Yenko brand reborn?

[1967Z28]

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GMCI will also launch a brand-new online home for the Yenko brand in the upcoming weeks, where owners and enthusiasts can find information about upcoming cars and products, access historical information about the brand, register to be a part of the site's forums and much more....


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I am not for sure if many folks caught that, but IMO, aimed directly at Yenko.net.

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That's how I read that too, Tom. Only thing I can figure that he might be planning to do different would be making more than Camaro conversions, such as Yenko Cobalts, Yenko Silverados, etc. When he says Yenko brand, it seems to suggest his planned scope is a lot wider than just new Camaros.

-Jon

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

We've seen this before, anyone recall Yenko WildFire? It should be taken seriously, but I suspect it will limp along like the other efforts over the years and eventually dissapear into obscurity.

The real Yenko cars, historical records, owners, enthusiasts and knowledge base is right here!!

[Stefano]

Who woke up Marlin?

[TXSS]

For what it's worth.....I'm not an attorney but I've had considerable experience with trademarks and in the end it doesn't really matter who has or owns the registration filed at the patent & trademark office. The bottom line is who can show prior and continuos use of the trademark in commerce...period. Trademarks are protected by the owner using them not by a registration number. However, the other side of the coin is if the original owner of a trademark knew it was being used by others and did not try to prevent it's use that may be considered having abandoned the trademark. I would think in this case being a family name as well as a business name it would be somewhat easy to show continuos use. I would hope so anyway.

I know in my case my family had a product we manufactured for over 20 years under a trade name. We never had the name trademarked but when our biggest competitor found out that the name was considered abandon by the P&TO he ran out and filed a trademark on it and sent me a letter demanding that I stop using the name as it now belong to him. At that point. he started using it. Sorry it does not work that way. Obviously we could show prior and continuos use of the trademark so his registration was reversed ours was filed and he had to pay me 20K to boot for violating MY trademark. It was protected by my family using it not by a registration number.

[motionwannabe]

[ QUOTE ]
For what it's worth.....I'm not an attorney but I've had considerable experience with trademarks and in the end it doesn't really matter who has or owns the registration filed at the patent & trademark office. The bottom line is who can show prior and continuos use of the trademark in commerce...period. Trademarks are protected by the owner using them not by a registration number. However, the other side of the coin is if the original owner of a trademark knew it was being used by others and did not try to prevent it's use that may be considered having abandoned the trademark. I would think in this case being a family name as well as a business name it would be somewhat easy to show continuos use. I would hope so anyway.

I know in my case my family had a product we manufactured for over 20 years under a trade name. We never had the name trademarked but when our biggest competitor found out that the name was considered abandon by the P&TO he ran out and filed a trademark on it and sent me a letter demanding that I stop using the name as it now belong to him. At that point. he started using it. Sorry it does not work that way. Obviously we could show prior and continuos use of the trademark so his registration was reversed ours was filed and he had to pay me 20K to boot for violating MY trademark. It was protected by my family using it not by a registration number.

[/ QUOTE ]Hopefully everyone involved reads this post

[old5.0]

I do not currently, have never, and probably will never, own a Yenko Camaro. I won't bore anyone with my opinions on reviving the name, nor on Detroit's current "retro" obsession, but I'll say this. If a 2010 Yenko Camaro is going to be built, this should be it's "home". It doesn't take one long to figure out that there is no group of people on earth more passionate and enthusiastic about these cars than the people here. That passion and enthusiasm for the cars themselves is refreshing to be around, even for a Ford junkie.

[Steven J]

Well said.

[PeteLeathersac]

Last night while the sweetheart was shopping I was wasting time cruising what else but the model car section..
Included were a few poor Revell kits...a couple Yenkos, one a '69 Camaro and what was listed as a '69 Yenko Nova also a B/M '70 Chevelle..
What's interesting is the B/M car had a notation that it was produced w/ Joel Rosen licencing or words such as that also one of the Yenkos had a similar note and the other didn't..
All kits were made in China but I wondered if it's true that anyone's being paid for using the Yenko name and if so who would this be also how long has this been the situation?.

