When you sell something as a "limited edition," you better mean it. But it turns out that a recent limited edition of the Ford (NYSE: F) Mustang was not that limited after all. And now a group of angry Mustang buyers are taking legal action against the troubled automaker. Ford claimed that only 100 of the 2007 Roush Stage 3 BlackJack Mustangs would be made in 2007, and fans snatched them up as they went on sale. The car, which cost $59,000, was continued in 2008 and another 100 were made by Ford and Roush Performance Products. That fact didn't sit well with those who had purchased the 2007 model. (I remember the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang fanatics of the 70s and 80s -- and fans of both can be quite intense and still dote on their treasured vehicles to this day.)
in the end, though, "limited" doesn't really mean anything -- the number can refer to 10 or 1,000. The lawsuit states that the value of each of the 2007 Mustangs was harmed by the additional 100 cars made in 2008. But is this what true fans are really worried about? I doubt it -- it's hard to think of these vehicles as long-term investments. Their attraction comes more from being something unique. Perhaps it's a bit of both. The lawsuit, though, is claiming more than $12 million in damages. Doing the math, 100 vehicles times $59,000 equals just over $5.9 million. Multiply that by two and you get something close to $12 million. Apparently, the entire value of all 200 Mustangs from 2007 and 2008 are at issue here.
Could it really be just about money? Or is it more a matter of bruised egos? Either way, it could be expensive for Ford, which can't afford to lose another penny.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
8-06-2008 @ 1:49PM
Dude said...
Seems to me that ford can make as many or as few as they want, every year. What the people got in 2007 was 1 of 100 cars made in 2007 in 2008 was a different deal, A$$holes must be a bunch of lawyers or doctors who thought they would make huge money by buying all the cars anf then selling them a few years later for double
8-06-2008 @ 1:51PM
Karl Schiffmayer said...
what is the matter with these people. They are fodder for oportunistic lawyers. They only made 100 cars in 2007. The 100 they made in 2008 is another model year. Some lawyers will take any case that they can make money with, regardless of its merrit.
8-06-2008 @ 2:28PM
Leo said...
$59,000.00 for a FORD Please come my way I have a bridge and get piece of Gator infested Ohh Great ocean view property to sell you.
$59,000.00 Did you get a kiss
I like a kiss when I get (fill in blank)
8-06-2008 @ 2:55PM
sgentilejr said...
Ford did absolutely nothing illegal or deceiving. Ford said they were selling 100 Limited Edition 2007 Mustangs and that is exactly what they did. The 2008 Limited Edition Mustang is just that a 2008 edition…Ford never said in 2007 that they would never build future Limited Editions of the Mustang.
Those who filed the law suit…have no legal standing…since Ford did exactly what they said they were going to do which is build 100 Limited Edition 2007 Mustangs. Their is no guarantee that anything one collects will go up in value over time.
8-06-2008 @ 4:09PM
Disappointed Dolfan said...
Well, this lawsuit is going nowhere, do these people also not realize Ford does not need this at this time, what opportunistic vultures.
8-07-2008 @ 9:55PM
nixhex said...
So, "Disappointed Dolfan," if that's your real name, those who feel wronged as supposed to hold off their suit because "this is a bad time" for Ford??? Are you joking or simply clueless?
What you're basically saying is that Ford has indemnified itself against lawsuits due to decades of pumping out crappy cars, inefficient, oversized SUVs and through piss-poor management. With that attitude, they'll be back on top of the heap in no time!
8-06-2008 @ 8:24PM
Philip Block said...
It really sad that the status of owning a 1 in a hundred is so important to these people. Most people could care less as the car today is considered a means of transportation and not a status symbol. Quit living in the past. The 50's and 60's are history (so is the Buick you 60's and older). To spend all that money to sue Ford is stupid. I know a fine small college that the engineering dept. could better use that money to up-grade their equipment. How about it?
8-06-2008 @ 8:26PM
Monica said...
$59,000 for made in China junk that won't even last until it's worth something. It's true there are suckers born every minute. As far as the lawsuit, give me a break, where's the contract the buyers received that said Ford will not make any more than 100 of these Mustangs and in 2007 ONLY no more model years after that .... quit wasting our tax dollars and legal systems time on these ridiculous lawsuits based on greed alone.
8-06-2008 @ 8:33PM
Chris said...
