2013 Cadillac XTS

SMS Supercars suing MJ Acquisitions over Saleen name

 
2 1,196 views Jul 20, 2009

sms 460 mustang 001

Steve Saleen himself is stepping up to protect his name

Steve Saleen himself is stepping up to protect his name

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Last week we reported on a pair of new Saleen Mustangs due by 2010, and the chain of transfers that has seen the Saleen, Inc. brand end up in the hands of Micheal Shields and MJ Acquisitions. Now Steve Saleen and his new company, SMS Supercars, have announced a lawsuit launched to defend use of the Saleen name.

The point of the suit is to prohibit MJ Acquisitions from using the Saleen name - not to stop it from turning out custom Mustangs or aftermarket parts. But Steve Saleen and SMS Supercars don't want to see the Saleen image tainted by MJ Acquisition's use.

He has fair reason for concern. Back in February, the 'old' Saleen - the one without Steve Saleen on board - announced it would no longer honor warranties on any cars sold. Even then SMS was looking out for the Saleen brand name, and stepped up to honor those warranties - even though they were effectively the obligations of a completely unrelated company.

If SMS wins its bid to secure a court order prohibiting use of the Saleen name by its new owners, it will draw a bright line on what is and isn't a genuine Saleen, but it won't necessarily spell the end of the upcoming modded Mustangs from MJ Acquisitions, so enthusiasts on both sides of the dispute can take some measure of comfort.
SMS 460 based on the 2010 Ford Mustang

HI-RES GALLERY: sms 460 mustang 001




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Comments (2)

  1. ma_Zumkopf avatar Zumkopf Posted: 7/20/2009 3:02pm PDT

    Go Steve! If I buy a Saleen, I want it to be a genuine Saleen, from Steve. If I wanted an MJ, they should sell it under their own name. Not that they've done much to make their name worth anything what with screwing the customers on the warrantys.

    Speaking of which, one correction: the old Saleen, Inc. forced Steve off the board and out of the company back in 2007. He was not on the board in February when Saleen Inc and MJ dumped the warrantys. He was at his new company, SMS Supercars, the one he formed after the board forced him out, and the one that stepped in to pick up the abandoned customer warrantys.
     
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  2. ma_Nelson avatar Nelson Posted: 7/20/2009 8:57pm PDT

    Go Steve! If I buy a Saleen, I want it to be a genuine Saleen, from Steve. If I wanted an MJ, they should sell it under their own name. Not that they've done much to make their name worth anything what with screwing the customers on the warrantys.

    Speaking of which, one correction: the old Saleen, Inc. forced Steve off the board and out of the company back in 2007. He was not on the board in February when Saleen Inc and MJ dumped the warrantys. He was at his new company, SMS Supercars, the one he formed after the board forced him out, and the one that stepped in to pick up the abandoned customer warrantys.

    Good catch. That's supposed to read 'without'.
     
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