Ferrari can be pretty anal when it comes to modifying its cars or even using its badges on a vehicle other than its own. Now the Italian supercar-maker is threatening to take legal actions against the British owner of the world’s fastest limousine, a modified 360 Modena that can go up a top speed of 166mph – 267 km/h. According to reports, Dan Cawley, 36, of Cheadle, Manchester, has 14 days to remove all prancing horse badges, Ferrari names and “360 Modena” symbols from the 6m (20ft) supercar-limo.

“What kind of precedent does it set when you can’t do what you like with your own property?” asked Mr Cawley. Ferrari’s lawyers support that since Mr Cawley cut the 360 Modena in half and inserted a 3m (9.5ft) section of hand-built carbon fibre, the car is no longer a Ferrari, so he has to remove the badges and logos or else he’ll face legal action for infringing the Ferrari trademark.

Thanks for the tip Michelle! – Via: Times


50 Comments

  1. Anonymous » March 12, 2008  

    What about some legal action agains that abortion of a car named Mansory Stallone??!!

    http://www.mansory.com

  2. Anonymous » March 12, 2008  

    I support Mr Cawley's decision of not taking the badges off, the lawyers of ferrari should be taken to the mental institute for a loooong time. I love both ferraris and limousines and this guy has combined the two. Shame on you Ferrari, its his own property. Its like saying that you cant crash a Ferrari unless you have permission from old Enzo himself. Thats fascism for you.

  3. Anonymous » March 12, 2008  

    Ok.
    If a modification made to a Ferrari implicate that the car is no longer a Ferrari,I suggest to buy a few ones, to change some details and to put a new logo on them like Ferroro.
    By this way, you can easily create a new brand/trademark.
    Absurd isn't it ?

  4. Andrewthecarguy » March 12, 2008  

    FERRARI=Fiercly Egotistical Ridiculously Retarded And Randomly Irrational

  5. Anonymous » March 12, 2008  

    What about when Ferrari wants to cash in by stamping their name on a shirt made in China or a watch made in Switzerland? That doesn't make it a real Ferrari shirt or watch, does it? But I'm sure their idiot lawyers have no problem with that.

    Up yours, Ferrari.

  6. SamuraiJack » March 13, 2008  

    How pathetic. They're actually alienating themselves from potential fans

  7. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    Well, Dan could always make his own 'Ferrari' symbol.

    How about a 'unicorn' - just a prancing horse with a white member attached to its head :-P

  8. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    I'm a big Ferrari fan, and I hate to see a 360 mutated this way, but Ferrari can go fly a kite on this one.

    Near power lines.

  9. gearhead » March 13, 2008  
    This post has been removed by the author.
  10. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    Ferrari is full of itself! How stupid can they get. Another Ferrari fan--of the car--Not the company--idiots! I suggest Audi commission an official R8 limo to take it on and wipe its little rear end.

  11. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    Ferarri is completely within their right to request that he remove their symbol from the car he modified.

    This is a trademark issue not a property ownership issue. I couldn't stab someone to death with a pencil and then claim innocence on the grounds that I own the pencil, you jackasses.

  12. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    What should happen then is Ferrari should refund him the difference between a real Modena and a knock off. Since he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a car that is "Not a Ferrari" then they need to refund him the money.

  13. TJ » March 13, 2008  

    That is just a picture of a regular Ferrari that has been stretched. You can even see where it was stretched. That is easily the worst photoshop I have ever seen.

  14. KipperM » March 13, 2008  

    It's still 2/3 Ferrari isn't it?

  15. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    Easy solution... go buy a crap ton of Ferrari stickers, give them to kids who drive rice burners and let them put them all over their Honda's. Tell Ferrari to do something about that. You don't see Skittles, Sprite, and other brands taking black folks to court because they put Tide or Newport colors and labels down the side of their "Donk" or "box chevy." Understandably, this is a Ferrari but he paid a crap ton of money for it and a crap ton more to make it a limo. What about when people add after market rims, new paint, fenders, etc? This is going too far.

  16. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    AH! you guys have no idea about successful branding nor about the target ferrari has when selling their cars. I am not saying they are right, but naturally, to keep up the allure of the brand they cannot allow some chav to create a monster like that.. good luck ferrari - I hope you win.
    the guys should be interned in a mental institution for ruining such a great car. tasteless moron - go buy yourself an audi - freak.

  17. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    lawyers head up .... get real. for today it is a real compliment.