What most people dont realize is that Ford has nothing to do with the limited production. These cars are sold to Roush Performance as Deluxe Mustang GT's and then "upfitted" by Roush Performance to their final configuration as "limited edition" Blackjack Mustangs. They are then bought by Ford dealers who happen to be Roush Performance Distributors and then are resold with a factory warranty backed by Ford and by Roush. If anyone should be getting sued, it should be Roush, as Ford has no voice on how many will be made as "limited production" by Roush.
8-06-2008 @ 8:35PM
Philip Block said...
It really sad that the status of owning a 1 in a hundred is so
important to these people. Most people could care less as the car
today is considered a means of transportation and not a status
symbol. Quit living in the past. The 50's and 60's are history (so is
the Buick you 60's and older). To spend all that money to sue Ford is
stupid. I know a fine small college that the engineering dept. could
better use that money to up-grade their equipment. How about it?
8-06-2008 @ 8:55PM
WackyWade said...
People continue to fall for the "Limited Edition!" scam. Unless Roush destroys the molds and tooling, it wouldn't be any trouble at all to make as many more of the ostensibly limited edition automobiles as they like.
A while back, Carroll Shelby found a batch of original 1960's era Cobra chassis, and set about making more Cobras out of them. Since the frames were manufactured in the 60's, it's entirely legal just to pick up where the serial numbers left off, and produce more original Cobras.
It's absurd to buy into an item which is artificially set up to be in limited supply. The right way to collect is to acquire something that is in limited supply because they're aren't many left.
8-06-2008 @ 8:58PM
BK said...
LOL - 59k for a stang. Screwheads.
8-06-2008 @ 9:02PM
GodOfBoredom said...
Wow, these guys are complete and total morons. 1 of 100 last year is still 1 of 100. Do these guys not realize that are making fools of themselves? Or are they so anally fixated that they think they are better cause they have a "limited edition"? my '70 Chevy Nova is a one of a kind now that i have finished working on it. if you want special get it customized and not buy a cheap POS car.
8-06-2008 @ 9:04PM
Dumbfounded said...
People have gotten so sue happy..... what the hell?!?!?! Simply stated Ford nor Rousch areresponcible, it is the consumer demand which drove them to make more. Did the original owners of the Shelby Cobras sue when kit car makers produced replicas of the car? Where the original car goes for about 300k, if they had not made kit replicas would be worth more. Being a matter of when the people take them to court does not matter......the simple fact of suing is stupid enough.
8-06-2008 @ 9:09PM
Robby said...
I dont know if you think about it they should be happy about another 100 made because the people who bought the mustangs of 2007 have an earlier version of the car so in the long-run the car will be worth more in the future. I really dont even think they have a case against the first auto-maker in america so i dont know.
Basicly what I'm trying to say is Dumb people with to much money worry about little things like this.
8-06-2008 @ 9:09PM
larry said...
OH GIVE ME A BREAK I OWN A 1994 FORD MUSTANG AND I LOVE IT. BE GLAD YOU HAVE A MUSTANG. I LOVE MUSTANGS BUT THE NEWER ONES TO ME ARE UGLY MUSTANGMAN IN ALABAMA
8-06-2008 @ 9:15PM
NOTHERround said...
The auto industry has engaged in fraudulent advertising for years. They all do it. It's long over due for them to pay for their fraudulent ways. When you advertise "limited", it should be exactly that, LIMITED.
8-06-2008 @ 9:14PM
NOTHERround said...
The auto industry has engaged in fraudulent advertising for years. They all do it. It's long over due for them to pay for their fraudulent ways. When you advertise "limited", it should be exactly that, LIMITED.
8-06-2008 @ 9:22PM
bjbear said...
oh you poor, poor babies! u have been wronged! for shame! too much money that you don't know what to do with it but waste on some silly car. get a life. there's too much else wrong with this world to get all hyped up about that you could be dealing with. grow up
8-06-2008 @ 9:29PM
Dave C said...
Well everything has to be an, I am better than you because I can afford to buy this and I don't want anybody else to have it cause then I won't be special, contest. The people that buy these cars for investment reason ,SUCK. Just something the wealthy want to keep out of the hands of the common folks. I laughed like hell cause this guy had bought some special edition Monte Carlo and even the seats were still covered with plastic to protect them ,meaning it was never dealer prepped. It went to Barret Jackson auction and the greedy smile went away when nobody was willing to spend the dough on it.Should took it out and beat the shit out of it like a muscle car should be driven,not that it was a real deal muscle car. What a dick head ,same kinda dork that buys a Hummer and never goes offroad You know,look at me I have the biggest SUVtypes.