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trevor, shafted is polite....buggered might be more to it
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As much as it pains me to admit, perhaps the end of "AC" would be a kindness. As Trevor and Whatsa have told all, and what they have revealed to me in private communications only confirms that the time may have passed for the entity of "AC".
If resurrected, what product makes sense? The Kirkhams have made the aluminum "Cobra" a quality, repeatable product. The Superformance and others have made any fiberglass "Cobra" redundant, and while I was great fan of the concept of the Ace "Brooklands" (and long to own the LHD car that being built for our demonstrator) the lack of funding doomed that product to never reach full development and production. Perhaps there is no product that defines AC that they can produce that is not done better, cheaper, more profitably by others than can be done by the originator. Unless the UK need new invalid cars, I fail to see a niche that AC can fill. The realization of this fact saddens me deeply, my enthusiasm for AC goes back many years, my business connections with them over twenty-five. Perhaps it is time to pull the plug and ask for a "do not resusitate" order to be issued. Sadly, Rick |
The ONLY thing AC had going for it was the name. I believe it still has substantial value, heres the plan:
Lay low for awhile, let the heat die down, then SELL it to someone of a group of investors in due time. The perfect man to pull off this plan is none other than Lubinsky himself! I wouldn't bet against AC, the NAME, rising once again from the ashes. He will sell that name from behind bars if necessary, and make a tidy sum doing it I tell you! :D |
It is amazing to me that the Cobra from it's conception has spawned this level of humanity!
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JWilly & Trevor: I remember Superformance was planning on selling complete AC rollers here in the U.S. a few years back. I don't know if this was part of the deal Jimmy Price made with Lubinski (that Alan walked away from after making a deal with Shelby instead), or if this was a different deal (in a different time frame), perhaps made with Brian Angliss.
I have pics somewhere of one of the 1st completed rollers, but I can't seem to find them. I know pics of the car were floating around here on CC for awhile as well. Perhaps Ron can help us out; he's the master of finding old pics / articles when prompted. -Lil' help here Ron!!!!!! The car I have pics of was kind of a Teal color (almost mint green if I remember right). I didn't care for the color, but the rest of the car looked to be done very well, and seemed to have a good build quality. |
Just ran across this. Anyone know these folks? http://www.autokraftltd.com/
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The pix are in my gallery. The color does not come out true, it was Viking blue, the 1964 FIA colors. Yes, the cars were to be imported from AC when Jimmy Price had the operation, the Lubinsky double cross eliminated the deal. Brian Angliss walked away circa 1996 and has NO connection to AC or Autokraft in any way. The ACs were to be handled by a new dealer network, not the SPF dealers. Doesn't matter much now, the patient has expired...................... |
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Just somebody else that thought they could do business with Luby........:eek: |
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Perhaps Jimmy Price got things moving along, and then then Alan just managed to sell whatever was already in progress to Shelby as the CSX1000 cars. But then Alan had clue of how to produce any more cars after Price left? :JEKYLHYDE |
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http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/20..._roadster.html |
You can indeed speculate but Jimmy ran the business as AC Autokraft for two years at his own expense. Since the rights to the AC name would revert to A.L., he could no longer sell the cars as ACs, they became virtually worthless. He had no option but to shut down the business and call in the receivers who locked the doors and laid off the staff. It was about two weeks before the business re-opened (under the original management) and some, though certainly not all, of the staff were re-hired. Others just drifted away..which is a very condensed story of that event.
BTW, has it occured to anyone that this entire thread is based on an unsubstantiated report in just one Maltese newspaper? |
I'm sure a superpower nation like Malta is bound to have more than one newspaper.
But you are right, what if Alan was just out sick for a couple of days when the reporter stopped in for a visit, that might have made it appear that the factory was deserted. After all if Alan is not there to run things, all the employees don't show up as they would just have no idea how to build cars without their leader's guidance. We should get someone who lives on the European side of the pond to drive over to the AC factory in Malta to disprove this heartbreaking story. Trevor, are you up for this? I suppose you could do the chunnel and then a short ferry ride. You could probably get a few nice pictures of your AC outside of the new factory or shaking hands with Alan. |
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Do you know where Malta is? Drive? |
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But still, you don't think they have a ferry from that place that looks like a high heeled boot over to Malta? ;) |
Trevor
Remember when back before electricity I was asked to put up a $300,000 deposit to make The Ken Miles Tribute Cars with AC CARS piloted by the dashingly evasive Mr. Lubinsky who forbid me to tour the UK facility?
Soon after, to see x rated photos of the facility looking like a ghost town? Ahh, those were the days... |
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Possibly the best 300,000 dollars you never spent - you were not the only person to be refused entry to the hallowed halls of said car company. Even the one person who did more to promote the distinguished marque and sold more cars than anyone was barred from even setting foot inside the front door by the hired muscle... ah the joys of Public Relations. Some people live by different rules do they not? Or do they make it up as they go along? We recently had a Prime Minister who did that..... |
Al
Trev289,
I very personnally know two other folks that went to this party with a slightly different theme. Jbo |
What's the latest legal interpretation of the old "use it or lose it" laws? Aren't their some time limits on "using" a brand trademark? Doesn't Al have to produce some sort of AC branded vehicle within a certain time frame to retain the brand identity? Or does he, or his trust, have it forever? I was under the impression that if a motor vehicle manufacturer didn't use a name within a certain number of years it became "fair game."
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