  18. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    Ok, I'm going to take 100 of their garbage cars, put a dimple in the fender to change the car, call it a "Bill" and sell them. Under their logic, or lack of any, there's nothing they can do. It's not their car anymore, I changed it. There. Deal with that.

  19. 7 Bates » March 14, 2008  

    Ferarri is completely within their right to request that he remove their symbol from the car he modified.

    This is a trademark issue not a property ownership issue. I couldn't stab someone to death with a pencil and then claim innocence on the grounds that I own the pencil, you jackasses.


    You are an idiot.

    You're implying that by turning his Ferrari into a limo, that the owner of the vehicle committed an action equal to a crime. You're asserting that he's "obviously" done something wrong by manipulating his own property.

    He could drive it off a cliff or paint it pink and charge people $100 for a ride in the "Pinkmobile" and Ferarri couldn't do anything about it.

    This bullshit wouldn't fly in the United States. We have a nice solid sense of personal property and freedom, so our legal system would tell Ferrari to take a hike. Too bad for you chaps.

  20. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    So how far can you go before you get sued by Ferrari?

    Can you put seat covers over the seats? Add a cup holder? Put on non-stock rims? Get it painted a different color? Unless Ferrari has a signed contract with this guy saying he will make no modifications to the car, this is ridiculous. Not that I can afford a Ferrari bigger than will fit in my pocket anyway, but it's the principle.

  21. Alex » March 13, 2008  

    The photo is obviously fake, the proportions and angles look wrong. I wonder if the story's fake too?

  22. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    re:

    At March 13, 2008, Blogger TJ

    That is just a picture of a regular Ferrari that has been stretched. You can even see where it was stretched. That is easily the worst photoshop I have ever seen.
    ---------------


    Your kidding, right?

    Google Image "Against 360 Modena Limo" , and tell me those are just photochops.

  23. Anonymous » March 13, 2008  

    Ummm... If you've ever actually talked to someone who has bought a new Ferrari, you are required to sign a document stating that you will not visibly modify the car. It all has to do with brand image; would you like Ferraris that much if they had a mondeo engine in them? What about if they were fairly good replicas built to the same design as the originals, but not quite as good? In this case, the car is similarly modified to an extent that it doesn't even uphold the spirit of what Ferrari were going for. Ferrari didn't design it, they didn't build it, and hence it isn't a ferrari. If it isn't a Ferrari it shouldn't have Ferrari badges on it.

  24. kevin bravo » March 14, 2008  

    i think he should modify all the badges of the stallion. give it long ears and make it a jackass. would suit well with the way ferrari is acting.

  25. Matthew_NZ » March 14, 2008  

    You lot sound like a bunch of children.

    And TJ- the Ferrari is real, it even has a real owner (who comments in the story, if you cared to read it).

  26. marleymaniac » March 14, 2008  

    Well that does it for me, I am never going to buy another Ferrari.

  27. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    Dude, it's NOT a photoshop. it's real. Here are some pix
    http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94011

  28. Usage May Vary » March 14, 2008  

    Ferrarri has no case on this. I hope the guy fights it in court instead of giving up and in a retaliatory fashion sues for court costs, because this is total bs.

    Trademark is to prevent brand confusion when things are sold.

    A single product with only 1 copy that he is not SELLING = trademark has jack shit to do with it.

    Remember, there are rights long established that have to deal with you can do whatever you want with what you own. This is no exception.

  29. kwirl » March 14, 2008  

    To the idiot preaching about 'worst photoshopping ever' ....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfX56woNxIs

    the video of the car being made. enjoy, loser.

  30. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    retarded!!!! so a "32 ford with a chevy engine, a dana 60 rear end from a mopar, and cadillac juice brakes isn't still a "32 ford?? man, screw ferrari. overpriced, flimsy wanker mobiles.

  31. Bav Moto » March 14, 2008  

    There is no case here for Ferrari.

    All the parts that are badged are Ferrari parts, therefore he is NOT mis-representing them as Ferrari. He's accurately representing them.

    If you put Ferrari wheels on your car with the Ferrari logo on the cap, is that mis-representation because your Ferrari is not a Ferrari? You're representing the wheels as Ferrari, not necessarily the car.


    I hope this guy fights back with that argument.

  32. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    McLaren tried something like this last year. Just look what it cost them...

  33. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    Now I can see if he wasn't trying to sell it or use it for profit; but he is. He is renting this out for GBP 700 an hour and trying to sell it off eBay for 195,000 Euros. He is marketing it as the first ever genuine Ferrari limo. Only it would be genuine is if it were built by Ferrari themselves. So yes, Ferrari has the right to file a lawsuit if he does not debadge it.

