AC enters the fray

[Mark IV]

....had the license from FoMoCo to use the "Cobra" trademark in all but the North American markets until June 2002. At that time Ford withdrew the license without comment. I understand from sources in both orginazations that the withdrawal (Websters: How Texans talk) was caused in part by the then current ownership and management at AC plus the fact that Ford wants to "rest" the trademark before possibly using themselves once more.

BTW, the license of the Cobra trademark to AC goes back to the mid 1980's when Ford granted Autokraft the use, this rolled over to AC when Brian Angliss purchased AC and then Ford bought in. When Ford wanted to liquidate AC, Angliss fought them and amazingly won. The reason Ford would not allow use of the trademark in North America was due to product liability issues and the inability of AC/Autokraft to secure products liability insurance that named Ford Motor Company as additional insured! No company wanted to have Ford on policy as it was too tempting a target for a large claim. I know this first hand as I was involved in the search and results for the insurance. We would have loved to have used the "Cobra" trademark on the car in the market where it had the greatest meaning and impact! But it was not to be......

I would not argue that the cars AC and Autokraft built for other markets with the "Cobra" logos and name are anything but "Cobra"....just not old ones!

Rick