But regardless of who's benefited from the above to date and as far as this whole issue and the new Yenko cars also any tradmark debate goes, I'm on the Yenko family and Clarys side 100 percent!.
The Clarys respectfull and passionate ways of carrying the Yenko legacy along have no doubt largely increased its recognition and demand to the point it is today!.
If things need to be tightend up copyright wise to ensure the rights remain w/ the family or whoever they decide to grant rights or pass it on to, I'd hope and expect most here would love to help support this in any ways possible..


~ Pete

[sYc]

First, the latest press release by GMCI.
<font color="red"> PRESS RELEASE:

Westminster, Calif. – (October 28, 2009) General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI) announced today that it will present its official 2010 Yenko Camaro Prototype to the public in the OER booth (# 23795) at the 46th annual SEMA Trade Show in Las Vegas, November 3-6.

The company will present the modern Yenko almost 44 years to the day that Don Yenko's Corvair Corsa was officially recognized as a Class D Production Competition Car by the SCCA.

The official 2010 Yenko Prototype began its life on a 2010 Camaro SS platform. The vehicle then underwent several significant upgrades including modification to a "Phase I" Yenko Camaro Supercar. Preliminary highlights and specifications of this powerful vehicle include a high performance 600hp supercharged and intercooled LS-based engine, Tremec six speed manual high performance transmission, Hurst short throw shifter, 6-piston big brake package and Magnaflow high-flow cat-back exhaust system.

Plans call for three Phases to be available to take the fifth Generation Camaro from ordinary to extraordinary. This "Phase I" Prototype from GMCI maintains the unique retro appeal Yenko enthusiasts are so passionate about, while including significant performance upgrades to the stock GM specifications and keeping the car affordable. Phase II and III cars will have higher output engines and even more suspension and handling upgrades.

Additional Yenko branded upgrades to this prototype vehicle include: the Yenko stripe package, official emblems and badging, retro-styled 22" Yenko billet aluminum wheels, Yenko leather interior package featuring Yenko Super Car (sYc) embroidered headrests, Yenko/SC sill plates, Yenko/SC embroidered floor mats and more.

Nearly 45 years ago, racing legend Don Yenko embarked on a mission to build a race car that could effectively compete in the 1966 SCCA racing season. His inspiration resulted in the development of the Yenko Stinger, an SCCA race car based on the Corvair Corsa platform. It was in the last quarter of 1965 that Yenko's plans for that vehicle came together changing automotive history forever.

Originally, the 60s era Yenko car was a special order vehicle, designed and built by Don Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA. Don Yenko used the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program, a program GM used for fleet vehicles like police cars, taxi cabs, etc. to special order the vehicles and then modify them into some of the most powerful vehicles available. Today, an original Yenko is one of the most sought after Camaros in the world.

For more information about GMCI or Yenko licensing, please contact GMCI Corporate Headquarters, P.O. box 12049 Westminster, CA. 92683 or [email protected]. </font>

Now..from the Yenko family.
<font color="purple">The "Yenko" family, who are the direct heirs of Don Yenko and his Estate, have never relinquished ownership of their name, nor have they ever sold it off or licensed it to GMCI.

They have NEVER authorized any individual or entity other than the "sYc'', aka The Yenko Sports Car Club/Yenko.net to use it in order to promote and/or perpetuate Don's legacy, this more than a decade ago!

GMCI does not have the approval nor the endorsement of the Yenko family, in order to use the Yenko name for anything, including a 2010 Yenko Camaro.

The Yenko family is extremely distraught over this issue and for the first time since Don Yenko passed, they have retained a Law Firm to defend and protect their interests.

</font>

Needless to say the sYc supports the Yenko family's efforts to regain the rights to their name, and I am pleased to say that a couple of club members have already volunteered to help the family in this venture. As with Helen Gibb and the Gibb mark, we fell confident that control of the Yenko name will be once again rest with the Yenko family.

[x Baldwin Motion]

I think the name "Phase III" might be in use already. These guys are posers at best, Johnny-come-lately's most likely. I hope they have an expensive lawyer on retainer.



http://www.officialbaldwinmotion.com/phase3.htm