[Jester67]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

I just sent the Ford people another email with a link to this topic in it. Maybe one of those pinheads can take the time to read it. Likely not, since they haven't exactly been quick to answer my emails. I worded this email a little stonger than the first few. I didn't use foul language, but I was very, very clear on what I thought of them and suggested that the same idiots that brought about this lawsuit are perhaps responsible for putting Ford several BILLION dollars in the red. Sharp guys those Ford people...

Originally Posted by 68MustangGT390

I wish a lot of you guys would read the laws.

Looks like you hit a nerve zookeeper lets keep drilling and see if we can hit another.

I was looking to get a 07 Mustang in August 1. Because I need a new car 2. August was when my 67 was built and sold and 3. August was when I bought her. But now I’m looking at another Subaru or maybe Toyota.

[zookeeper]

The funny thing about the reply by 68MustangGt390 is this: it happened right after I sent a link of this thread to the Ford propoganda folks. This guy apparently signed up to Stangnet just to reply to that thread, since a quick search of all his threads revealed nothing before or since. Do you suppose this idiot is a "plant" by Ford to try to show us how much Ford really cares about all of us?

[68keyblr]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

The funny thing about the reply by 68MustangGt390 is this: it happened right after I sent a link of this thread to the Ford propoganda folks. This guy apparently signed up to Stangnet just to reply to that thread, since a quick search of all his threads revealed nothing before or since. Do you suppose this idiot is a "plant" by Ford to try to show us how much Ford really cares about all of us?

I suspected as much. He sounds like he's a Ford lawyer. It also appears that he read few if any of the previous posts.

[MustangEnthusia]

Trade marks suck =\

[zookeeper]

Just a little update: I got another email a few weeks ago about Ford's need to protect themselves, blah, blah, blah. I'll post if if anyone here is interested in reading it.

[Edbert]

Scan it to a jpg/pdf.

[RacerX]

I've owned 14 mustangs, a 72 Gran Torino Sport, 84 Mercury Marquis, 87 Taurus, 89 T-bird (traded in at 140K mi), 91 E-150 conversion van (traded in at 245K mi), 00 Escort ZX2, and an01 Sable. Ok Ford, What does that tell you about brand loyalty. I'm thinking of buying a new car next summer. I've had my heart set on a new mustang but I just can't see that happening when FORD is BETRAYING the very people that have kept the mustang in the car enthusiast's heart. Its a matter of principal and that doesn't seem to be politically correct these days, especialy with those in a position of power. That new Challenger is starting to look real good to me. My best friend from school who got me into fords in high school has already gone to chrysler. He has owned torinos, mustangs, tbirds, a galaxie 7 liter and a couple of cougars. He worked many years in ford service at several dealerships. He bled ford blue.

Here's an idea for ford, how about taking all those resources being used to screw the entire hobby and instead use them to investigate the many companys for quality products and if they meet certain standards give them the SEAL OF APPROVAL. Not license and trying to get their hands in everyone else's pockets. That would do much better good for all involved instead of raping the industry and dragging everybody into court. Oh I forgot, that doesn't make quick money for the greedy ones pursuing the current course of action. Stupid me for thinking long term.

[mdjay]

Originally Posted by RacerX

Here's an idea for ford, how about taking all those resources being used to screw the entire hobby and instead use them to investigate the many companys for quality products and if they meet certain standards give them the SEAL OF APPROVAL. Not license and trying to get their hands in everyone else's pockets. That would do much better good for all involved instead of raping the industry and dragging everybody into court. Oh I forgot, that doesn't make quick money for the greedy ones pursuing the current course of action. Stupid me for thinking long term.

This is a current push but they're very slow to respond. There has been a bit of turn over up top at Ford.

[mdjay]

Originally Posted by RacerX

I'm thinking of buying a new car next summer. I've had my heart set on a new mustang but I just can't see that happening when FORD is BETRAYING the very people that have kept the mustang in the car enthusiast's heart.

