This has got to be one of the most ridiculous business decisions ever made by Carroll Shelby. Perhaps he should consider doing the same thing with cobra valve covers, gas caps, even door latches. rear view mirrors & sun visors. He is obviously much too old to make a good business decision. His advisors can not be real car guys or they would realize the stupidity of their thinking. Perhaps we will no longer be able to paint the Shelby stripes on our cars without permission? If they kill the enthusiasm for Shelby's who cares? Let them shoot themselves in the foot. Yeah it's easy for me to say because I don't own one but... I do. I just don't like squeezers.

 

How many real Shelbys do you see at shows nowadays, let alone out on the street? Not very damn many. If no one sees these cars on the street, on the track, and at shows, they will go the way of the Model T's. As an owner of a real Shelby I applaud those making clones. Clones keep the Shelby's in people's view. Clones keep people interested in these cars. If people are interested, our hobby is preserved. If people aren't, our hobby dwindles.
-bob

Thank you Bob.
Does this only apply to emblems, logos, etc. Or will it be the fiberglass, grills, rollbars, gauges, lights, etc.?

J.

 

Carroll is a living legend. However, he must have the worlds worst busines advisors.

Perhaps this isn't a "business" decision. Maybe he feels like he's somehow preserving the integrity of the real Shelbys... you know, like the continuation series.

- Gord

 

The way I see it he is only hurting himself. Given the number of clones compared to the number of originals, and further the fact that most of those originals are not street driven extensively ( with some notable exceptions :track: ) how many decals, etc. will be sold to true Shelby owners.

The large market will be for the clones and it won't be long before someone comes up with a design that looks like the Cobra but has sufficient deviation to avoid copyright infringement. Really - it's a friggin' snake. How much of that can he actually get away with.

The vast majority of people who have clones are not trying to pass them off as authentic. Are they really going to care if their snake is slightly different?

 

not that i care for "shelby" related parts... but all i have to say is "thank god for ebay!!!!!" ebay will always have the parts - in fact it may be flooded with more of them if some change is to occur!

 

hmmm maybe buying up all you can get your hands on now would be a good investment and make a mint on ebay when the retailers are told they can't sell them lol

I got this from thier site so I guess we could email them
For more information about licensing any of the Carroll Shelby Brands, please contact:
John Luft jluft@shelbylicensing.com

 

It'll be one of those "Buy a Can of Pepsi for $50 and we'll throw in a fancy stripe kit for free" Of course we don't know what it is for, and they were extras in our garage, and we just wanna get rid of them......

 

Mr. Shelby did the exact same thing to the Cobra replicar industry about 15 years ago over the snake emblems and side badges that were used on the kit cars. He brought a suit against my boss and other companys and won. No longer can you call a kit car a Cobra...it has to be...replicar. Shortly after, Shelby started to build his Cobras again.

 

Incredible. This has to be one of the worst business decisions I've heard of in a long time. Not only is it a bad business decision, but it's going to impact our hobby since the clone market is so large compared to those who own original Shelbys.

How can you limit these items to original Shelby owners when most of this stuff was available over the counter in the 60's to anyone off the street? You were't required to give your ownership information to go buy Shelby/Cobra parts at Ford back then. Hell, most of those performance packages included Cobra medallions to stick on your fenders. It's rediculous.

 

I think bob may have a very profitable business opportunity in the near future. How many emblems can you buy at a time? 200 or so?

 

I may be mistaken, however didn't Carroll Shelby sell Shelby American and the rights to his name a few years ago? If so he may not of been the person making that decision?? It probably is the board of the company that bought the rights looking for a way to get a return on their investment? The only reason I remeber this is that a few years ago I was going to Vegas for my wife's brother's wedding and wanted to tour Shelby American, when I checked the website they said they were going under new ownership and would be closed at the time I was there.

However if this isn't true, like others said Shelby may want to cash in on all the craze his cars have right now.

Dan

 

Most of these parts are made in places like Tawain these days or in other regions that do not respect or follow US patent or licensing laws. The dealers in the US may not be able to sell this stuff so all of a sudden you will see these parts being sold through channels Shelby cannot control. He will be cutting his own throat on these parts as well as the dealers and parts sellers that have made him what he is today.

I no longer have any respect for Carroll Shelby and have not for many years. That doesn't change what my car is or how much it means to me but I will go out of my way these days to make sure this man gets none of my money.

 

Oh, brain wheels are spinning. I have a real 67, I wonder if I can buy all the emblems etc, and add a percentage er ah, "handling fee"? To er, ah, give to the cloners.
Sounds like run away lawyers on the loose...somebody lock them in a closet and feed them LSD??

 

According to the source I spoke with who asked not be named, the fiberglass items et al are in limbo. According to the source, their motivation to make the fiberglass items, along with other specialty parts like steering wheels, etc., is severly diminished. From their perspective they feel like the market for those items will be non-existent if the buyers can't get the emblems and stripe kits to complete the look.

From my perspective, I'd have to agree. I actually want to build an R-model clone to race instead my Shelby. I guess, since I own the real thing, I can fake my way through and tell CSL that it will go on 2131.

Hell, if CSL doesn't reverse this decision, maybe I'll go into business buying Shelby parts for everyone.

-bob

 

As an owner of one of the originals, I can tell you that clones have nothing but a positive effect on the real Shelbys. The clone movement has been booming over the last 5 years+, and the originals have done nothing but become more sought after and valuable.

