Superformance, Shelby Legendary Cars Can Now Sell Turn-Key GT40s, Cobras
After a long legal battle, Superformance and Shelby Legendary Cars will sell turnkey cars by the end of 2022.
For many years now, those that want to own a Ford GT40 or Shelby Cobra replica had to purchase a kit car and choose their own engine and transmission, thanks to archaic laws that reserved automotive regulation for companies that mass-produce vehicles – not low-volume manufactures like Superformance and Shelby Legendary Cars. Regardless, SEMA has long been working to change this, and finally succeeded when the Low Volume Manufacturer’s Act became law back in 2015. Now, years later, Superformance and Shelby Legendary Cars have announced that they’re ready to begin building turn-key GT40s and Cobras for public consumption.
“We’re very excited to offer turn-key vehicles under the Low Volume Manufacturer’s Act and have aggressively been planning for this day since Congress enacted the bill in 2015,” said Lance Stander, CEO of Superformance. “While the legislation was moving through the rule-making process at NHTSA and the EPA, we designed processes and vehicles that we believe will comply with all regulations. With all the rules now issued, we’ll collaborate with SEMA, engine suppliers, and regulators to ensure that our exciting vehicles fit within their framework. Our goal is to sell compliant cars by the end of the year.”
The new law permits low-volume manufacturers to produce up to 325 turn-key vehicles per year, but there are multiple caveats, as one might imagine when the government is involved. These manufacturers must register with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the vehicles built are still subjected to federal oversight. Additionally, the vehicles these companies build must resemble production models manufactured at least 25 years ago, and those vehicles must meet current model year emissions standards.
Regardless, this is fantastic news for everyone involved, including those of us that simply want to be able to buy a “new” GT40 or Cobra. Now, we can simply walk into Superformance or Shelby Legendary Cars and drive out in one of those cars, though both will continue to offer kits for those that prefer to go that route, or perhaps can’t get their hands on one of the 325 built each year.
Photos: Superformance, Shelby Legendary Cars
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