AC and Shelby Start Production

Frimley and Las Vegas join forces to produce latest Cobra

By PH Staff / Monday, 9 February 2004 / Loading comments

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?