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Use of the Cobra badge - who can use it?

Discussion in '2nd Generation Shelby Mustangs' started by quorum, May 11, 2010.

  1. May 11, 2010 #1
    quorum

    quorum Active Member

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    Both the Ford Cobra from SVT and Shelby uses the Cobra badge. What's the history behind the ownership of this badge? Who is allowed to use it? Thanks.
     
    quorum, May 11, 2010
    quorum, May 11, 2010
    #1
  2. May 12, 2010 #2
    quorum

    quorum Active Member

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    Here's some more confusing observations to add to the mix: the new 2011 Shelby GT350 does not have the traditional sideways facing Cobra badge. It has a Cobra badge that faces forward !

    Based on my wikipedia research, the Shelby Cobra was the first use of a "Cobra" and that predates anything from Ford. This was v1 of the Cobra Badge (1961).

    It seems at some point a v2 of the badge came out around 1966 which seems is owned by Ford now, because Ford has used that badge on the Ford SVT Cobra and the current 2007+ Shelby GT500 (built and owned by SVT), and this v2 badge does not appear on the 2011 Shelby GT350 which is using the v1 badge. In other words, Carroll Shelby cannot use the v2 badge because that badge is now owned by Ford.

    Anyone have some real facts to clear up these conjectures?

    v2:
    [​IMG]

    v1:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Trying to figure this one out, so please help me if you can. Notice v2 came out on the 1966 Shelby GT350, and v1 came out on a 1961 Shelby Cobra and a 1965 Shelby GT350.
     
    quorum, May 12, 2010
    quorum, May 12, 2010
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  3. May 12, 2010 #3
    springer

    springer Well-Known Member

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    A while back I was researching something at the U.S. Patents and Trademarks website and I happened to run across the cobra logo. The cobra logo as found on the GT 500's is owned by FOMOCO and it is currently paid up-to-date.
     
    springer, May 12, 2010
    springer, May 12, 2010
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  4. May 14, 2010 #4
    Bob Gaines

    Bob Gaines Well-Known Member

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    Back in 1967 Shelby sold Ford the rights to us the name Cobra for 1.00 and other considerations. I believe one of the other considerations was allowing Shelby to use the Cobra name,badging ,logo etc. on his cars for perpetuity (forever). I assume GT350 + GT500 was part of the same deal too. Bob
     
    Bob Gaines, May 14, 2010
    Bob Gaines, May 14, 2010
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  5. May 14, 2010 #5
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    That is correct as I understand the situation for Cobra. I am not sure about G.T.350 or G.T.500.
    Randall
     
    rshelby, May 14, 2010
    rshelby, May 14, 2010
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  6. May 14, 2010 #6
    Bob Gaines

    Bob Gaines Well-Known Member

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    Randall, I am not sure ether on the GT350/500. I can only assume the GT350/500 agreement was similar because of SA's continued marketing of products with those logos etc. to this present day in the same way that the Cobra items were handled by SA. Bob
     
    Bob Gaines, May 14, 2010
    Bob Gaines, May 14, 2010
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  7. May 14, 2010 #7
    sanpablo

    sanpablo Member

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    Wasn't there a lawsuit by Shelby against Ford for using GT350
    on the 84 1/2 Anniversary Mustang?
     
    sanpablo, May 14, 2010
    sanpablo, May 14, 2010
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