We generally do not write about future trends, but this Shelby movie is generating such interest that our frequent contributor Wallace Wyss sent in this opinion. – Ed.
by Wallace Wyss –
In a word, yes (Shelby stuff will appreciate).
Why? Because we car enthusiasts, at least those of us who like old cars instead of the latest computerized car, are nostalgic about the good old days when men were men and cars were pure mechanical devices.
If the movie (shooting name Ford vs. Ferrari) with Matt Damon and Christian Bale, is good drama, and has accurate sets showing California, Michigan, UK, Italy, France as they looked back then, we will all want to see it. To revel in a slice of European racing Sixties style.
1-2-3 – 1966 Le Mans -Ford GT40 (Ford Archives)
I am a little dubious California can “stand in” for Italy, but hey, with CGI, they can do anything right?
REAL CARS WILL GO UP
Because this film and the rival TV series (temporary name THE DRIVERS) from Legendary Entertainment, will undoubtedly feature some real and some replica Cobras, GT40s and Shelby Mustangs, a whole new audience will be introduced to the excitement of cars they might have not been aware existed. The looks, the sound, the sheer muscle of the cars will seduce a whole new audience.
Factory Shelby Cobra Daytona World Champion Poster-1965
So the real cars will get a boost. Especially those that are squeezed into a scene as background (you can bet owners of real cars are trying to reach the producers as we speak). I predict small block racing Cobras with a proven racing record in the Sixties (“in period”) will go up to one million. Big block Cobras, ironically, won’t go up as much because by the time they came along Shelby was busy trying to turn Ford’s GT40 loser into a winner. Ford didn’t even want to sponsor the big block 427 Cobra in racing. It was like trying to sell the virtues of a six shot revolver against a Colt 45 semi-automatic. Or a prop fighter vs. a jet.
And even replicas will get a boost; first those with alloy bodies that came out of England before Shelby got into the replica business. And then the ones made by Shelby in more recent years. And replica GT40s, the most important being the ones Ford licensed an English company to build, that are exact copies.
EVEN CLOTHING
And I’ll make a further prediction. If there are enough good pictures taken of actors on set, actors like Damon and Bail, then suddenly there will be a new popularity of Sixties clothing styles, maybe even the Stetsons like Shelby wore.
Shelby Factory Postcard-Cobra 427
You wonder if they will have Sixties music? Wasn’t this when the Beatles were big? (I was there but not paying attention, being somewhat occupied with career, US Army, and whatnot).
VINTAGE RACING CHANGE SLATE
Vintage racing could boom as well. People who really are in a fog about marques like Lotus might suddenly want to go to a race if there’s Cobras vs. Ferraris. Come to think of it, I’m suggesting that right now as the theme for 2019 vintage races at Monterey, Ferrari GTOs against real Cobras…
MEMORABILIA
Documented memorabilia, such as books signed by Shelby (I have one, my original Shelby’s Wildlife: the Cobras and the Mustangs, signed by Shelby, who wrote the forward). And then glossy pictures from Ford’s huge photo archive. Not to mention paintings of famous Cobra-GT40 vs. Ferrari battles and even crewmen working in the pits back in the day. And sculpture. It’s a whole renaissance if the movie is an out of the park hit.
Ford GT40 – Daytona 1968, Driven by David Hobbs and Paul Hawkins – photo by Bill Warner
BUSINESS VENTURES NEWLY POPULAR
I think “business stories” could become more popular as a result of Ford vs. Ferrari becoming a success. The behind-the-scenes bare knuckle fighting, the wheeling and dealing. Nobody was more of a wheeler dealer than Shelby. As one Ford executive said “Whenever I shook hands with Shelby, I always counted to make sure I had all my fingers….”
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Wallace Wyss
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of three books on Shelby. Entities interested in film rights can reach him at Photojournalistpro2@gmail.com.
Great article and it’s possible that a hugely successful movie that shows off the manliness of Cobras and Shelbys (can’t you just smell the raw fuel and spilled oil in the pits as Shelby struts around with the black hat) might excite a buying frenzy (or even an uptick in interest) for all things Shelby. But, who knows if even an appearance by Steve McQueen, shown lifting the hood on his street 289 to show his dual quads to some teenagers, would overcome the realities of today’s climate panic and electric euphoria?
The contrarian view would be that there are quite a few “older” owners who may have given thought of late to selling their cars and if this movie precipitates too large a number being offered in rapid order the glut might lower prices.
Along with that, we might ask if the newer, younger, buyers aren’t more interested in high tech super cars with which they can show off once a month at a “cars and coffee” event than with our older, easier to work on, cars that many current owners still find fun to drive for any reason (like a tour) or no reason at all.