This decision will have the opposite effect, ultimately.

-bob

 

This is so f'in stupid it isn't even funny.
If CS did actually sign off on this idea he HAS finally lost his mind. :no:

 

E-mail Address for Carroll Shelby Licensing from their website: jluft@shelbylicensing.com

Keep it civil, but definitely contact CSL and let them know how bad this will be for the Shelby legacy and the hobby!

-bob

 

Does Mr. Senile realize the economic ramifications that his greed and stupidity will have on all businesses that sell Mustang parts? I guess he thinks Tony Branda should be out of business? This guy is eiher a real piece of work or has handed off the business end to greedy morons....either way I hold Carroll responsible.

 

After reading this post and the previous post(s) on the subject, I can't help wondering if this is Shelby's way of pre-empting the repro market of the NEW Shelby? I know there's a huge vintage Shelby market, but if the new one is as hot as people are trying to hype it, there will be a much LARGER new repro market (at least potential profits), one that CS perhaps wants to control. If you are CS, you can't very well say that it's ok to copy and sell logos, stripe kits and emblems for vintage owners but not copy the new and make a new clone, can you? I'm thinking maybe he's calling all the troops in before sending them out again.

This might not be the smartest from a (our) vintage perspective, but does make some sense for the new models and the desire to keep them "exclusive". You want all the new Shelbys to have some sort of exclusivity, something hard to do these days with all the aftermarket parts you can get for the 05-06 cars. Someone could create their own Shelby look-alike without too much trouble and much less expense than the Shelby will be.

Hopefully he will see the wisdom of letting Branda and other retailers retain the current licensing and selling agreements. Bob's right--most people will react like we are reacting, with irritation and disgust. :no:

Just a thought (or two)
Daniel

 

I honestly believe that if the community makes it clear to CSL that this will not be well received, will hurt the Shelby legacy, and damage the hobby in general and the Shelby hobby in particular that there's a chance they reverse the decision. Or, at least, make one more amicable to vendors who have carried the Shelby torch for years when CSL was in hibernation.

Call, e-mail, or send a letter, please! Be professional and pleasant simply letting them know that you are concerned and think it's a bad idea. I don't ask much of this community we have here, but this one is important. Acting together, VMF could have a noticable effect on this issue. I've already sent a letter attn: Carroll Shelby.

He doesn't deserve what this will do to his reputation. We don't deserve what it will do to our hobby.

-bob


-bob

 

Call, e-mail, or send a letter, please!
-bob

I just sent off an e-mail to the address provided.

Maybe if there is a large enough reaction CSL will think twice about it.

 

Thanks for the heads up and the reminder to write, Bob. Even though I don't plan on buying any Shelby-type emblems, I can see the harm the "new rules" can do for the hobby as a whole. I plan to write when I can.

 

I have email my letter and am posting it here as well so others can see how I think it will impact our hobby. Feel free to use any of my thoughts in your own letters.

To Carroll Shelby, John Luft, and Carroll Shelby Licensing ,

I understand that Carroll Shelby Licensing is in the process of making the stripe kits, emblems, etc for Classic Mustangs Only available to Shelby owners. This would make it harder to make a clone. There are many many times more clones the real Shelby mustangs as I am sure you know. Most people could never afford a True Shelby, and most true Shelby's are not driven very often. Thus its the clones that people see and that keeps the interest of everyday people. Only 1 out of 1000 could possibly afford the real thing and even then there would not be anywhere close to enough to go around.

Now lets say that you do make the stripe kits, emblems, etc Only available to Shelby owners. The amount of people cloning cars will dwindle as will as their presence in the public eye. It is my belief that if this happens you will not see true Shelby prices rising but going south as interest is lost. I further believe it will leave a bad taste in the mouth of Mustang hobbyist, Thus hurting future sales of Shelby vehicles.

It will also hurt the retailers who currently sell these items. There will be little demand for these items if the consumer must prove he owns a true Shelby. This would now become a part that is not profitable to stock. These same companies have helped to keep the Classic Mustang and Shelby hobby going for years by making parts readily available at a price the average guy can afford. This will cost them money. Which can go one of two ways. They can raise prices on other items, which will in turn make it harder for the average guy to restore a car. The problem here is if fewer can afford to restore a car then the retailers again are at a loss eventually driving them out of business. The second option is they could just take the short cut and go out of business to start with. Either option will cause there prices to rise for parts making it less profitable to make and sell parts. When the average guy can't afford to restore a classic the hobby will die.

Bottom line is it will hurt the Mustang hobby and give Mr. Shelby a bad name in the hobby at the same time. It will not stop parts from being sold on Ebay from countries that don't abide by our copyright laws. Please reconsider doing this.

Thank you, Ronald Chapman

 

I say why beg the old man? He is killing the hobby that made him what he is. I personally guarantee no matter how much money I spend on this hobby, and I plan on owning many top end Mustangs, none of my money will ever go to Shelby!

 

As an owner of one of the originals, I can tell you that clones have nothing but a positive effect on the real Shelbys. The clone movement has been booming over the last 5 years+, and the originals have done nothing but become more sought after and valuable.

Bob, While this is true and I agree it is positive for the hobby as a whole I have found it to be a negative for real Shelby owners. Yes prices have skyrocketed but which of us (real owners, not profit sellers) wants to sell their car anyway? So the effect is hire insurance costs, not being able to take your car publicly without constant eye on it and prices of original/NOS parts reaching unobtainium.
Tim