"Police Sieze refurbished Shelby Mustangs"
 

Latest Headlines from Automotive News - November 12, 2007

Article states Dallas police seized 61 cars from Unique Performance Inc. 58 Mustangs and 3 Camaros were confiscated for fictitious or altered VIN's.

Investigation was based on consumer complaint.

Unique CEO Douglas Hasty would not return calls to Auto News.

Shelby claims Unique has taken at least $7 million in deposits but not delivered cars with price range from $100k to $200k.

Article also states that at least 10 customers have sued Unique and also listed Shelby as defendants.

While I have no dealings, quips or axes to grind with Unique, I thought this might be of interest to the members of this forum.

Full article and link:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7009/1023/FREE

Seized!
Authorities impound 61 vintage cars in investigation of Unique Performance
By BOB GRITZINGER

We saw trouble on the horizon for Texas-based specialty-car maker Unique Performance a few weeks ago, when we reported on a breakdown in the company's relationship with Carroll Shelby ("Trouble at the Mustang Ranch," AW, Oct. 15).

Since then, the authorities down in Farmers Branch, Texas--home of the Unique Performance headquarters--have been busy wrapping up a month-long investigation into allegations involving improper vehicle identification numbers on cars undergoing makeovers at the company.

Farmers Branch Police Corporal Chad Taylor said his department, in concert with Texas State Police and officials from the Texas Department of Transportation, searched five Unique Performance facilities in the Dallas area Nov. 1-2. No arrests were made, but authorities did confiscate 61 vehicles displaying improper or illegible VINs. Impounded were 58 Ford Mustangs and three Chevrolet Camaros, all 1960s-era models in various stages of repair.

Taylor said further investigation is needed to determine whether charges will be filed against Unique Performance owner Doug Hasty or other company employees. Hasty did not return calls from AutoWeek seeking comment.

Meanwhile, Shelby's licensing arm has taken steps to sever its relationship with Unique Performance, which had been building continuation Shelby GT350SRs and GT500E "Eleanors." The cars, which are refurbished versions of the original cars with updated powertrains, chassis and safety components, carry price tags of $100,000 to $200,000.

A number of customers reportedly placed sizable deposits for cars--there's no word yet on whether the company or Shelby will honor those commitments or refund the deposits. In a statement posted recently on autoweek.com, Hasty said his company had delivered 119 vehicles since 2003 and had invested all the money from deposits into parts and production of 106 more vehicles. Police did not seize any cash or freeze any funds in bank accounts as part of their investigation, Taylor said.

...good to have this posted in the Consumer Watch forum. Thanks.

Much discussion on the closing of Unique Performance is in this thread...

"Unique Performance is Gone"

Note - this refers to the Texas-based company that was making Eleanor clones, NOT Unique Motorcars of Alabama, the replica manufacturer.