replicas

[steveW]

Why is it that so many companies build 'replica' Porsches (Spyder, 917 etc) and openly call them Porsche replicas but if you build a Cobra replica and even mntion the word Cobra, you will be sued.

PS, is Carrol Shelby still alive?

[Jim Garfield]

a) Dunno

b) Yes, he is!

[steveW]

Maybe that's why.

If pops Porsche was still around, he'd be protecting his name and not worrying about building overpriced silly behemoths.......

[911pcars]

"Why is it that so many companies build 'replica' Porsches (Spyder, 917 etc) and openly call them Porsche replicas but if you build a Cobra replica and even mntion the word Cobra, you will be sued.

PS, is Carrol Shelby still alive?"

Maybe because CS still makes them? Sorta like selling Coca-Cola replica soft drink. The suits will be on you so fast, you'll need a drink. :-)

CS is still alive and kicking. BTW, he just signed a licensing agreement with a company that manufactures replica Cobras; this after sueing said company for copyright and/or trademark infringement. I guess he can be had for a price.

Sherwood

[DonNewton]

"I guess he can be had for a price."

. . .and who among us can't?

[Joe Bob]

I like the story about him finding some frames that had been registered in CA, but were in a fire....he rebuilt them using "spare" parts and sold them as original Shelby Cobras....rumor has it, that's how he paid for his heart transplant...

[911pcars]

The version I heard was that the extra "chassis" (twenty something) were in his shop, thus they were authentic cars.

Here's the current assy. line.


Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[Joe Bob]

A guy here in town has one of the early homologation ones...with a race history and log book....he drives it on Sundays and keeps it on the floor in his exotic woodshop. I hear it's worth 6-700K....

[Zeke]

Originally posted by mikez
A guy here in town has one of the early homologation ones.... I hear it's worth 6-700K....

289? I would think so. If I were to buy one (never happen), I would prefer the early 289. Sorta like the early 911, lighter and spunky.

[TRE Cup]

Actually.... CS comissioned a run of 50 "left over " chassis built in the 90's that were "miraculously found" in one of his warehouses. The people that really knew did not fall for it- those cars were 400k+ and quite a few were sold before the DMV had interviews with him. You can now get aluminum bodied (made in poland in a ex mig factory -honest!), fiberglass bodied, and any combo in between from his company- some are actually built by other licensees. Its definitely been more popular than the ill fated olds series 1

[Joe Bob]

Yep....there no better thief than an old bold thief.....Carrol is real character....I met both him and Andy Granatelli at a party at the Montecito Inn once.....hard to tell which one had the bigger bull$hit alarm warning going off between the two of them....quite a site.

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by mikez
Yep....there no better thief than an old bold thief.....Carrol is real character....I met both him and Andy Granatelli at a party at the Montecito Inn once.....hard to tell which one had the bigger bull$hit alarm warning going off between the two of them....quite a site.

You can throw Steve Saleen in there as well. He wouldn't stand out.

[jtratza]

Zeke, There is only one other car I lust over (after an early 911) and that's a Cobra. Preferably a 289 since that's what I got a chance to drive in 1965 or '66 (those years are a little fuzzy). A buddy (from San Ramon HS in Danville, CA class of '64 for all you Norcal's) bought a used white 289 with a single Holly 4 barrel, Borrani wires and roll bar for $4500 after dropping out of junior college. We drag raced it in Fremont a few times before he sold it. What a rush.

[randywebb]

if there were gonna build it in a n old Mig factory, you think we'd at least get a titanium body....

[Doug&Julie]

For the record, I don't think many of the "replica" builders actually call their cars Porsches. Beck builds "Spyders" and "Speedsters". He'll put a Porsche badge on the car only if the buyer specifically requests it...but he doesn't sell them that way.

A few months back in Excellence magazine, another "replica" builder of 356 Speedsters and Roadsters said the same thing...they send out their cars w/o the Porsche badge.

When you read about "replicas", be sure to check who is actually calling them Porsches. If the manufacturer is, you're right, they're probably in violation of trademark laws, etc. But many times it's the buyers and magazine editors who call them "Porsche Replicas".

One other thought is...and I know this could be splitting hairs here...selling your car as a "Porsche Replica" is not selling a Porsche. You're selling a Replica. It happens to be a replica of a Porsche. I'm not sure where the gray area is on trademark, etc.

One other thought...because the replicas are of older Porsches...Porsches that aren't sold by the factory...maybe they trademark rules don't apply?

Hmm....

....confused now....

[Wil Ferch]

Zeke:

Even better....a 289 FIA version....with the small luggage "bumps" on the trunk lid and the odd shaped driver/passenger doors......

Like Gurney's car for the '64 Targa.......

Wil

[svandamme]

replica's make baby jezus cry...


if i had my way , there would be a law stating that all replica cars should

1

not allowed to make them in the same scale as the original car

they should be at least 10% bigger or smaller than the original

2

tow a small trailor with a big ass arrow pointing to the car

on that arrow , there should be neon letters saying
"THIS CAR IS FAKE" alternating with "REPLICA !! NOT REAL !!!


3

driver of said replica , has to wear the mandatory "replica club" members clothing, specifically , a giant plukked chicken suit


4

only 50 CC lawnmower engines are allowed in any replicated vehicle

5

a special drivers licence is required , to get the licence, you have to pass "the test", in which you proove that you can actually control a car when it spins at 50mph +... and you have to do it in your own replicar ... with the 50cc engine... if you can't make it spin on a dry surface... then you can't proove you can control it... plain and simple

[Doug&Julie]

But how do you REALLY feel...?

[Shuie]

Im starting to save now for a Beck 904 replica

[Doug&Julie]

I'd love to have a Beck Spyder. ...or at least drive one.