What's the BIG deal about sharing GT40 blueprints ??

BT SNAKE · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2007, 12:35 AM

Ever once in a while someone comes along and asks if anyone has copies of the GT40 blueprints and would they sell or share them. I noticed a thread on the other forum where this very thing happened . One person had the nerve to post that he had them in CAD but would not share.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why this is such a hard request and why these prints are percieved as so valuable that whom ever owns them won't share or sell them at a reasonable price if offered. These drawings are over 50 yrs old. People can get plans for a P-51 Mustang but not for an old race car.
I believe there must be at least six sets out there. Dave Brown in New Zealand must have sets as he builds Monocoques to original spec. Sbarro may also have a set. Safir I'm sure has them. Holman-Moody and last but not least would be Ford. Even Eric Broadly may have a set from his father who is responsible for the design.
Are there that many out there that would build cars from these plans and cause a dilution of the GT market if they got them ?

Personally I think it's a " Neener neener I got something you don't" syndrome.
I tell you if I had a set of those I would make it public domain.

I can just see the hit count on my web site for downloads.

Sure, alot of folks might download them but I bet only 2/10ths of one percent would actually use them to make a tub for the GT.

It's a wierd world .....

Hersh

ZOERA-SC7XX · #2 (**permalink**) 06-16-2007, 04:52 AM

You hit it on the head..."I got something you don't have!" It tends to make some feel superior.

trularin · #3 (**permalink**) 06-16-2007, 06:17 AM

I had some prints to a P-51.

Hersh, are you doing London?

BT SNAKE · #4 (**permalink**) 06-16-2007, 10:12 AM

Sorry Dave, no London this year. I really feel bad about it too. This will be
probably one of the biggest and best shows of all and I have to miss it.
I hope you and everyone else has a good time.

Hersh

Fran Hall RCR · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-2007, 01:04 PM

Hersh,
How much do you think it cost me in time and money to do a clean sheet design for my RCR40 chassis/suspension???
Should I give that time and money to someone for free that is not going to purchase anything for me anyway.????

If you feel so strongly why dont you you disassemble your car measure it and make prints available so that everyone can have a set of prints of your RF .....I am sure the NEW owners of RF would be mighty impressed....

To reply to you thoughts on the 2/10 actually building a tub....if they dont plan on building why would they want the plans in the first place.....???

I know there are many original 40 owners out there....maybe one of them would let you accurately measure their car.....I know a few people that have done this to develop their own drawings...very very labour intensive and as you know time is money.....

Just a manufacturers point of view I guess.....I think its called IP.

trularin · #6 (**permalink**) 06-17-2007, 01:17 PM

I look forward to seeing if some of the headroom claims are true.

I plan to sit in a couple of 40s in London.

Hersh, you will be missed.

BT SNAKE · #7 (**permalink**) 06-17-2007, 04:42 PM

Fran,
I think you missed the point here. I was reffering to ORIGINAL FORD GT PLANS. These plans are already in the hands of several people that use them to reproduce the car. Some have used them to produce replica spaceframes and other type hybrids. That's fine with me.
Almost all replicas share similar dimensions in one place or another. Every replica builder does something he feels is better. That I like. But when it comes down to it they all had some form of measure that came from the original plans. You yourself told me your suspension geometry came from the original and you had these in CAD.
Fran, I said that only about 2/10ths of one percent would build from these plans. I seriously doubt it would be that high. There are model companies that would most likely use these.
I don't need to copy RF plans. I can do the same as any and all other replica manufacturers have done if I so choose. I look forward to the first case where some replica maker sues another for IP. What a field day that would be. If you have IP then you better have copyrights and or patents to back it up. If you do then you got no worries.
Is there a copyright on the original plans? Did all that use these plans pay for that right to the party or parties that own these rights.
There are several companies that reproduce orignal GT parts today. Did they have permission to reproduce these parts for resale?
I have copies of the original Model A Ford. Do you think there's a difference here. Will Ford or Shea come after me if I decide to make them? Does
Brookline need to worry about being shut down for making 32 Ford steel roadters? Maybe they knew the secret handshake and got permission. My guess is no. They just did it.

Fran, it is fair to say that you have a going concern that does very well and you should be proud of that. I wish you the best and I doubt that anyone will want to reproduce your cars.

Hersh