This kind of thinking doesn't help anyone. It hurts everyone including Ford, the aftermarket, and the spirit of the enthusiast to which we all stand for. I would ask that you re-think your position and just get the car that you want the most. Don't let spite choose it for you.

I have faith that Ford will eventually work with the aftermarket companys helping to spur the sales of even more Mustangs. Give it some time!

[zookeeper]

Originally Posted by Edbert

Scan it to a jpg/pdf.

I just did a quick copy/paste, it may be a little hard to follow, but you get the idea. The funny thing is, I get the eerie feeling they have no idea whatsoever what I'm talking about!

Dear Jim,

If your local Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealership is unable to order a
particular Ford part for you because it is unavailable, we recommend
contacting one of the below companies, as they specialize in obsolete
parts:

Green Sales
513-731-3304
www.greensalescompany.com

Parts Voice
800-328-8766
www.partsvoice.com

In addition, the department that would best handle your inquiry
regarding Ford Mustang brand name would be our Global Brand Licensing office.

Please contact them directly at:
branduse@ford.com

or

Ford Motor Company
Global Brand Licensing Office
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Suite 5N203
Dearborn, MI 48126
USA

Sincerely,
Eleonor Joy
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company

For online support visit us at: www.customersaskford.com which contains
answers to frequently asked questions and links to other key product
and service information.

[THREAD ID:1-3BTB1F]

-----Original Message-----

From: jngzoo@yahoo.com
Sent: 2/5/2007 08:59:36 PM
To: crcfmc@ford.com
Subject: Re: Ford Motor Company

Hello Marjorie, I'm not sure how many lawsuits your company has
brought against Mustang restoration suppliers, but the one I'm
concerned with involves Ford's attack on any and all businesses with the word,
"Mustang" in the name. I really do not see any benefits for Ford in
this matter at all. In fact I see just the opposite of a financial gain,
and that is a huge financal loss. How could protecting a Ford
copyrighted name be a bad thing? This is a no-win game for Ford, and here's why:
Mustang parts suppliers started going into business about the time Ford
quit supplying parts in the late '70's and early '80's. Back then Ford
couldn't have possibly cared less about old cars, whether they were
Mustangs or not. At that particular time, Ford only cared about selling
new cars, and in my opinion, nothing's changed in that area. In 1980, a
decent '67 Mustang fastback was worth about $2,000 and the owners and
restorers of those cars
weren't even a blip on Ford's radar screen. As parts supplies dried
up, aftermarket vendors saw a need in the market and filled that need by
building and supplying Mustang restorers with the parts they needed.
Ford on the other hand was busy selling truly horrible cars like the
Pinto and Mustang II. As time went on Mustang restorers and vendors formed
a relationship that benefitted both. There were (and are) some
businesses that sell substandard parts, but savvy builders know to steer clear
of those businesses an are very helpful to newcomers to the hobby to
help them find quality parts. As time went on, years turned to
decades and our vintage Mustangs have been "discovered" the rest of the
world and prices have jumped. Now that some hypothetical 1967 fastback
Mustang that was worth $2,000 in '80 is worth ten times that today.
Like any hobby where there is money to be made, it attracts attention,
both good
and bad. The good attention is that quality parts are in high demand.
The bad is that everyone has their hand out, wanting to cash in on the
Mustang phenomenon, and that includes Ford. Where was Ford when we
needed parts 25 years ago? Where were the greedy lawyers when there was no
money to be made in the hobby? If I understand correctly,
Ford wants to eliminate any business with the word "Mustang" in it's
name. Let me ask you this question: if you own a business that caters
primarily to the Mustang industry, what would you call it? It only makes
sense to use the name of your intended customers car in the title. Ford's
position is that they would like to "protect" the consumer by allowing
the "approved" vendors to offer "official", Ford-approved parts. Sure
it is, after all Ford is only looking out for my best interest by
putting the screws to the same people that helped me restore my Mustangs for
the last 20
years, right? After all, I'm sure that Ford really has it's finger on
the pulse of the collector car hobby. If Ford wants to compete with
current suppliers, then get in line and open up shop and let the quality
of their parts speak for themselves. The only thing Ford had left was
the loyalty of Ford owners, it didn't matter if an enthusiast owned a new
Ford or an old one, a Ford was a Ford and that's all that mattered. But
the marketing guru's at Ford today took care of that, at least for me.
So my next question is, is anyone at Ford listening to the grass-roots
enthusiast? Jim
Elliott

crcfmc@ford.com wrote: Dear Jim,

Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship
Center a Mustang lawsuit.

