If you did not read our
previous post about Shelby and Unique Performance I will give you the real quick lowdown. Carroll Shelby's licensing branch made it public they were severing ties with Unique Performance who builds continuation Shelby vehicles because of numerous complaints and lawsuits filed by customers who have put down deposits and have yet to recieve their car.
Little was known about this situation at the time only that Shelby was cutting loose from Unique but more details are coming out in another article by Automotive News. In the article Carroll Shelby explained that Unique has taken millions of dollars in deposits from customers who have been waiting for two years for their cars. These customers have filed lawsuits wanting their hefty deposits back only to be met with a NO from Unique who says customers will get their cars.
Also in the article CEO of Unique Performance Doug Hasty fires back saying Shelby Autos is to blame for production woes because of faulty 427FE engines that were supplied dating back to August of 2005. These engine problems have caused workers to stop production of the continuation cars for customers so they can fix the ones already in use. According to the article twenty-eight of the 43 Shelby Super Snakes produced prior to August 2006 had engine issues that led them to overheating and/or mechanical failure. Shelby dismisses this claim and said he knew nothing of the engine problem till recently.
It seems like a he said she said war of words and the only real losers in this situation are the customers who have yet to receive their cars or get their deposits back. After the jump read the rest of the article with specific customer complaints and decide for yourself who is to blame for the production woes.
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Former UP Employee Posted: 11/13/2007 2:20pm PST
Terry Box, Dallas Morning News Posted: 11/14/2007 6:28pm PST
annie onymus Posted: 3/8/2008 1:43am PST
Still a fan? Posted: 4/11/2008 11:35am PDT
Well, I finally got a chance to see the Unique Performance site first hand. What should have been pure joy was transformed into something of shock and awe. Unfortunately my visit to the Unique facility was only hours after the bankruptcy auction stripped the facility of everything except the shell of a custom HHR. It was like seeing a terrible car accident on the interstate as it happened.
Now I was fortunate not to have been on the other end wondering where my hard earned cash went. While I did not suffer the same losses as those unfortunate few that lost their investment, I am still in shock over the whole deal.
In all honesty I was like a kid again reading and experiencing the pure excitement of knowing that the ultimate modified Mustang was reborn with Shelby behind the wheel. Then this.
As I have inquired on how this all came to be I am just amazed. I mean come on. Am I really to believe Shelby never had the rights to the GT500E? And is Shelby really suing the Shelby registery? Then I found out some builder in Oklahoma actually cut the deal for the authentic GT500E rights. Now Shelby attempts to claim ignorance to all and bails? As a direct result it then appears Unique spent all the investor’s cash and closes up shop after some one claims fraud? The thing that seems to be agreed upon by all interested parties is the fact that countless enthusiasts and investors are now shaking their heads wondering what happened.
I share my frustration with these events in this blog as my own form of release. I only hope that the rebound from this event may help soften the blow felt by the hopeful owners, the builders, and the dreamers like myself.
1967fastback2000 Posted: 7/10/2008 3:59pm PDT
house (potential investor) in Denison if they were processed illegally
or tried to hide some 100 cars that they had in process from the local
police department?
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