<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Unique Performance]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Unique Performance]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/unique performance http://jalopnik.com/tag/unique performance <![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[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 Employees Ask For Owed Wages]]> Many people have read All The President's Men, which covers the investigation into the Watergate scandal that eventually forced President Nixon to resign. Less people have read Final Days, the sequel, which chronicles the final months of the administration and the eventual decision to step down. But those who have read that novel will undoubtedly see similarities between that tale of executive confusion and misdirection and what's been going on at Unique Performance, which until recently was creating ersatz Elanores for wealthy car collectors. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=336789&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[Foose Cuts All Ties With Unique Performance]]> The ongoing Unique Performance saga continues, with Chip Foose and Foose Design joining Shelby as ex-partners. Not only is the company jumping ship, it's also considering legal action against Unique Performance. No one has gone to jail yet, but property has been seized and it looks like it's heading that way. Calls to Unique Performance Owner Doug Hasty (pictured here with Foose) have not been returned. Full release after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=321480&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[Mustang, Redux: Foose Stallion Now Available At Ford Dealerships]]>
We had some other things on our mind a couple of weeks ago, so we've got to apologize to the man, the myth, the marketing maven that is Chip Foose. Foose announced earlier this month his newest creation, the Mustang-derived Stallion, is now available for purchase at all sorts of local FoMoCo dealerships. The Stallion, distributed to dealers by way of Unique Performance, includes all sorts of "unique" performance enhancements like a Ford Racing exhaust, suspension and a "power pack" from Ford Racing that includes cold air induction and ECM recalibrated for premium fuel for an estimated 335 hp. You can also tell Chip's put his manly n' meaty hands on the now Foose embroidered seats, custom sill plates and a signature logo on the dash. Plus, it's got the upper and lower billet grille and those big ol' 20-inch Foose Nitrous wheels so you can spot it from at least some of the other Mustang variants in your dealer parking lot. We're not exactly sure of how to order one of them — but you may want to try walking up to the front of the store and yelling at a security camera, "I've been Overhauled!" Gallery below and full press release after the jump. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=230533&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[More on the Foose Stallions for 2007]]> No blower or other speed-shop tweaks come standard with the production Foose Stallion Mustangs; the partnership between Sir Chip and the hammerheads at Unique Performance comprises mainly body cosmetics, wheels and brakes. The latter tweak involves adding Baer two-pot calipers in the front and cross-drilled "Decelarotors" at all four corners, which add bite to the anemic stoppers on the Mustang GT donor cars. Body mods include reshaped hood and side moldings, revised grille, new fascia, custom side marker lights and side scoops, along with custom graphics and DuPont Hot Hues paint. A performance exhaust comes special delivery from Ford Racing Performance. Options include two-tone paint, racing stripes, chrome wheels and a "power pack" from Ford Racing that includes cold air induction and ECM recalibrated for premium fuel for an estimated 335 hp. No word on price, but AutoWeek once predicted the cars would go for around $40,000 each, with a production capacity of up to 3,000. With such mass merchandising becoming the norm for ol' Chip, can "Fooseical the Musical" be far behind? [Gallery] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=213254&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[In the Flesh: The 1970 Foose Dodge Challenger]]> Earlier this year, Foose Design and Unique Performance announced a teamup to build a limited-edition 1970 Dodge Challenger. Say hello to their little car. Production of the E-body throwbacks — which are built on the bones of original 1970 and 1971 Challengers — started midyear, with the first series model planned to be sold at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. Visuals come by way of the Foosian pen, while mechanicals include a choice of crate Hemi, rear suspension by Unique Performance and speed tech by Georgia's Year One. For you? $189,000. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212627&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chip Foose and Unique Performance to Build '70 Challenger Homage]]> Chip Foose, customizer, illustrator, artist (and all-around decent guy), is extending his association with Unique Performance — builder of six-figure custom muscle-car (don't-call-them) reproductions, like the Foose '69 Camaro, Foose Stallion Mustang and Shelby GT.500E Super Snake. The two are planning to give the Mopar freaks some, with a run of supercars based on the 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger. Buyers will get a choice of Hemi powerplants (347 ci and 426 ci) hooked to a TKO five-speed tranny, and the cars will feature shaved bumpers, Foose 18" wheels and a custom DuPont paint scheme. A prototype Challenger is scheduled to debut this Thursday, June 15, 2006, with production set to begin next month. Don't ask the price; it'll only make that bank hit you've been considering seem doable. Or else wait until Dodge comes out with its own, albiet less potent, Challenger for around $100,000 less. More »
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