Pagoda SL Group
Off Topic => Other cars => Topic started by: mdsalemi on February 02, 2022, 15:12:09
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For those you think they've seen everything...
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7167-1992-mercedes-benz-300sl-roadster/
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I've seen one in person, years ago. Neighbor of mine just saw one in Scottsdale. I guess it's a bit like breast enhancement. Hard to beat the real thing.
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Wasn't there a court case in Germany a few years ago that resulted in something like this being crushed?
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There was indeed
https://mercedesheritage.com/classic-mercedes-culture/mercedes-benz-crushes-unlawlful-gullwing-replica
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So, Hyman can expect a letter on official letterhead soon?
They don't mention the controversy in the advert. As in "But don't drive through Germany in this car".
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Oh, my…
The reach of the MB lawyers is worldwide. They found and shut down someone years ago, making cast-brass grill stars for Pagodas, and someone making data plates too. I think the same for the one piece SS wheel covers. A cease and desist letter should be enough, as "the pockets are deep" in Stuttgart. You may win a court case but you'll go broke trying.
The court case and note were about the Gullwing not roadster…but I doubt that really matters, now does it?
Maybe this will be a stealth ownership, or quietly withdrawn from sale. Mark Hyman is a savvy guy...
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I never understood the obsession of some OEs to go after replicas. Nobody claims it is the real thing and uses the original brand for something illegal. there are a ton of replica Porsche Spyders and AC Cobras on the market and nobody makes a fuss. As the Japanese used to say: "Copying someone is the highest form of flattery".
Will MB lose any 300SL Roadster sales because of this? ::)
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In the 80s, I was introduced to Tony Ostermeier by Toby Halicki, the producer of Gone in 60 Seconds, two real characters. I got a tour of his facility and the tooling and the quality of the 300SL replica parts was really amazing. Tony got around any copyright issues by not calling his car a 300SL and by using a Trident-type insignia instead of the MB Star. Even then the Ostermeier car was not cheap since all the parts were either custom-made or sourced from Mercedes. Tony told me that MBNA was very happy to sell him new crate engines and they knew exactly what he was doing.
Toby was a real gearhead. He owned a scrapyard that had supplied the cars for his movie, and drove a Rolls Royce which he parked in his office. The whole side of the building could be lifted like a giant garage door and he would drive straight into his office. Being the 80s, I did not take photos but I will never forget that visit.