Latest on Lubinski?

[Trevor Legate]

I only regret not opening a betting ring on which day/month/year this would take place, assuming the worst has happened (subject to the newspaper article being accurate) Be warned. Drive safe....

[Mark IV]

Trevor,

Not like we haven't known about the "MK V" problems for a long time? What a surprise, lousy cars, a shady owner and someone else's money disappearing!

This is truly the end of any connection to a real, operating company building cars called "AC"

And as I was alerted, if his only dealer left is in Russia, could a visit from some rather thick-necked Cyrillic writing "gentlemen" be in order?

Rick

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Wayne Maybury

Didn't someone always chime in and say that everyone had the story all wrong, Lubinsky was actually a fine upstanding person, bla, bla, bla.

That's usually the forum member "london". He should be popping any time now to let us know how great AC is, that some other guy named John or something is the real man behind it, that he's been there and seen the cars, that all is well and British people are buying the cars, and that the AC factory is full of lollipops and puppy dog tails.

[What'saCobra?]

If the thief continues to ignore court orders to pay and to appear, the charges will be raised to criminal, rather than just civil, since fraud will be provable and upon that suspicion the EU will be looking for him. He can perhaps hide in South Africa, but not safely. Although South America is safer, it is VERY expensive and he has no obscure group of ex-Nazis to protect him.

If he stays in the US he will be caught going in or out at some point.

Of course, he could become an illegal alien here by coming across the Mexican border some evening. He would then become a protected group and several churches in the Southwest would be glad to harbor him.

My advice? Get a deeper tan, study Spanish and come aboard to become a democrat voter. Then open a used car lot in El Paso. Stay away from Cobra meetings and shows. Worry about night time knocks on the door.

Not many Mocba tuff-boys bother to write. Even in Cyrillic.

[TerrysSPF]

I remember being sceptical about his Bridgeport Cn. plant a couple years ago, after reading about it in Car & Driver (or mayber it was Road & Track). -What a conn man / slimeball this guy is. I'm surprised somebody hasn't knocked him off already.

Here is a NY Times article I read awhile back. Heck, even the NY Times was sceptical back then.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/ny...ewanted=1&_r=1

[Don]

From the June 2005 Archives , " Pond Hopping " article was published in AutoWeek

Pond Hopping: Ambitious AC plan calls for U.S. factory, three new models
JULIAN RENDELL
Posted Date: 6/9/05
AC Cars is planning a major expansion in the United States, with three new models and a new factory in Connecticut.

The company, known for its 1960s Cobra created with Ford and Carroll Shelby, relocated to the Mediterranean island of Malta due to financial problems and recently resumed production of the classic open-top two-seater for export to the United States. AC shipped its first composite-bodied rolling chassis to the Boulder Car Co. in Denver in May, for installation of a 4.6-liter 300-hp Ford V8. The finished product will sell for about $75,000.


AC will ship up to 200 rolling chassis to eight dealers in the States in the next two years, while it gears up for U.S. production and a wider model range beginning in mid-2006, says AC chairman Alan Lubinsky.

A new company, AC Cars Manufacturing (USA) Inc., will be established and funded with startup capital of about $5 million. The new company will be jointly owned by AC and a consortium of partners, including specialist dealers and suppliers.

Lubinsky says he had talks with the Department of Economic and Community Development in Connecticut and signed a letter of intent for a factory, possibly in the Bridgeport area. The plant would employ up to 150 workers if it hits a planned 880 cars a year by 2009-2010.

To meet the 2006 timeline for new models, Lubinsky needs to accelerate the development of three cars that are still in the design stage. The flagship is the $125,000 AC MkVI, a wider-bodied and restyled version of the classic Cobra shape. Also for production is an $80,000 coupe version, the Mamba, and a $60,000 entry-level, V6-power ed Ace soft-top.

The MkVI will be powered by a supercharged 4.6-liter or 5.4-liter V8, while the Mamba uses a 4.6-liter 300-hp V8 and the Ace a 3.0-liter 220-hp V6.

The MkVI is a new design, but plans for the Mamba and Ace, styled by Briton Ron Saunders, were first revealed four years ago, then put on ice when AC hit financial problems and was forced to move production from England to Malta. All three models, developed by AC technical director John Owen, a former Lotus engineer, are based on a new, wide-bodied version of the Cobra’s traditional tube chassis.


For greater stability and more room in the cabin, the track is four inches wider and the body two inches wider. The windshield is moved forward eight inches to ease access to the cabin. The 162-inch overall length is unchanged, along with suspension and steering.

This is an ambitious plan for AC, an industry minnow, particularly so soon after moving the bulk of its production out of the United Kingdom. Will its plans come to fruition?

“It’s a fair question, but we’re committed to make this work, as is the state of Connecticut, our U.S. partners and dealers. We’ll just have to make sure it does,” says Lubinsky.
__________________

[JWilly]

Hey guys, I'm new here; 'been a voyeur for a while, however. I read somewhere that Superformance ships to and sells cars in the UK as AC cars (under some contract, perfectly legal, no doubt). Any thing to that? If so, what does it mean for the future of AC cars?

[Trevor Legate]

Originally Posted by JWilly

I read somewhere that Superformance ships to and sells cars in the UK as AC cars

Errr - no.

[427sharpe]

Trevor--you slipped a new one in on me...'stonking'?? I can infer from context what this actually means, but I would prefer to be sure for my next visit.

It's too bad some entity doesn't jump on AL and seize the AC name for sale to a reputable business entity. I don't think Brian Angliss would be interested as he has burned out on the brand. It just seems like somebody out there would/could bring some pride and honesty to the operation. I could see c$ reaction if Factory Five bought it! Maybe the old chicken farmer hisownself would pay up...but that would only be a small step away from AL.

