427Heaven: You and I are definitely on the same side!
I remember when I bought my KR, 40 years ago this year. Back then, I was in my early 20s and didn't have even close to the $$ to actually buy it. And my parents wouldn't help. I borrowed some money from my friends, wrangled a salary advance from my employer (Popular Hot Rodding Magazine) and got a few scheckles of donation from my dear old grandmother to make it happen. Oh yeah, and I even talked the KR's seller into floating me a short-term loan. That's how much I wanted the car. It was already a Day 2 car with a 427 side-oiler, headers and five-spoke wheels, but the rest was original: Paint, sheet-metal, interior, etc.
Imagine my disappointment when I took it to my first local Shelby & Cobra get-together and literally no one walked over to look at my car. I'd been directed to park at the far end of the lot, with the couple of other orphan Shelbys...meaning anything '66 and later. Back then, unless you had a '65 GT350, or a Cobra, you weren't shit. I was crestfallen. I'd may as well have parked on the other side of the dumpsters.
That type of scenario has, of course, changed for the better in recent decades. But as we all know, there's still some of the cognoscenti looking down upon us Day Two'ers.
IMO, we all (well, perhaps only 99.4% of us) are here because we LOVE Shelbys. That should make us a fraternity...a brotherhood of sorts. Sure, brothers argue and wrestle on the lawn occasionally...but let another clan try and mess with our "family" and there'll be trouble.
I respect everyone on here who is dedicated to their vision of their car. What they love.
As many have stated on this forum before: We need new Shelby enthusiasts to join our ranks. Please come here with genuine enthusiasm & thoughtful questions. But don't show up acting like too-cool hero bloggers, know-it-alls, outright liars/scammers, or rude/pompous jerks.
I don't wish to start a range war with anyone. I'm just stating my opinions, and here's another one: When life's timeclock runs out on each of us, I hope we each can grin at the devil about having heart-pounding, adrenaline-pulsing, total wild fun with our Shelbys. Whether that's racing it, street driving it, concours showing it, modifying it, or just making it all perfect & looking at it.
Well...so long as the next owner doesn't Eleanor my car, or make it into a low rider, or put a BB Chevy in it
... Then, I'm coming back to haunt you! With a very pissed-off Carroll at my side!!