Shelby Terminates SAAC’s License; SAAC Fights Back
Shelby American Automobile Club has been around for 33 years, which has the important task of verifying the authenticity of every car that claims to be a Shelby Mustang. All that will come to an end January 31, 2008 if Carroll Shelby has his way. Shelby Automotive has sent, what is basically a cease and desist (here), to SAAC requesting that they stop using Shelby’s trademark, return all documents that prove the authenticity of Shelby Mustangs, return all unsold inventory and provide Shelby Automotive with financial records dating back to 1996. All this is coming not a month after Shelby teamed up with Blue Oval News to form the first “official” Shelby Mustang car club, called Team Shelby. Shelby also registered a trademark for “SAAC” on November 16, two days after the cease and desist letter was sent.
SAAC’s press release had this to say:
In order to properly respond to Mr. Shelby’s demands, SAAC has established a legal defense fund. Make no mistake: the body of information on these cars that SAAC members have contributed and its registrars have compiled is all that separates the originals from the fakes. Without tight control of this information, it would be impossible for anyone to ascertain which cars were legitimate and which were not. Rather than causing all cars to continue to increase in desirability and value, they would all plummet. We have not worked for 33 years to suddenly allow this to happen. Likewise, for all SAAC members, this is not a tennis match where you can afford to sit on the sidelines and dispassionately watch the match. The club needs each member to assist in its defense by donating to the defense fund.
We know we are on the right side of this. Unfortunately, it takes more than just knowing you are right. You have to have solid counsel appear with you in court. And in our legal system that has a price. If you believe in what the club is doing SAAC needs your support by way of a donation to the legal defense fund. There is no minimum amount. Donations can be made by check (payable to “SAAC Legal Defense Fund”) or by Visa or MasterCard (click here to contribute online).
Hopefully this situation can be settled out of court to benefit the customers of Shelby Automotive and not be decided by the almighty dollar. We will keep you updated on any new news that comes our way. You can follow this thread over at SAAC’s official message board for more information.
Comment by crazeflier07 — November 29, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
That sucks, maybe original Shelby’s will drop dramatically in price??? I dunno.
~Jon~
Comment by project_v6 — November 30, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
This is really sad. What benefit will carol shelby get from this?
Comment by matthews.stang — December 1, 2007 @ 5:59 am
The price he can charge for his name.
Comment by silverstangboy — December 1, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
carol shelby is been pulling this sorta shit a few years now, something tells me that inside he’s doing nothing other than building an empire for his children and grandchildren.
he has lost all sense of what makes our hobby a great one.
Comment by project_v6 — December 2, 2007 @ 12:44 am
He may end up losing friends and supporters, especially shelby enthusiast.
Comment by Jeff Z — January 8, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
That does stink…While we don’t know the deals, if any, SAAC may have had involved with licensing Shelby images and logos, he does have a right to protect his trademark. It seems that he’s over reaching, however. I do think, unfortunately, he has to do some of this and here’s why. When you have a trademark, you have to protect it at all times — not selectively. If you pick an choose who you go after for a trademark infringment, you’re weakening yourself, in the eyes of the court, if you do have to enforce it. He did over reach with demanding the data compiled. I think SAAC will probably be able to keep that but they’ll probably have to change their name and stop using all his images.
Comment by paul krencicki — January 14, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Hi race fans and hot rodders. Just ask Austin Craig, who once owned 5S555 a 65 gt350 mustang. He left the club after it went from a not for profit to a for profit concern. The club members have been getting screwed for at least 27 years. I don’t know when Austin Craig left the saac club but 5000 members at 40 bucks a year equals $200,000. The lousy once a year magazine is paid for by the advertising within the front inside page/ front back page and in between. Then when the track is rented and the sponsorship you see at the convention is like throwing fuel on an open fire. All I ever wanted was for kopec/eber/pardee to publish financial statements like the corvette club does so everyone knows how much is being taken in and just what those 3 are paying themselves. That is all I ask.
Many members I spoke to at conventions feel the same way. They don’t think they are getting their moneys worth.
No one, except ford motor company owns the mystique, legends and paperwork for everything and I mean everything that ever happened, transpired, etc, etc, etc. Kopec needs to give Carroll Shelby back whatever is his(ford’s) and start telling the members the financials. I don’t think the club will exist much longer in the state it is in. Another guy (Lynn Park) who quit the club and owns a dragon snake, 428 cobra (late late 427 version with 14,000 original miles on it) and other cobras as well can tell you the straight truth. He has been working on the real cobras for 40 years. I have been a member since 1982 and don’t think I am getting my money’s worth and I don’t even own a car. Thank You for reading my comment.
Sincerely
Paul Krencicki