  34. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    This bullshit wouldn't fly in the United States. We have a nice solid sense of personal property and freedom, so our legal system would tell Ferrari to take a hike. Too bad for you chaps.

    Yeah, so do as you're told or we call you a terrorist and ship you of to Gitmo....

  35. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    Somehow when a car company wants to sue for modifying the car they produced this is odd or weird. Yet when Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo want to sue for modifying your console, most people don't care.

    We buy it, we own it. Go after the people selling pirated games, close down places that provide pirated material (hello usenet anyone?) and please allow us to develop our own programs for your consoles.

  36. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  

    Ferrari needs to get a life. There are countless makes of automobiles that get stretched, chopped, upsized, downsized and homogenized without problems to the manufacturer's image. I seriously doubt the Ferrari moniker will be tarnished by an owner's desire to customize his or her own car. Give it a rest Ferrari, your over zealous concern is what really hurts the Ferrari image.

  37. Casey R Williams » March 14, 2008  

    This wouldn't happen in the US you say? Are you aware that Ford sued a Mustang Owners' club for producing a calendar of various member's cars? They said it infringed their trademarks.

  38. Anonymous » March 14, 2008  


    You are an idiot.

    You're implying that by turning his Ferrari into a limo, that the owner of the vehicle committed an action equal to a crime. You're asserting that he's "obviously" done something wrong by manipulating his own property.

    He could drive it off a cliff or paint it pink and charge people $100 for a ride in the "Pinkmobile" and Ferarri couldn't do anything about it.

    This bullshit wouldn't fly in the United States. We have a nice solid sense of personal property and freedom, so our legal system would tell Ferrari to take a hike. Too bad for you chaps.


    Listen. You're retarded. If you will notice very clearly - I did not state that he could not do whatever the hell he wants to the car. The salient issue here is that his branding the finished product with the Ferrari logo is trademark infringement should they take issue with it - which they did.

    What the hell are you talking about this "wouldn't fly" in the united states - you're saying the united states is a shining beacon to the world when it comes to trademark / copyright infringement lieniency?

  39. Anonymous » March 15, 2008  

    I would think this would only be an issue if the guy produces "360 Stretch #2". Modifying one is "personalization". The second one and any subsequent units produced would then be considered infringement.

  40. Anonymous » March 23, 2008  

    What about all the clowns that "pimp their rides" they are highly modified and yet Ferrari doesn't go after them. I think ferrari is just pissed that they didn't come up with the limo idea first. The car belongs to him and he paid a ton to modify it.. Leave him alone and leave the leagal wolves out of it!!! Enough with this world of legal sharks!

  41. Frank » March 23, 2008  

    Lol,

    This is getting really ridiculous.

    Let's get the facts straight.

    #1 Mr Cawley is a specialized limo builder/creator, and judging by some people's comments, I don't think many of you guys knew that. If you guys click on this link :http://www.ferrarilimo.co.uk/why.html
    You'll see that he is a builder of many limos; Porsches, Hummers, Fords, etc. And did he get sued for making these limos? NO. Not even the fact that Porsche is a supercar maker, and that they didn't mind Mr Cawley building a stretched Cayenne.

    #2 The fact that Mr Cawley spent around £360,000 pounds making this machine (including the £130,000 he spent to buy the 360 Modena). He spent all that hard work and effort making the 360 (as well as other limos) and now some of you guys are hoping that all this money spent on this unique limo goes to waste. WTF. It's like telling or forcing someone with a million dollars to burn the money. Seriously guys, get the facts right, and admire the fact the Mr Cawley has sacrificed alot of time and money to build this fine product.

    #3 Even if Ferrari DOES sue him, Mr Cawley has a 90% chance of winning the court case. You can't just go and sue someone for modifying their own property. Look at the number of modified cars on the street today. Did the owners of those modified cars get sued by the company that made their car in the first place for modifying it? NO. Also, look at the fact that people build replicas of supercars today. Do they get sued? NO. Look at this website: http://www.supercars.net.au/ . Did they get sued by Lamborghini for building replicas? NO. Even so, Lamborghini doesn't get any profit from the manufacturing of these replicas, and yet they don't mind.

    Seriously guys, grow up, look at the facts, and think before you post. Many of the people that think Ferrari will win this case are seriously retarded and you should consider looking at Mr Cawley's sympathetic job of making limos, as I don't think you guys realise how hard it is to make a limousine.