We would like to address this matter on your behalf. However, we are
unclear on the specific nature of the response to your previous e-mail as
you have outlined in your e-mail. Please reply to us with a
clarification of how you would like Ford Motor Company to assist you with regards
to this matter.

If you have any other inquiries, please feel free to contact us and we
will be happy to address them for you.

Sincerely,
Marjorie Anne
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company

Please visit our 24/7 on-line help service, www.customersaskford.com
which contains answers to frequently asked questions and links to other
key product and service
information.

[THREAD ID:1-3BKZUZ]

-----Original Message-----

From: jngzoo@yahoo.com
Sent: 1/31/2007 08:06:17 PM
To:
Subject: Question_to_Ford_Motor_Co

Contact Us
First Name: Jim
Last Name: Elliott
Email Address: jngzoo@yahoo.com
Questions: Hi,
A few months ago, I took the time to write you with my concerns about
your pending lawsuit against the people in the Mustang-based
restoration
market. Instead of getting an answer, I was emailed a form letter
explaining nothing, but trying to justify your greed. Here's a link to
an
online forum where some die-hard Ford people have some strong opinions
about this subject. http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=635959
Also, I hope the idiots behind this lawsuit are buying a lot of Fords.
My
wife and I will be buying a new car in a couple weeks and it sure won't
be
a Ford! The Dodge dealer has some nice products and they
aren't
crucifiying their supporters. Good Luck flushing what's left of your
company down the toilet.

[bnickel]

Originally Posted by mdjay

This kind of thinking doesn't help anyone. It hurts everyone including Ford, the aftermarket, and the spirit of the enthusiast to which we all stand for. I would ask that you re-think your position and just get the car that you want the most. Don't let spite choose it for you.

I have faith that Ford will eventually work with the aftermarket companys helping to spur the sales of even more Mustangs. Give it some time!

while agree to some extent that it may counter productive it also needs to be said and followed through on, otherwise the message never gets across and everyone get's screwed. a little revolution now and then is agood thing after all. sometimes drastic measures need to be taken to make those in power truly understand what's actually at stake, especially in this case. that said, i fully intend for my next new car purchase to be a ford product but that is still at least 4 years off and hopefully this mess will all be sorted out by then or i may be buying a mazda product that is no longer associated with ford other than the fact that mazda may have taken over ford by then....not a good thing!

[StangDreamin']

zoo: You are obviously corresponding with yet one more car exec that just doesn't "get it". Back in the days that you and I (and a bunch of other people around here) remember fondly; Ford was run by "car guys"; men with a passion for their machines. They knew what they wanted and how they wanted it; and oh, how badly they wanted it.

This Eleanor (how appropriate is that name?) woman has no clue. She's nothing more than yet another of those people who would -given the money- buy a '70 Mach 1 (with a stroked Chevy 350, probably) for $120k at Barrett-Jackson just so she could say she won the bidding. And that's the entire problem; Ford (and GM and to some good extent Daimler-Chrysler) is now being run by people whose passion is not the car; it's just the dollar sign.

And they can't figure out why they're going in the tank; even when "car guys" tell them.

Jeeze, even Iacocca figured it out.

