First Ford, now Shelby

[Aussie XAXB]

I read in the June issue of Mustang Monthly that Shelby is now following the footsteps of Ford and notifying parts dealers to "...discontinue selling products with the Shelby trademarks GT350 , GT500 , and Shelby . This includes stripe kits and emblems in an attempt to discourage the building of Shelby clones. In the future those items will only be available through Shelby and only after providing ownership of a genuine Shelby vehicle."

 

 

It's funny how after Shelby had abondoned production of these things now he wants exclusivity to sell them. I wonder if he will be selling the same repro parts or if they will be made by him?

 

 

All these things with Shelby and Ford can only have a negative impact on the images of both companies.

[1969HOT]

I read in the June issue of Mustang Monthly that Shelby is now following the footsteps of Ford and notifying parts dealers to "...discontinue selling products with the Shelby trademarks GT350 , GT500 , and Shelby . This includes stripe kits and emblems in an attempt to discourage the building of Shelby clones. In the future those items will only be available through Shelby and only after providing ownership of a genuine Shelby vehicle."

It's funny how after Shelby had abondoned production of these things now he wants exclusivity to sell them. I wonder if he will be selling the same repro parts or if they will be made by him?

All these things with Shelby and Ford can only have a negative impact on the images of both companies.

 

 

So let me get this, people have been selling Shelby products for 30 some years now probably with Shelbys blessing. But now that he wants back in this buisness all those that were selling his products are now out of buisness. Thats a way to show loyalty for those who showed it to you. Oh I forgot Its about whats best for Shelbys bottom line.

[owenkelley]

I disagree with your statement about this only being about Shelby's bottom line. For years all these companies made their livings off selling Cobra kit cars etc. When Shelby started his Children's Heart Fund he went to these companies and asked them to contribute due to the fact that they had been surviving all these years off of his car. None of them stepped up and contributed. That is when he went back into the Cobra business. His feeling was that if they would not support what he was trying to do now, he would be their competition, and would people rather have a kit car or a real Shelby continuation car? Truth be told he had a hard time competing with the likes of some of the people that had been doing it for quite a while. He has recently teamed up with some of his old competition, anyway, the fact is he is not doing it for his own pocketbook, he is establishing his legacy which is to continue on after he is gone and will help children in need of heart surgeries and transplants well into the future. He isn't doing this out of greed, quite the opposite, his motivation now is one of the most noble - to help children in need. I hope he gets every last penny he can get, because I know it is going to a very worthy cause.

[Evil95GT]

Wonder what exactly this means for Factory Five Racing and Superformance? Granted, I always favored the CSX variant, but that probably doesn't mean much because I can't afford any of the three.

[robertlane]

I read in the June issue of Mustang Monthly that Shelby is now following the footsteps of Ford and notifying parts dealers to "...discontinue selling products with the Shelby trademarks GT350 , GT500 , and Shelby . This includes stripe kits and emblems in an attempt to discourage the building of Shelby clones. In the future those items will only be available through Shelby and only after providing ownership of a genuine Shelby vehicle."

It's funny how after Shelby had abondoned production of these things now he wants exclusivity to sell them. I wonder if he will be selling the same repro parts or if they will be made by him?

All these things with Shelby and Ford can only have a negative impact on the images of both companies.

 

 

Did the article cover anything about Ford going after domain names - either businesses or publications?

[D.Boone]

Wonder what exactly this means for Factory Five Racing and Superformance? Granted, I always favored the CSX variant, but that probably doesn't mean much because I can't afford any of the three.

 

 

Actually it seems to mean nothing. Recent court action has Shelby losing.

 

This is from the Factory Five website.

 

http://www.factoryfive.com/table/whatsnew/...urt/ruling.html

 

 

And Factory Five Racing does not sell a "Cobra", but they do sell a "Type 65 Coupe" and a "65 MKIII Roadster". I have been looking at building one for several years now.

 

If can not get a GT500 at the price I want, I will probably build one of the Factory Five coupes. Drivetrain donated by my 1996 Cobra. I think I should paint it Performance White, with Tungsten stripes, add cobra emblems to the fenders, and put the "SHELBY" letters on the back! Total cost of the project should be right around $20K, which is what some dealers think is an ADM!

[Aussie XAXB]

Did the article cover anything about Ford going after domain names - either businesses or publications?

 

 

 

The editorial was about that subject. Donald Farr did a full page editorial about it. I thought I read on this board somewhere that he mentioned he did so but I have been unable to find that post. It is as in depth as can be permitted with the information that Ford and their attourneys will divulge.

 

When Shelby started his Children's Heart Fund he went to these companies and asked them to contribute due to the fact that they had been surviving all these years off of his car. None of them stepped up and contributed.

 

That is some very interesting information. It is also very sad. You would think at a minimum that those companies would at least want the positive PR to be associated with such a noble cause if they don't have the humanity to do so. Thanks for that insight.