Shelby okays production of "continuation" cars for former Unique Performance customers

Remember Unique Performance? Of course, how could we forget the sordid tale of a company building licensed replicas of the Shelby GT500 Eleanor featured in Gone in 60 Seconds, only to be shut down by the police after its shady business practices were uncovered before most cars were delivered. More than a few ex-customers that lost out on their prized vehicles surely haven't forgotten about the deposits they put down on the cars, and last year, a group sued Carroll Shelby in an attempt to recoup their investments.

To help smooth things over, Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. has agreed to a new licensing agreement with two auto shops in Texas so that the series of continuation GT500SE and GT350SR cars can be completed. Each finished vehicle will get an official serial number from Shelby along with inclusion into the Shelby Worldwide Registry. While the offer is being made royalty free, customers will still be required to pay for the completion of the cars.

[Source: Carroll Shelby Licensing]

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Carroll Shelby Licensing Grants License to Complete Shelby Cars for Unique Motorcars Former Customers

LOS ANGELES, Mar 10, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (Pink Sheets: CSBI), has entered into license agreements with Kustom Classics of Fort Worth and Riley Performance Motorcars of Valley View, Texas, to allow completion of the continuation Shelby GT500SE and GT350SR cars contracted for by the former customers of Unique Performance and Unique Motorcars. Each completed car will receive an official Shelby continuation serial number and inclusion into the Shelby Worldwide Registry. Unique Performance/Motorcars filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in Texas Federal court in 2007.

Though the completion of these cars will be at the owner's expense, Carroll Shelby Licensing will extend this license royalty free, in an attempt to ease the financial pain of Unique Performance's failure to deliver their customer's cars as contracted. In spite of Unique Performance's failure to deliver their customer's cars as contracted, customers who want to complete their Shelby vehicle through one of the two North Texas shops can contact either shop for details.

"Carroll Shelby Licensing struck this agreement on behalf of customers who contracted and paid Unique Performance for continuation Shelby cars but did not receive them," said Carroll Shelby Licensing president John Luft. "Many of them asked us for permission to complete the build of their Shelby. We found two qualified and experienced shops that can finish the cars to Shelby specifications. This offer is being made royalty free from Carroll Shelby Licensing to help Unique's customers who truly want a Shelby to fulfill that dream."

The two shops will build vehicles to Shelby specs for customers that paid Unique Performance for Shelby continuation cars; no new vehicles can be built and sold under this agreement. The shops can locate a donor vehicle or convert a customer owned one. A build of materials and inspection by Shelby Automobiles and Carroll Shelby Licensing representatives is part of the program, but customers must assume the cost to build the cars. Individuals who paid Unique Performance a deposit for a Shelby car can contact either shop for details and requirements. Kustom Classics can be reached at (817) 492-4441 ( www.kustomclassics.com) and Riley Performance Motorcars is at (214) 587-5323 and www.rileyrpm.com.

About Carroll Shelby Licensing

Automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby is one of the most famous and successful high performance visionaries in the world. In 1998, he founded Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., which is the exclusive holder of trademarks and vehicle design rights for some of the most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles. CSL also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. For more information about the company or licensing opportunities, call (310) 914-1843 or visit www.shelbylicensing.com.

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