Has FFR Partnered with AlloyCars in Florida?

[2FAST4U]

Alloycars.com claims to be building and selling an aluminum bodied 427 Cobra called a MK5. The chassis is nearly identical to a FFR MK4 chassis. Any idea what's going on?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shelby-Roadster-Aluminum-MK5-Cobra-Roadster-Body-Chassis-kit-by-Alloycars-/291331843817?forcerrptr=true&hash=item43d4bb26e9&item=291331843817&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&rmvSB=true

The description reads almost word for word like the FFR kit description. Dave Smith, have you seen this?

Bill D

[jlfernan]

Sit down, relax, take a load off. Grab a drink, cause you'll be there awhile, and check out this thread...http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/475785-scammer-using-pics-my-ffr-representing-his-product.html

[2FAST4U]

Still doesn't answer my question re does Dave Smith know they're using his kit description as their own

[Todd Buttrick]

There's just so much wrong with the entire state of affairs. This will implode as quickly as it was devised. Or sooner.

[2FAST4U]

They need a visit from a group of lawyers representing the various manufacturers who's copyrighted material they have stolen and represented as their own (Kirkham and FFR)

[mrmustang]

I sent an email off to Dave Smith at the start of the holidays, hopefully he will respond after he gets back from his personal time away with his family. When he does, and with his permission only, I'll let you know what he has to say in regards to this fiasco.


Bill S.

[Todd Buttrick]

So basically, they are offering the FFR basic kit ($12,990) and adding a poorly hammered out aluminum body for $36,960 more to a cost sensitive crowd of car builders who really doesn't care if the car was made of putty. Yup, makes sense to me. :confused:

[tirod]

What they were offering is actually the point, and it remains speculative until a car is ever delivered. So far, the photographic evidence remains sorely lacking, and continues to change each time an error in authenticity or provenance is discovered.

Quite a few of us lurking the other thread would enjoy an actual visit to the facility in Florida and a report on what is actually being offered for sale. As for F5 and any legal action, let's remember that they've spend $5 million IIRC defending against a certain person about the use of the body style already. In comparison this is small potatoes and the self inflicted damage already done seems more than sufficient reward.

As F5 likely doesn't want to take on the role that others played on them, I suspect they will be quite low key if they do anything at all. I wouldn't expect headlines and suits. Guys who appear to be of this nature are always on the edges of the kit industry and it's been part and parcel of the history from Day One. F5 ran the gauntlet themselves in the day until their reputation was established, they had their detractors, too.

Name all the kit builders who lasted about three years and you get an idea how hard it is to get off the ground. Nationally the odds are very high, over 84% of businesses fail in the first ten years, F5 has passed the test. Don't forget the original maker of the Cobra didn't. They closed their doors attempting to sell an overpowered badly handling remake of a British sport car that was a remake of the '54 Barchettas. Legendary, yes. Legendary business fail, too.

Why should Dave even raise a finger? Much more important things going on, like, the Hardtop 818, and scoping out what will be the next kit after that . . . and there is likely already market research and studying along with some good ol hot rod speculating about it in a small closed circle there.

What style back window on the Hardtop 818 is likely a much higher priority. An apparently one man shop with the body maker as web designer? Not so much.