RE: Mercedes has Gullwing replica crushed

[rwindmill]

Its such a shame that the big car companies take this approach. I can understand their view point if the people making the replicas are trying to sell them on as originals. But for those of us who dream of owning the likes of a Mercedes gullwing or a Porsche 917, replicas are the closest we will ever get.
After seeing last weeks Top Gear with Chris Evans 250 GT Claifornia, i was straight onto the web to see if there were any decent replicas at a price i might be able to afford. Ever since watching Ferris Buellers day off, i have loved these Ferrari's and would give anything to own one. However, every site i came across that mentioned replicas, also talked about how the company had been ordered to close down production by Ferrari. It seems that only the super rich are allowed to enjoy these cars, and the rest of us have to make do with Matchbox toys

[Pistachio]

I wish they would crush their current range of cars while they are at it…they are an infringement to my eyes….IMHO

[frosted]

Bet they wouldn't do that with a ripp off Chinese marque

[Roop]

I agree with removing unlicensed replicas, particularly if Daimler have existing licences in place with third parties allowing those third parties to legally create replicas...

[JohnGoodridge]

IMHO the replica business (Cobra, GT40) usually increases the awareness and cachet of the originals; from which enthusiasts, and the market clearly differentiates.

Bit short-sighted of Daimler AG IMHO, unless of course they want to get into the replica business themselves.

[anonymous-user]

Andrew[MG] said:

Seems pretty harsh! I hope the Russians and the Chinese start churning out 1000s of replicas just to piss them off.

Agreed.

The last paragraph was toolish.

[fathomfive]

Does this signal a reduction in the number of MR2s on the road soon?

[Dimski]

Roop said:

I agree with removing unlicensed replicas, particularly if Daimler have existing licences in place with third parties allowing those third parties to legally create replicas...

Hmmm, good point.

I was just about to comment that I thought this was short sighted of Mercedes.

The GT40 & Cobra Replicas haven't devalued the originals; IMO if anything they have just increased awareness of them and the chance for people to see those iconic car shapes out on the road. Ignoring the fact that some kits can be a bit... poor, in 20 years time what will a 10 year old be more likely to recognise? A never ever seen, ultra rare, garage queen priceless merc, or (relatively) common Cobra?

If it was destroyed due to being an unlicensed copy, then maybe that's fair enough. A bit german however!

ETA - Beaten to it by John...

[Mr Gear]

This is bullst. It's not like Mercedes is able to produce and sell cars that look like this any more. No-one has dipped their pocket. Petty.

[veevee]

"The certified equipment used in the centre includes two presses, each applying over 30 tonnes of pressure. The replica sports car had a fibreglass body weighing precisely 148 kilograms, which the compressor smashed into small pieces. This dramatic end to the unlawful body was officially documented with a signed and stamped 'confirmation of scrappage'."

[dealmaker]

Extremely petty and small minded of Merc - to be expected probably....

...some poor guy probably had his lifetimes dream (and savings) destroyed......for what???

[Superhoop]

frosted said:

Bet they wouldn't do that with a ripp off Chinese marque

There'd be no need to - a Chinese replica is unlikely to actually look anything like the original

[kaiowas]

It's quite common to be able to buy aftermarket replacement body panels for a range of cars and no-one considers those as copyright infringment so what proportion of a car do you have to make before a pattern part becomes a replica?

[suffolk009]

30 tonnes of pressure... precisely 148 kilograms....officially documented.

So German. No sense of humour.

[Captain Muppet]

frosted said:

Bet they wouldn't do that with a ripp off Chinese marque

The copyright laws in China are "different".

I'm sympathetic towards Mercedes.

Would there be a market for Gullwings made in a shed if Mercedes hadn't created the original? Don't think so. Any replica manufacturer owes something to the original creator.

I'd be pissed off if I found someone was making money copying stuff I've designed, and I imagine most people would feel the same.

[joe58]

http://www.m-wingmotors.com/turnkey.htm

First link in Google of any interest?

[Roop]

dealmaker said:

Extremely petty and small minded of Merc - to be expected probably....

...some poor guy probably had his lifetimes dream (and savings) destroyed......for what???

Alternatively, how would you feel as the owner of a company that pays Daimler 100,000 EUR a year to legally licence the body design for replicas...?

Pretty bloody annoyed I expect. Daimler have done the right thing IMO.

[SystemParanoia]

Roop said:

dealmaker said:

Extremely petty and small minded of Merc - to be expected probably....

...some poor guy probably had his lifetimes dream (and savings) destroyed......for what???

Alternatively, how would you feel as the owner of a company that pays Daimler 100,000 EUR a year to legally licence the body design for replicas...?

Pretty bloody annoyed I expect. Daimler have done the right thing IMO.

which company is that ?

[Baryonyx]

A similar thing happened in the world of guitars a few years back. Warwick and Status Graphite both made copies of John Entwistle's 'Buzzard' design, though Entwistle played the Status basses far more. He died, and legal wrangling lead to the Buzzard shape copyright ending up with Warwick, which I believe meant that they had exlusive rights to the design for ten years.

Not content with just stopping Status making the graphite Buzzards for ten years, Warwick ordered the molds for the basses destroyed. Status complied, being a small English luthier facing a German company with offices all over the world because Warwick could ruin them with legal action.

I believe Status could legally make Buzzards again now, but they can't as the carbon fibre molds for the body are too expensive to recreate!

[richb77]

If it where a copy masquerading as an original then maybe, MAYBE Daimler AG had a point.

But it was fibreglass and probably not intended as anything other than a tribute to the original.

Shame on Daimler.