Foose Design and the man for which the company is named, Chip Foose, announced last Friday that it is severing all ties with Unique Performance. The Dallas-based company had agreements with Foose to produce the Foose Mustang Stallion (pictured), Foose Camaro, Foose Challenger and Foose Motorcycle, as well as handle the sales and marketing for the Hemisfear. The break up comes after Shelby ended its relationship with the Unique last month, and a police raided Unique's facility last week for suspected title washing. Foose Design wants to let its customers know that it now has no affiliation whatsoever with Unique Performance, and that Unique does not have any rights to anything regarding Foose for any project. Follow the jump for the official press release from Foose Design.
[Source: Foose Design]
PRESS RELEASE:
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2007) - Foose Design announced today that effective immediately it has terminated all licensing and all business activities with Texas-based Unique Performance, Unique Performance Concepts and related companies. This termination includes the limited production of all vehicles formerly licensed to Unique including but not limited to, the Foose Mustang Stallion, Foose Camaro, Foose Challenger, Foose Motorcycle and the sales and marketing of the "Hemisfear", also known as the "Foose Coupe", manufactured by Metalcrafters. Foose Design has clearly stated that it no longer has any affiliation with Unique, and encourages customers to understand that Unique no longer has any rights to Foose intellectual property, the Foose name, image, likeness, logos or designs regarding any project.
Chip Foose, the winner of an unrivaled three "Ridler" Awards, and the Foose Design team have worked for more than eight months to resolve issues relative to Unique's problems but ultimately found it necessary to sever their relationship with Unique Performance.
Foose Design does not manufacture production vehicles rather it specializes in designing and fabricating custom built, one-of-a-kind custom cars. Foose Design created the concept for a prototype vehicle to be built under its license to Unique.
Chip Foose builds a special bond with every Foose vehicle owner and it causes him great stress to see this situation occur. Chip has worked tirelessly through the years to build his company, brand and image, which it works diligently to protect, both for itself and Chip's collectors and fans.
Foose Design is working with its legal staff to consider possible action against Unique Performance.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CastleCharles @ Nov 12th 2007 2:40PM
Is this the same Unique as in "Unique Whips" on Speed Vision?
DelayedZ @ Nov 12th 2007 2:48PM
No not evenly remotely related.
Corey W. @ Nov 12th 2007 3:06PM
Title washing occurs when "state X might not recognize titles from state Y. People who are unscrupulous will take bad cars and move them into that state. Services like Carfax tracks the car as it crosses state lines. If a car has been "branded" in another state — with a salvage title, for example — this will be revealed on the report. Salvage titles are assigned to cars that have been considered a total loss by insurance companies. However, the car might still run and be drivable. Still, having a salvage title significantly reduces the car's value.
mk @ Nov 12th 2007 6:08PM
That is not entirely true.
Salvage titles in some states occur at a break-line of repair cost, which sometimes can be quite below the vehicle's total-loss point for insurance.
A while back, I remember that in Iowa, any car with more than 3000$ damage was branded with a salvage title. I think it may have changed since then, though.
That is the thing, though. One state's titling regulations are different than another's, including what is valid to be titled, and what is labeled salvage, and selling and re-selling across state lines can be taken advantage of, and usually catches the eye of the FTC, or something that governs interstate commerce and fraud.
Andre @ Nov 12th 2007 4:56PM
When it rains, It pours... Unique Performance down for the count....
Frank143 @ Nov 12th 2007 8:41PM
I just heard that UP has filed for bankruptcy!! All the docs will be for all to see on Tues or Wed of this week..
Go to the Texas courts, and just search.
JK @ Nov 12th 2007 5:38PM
I have a friend that works/worked at Unique Performance and he says there were a lot of shady things going on at UP. This title washing might not be the only thing that gets uncovered during the investigation.
former employee @ Nov 12th 2007 9:13PM
Did your friend tell you that Doug Hasty tried to get the UP staff to sign a confidentiality agreement to keep us from exposing him?
frank143 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:17PM
JK, care to tell us more about what has been going on behind closed doors?
Does anyone know more about the Shelby camp?
One thing I know, for UP/CSL. You all can run, but can't hide. The long arm of the law will eventually get you ALL!!
blogged to death @ Nov 12th 2007 7:18PM
More modd'd Mustangs...soon we'll have the "my little pony" edition or the "rainbow bright". The latter just to diss the born-again american family association types.
Frank143 @ Nov 12th 2007 8:51PM
Question: Now that UP is DEAD, what is Shelby/Foose going to do to help out all of those poor people that bought those cars because of there name??
Just some thoughts,
Frank...
GN60 @ Nov 12th 2007 9:41PM
Frank143 where did you find the Bankruptcy? Please reply or help. Or how did you find this information.
Frank143 @ Nov 13th 2007 1:30PM
GN60,
I can't say just now, but if you look deep into the North Dallas Bankrupt files, it should be there, or on its way.
I know its bad news for all of those UP people who bought these cars, but its the truth. All if those actors have all confirmed the bankruptcy.
Note, for all of the men and woman who have bought the cars from UP, remember the reason why, the name SHELBY. No other reason. Make sure that if any of you are going to bring suit, name all of them in it.
Doug Hasty, Kerry Keating, Bobby Sign, and Carrol Shelby Lic.
Just some thoughts for now..
Keep up the fight.
Ciao..
GN60 @ Nov 13th 2007 4:12PM
Frank143
Obviuosly you know something we do not. If you need to talk. email me at
crazyfastmustangs@gmail.com
frank143 @ Nov 13th 2007 4:35PM
Are you a UP/CSL victim??
Frank..
GN60 @ Nov 14th 2007 8:08AM
Im helping a few people that do not use computers. They are out alot of money. This is absolutely the worst case of fraud I have seen in a great while
Frank143 @ Nov 13th 2007 7:28PM
This just in, Unique Performance is Dead, not Unique Motorcars. This is the parent company that owns it all.
The UP company is going chapter 7 (liquidation of all assets).
But for some reason, Unique Motor cars is still alive.
All I know is that all of the people of the CSL/UP mess need to get on one page.
Call your local FBI, and sign a complaint against all of the actors in Texas, & in Cali.
Who you might ask are the actors? Well I will share that with you.
1.Doug Hasty
2.Kerry Keating
3.Bobby Sign
4.Jerry Jones
5.Carrol Shelby lic.
I know that the FEDS is as serious as is gets, but come on people, its 150k to 250k. If that's not enough to get your goat, then what is?
Ok, enough talk for now. Talk all to you soon.
Ciao..
Frank.
Snakebit @ Nov 14th 2007 9:22AM
Shelby through Shelby Licensing, took money from UP for Shelby's name
to be on those cars to be in the registery. The money trail goes back
to Shelby.
They all lied.
In Shelby's press release and in Foose's press release, they said they had been working for months to get UP to get the cars out.
Looks like Shelby and Foose knew all along UP was in trouble and they did nothing months ago. No warnings.
I bet Shelby and Foose got their cut.