Where did "Pelican" get its name?

[Lapkritis]

Other than a frog, the 911 does sorta resemble a pelican to me.

[Les Paul]

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by KNS

The story goes that Wayne and (I believe) Pelican's co-founder were trying to think of a name for this new Porsche parts company, having thought of all sorts of different ideas. While the two of them were standing outside near the shore a Pelican flew by and the light bulb was illuminated.

The '65 Shelby GT350 got its name when someone who worked for Carroll Shelby asked him what he wanted to call the car. Shelby asked how far it was from the assembly shop to the paint shop (at the LAX facility) and the employee answered that it was "about 350 feet." Read that in a Shelby book once.

[PK 77 911]

"Fido" is a perfect example of names that don't relate to a product as well. Nothing to do with Communications, obviously, it is associated with Dog in most Languages.

[93nav]

You get a sticker when you buy something?!?!?!?! I did not get one in my last order...... I guess I had better order something.


QUOTE=GH85Carrera;8033342]Just buy something, they send you a sticker with every order. I have about 40 of em.[/QUOTE]

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts View Post

The name Pelican is unique and very rememberable. No, it's not SUPER-GERMAN-PROS or AUTOMANIA, or SUPER-DUPER SUPERMACHINES. They all seem to blend into one after a while. Performance Products? How general can you get? You all have valid points about being related to the cars, but when we started, we literally spent 20+ hours coming up with the name (it wasn't picked out of the hat). No body thinks of Amazon as a dumb name, do they (besides me I guess). What has Amazon got to do with books? I think that the uniqueness is more important that whether it sounds like something German techy. Not defensive here, just our opinion...

-Wayne

I think the name Amazon was used to reference uncharted territory and undiscovered beauty...at least that's what I want to think

[matt gineo]

I always thought the front of the 911 had a strong resemblance to a Pelican.

[Tom Elder]

I think it is a great name. The girls in the mail room at work, think I have a flock of pink flamigos and pelicans in my back yard, and I am always fixing them. At least, that is what I tell them every time I get parts.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by KNS

The story goes that Wayne and (I believe) Pelican's co-founder were trying to think of a name for this new Porsche parts company, having thought of all sorts of different ideas. While the two of them were standing outside near the shore a Pelican flew by and the light bulb was illuminated.

+1 Pretty sure it's a simple as this.

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by PK 77 911

I heard he went out to dinner but the restaurant he went to was out of of chicken but they did have Pelican on the menu. So Wayne asked what part of the Pelican do you serve? The waiter replied, "Only the best parts, of course."

This is close.

Wayne and his co-founder where sitting outside on the deck by the beach having a few and discussing their business model. All types of seabirds and even a couple of seals were about.

When all of a sudden his partner says, "What is that sound?" Wayne quickly replied, "What is that smell?"

They both looked at each other and at the same time said, "Pelican Farts!!". The rest is history.

[X JBM X]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

The '65 Shelby GT350 got its name when someone who worked for Carroll Shelby asked him what he wanted to call the car. Shelby asked how far it was from the assembly shop to the paint shop (at the LAX facility) and the employee answered that it was "about 350 feet." Read that in a Shelby book once.

how bout the GT500?

[gogriz91]

If you listen to Adam Carolla's Carcast on iTunes he interviews Wayne and gets the story on how the name came to be plus a pretty interesting story on 915 engines, how they were stolen then recovered. It's an archived episode but very entertaining.

Wayne Dempsey Pelican Parts | Adam Carolla's CarCast

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by X JBM X

how bout the GT500?

Never did read why on that one. Probably because of 500-mile races like Indy and Daytona? Ford Galaxies used 500 for that reason. Easy to remember too, catchy.

[chrismorse]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

The '65 Shelby GT350 got its name when someone who worked for Carroll Shelby asked him what he wanted to call the car. Shelby asked how far it was from the assembly shop to the paint shop (at the LAX facility) and the employee answered that it was "about 350 feet." Read that in a Shelby book once.

Similarly,

I read that the GT 40 was named because the car stands 40 inches tall, (which is pretty frickin low).

chris

[72doug2,2S]

Wayne wanted to call it "Republican Party Parts," but then that name got shortened to "Republican Parts" and then "Publican Parts." But when they finally incorporated a paralegal friend, working pro-bono, accidentally accepted an auto-correct for Pelican instead of Publican and the legal papers were signed as such. The rest is history.

[rusnak]

I think Pelican is an excellent name that is identifiable across all cultures, generations, and locations. I would have picked a stupid name like Wunder Wagon (going with the Amazon theme) or Amateurs Anonymous, but that would make it sound like porn.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by BE911SC

Never did read why on that one. Probably because of 500-mile races like Indy and Daytona? Ford Galaxies used 500 for that reason. Easy to remember too, catchy.

Carroll Shelby said in an interview that for the KR500 they selected 500 because that number was bigger than anything else out on the market.

[aquazulu2]

Originally Posted by matt gineo

I always thought the front of the 911 had a strong resemblance to a Pelican.

Wow!!.. That's not a car that is a piece of art..

Pelican parts was the results of a brainstorming session of a marketing team who geniusly developed demand and sale through the 'cooperation' of a captured perfectionist consumer base via a forum.