<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Eleanor]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Eleanor]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/eleanor http://jalopnik.com/tag/eleanor <![CDATA[Hollywood's Hidden Parking Lot]]> There's a parking lot in Hollywood where Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters mingles with the Mercedes from The Hangover. Terrence Russell found the gems in the rows of taxis at Cinema Vehicle Services for Underwire. —Ed. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5686582&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Police Raid Classic Recreations Over VIN Swapping]]> Oklahoma-based Classic Recreations — the company behind the Shelby GT500CR and other continuation series Mustangs — was raided today by the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations over suspected VIN-plate swapping. It sure feels like Unique Performance all over again. UPDATE. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5582902&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Assets Going Up For Auction, Again]]> Though Unique Performance the company may be dead, the drama lives on. At least until Doug Hasty goes to jail, if that's what ends up happening. We mentioned earlier that an auction of Unique Performance equipment netted more than a million dollars, which was unfortunately only enough to cover taxes and not screwed over employees. But wait, there's some hope. More items are going up for auction for a second round. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=389541&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Federal Felony Update]]> Monday we reported that the feds weren't pursuing Unique Performance in the ongoing Unique Performance drama. We had some guesses for why federal prosecutors might pass on this particular case given the fact that a spokesperson said that federal crimes were obviously committed. Our best guess was that they looked at the 25 state felony charges against the company and decided it wasn't worth it. Our source sort of confirms this below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=381086&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance To Avoid Federal Prosecution, Local Authorities Still Building A Case]]> An update on the Unique Performance saga, it turns out that the U.S. Attorney's office in Dallas will not be prosecuting Doug Hasty or the company, saying "Even though federal crimes have been committed" they're not going to pursue them. Though they haven't given a reason why, we've got a couple of guesses. The most obvious is that it would be redundant given the 25 felony charges against Unique Performance submitted by local prosecutors, who are apparently still vigorously pursuing the cars. Slightly less likely, federal prosecutors agreed to back off if Hasty and company agreed to a plea bargain. Another real possibility is that the U.S. Attorneys office would rather be pursuing political corruption or terrorism cases than some crooked carmaker whose assets have been auctioned off. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=379473&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Customers Suing Carroll Shelby]]> Having invested millions of dollars in cars that, if they were ever started, have probably been auctioned off or are sitting in an evidence locker, at least two Unique Performance customers have put together a lawsuit against Carroll Shelby. Why? Shelby licensed his name to some of the vehicles. To his credit, Shelby did pull his licensing agreement after receiving complaints. But was he paid royalties? How long did he know? We're not sure if these suits will have standing, but so far we've yet to get a comment out of Carroll Shelby and are awaiting a comment from his lawyer. [CBS-11] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375172&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Star Car Shootout: Championship Today]]> This is it. The final round of the Gone In 60 Seconds Star Car Shootout tournament. Where's Eleanor? She didn't make the cut. The remaining contenders? In one corner, we have the gorgeous and yet completely motionless Lamborghini Miura. In the other corner, a powerful combination of Italian style and American muscle, the Intermeccanica Italia. Now it's your job to figure out which car is the coolest star of H.B. Halicki's Gone In 60 Seconds. Place your bets, and hit the polls. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375111&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Auction Nets More Than $1,000,000 Dollars, But That's Not Enough]]> Because Unique Performance declared bankruptcy and had debts outstanding, what was left in the UP warehouse was auctioned off this weekend. The hope was that, after the $900K went to the government there would be some left over for the 140 individuals with claims (including 40 employees owed back-pay). According to our source and records on the auction company's website, the auction netted approximately $1.037 million, leaving $137K after the IRS took their cut, which means $978 per person... before lawyers. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=373216&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Assets, Hundreds Of Shelby Mustang Shells Going Up For Auction]]> We have a tip from a former employee of Unique Performance, one of the ones Unique Performance owes back pay to, that the company's numerous assets will be going up for auction to cover the approximately $900,000 owed to the IRS after they filed for Bankruptcy. Well, the assets not needed as evidence in the 25 felony charges against Unique Performance. Among things going on the block are more than one hundred 1967-69 Shelby Mustangs in various conditions (some with original titles). More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=364774&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Police Submit 25 Felony Charges Against Unique Performance Executives]]> Another development in the Unique Performance drama, as CBS-11 is reporting that the Farmers Branch PD has finished their investigation and submitted 25 felony charges against Unique Performance to the Dallas County District Attorney. The nature of these charges aren't clear, but they likely have to do with fraud and title washing. We've also learned that the U.S. Secret Service has three suspects. What this all means below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=361333&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Mustangs Allegedly Built By Prisoners, Used 13 Gallons Of Bondo]]> Just when we thought there would be a break from the Unique Performance Saga, we get word that things were even more rotten in the city of Farmers Branch. First, an investigation by CBS11-TV has turned up solid evidence that unskilled Texas prisoners were used to do the bodywork on the replica "Eleanor" Mustangs, including removing the VIN plates (which is illegal). Second, the poorly built cars cost upwards of $200,000 yet were built using approximately 13 gallons of Bondo each. Third, the U.S. Secret Service and Texas Department of Public Safety (state police) have launched investigations. Fourth, this may impact the way the prison system work program is implemented. Finally, according to authorities charges are imminent (probably fraud and title-washing to start). More pictures from the evidence locker (everything comes from Taiwan), a statement from Unique Performance owner Doug Hasty's lawyer and a quick primer for those that haven't been following the case below the jump.
More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=359986&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Owner Finally Speaks, More Details Emerge]]> There's a great article in The Dallas Morning News today regarding the ongoing saga of custom Mustang builder Unique Performance, which includes important details regarding the current state of the investigation and the first real comments from CEO Doug Hasty. There's a lot of blame to go around, and no one seems content to take any, but as a former Unique Performance spokesman told us:
"This shit is really outrageous to me, since I always detected that something was up when I'd show up at their shop/offices. Title washing? Yeah, normal people and drug dealers just call that money laundering."
More sordid details below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=338674&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Ex-Employee Alleges Company Holding Out on Employees]]> It's not a big surprise to us, but someone claiming to be a former employee of Unique Performance has said that employees that stuck around until the end haven't been paid yet. Given that Unique Performance filed for Bankruptcy, we're saying the odds aren't great that they're going to get what is owed them. Full email below the jump: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=330938&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Unique Performance Files for Bankruptcy]]> We sort of wish we hadn't called this, but AutoWeek is reporting that Unique Performance filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on November 12th, less than a week after being raided by the fuzz for title-washing and other crimes. This means the company has no plans to rebuild itself and, worse, owes between $1 and $100 million dollars with no listed assets! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=328099&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[NY Times Reports on Unique Performance... Finally]]> The Gray Lady finally catches on to something we've been reporting for more than two weeks and we learn absolutely nothing new. One thing the author focuses on is that the likelihood that the value of these cars, which was probably not going to increase anyways, could seriously decrease. What we know and what all of this means after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=326188&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Oh No Eleanor! Unique Performance Accused of Title Washing]]> The walls are coming down around Dallas-based Unique Performance, maker of the Shelby-sort-of-endorsed Mustang GT500E Super Snake replicas and other specialty vehicles. Apparently, people have been fronting extensive chunks of change for their pricey Eleanors and not getting them for years. But that isn't why the cops raided the place. It gets worse (unless you're out $250K) after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=319267&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What Th'... It's the Smartleanor!]]> What happens when you take a Smart Fortwo and cross it with Eleanor the Mustang from "Gone in 60 Seconds"? A question that needn't been asked, to be sure. But there's an answer. Whatever it is, it looks like something that emerge about six months after Eleanor's egg has been fertilized. Oh, gross. – Mike Spinelli More »
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