They're fully certified and have official Shelby chassis plates.
If you want to buy a Ford classic but don't want to deal with the hassle of wondering how much it has deteriorated since it left the factory, there's not much you can do. Sure, there are various Heritage Editions of various cars including the Ford GT, but that's not really a classic yet, is it? Fortunately, a company in South Africa has the answer. Founded in the mid-'80s, Hi-Tech Automotive “specializes in the construction and customization of Shelby's most revered and iconic cars with immaculate attention to detail and authenticity.” Because of this obsession with perfection, the company's name has been spread far and wide, with Ford South Africa reporting that this small workshop has built approximately 6,000 cars since opening its doors.
The company employs almost 300 highly skilled craftsmen who can take up to 2,000 hours to build a single car. Each vehicle is built to each customer's preferences, yet these replicas are so good that they boast approval from the Shelby mothership. As such, each approved Shelby Cobra or Daytona Coupe that leaves the factory gets official Shelby chassis plates. Buyers can also take pride in the knowledge that their purchases are listed on the Shelby registry, thus giving each owner proof of authentication that can be verified anywhere in the world. That said, most buyers are reportedly from the United Kingdom and here in the US.
Hi-Tech Automotive can also build you a perfect replica of the GT40. In a time when original examples are worth as much as eight figures, a replica is certainly the way to go if you don't have the kind of money that is typically spent on one-off Bugattis and Paganis. What makes buying from this company all the more romantic is that it was started by well-known figures of South African motorsport. Jimmy Price and Peter Lindenberg have rich histories in motor racing in the country, so you know that they want their cars to look, move, and feel like the performance icons they are. If you're interested in contacting the company for a bespoke build, keep in mind that the vehicles produced here leave the factory without an engine or gearbox, but Superformance here in the US is a retail partner that can help you complete the build in any way you like.
Keyword: These Stunning Shelby Replicas Are Indistinguishable From The Originals