[zookeeper]

I guess that's the really frustrating part for me. I recently caught an episope of "Rides" on TLC and even though it wasn't exactly a thrilling episode, I watched. The whole episode was on some inter-department design contest to design an SUV of the future. NOT ONE of the people doing any of the design work was a native American. Why is this important? How is a Frenchman going to know what stimulates a 40-something American to plunk down money on a vehicle? I'm not being an elitist or trying to pigeon-hole all non-American designs (or designers) as useless or quirky, but come on, lets get serious. Except for the Mustang, I haven't seen a decent design come from Ford since the '97 F150, and they got rid of that in a hurry. My point is the entire Ford company has completely lost all touch with the grassroots car people. They are and have been living on past glory for years and seem to be trying to be more European than All-American. Seen many Ford's win races lately? Nascar is pretty much an all GM show, Pro Stock hasn't seen a Ford even try to qualify since the late Scott Geofrion, and that was how many years ago? Ford doesn't support racers, restorers or hot rodders. I don't count slapping a grossly exaggerated "Mustang" body on the Team Force floppers. Maybe I would if it didn't have a Mopar-designed Hemi in it, but all the funny cars run the same motor, and none are Ford-powered.
The only friggin' thing I ask of Ford is to just leave the only Ford-powered car I have alone and allow the companies that support me in my hobby sell me parts without any Ford interferance. But that's too much to ask apparently, and since I'm not much for sitting around and hoping Ford will wise up, I choose to at least write an email. Even if it does need to be sent to an interpreter before the Ford PR machine can read it.

[electricgreen]

Originally Posted by Jester67

Looks like you hit a nerve zookeeper lets keep drilling and see if we can hit another.

I was looking to get a 07 Mustang in August 1. Because I need a new car 2. August was when my 67 was built and sold and 3. August was when I bought her. But now I’m looking at another Subaru or maybe Toyota.

Get another subie. Probably will have more American made parts too! I love my Baja, it's been about the BEST daily we've ever had-and the interior fit & finish far exceeds my 00 Stang's. As sad as it is to say that, because I love that car.

The lines between us and them when it comes to "foreign" and "domestic" are so blurred it's hard to say where they even are now. My 91 Ranger has a Mazda motor in it. How many parts from my 2000 were actually made here in the US? I'd love a true content comparo to my 03 Baja-I'd be interested to see which one is actually more "foreign". They were both ASSEMBLED here...

[Edbert]

Originally Posted by electricgreen

The lines between us and them when it comes to "foreign" and "domestic" are so blurred it's hard to say where they even are now.

Very true. But I don't get too caught up with the "assembled here" part as many do. If assembly and manufacture mean the most to you then you have to examine the components, even those assembled here are made up of many foreign parts, that is true no matter the marque.

When a J A P company claims we should buy their cars since they are now assembling them here it makes me want to puke. The ONLY reasons they do it are to lower their costs for importing them, plus get a little marketing bonus thrown in. Where the real benefit of buying American car company cars is from the thousands of higher-level (professional) employees they hire, each one of which earns much more than an assembly-line person, and which stock exchange they are traded on. Support the NYSC or the Nikkei, your call.

[mcandela]

Just finished reading this thread and I had heard about Shelby's action against Scott Drake, but did not know about Ford pulling this number on companies selling products for the Mu@@ang. It's some crappy sh*# but in the long run they are going to pay the price. I mean, I myself have had a Capri RS, 3 Explorers,4 Mu@@angs,(86 SVO, 94GT, 95GT and a 68 fastback) and currently drive a SVT Lightning. They killed the Adrenalin and the new Lightning. So, my next car might be the new Challenger, looks pretty Cool to me!!

[65vert]

Originally Posted by zookeeper

Just a little update: I got another email a few weeks ago about Ford's need to protect themselves, blah, blah, blah. I'll post if if anyone here is interested in reading it.

Hi all. just got on board and was wondering (am sure someone mentioned but I didn't see) if what Ford is doing is on a global basis. We are here in the philippines were we are blogging our Stang adventures at http://rickynsally.wordpress.com/

LOL. Will we be disallowed to use the "M" word in our sites?

Would dictionaries have to be re-written too? The word mustang stricken? Unless it has a capital "M"?

