V8-powered Cobras originally evolved...
Shelby has lost his bid to trademark the original Cobra 427 S/C shape, news that will elicit a sigh of relief from third-party makers of replica Cobras all over the world (and there have been up to 200 of those since the 1970s).
Shelby lost in a US Patent and Trademark court battle against US-based Cobra rep builder Factory Five on 13 October.
"We felt that if he [Carroll Shelby] were to get a trademark on the Cobra shape, his PR machine would use that to make the legitimate replica industry look bad," says Factory Five on its website. "Our position was that a Shelby trademark would have ignored the factual history of the car, which started life as an AC car with a Ford engine in it, as well as completely discounting the huge contributions that replica guys have made to the car's continuing legacy since the 1970's."
...from rhe humble AC Ace
We quite agree, Factory Five. It is a bit rich that Shelby should attempt to claim as an original design a shape that was basically a beefed-up AC Ace and, in our best Daily Mail tone, we reckon the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's ruling is a 'fine victory for common sense'.
"We have never denied Shelby's part in history," says Factory Five, "but he has enjoyed huge popularity, in-part, due to replicas."
Black and white pic: Lothar Spurzem
Factory Five's Own Mk4 Roadster: