AC and Shelby Start Production
Frimley and Las Vegas join forces to produce latest Cobra
Yet another chapter in Cobra history opens today with the news that the first new "Shelby AC" model in more than four decades will arrive at dealers and consumers in the Summer of 2004.
The cars being built by AC in the UK will now be shipped to the US and branded as 'Shelby AC' following an agreement between the two companies late last year.
The handcrafted aluminium Cobra body shell produced at AC’s plant in Frimley, Surrey, will be shipped to Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas for final assembly, fit and finish.
Initially the Cobra will be offered in two models, the Shelby AC 427 S/C Cobra and the Shelby AC 289 FIA Cobra. Shelby have given them the more motorbike-like monikers of CSX 1000 and the CSX 7500 Series.
The new partnership will see more than 20 Shelby dealers across the USA punting out the cars. Prices have not yet been established but first deliveries to dealers and customers are likely in the summer of 2004.
“We want to recreate products with true heritage and quality as we did in the 1960’s and use this to expand and propel us into future new products ,” said Carroll Shelby, chairman of Carroll Shelby International.
“It is fantastic that these two great brands are together once again, meaning that car enthusiasts throughout the world can once again be certain that they are purchasing a Cobra with the original genuine pedigree ,” said Alan Lubinsky, Chairman of "AC Motor Holdings Ltd".
The agreement between the two companies comes after years of confusion over the Cobra and the various companies and holding companies responsible for manufacture and sale.
The current set up is as follows:
- Carroll Shelby International, Inc. is the parent company of Shelby Automobiles and Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc
- Shelby Automobiles Inc. is manufacturing Shelby vehicles under the guidance of the Carroll Shelby and plans to increase production and availability of these Shelby products through an expanded dealer network and direct sales under a license agreement with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc.
- Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., was founded in 1988 and is responsible for all of Shelby's trademarks.
- AC Motor Holdings Ltd is the latest of many incarnations of the AC marque.
Is that clear now? 
Links
FYI-
CSXR---- chassis numbers stand for Carroll Shelby Export (Race Cars Only), with the CSX---- chassis model type standing for Carroll Shelby Export- ie the road legal version of the racing car.
My grandfather (god bless his soul), was a tyre technician for Goodyear Racing Division & SAAC back in the 60's, & was given a 427s/c by Shelby when Ol' Shel' ran out of funds and could not pay his race team staff. This car was fully race prepared & road-going/ legal to UK & US standards......afetr he died I inherited & owned this car for about 5 years in the uk, and the chassis number was CSXR4010. It originated as a race car, that eventually ended up on the road over here, after being lovingly restored (body only) by my Grandfather. It is still registered by Shelby American, signed by Shelby on the dash & bulkhead, and has been driven by Shelby himself (& Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Roy Salvadori, Sterling Moss, Tony Brooks etc) at many rallies both here & in the US, and is featured in The Adrian Legate book (which name escapes me right now). Somewhere there are photos of the car being tested at Laguna Seca, Monterey, & other classic racetracks too.......
Seems like the old history is still as confusing as ever, eh !
edited to add:
Perhaps I should have put my original post in the past tense....instead of saying "stand/ stands", maybe I should have said "stood".
>> Edited by Pistonfest on Monday 9th February 21:58
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