The Shelby American (Winter 2021)

The SHELBY AMERICAN Winter 2021 6 Current magazines are more sharply focused and aimed at a smaller segment of readership. Think The Shelby American . The Hagerty insurance com- pany publishes an excellent bi- monthly magazine called Hagerty Drivers Club . Subscriptions are $45 per year and we have to admit it’s worth it. The quality of the publication it- self is excellent. Each issue is 130 pages, photography is top shelf and the articles are interesting and well-written. Each issue has columns by enthusiasts like Don Sherman, Colin Comer, Wayne Carini and Jay Leno, to name a few. We’re subscribers, and the July/August 2020 issue caught our attention because of the Mustang montage on the cover. They de- picted the 25 greatest Mustangs and an article inside provides de- tails. Nobody will agree with all 25 cars on the list – and that’s the point. The article is designed to make you opine. If you’re an eagle eye, every issue contains a few sightings. They like Cobras and Shelbys. If you remember the recent good old days when picking up a car maga- zine was second nature, getting a subscription to this one is a way back. When one door closes, an- other one opens. Car magazines aren’t gone forever. Another Cobra Analogy? Oh, Puleeze... Even When It ’ s Over, It Ain ’ t Over Our friends at Hemmings recently posted a short article on the 2000 BMW M Roadster. Its a small two- seater powered by a high-tech 3.0- liter, twin-cam 24-valve engine that puts out 240 horsepower. “ With all that power, ” says Hemmings writer Terry Shea, “ and a 96-inch wheelbase, the fat 245-section rear tires often struggle to find grip. And that archaic rear suspension also struggles to keep up when the road gets rough.” Ok so far. But where Shea gets carried away is when he employs the Cobra analogy. “ It’s part muscle car (a stretch), al- most a Germanic Cobra - if a Cobra were to have real weather protection, power steering, power/heated seats, air conditioning, a killer sound system for when you don’t have the hammer down, and a two-tone leather interior from the factory. ” Get a grip, Shea. It’s no Cobra and never will be, despite your attempt to appropriate the Cobra persona. We suggest you go back to the analogy barrel and pull out one that’s more ap- propriate. Stop being so lazy. The car has been sold but the hype continues. It’s like once the promo- tion machine has been turned on, there’s no way to turn it off. We suppose that with a monster accomplish- ment like crowning the most valuable Mustang in the world, there’s a tendency to celebrate the moment. But c’mon guys – let’s put the thing to rest. Look to the future, don’t repeat the past on an endless loop. Now don’t get us wrong – we love R-Mod- els. But this thing does have a shelf life.