[Trevor Legate]

Sorry about the 'stonk'. I realised what I'd done when I posted to this furrin land. It's obviously an English-ism that can be taken to mean "more a little adequate, old chap"

cheers!

[Goober]

That's OK Trev, I know what it means.
By the way, what is Brian doing these days?

Mark

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

It's too bad some entity doesn't jump on AL and seize the AC name for sale to a reputable business entity. Maybe the old chicken farmer hisownself would pay up...but that would only be a small step away from AL.

As I posted on the ACOC site:
People, understand the "empire" Lubinsky has created. The "AC" name, all trademarks, intellectual properties, names and all assets of value are held in Delaware, USA trust. He only "licenses" the name "AC" to his various iterations over the years. In fact, in the (unfulfilled) UK CVA agreement of a few years ago he was listed as a creditor for unpaid royalties!

Some of his former partners in Pride Automotive/ AC Car Group have gone to prision in the US for stock fraud, he was just far enough out of the direct loop to avoid the same fate.

He still probably thinks he can license the name to the "Project Kimber/Smart roadster" wet dream for a few quid.

The man makes makes Carroll Shelby look like Mother Teresa!

I hate to say it, but stick a fork in AC, its done...........

[JWilly]

Trev,

I know your "Er..no" statement is absolutely correct from reading all of the posts on this web-site. But this statement which I copied from Superformance's web page (must be an old page) is what prompted my question.

"Consequently, Price's Superformance company has become AC Cars' main OEM supplier of practically anything the English firm needed that it didn't or couldn't make itself. In addifion, Price's factory now builds all the chassis and bodies for the modern AC Ace in South Africa and ships the semi-completed cars to England for engines and running gear. There they are sold as English-built ACs -- not really an unusual circumstance in this world of mulfi-national automobile corporations that source parts from all over the globe for assembly in various locations."

Thanks,
JWilly

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by JWilly

Trev,

I know your "Er..no" statement is absolutely correct from reading all of the posts on this web-site. But this statement which I copied from Superformance's web page (must be an old page) is what prompted my question.

"Consequently, Price's Superformance company has become AC Cars' main OEM supplier of practically anything the English firm needed that it didn't or couldn't make itself. In addifion, Price's factory now builds all the chassis and bodies for the modern AC Ace in South Africa and ships the semi-completed cars to England for engines and running gear. There they are sold as English-built ACs -- not really an unusual circumstance in this world of mulfi-national automobile corporations that source parts from all over the globe for assembly in various locations."

Thanks,
JWilly

H-Tech (Superformance) was a supplier of components and body/chassis for the AC Ace and parts for Cobras such as windshield frames, they did not make complete cars sold as "AC"s. HiTech and Mr. Price personally are owed money from AC.

[thudmaster]

Maybe al should try and do business in Bagdad...............

[427sharpe]

I sense a great 'pool' possibility....somebody get a world map and count the countries minus the ones AL has been run out of. $5/country, winner takes all!
ps: prisons are 'neutral', and therefore exempt from the pool

As for the Lubinsky Empire, that might change if a criminal fraud is proven. Maybe the courts would bust it up to recover some of the money he owes. I am a 'glass half full' kind of guy, and I still hope the marque comes back with a decent owner. But then again, I just know the tooth fairy just forgot that quarter when I was 3!

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

so are we placing bets as to where AC might resurface? I'll have $2 on Bolivia. Maybe $5 on Zambia..... :-)

China?

[HI Cobra]

Or in India?

[What'saCobra?]

Thankfully, the internet will see to it that any search will yield lots of negative news about this thief. Having failed to remit the lad's tax withholdings to the English authorities certainly qualifies him as such, in my opinion. Bad legitimate business debts are one thing, failures to follow instructions to remit are another.

He will find it hard to find new patsies. Everyone knows, unfortunately, the AC brand failure of the last 10 years, if they can dial up a computer.

If anyone can squeeze that lemon, i would expect Jimmy Price to be in the front of the line. It will happen only when Al's legal fees get high enough. Bail is higher for non-Mexican foreigners in the USA, because of the flight risk with our two-way open borders. Jimmy will get a message in the night by carrier pigeon or something.

He could return the brand to its roots with the right combination of attitude, investment and competence, of which he has shown himself as most capable.

Alternatively, it would be fun and games should the owners of SAAC get their paws on the name. Wouldn't that be just marvelous?

Finally, it deserves to move to Provo, if quality and state of the art competence have any bearing on the matter.

But, Al would need to be suckered here...

[Trevor Legate]

Hi JWilly

Sorry, I guess I took your original comment at face value. I was thinking in terms of actual finished cars! Going back some years, HiTech/Superformance did produce a number of components for the long-deceased AC 'Brooklands' Ace that Lubinsky attempted to revive, but failed no matter matter how much money was thrown at it. Thus SPF ended up with a large pile of Ace body panels and no money for its efforts (deja vu)

In an effort to keep the AC marque alive, and in the hope of recouping a bit of money, Jimmy Price did agree to take over the day-to-day running of the AC factory in the UK at his own expense - and guess what happened? Indeed, when Lubinsky made an agreement behind Jimmy's back with Shelby to supply ali-bodied Cobras, he decided to move back in at AC and take control once more

I recall reading all this in a really good book somewhere...

Personally I have always held the belief that the real AC Cars Ltd was wound up in 1987 after 57 years of ownership by the Hurlock family. Everything since then has been a variation on a theme, despite the very honourable efforts of Brian Angliss who was treated so badly by our esteemed financial institutions (may they rot). Maybe its time to pull the sheet over the corpse?