Ferrari Sues Spanish Dealership for F430 Replica
A Spanish dealership was brought to court by Ferrari over a 2004 F430 Scuderia replica used as a company car.
After discovering that a dealership in A Coruña, Spain was using a Ford Cougar-based F430 replica as a company car, Ferrari brought down the hammer. Despite having company logos placed on the side of the vehicle, the Italian automaker wanted justice. Five years ago, the dealership purchased the replica, strictly to use as a company car for managers. It was seized by police only 12 days later.
Ferrari initially sought $2.2 million in compensation and at least one year’s worth of time behind bars. Though, the judge ruled in favor of the dealership, as there was no proof the dealership knew it wasn’t a Ferrari prior to purchase. Additionally, there was no mal intent on the dealership’s part, as they did not try to sell it as a Ferrari, according to CarScoops.
Additionally, according to the judge, it was painfully obvious the car was a fake. The engine was in the wrong place, the badges had the Chilean flag as opposed to the Italian flag, and the engine size was way too small.
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Ferrari has always been quick to sue those who violate intellectual property. There’s even a blacklist of celebrities who are not able to purchase a vehicle from a licensed Ferrari dealership. Like Jean Blaton who purchased a F40 Barchetta post retirement, and was sued for altering the vehicle.
All he did was remove the roof, add a tubular steel cage, improve the suspension and the exhaust system. Still, he was met with a cease and desist notice for violating their intellectual property. As a result, he was barred from official Ferrari events, and was ordered to remove all logos and markings.
Joel Thomas Zimmerman, better known as the esteemed electronic musician Deadmau5, was sued in 2014. Zimmerman was an owner of a 458 Italia, and decided to deck his car out with Nyan cat themed deco – complete with a wrap, badged, floor mats and plates. Ferrari won the case, and Zimmerman was forced to strip the customizations. In the ultimate act of revenge, he ended up selling it for a Lamborghini.