[valley82]

Maybe Ford should have put more money into R&D on the 6.0 liter Deisel before they unleashed that huck of junk on the public, and less on hammering classic vendors?!
My company lemon-lawed two 04 F350s.
I'm not an accountant but I can tell you that they lost money on me that year.
It seems a little rediculous to me...MU, MP, MD all at the very least give ford free advertising and they sell quite a few FOMOCO parts. What are they supposed to call a company that sells MUSTANG PARTS??? Camaros Unlimited?????
I DON"T GET FORD's LOGIC???????
But then again I would have convicted O.J.,Blake & Specter so maybe I'm not smart enough to understand this whole court thing???? LOL

[StangDreamin']

It's the world we live in these days....... You get hammered by your detractors (sometimes righteously); so the obvious response is to beat up your supporters!

I just don't get it; and my employer must be the greatest inspration for Dilbert cartoons....

[Edbert]

Originally Posted by StangDreamin'

I just don't get it; and my employer must be the greatest inspration for Dilbert cartoons....

<<<<<<<
Someone called?
<<<<<<<

Seriously though, there were several strips back in the day that were derived from an email or twenty regarding happenings at Motorola when I worked there (1995-2000).

My favorite was when HR implemented a new policy called "Individual Dignity Entitlement" or IDE, it was supposed to tell each employee how much their personal dignity was valued by the company, they gave us mouse pads and coffee cups with the logo and all. This came out in the exact same memo where they told us the random urinalysis was going to start. Several of us were wondering if that is what the coffee cup was for, but there was no lid

I think when Scott Adams made the comic about that one he called it "Individual Dignity Enhancement", just to make sure the brass at Motorola knew it wasn't about them.

[StangDreamin']

Scott Adams (I think that's the "Dilbert" author) was a Engineer for Pacific Telecom; and, until I heard that on Leno, I really didn't "get" some of his humor. After I heard about his previous employment background, I started reading his stuff while "wearing" my work mindset - It all started to make sense.
Understand that my work uniform includes a shirt with a big blue Q over the pocket; and that my company bought me along with another telco (USWest). It's even more interesting that our most previous CEO (not the one before him whose gotta pay $90-something mill to maybe stay out of jail) had prior to that, gotten Ameritech ready for purchase by SBC Telecom (now AT&T); and that our present CEO had previously prepared PacBell (again, Scott Adams' previous employer) ready for sale to, hmmmmm.... SBC/AT&T! Makes you kind of wonder, huh?

My present supervisor retired from PacBell-SBC. I have no clue what she was thinking upon jumping out of their frying pan into our fire, and I bet she has her doubts after 3 months in what passes for a system here. Anyway, she either heard of or slightly knew of Adams; and apparently early on in the "life of Dilbert" he was in fact asked to make a decision between continuing the comic or keeping his job. You may have noticed that the strip is still in production........

I'm probably going to get in that kind of trouble myself fairly soon, as I've caught myself telling people (at work) that "we work in a Dilbert cartoon". Oh, well, at my present state of mind; if "the word" ever comes down to me, I'll seriously consider following Adam's decision to "explore other career opportunities". I've been unemployed before, and my track record has always been one of actually coming out ahead in the next job.

Even if it does make me feel like a rat jumping overboard after the big ice-cube flood on the Titanic......

[bnickel]

i used to work for SBC in the guise of Cingular, when SBC wireless and Bell south wireless "merged" i say in the guise of cingular because when the two wireless companies merged the cingular employess were left out of the loop on any of the benefits of working for either of the "parent" companies, meaning no stock option in either one, none of the same vacation, insurance or other benefits of the "parent" companies, we didn't even get the same union contracts sow our pay scale was different as well, meaning that we got payed about half of what other customer service people in the "parent" companies got paid.

i was fired because of my disabilities about a month before the with"at&t" wireless became final and about three months before the whole SBC buyout of "AT&T" landline became final which would again join the wireless companies with the parent companies and new union contracts, which to my understanding won't happen until the previous union contracts runout.

what all that really means is that got screwed first by being fired for my disability and second because i got double screwed in the fact that i was still a cingular wireless employee when i got fired.

