Hand wringing. Anger. Concern over the availability of restoration parts. Across the country, vintage Mustang owners are sharing these concerns and frustrations stemming from Ford’s latest business venture. While Billy Ford is closing plants across the country, he is gathering a legal brain trust together in an effort to squeeze a few pennies from the Mustang restoration industry.
Ron Bramlett of Mustangs Plus, Inc. (Stockton, CA) has been hit with a lawsuit that could ultimately force him to close his 25 year old business. (see Mustang Mayhem). It is the same story for many other Mustang restoration dealers, distributors, and manufacturers.
Ford’s attorneys are requiring the plaintiffs to:
- Transfer to the automaker the registration for all website domains
- Submit to government offices all forms necessary to discontinue registration of the business’ name.
- Cancel Internet and telephone directory listings and advertising under the the business’ name.
- Turn over for destruction all signs, banners, business cards and collateral materials.
- Issue a check to Ford for $10,000 in damages.
Seems Carroll Shelby has joined the fray pursuing litigation against longtime licensee, Tony D. Branda in an effort to stem the tide of Shelby Mustang clone production. Branda must surrender all of its licensed Shelby Mustang and Cobra products to ol’ Shel. Seems Carroll intends on restricting access to badging and other “branded” items to Shelby and Cobra owners who can produce a title, bill of sale, and provenance.
In the end, Shelby and Ford have caused a firestorm of animosity and anger from all walks of Mustang and Cobra enthusiasts.
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