Ferrari purchase the name "Cobra" from Ford

Just received this email.

Milton

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Nor Cal Shelby ClubNote the date on this.
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I just received an email from a friend that works for Ferrari and lives in
Maranello, Italy. He translated the following article that appeared in the
Sunday issue of the Modena, Italy newspaper Il Nuovo Giornale di Modena

Ferrari SPA has purchased the entire assets of AC Cars from Alan Lubinsky.
Mr. Lubinsky settled on a price that will bail him out of his indebtedness. Mr.
Lubinsky will also get a seat on Ferrari’s Board of Directors. “They made me
an offer I couldn’t refuse,” quipped Lubinsky.

In a second announcement, Ferrari has purchased the rights to the word Cobra
from Ford Motor Company. Ford had purchased the name Cobra from Carroll Shelby
in 1965 for $1.00. It is rumored that the price paid for the word was the
same amount Ford offered to purchase Ferrari in total in the 1960’s. $4,000,000.
US.

Production of the new AC Cobra will be handled by Fabbrica Italiana
Automobili Torino.
That division will be headed by Piero Lardi Ferrari. Piero is the
extramarital son of Enzo Ferrari and also happens to own a 10% stake in the Ferrari
automotive company. Piero was once a part of Ferrari's Formula 1 program, as well.
It took Enzo a full 27 years to acknowledge Piero as his true son, but then
the younger Ferrari was welcomed into the fold. Enzo had waited until after the
passing of his wife Laura to come forward and admit his affair.

When Piero Lardi Ferrari was reached for comment, his only comment was “L’
asino dello Shelby è infine miniera." …which roughly translate to “Shelby’s ass
is finally mine!”

Piero went on to say,“ We at Ferrari know how to produce aluminum bodied
cars. We have been doing it for many decades. We will not produce these cars in
fiberglass. We wanted the Cobra® trademark, but we may call the new car
Cobrrari® The blue with white stripes will not be available. Ferrari-produced Cobras
will be painted red, and badged “Cobra/Rosso”

Piero said the cars will be produced as complete automobiles; we have no
interest in ‘component’ cars. The exact engine to be used has not been determined
yet but it will be a V12 for sure.


Piero Lardi-Ferrari (right) and Antonio Ghini (head of Ferrari’s PR) greeting
guests

http://www.427sc.info/files/malta/article.html
Go to The Times

The Sunday times of Malta
Sun, April 1, 2007

...And, now, they're gone.



AC Cars Factory in Hal Far, the old British Air Base, with Cobras being
assembled for sale in Europe and U.S.A.. (Photo: Chris Sant Fournier)

As quickly as AC Cars set up shop at Hal far, the old British Air Base here
in Malta, they have arranged an equally rapid exit from their new facility. It
was announced today in Modena, Italy, that Ferrari SPA has purchased the
assets of AC Cars for an undisclosed sum.

AC Cars is the descendant of AC, the manufacturer of the legendary Shelby
Cobra from the 60's, the only car to have beaten Ferrari for the World's
Manufacturers Chanpionship. Ferrari has a long racing history and competition with the
Cobra was fierce more than 40 years ago. This purchase appears to be laced
with an air of a vendetta, with Ferrari finally being victorious over the Cobra.

Piero Lardi Ferrari of Ferrari SPA stated in a recent press release, " We at
Ferrari know how to produce aluminum bodied cars. We have been doing it for
many decades."

The AC facility has shuttered its operations as of today and, surprisingly,
has begun the arduous task of moving the manufacturing plat in its entirety to
Modena, Italy.

Ferrari plans to offer the 2-seater roadster to enthusiasts that cannot
afford a standard Ferrari. "This gives us a place in the low-cost performance car
market niche," said Piero Lardi Ferrari. The upgraded model, Cobra/Rossi, will
be available only in Ferrari red. Ferrari plans a limited production run for
2008.

In a related story, Ferrari has acquired the rights to the "Cobra" trademark,
previously owned by Ford Motor Company (U.S.). It is uncertain how this will
affect the Carroll Shelby-owned company, Shelby Autos, who currently makes
replicas of the original Cobra in Las Vegas, NV.

It could make for some interesting licensing arrangements.

 

I don't think so, the link seems to be real.