[electricgreen]

Originally Posted by Edbert

Very true. But I don't get too caught up with the "assembled here" part as many do. If assembly and manufacture mean the most to you then you have to examine the components, even those assembled here are made up of many foreign parts, that is true no matter the marque.

When a J A P company claims we should buy their cars since they are now assembling them here it makes me want to puke. The ONLY reasons they do it are to lower their costs for importing them, plus get a little marketing bonus thrown in. Where the real benefit of buying American car company cars is from the thousands of higher-level (professional) employees they hire, each one of which earns much more than an assembly-line person, and which stock exchange they are traded on. Support the NYSC or the Nikkei, your call.

Here's an interesting side note to this. We were out taking pics for my photography site and saw something we wanted a pic of. Happened to park next to a chevy dealer with a brand new HHR panel..uh..truck? sitting up front. I proceded to take the pic while my hubby looked at the HHR. It's assembled in MEXICO and made of more than 50% "foreign" parts, and the remaining less than 50% are American AND CANADIAN. Apparently, Canada is no longer a forgien country. No offense, but F the white collar you-know-whats that a lot of times are counting beans and figuring out how to make more money by farming out more labor to foregin countries.

And I am still not gonna buy a new Ford.

[StangDreamin']

Unfortunately, that's the way of the market these days. You have to look beyond the brand name and whether it was made in "Meximericanada" (Thank you, Glenn Beck) of Chinese parts; look beyond that to the quality of the product.

I have always loved "my" Fords; but that Big Dog which may someday replace my F150 is right now a tossup between the Dodge/Cummins and the Silverado/Sierra HD with the Isuzu Marine based Duramax. The Powerstroke presently is not in the picture because Ford and Navistar are too busy flailing at one another to concentrate on delivering a quality product (IMHO). Besides; have you looked at an '07-'08 SuperDuty? They've become the front-runner in defining the term "FUGLY!" (a title previously held by the '04-'06 Chebbie Truck).

With Toyotas and Nissans being built in Texas, Tennesee and (one of the Carolina's) of partially Japanese/partially U.S./partially European parts, and me looking at a Sanden A/C compressor to replace the broken "lawnmower engine" York/Tecumseh unit in the Coog (not to mention my wife's product of the Daimler/Chrysler machine); I can't realistically scream "Buy American" anymore. Now, the "Country of Origin" doesn't matter as much as the finished product; because that's what my paycheck buys, and what my paycheck pays to maintain.

This has absolutely nothing to do with my own employer's "outsourced" Tech Support group. When a Broadband customer (who has no clue how "what he just bought" works), needs help; it would be good to have him talking to somebody for whom English is not a second language! When I get the pleasure of speaking to "Duayne in Boise" and I just know I'm hearing a camel barking in the background; even I lose confidence

[electricgreen]

On the subject of DD's, I wish they still made the Baja, because I would buy another one when our current one gets up into the high miles. It's a freakin amazing little thing-muds better than our old Bronco (can I still say that?) due to the AWD system, corners like a race car and red line is WAY up in the RPM's. The interior is really nice and the fit and finish is way nicer that most of the domestics we've looked at. As it stands though, we are considering a beater winter car and the new Challenger as the next DD. That's a GORGEOUS car (seen it driving around the past two WDC's and fell in love). F**D doesn't make anything I'd want right now anyway, even if I would consider buying one of their vehicles.

FYI, they just served a letter to cafepress to have anything "m****ng" related removed. My own little shop with apparel for my registry was hit. I am now considering just closing up the registry, since I don't have much time for it now anyway, with my day job and having started my own business AND I don't particularly care for a lawsuit from you-know-who. I have come up with a creative (I think) apparel answer to this, and will probably be wearing it to next year's WDC on the Alley. If anyone would like a link to the shop I'm creating for it, IM me. I don't want to "advertise" here, but I think some of you might at least enjoy the humor of it.