    ~~Frank~~

  42. Anonymous » March 24, 2008  

    "all hail, king of the loosers!" My hat is off to you sir ferrari company... way to save face by not letting a person who has made one of your cars better by making him take off the decals and stickers.... NOT!!!

  43. Anonymous » March 26, 2008  

    ok my thing is i guess the VIN number and title still says Ferrari. is Ferrari going to make him change that because if not he has every legal right to keep the badges on because legally its still a documented Ferrari with all the rights that come with owning a Ferrari. and as for signing a document saying you wont modify the car i hope he didn't sign such a thing. but what about 2nd hand owners? i don't think it would hold up because its so easy to get around.

    just my 2 cents

  44. Anonymous » March 28, 2008  

    Why would anybody want to do that to a ferrari goodness!!! Sorry this guy is insane, why would you turn an exotic sportscar to a freakin limo!!!

    Ferrari has every right to sue this fool, that contraption is a disgrace. All you idiots agreeing with him are just as ignorant as him. Im pretty sure all his supporters on this page couldn't curently and never will be able afford a ferrari in your life.

  45. Anonymous » March 30, 2008  

    SO THEY WANT YOU TO REMOVE THE EMBLEMS OFF YOUR FERRARI BUT PEOPLE BUT THE EMBLEMS ON KIT CARS AND THATS OK OR WILL CASTRO AND UNIQUEWHIPS CAN MODIFIEY THEM BUT OTHERS CANT MAKES NO SENSE AND IF THERE GOIN AFTER YOU I WOULD GO AFTER THEM FOR DISCRIMANATION BECAUSE THEY DONT GO AFTER OTHER PEOPLE WHO BUILD KIT CARS AND PUT THE FERRARI EMBLEMS ON THEM MAKES NO SENSE

  46. Anonymous » March 31, 2008  

    If there was a contract signed when the car was originally purchased, that the owner must not make any modifications that Ferrari does not approve, than the request that the owner removes the badges, is a minor one.

    Contract violations have/should have heavier repercussions.

    And I believe that Ferrari would congratulate the owner on a job well done, if that job would not violate the contract signed when buying the car.

    I'm not against modifying ANY car, but I am against contract violators.

    We have to respect all contracts, even stupid and senseless ones, because that is the wish of the contract giver and his wish is as valid as anyone's.

  47. Rick W. » July 07, 2008  

    Ferrari should be proud that a private owner would want to take one of its own and convert it into a Limo. You don't see other car manufacturers suing to remove labels, just because their vehicles were converted. Granted, most of those other vehicles are really made to carry more than 2 people and cost less than 1/4 mil. Nevertheless, shame on Ferrari for being such poor sore lousers. I agree with the owner, once I buy it, I can do whatever I want with it. If he was still financing it or leasing it, then I'd be worried for other obvious reasons.

  48. Anonymous » July 10, 2008  

    This is madness !

    Read the technical stuff about this car!

    Its on its weight limits suspension and brake wise with only 1 passenger so when its got 8 dudes innit plus the driver its some 500 kilos + overweight, would you wanna sit in a car doing 70 miles an hour knowing it is beyond its manufacturers safe limits, and not only that the thing is made from carbon fibre with a few pissy little aluminum struts to keep it all in place and the doors wont open from the inside if this thing gets hit.

    Jeeeeez , its an accident waiting to happen.

    Ferraris problem is if No WHEN this thing collapses and someone dies the headlines wont say some tattooed fat dude from England built a dangerous car and someone died , the head lines will say

    Ferrari kills 1 and injures 8 ppl.

    It aint a ferrari and thats how it could harm their brand name.

    Its a deathtrap built by an egotistical moron who has managed to scramble out of the gutter, just, and now only cares about money and not safety.

  49. Anonymous » July 22, 2008  

    LOL @ All the idiots who think it's photoshop. First of all, you don't know anything about photoshop. Secondly, you don't know anything about limos.
    As for the limo owner - IT'S YOUR CAR! DO AS YOU PLEASE! Sod off Ferrari lawyers!

  50. Anonymous » July 22, 2008  

    So you're saying this limo manufacturer does not know how to build a limo that won't split in half. Perhaps you would cross a river on a thin piece of wood but these guys study the width of the gap, how many people need to cross then they design... and further to that, they further reinforce.
    Have you seen their limos collapse?
    This is no small back garden garage so stop being so stupid about it.

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