Ford goes to great lengths to ensure GT owners keep their cars for at least two years. While customers are vetted and forced to agree not to flip the car, a number of models have still gone up for sale.
The latest case involves a 2018 GT and Automotive News reports it has sparked a lawsuit involving at least three people and four different companies.
The case is complex, but Ford reportedly became aware of the car after it was offered for sale in Europe. They then began an investigation and found it was purchased by a Hong Kong resident from the SR Auto Group in Canada.
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A lot of details remain hazy, but it appears Steven Hudson was in discussions to purchase the car from Downtown Ford in Toronto. Those talks didn’t result in a sale, but the GT was apparently sold to a holdings company controlled by Bradley Nullmeyer who was Hudson’s a business associate.
20 days later, Nullmeyer’s company allegedly transferred all of their shares to Silver Arrows Cars and this gave them ownership of the GT. There’s no word on how much Silver Arrows Cars paid for the shares, but one of the people who allegedly helped to negotiate the deal was reportedly paid $326,560 CAD ($245,710 USD).
The same day the transfer took place, Silver Arrows Cars reportedly sold the GT to the SR Auto Group for $1.79 million CAD ($1.35 million USD). They then “quickly resold” the GT to a buyer from Hong Kong.
Ford is reportedly suing those involved for breach of contract and misrepresentation. The automaker is looking for $1 million CAD ($752,880) and the cost of their attorney fees. The company also wants to rescind the original sale and block any future sales or transfers.
It remains unclear how the case will play out, but several of those named in the suit have denied involvement and pointed the finger at others. That’s particular true of Hudson whose lawyer claimed “someone else used his name without authorization,” an apparent reference to Nullmeyer.
Some of those involved have also claimed they were unaware of the restriction on reselling the GT. That’ll probably be tough to prove it’s a well known fact and Ford has sued everyone from auction houses to celebrities over their involvement in GT sales.