did you know that he started a foundation to help give underpriveldged (sp?) children around the world get organ transplants that they would otherwise die without? Did you know that when he sued (and lost) Cobra replica companies that he first aproached them and asked for $1,000 per car? The proceeds were not to go to him, but rather to the foundation, and if they would do that then he would endorse the cars, which would put them in the registry, same as the ever more expensive Eleanor cars? I used to think the guy was a money-hungry old codger, but after doing a bit of research, I felt ashamed for thinking that way. Then when I met the guy (admittedly for a couple minutes at best), I was glad to see that he was indeed a nice guy. Without his involvement with Mustangs, you can bet that there would NOT be the same aura surrounding our cars, even though there were very few real Shelbys made, the reputation trickles down to every Mustang as does the price. Can't afford a 427 Cobra? Buy a Shelby Mustang. Can't afford a Shelby Mustang? Buy a regular Mustang and you still can be proud of the heritage that this "economy" car has earned. Remember, our cars were not built to be race cars and are far removed from any signs of performance without Shelby's influence. We should all be so lucky to have people remember (and argue over) our life's accomplishments some 40 years after the fact. By the way, as far as the remark about his church of choice, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. It's how we treat each other that makes a difference.Ozsum67 said:
Zoo, I respect your opinion and thank you for the info and C's charities. That is indeed a noble cause. No offense meant about the "church" thing. Recently, I have come to frown upon some "cult" religions, but that debate isn't needed here. I can afford a S car, but that isn't why I drive a Mustang. Face it, it was Mustangs first, and Carol came along later. Besides, I would always be wondering who was trying to steal it or fubar it from jealously, and I won't own something just to see it sit in a garage all nice and shiny. Some charities are not what they seem, in the case of J. Lewis. Something like 95% of the money raised goes just to run the thing. A bit too top heavy for my taste.
zookeeper said:
Zoo,
I'm not trying to start anything here, I'm just giving some info.
Two of my friends used to work for Shelby's Goodyear race tire division. The 1 friends finace's father (whew) was the head dude. I used to hang out with them at most of the So. Cal races (CART Long Beach GP, NHRA@Pomona, Mickey Thompson, etc), I've purchased tires from them, and helped work on some vehicles at the shop. I got to see and hear how he treated his employees and it wasn't that nice. They all thought he was a dick.
zookeeper
Founding Member
That proves my personal theory that some people can be nice enough, until you have to work for them. But then again, lots of people think I'm a dick even without having to work for me! 
Carrol Who? Oh yea that guy that tried to sue the pants off the Cobra kit car mfg's that were competing with him and beating the pants off him in price. I used to also think highly of him till that happened. Now he's trying to steal the Elenwhore band wagon, that was started by someone else. All salesmen are nice, they wouldn't sell anything if they weren't.
zookeeper
Founding Member
Since that last "real" Cobra rolled of the assembly line around 1966 and the first replica Cobra didn't appear for another 12 years or so, I really don't see how they could be competing for anything. As far as price, a "real" Cobra was around $6,000 while even the cheapest replica was more exoensive than that. Also, I wasn't buying anything from him so why was he polite to me? The Eleanor thing has been beat to death, so I won't even go there, but since you seem to have such a vast knowledge of the Sanderson/Shelby connection, maybe you could tell us how he profits from it, and how much he makes from each car?
You've got it wrong on the competing thing, Shelby recently was selling fiberglass bodied Cobra's , essentially the same kit as Factory Five, for $44,000 where Factory Fives listed at $11,000. That's what I was referring too. Factory Five ( and B&B ) just made the Cobra's afFORDable to the little guys. Shelby apparently didn't like that.
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