Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Suffolk Cars

A mate of mine a local farmer has an older Epsom Green RR and it’s a beauty and comfortable to ride in they just exude style in the countryside.
I had to look up that Jaguar number, I’ll bet that was a nice car, to me they were the last of the stylish saloons.

It was - 4.0l Sovereign. Beautiful to drive and so comfortable. Once did an 800 miler in a day, and felt fine at the end of it. Also had a 'sport mode' o the autobox, which gave the boy racers in Essex a few surprises. Would return about 28mpg on a good run too.

One of the very few things I miss about my previous lifestyle

I could probably pick one fairly cheap these days, but it wouldn't fit on my drive

Just reading about Eagle in Classic & Sports - wonder why they haven’t had a nasty lawyers letter?

I wonder if it is because they 're-engineer' existing Jaguars rather than make a 'kitcar' replica?

I think that's exactly it. Every Eagle is a Jaguar E-type restored. No different to a great number of vintage cars around.

With regards to Suffolk, I notice that the liquidator has confirmed there was a "threat" of legal action but no details as to the exact nature. The company owed nearly £800K to creditors, all of whom are listed in the winding-up order; I don't see any solicitors amongst them so I'm guessing no formal action had taken place. I'd guess that the company was already insolvent and any approach about intellectual property rights from JLR would have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

I like Suffolk Cars but I have to say I always wondered how they got away with it.

By that do you mean got away with making replicas of an 80 year old Jaguar model ?

The replica business has been a thriving industry for decades and I'm not aware of many, if any, companies being stopped from making "copies" of long discontinued models. Indeed Lynx, who make a high quality replica have only recently brought the business back to the UK. Realm and several others are still advertising C Type replicas and there seems to be little change in the rest of the market.

There are several companies that build toolroom replicas of interesting cars including Bugatti, Bentley and of course Jaguar racing models. Links below.

The one car that does surprise me is the AC Cobra replica. AC were still making cars while the replica industry was churning out copies of their product. Allegedly more that 60,000 to date.


https://pursangargentina.com/

https://www.bobpetersenengineering.co.uk/speed-six

https://classic-jaguar-racing.co.uk/product/fia-dtype-copy-poa/

Also ASM with the DBR replica

There is money to be made with continuation models now - Aston & Jag like these cash cows.

http://www.asmotorsport.co.uk/

Ferrari has issued literally hundreds of lawsuits to protect their IP. I've nothing against replicas, "Total Headturners" is a stand I always visit at motoring events, but some of them are on shaky ground with regards to trade marks.

All of which is contrary to my original point that I'm not convinced Suffolk's demise is very much the result of a legal threat.

There are several companies selling kits of old jags. C-type and D-type. There are several ki car companies selling replicas. This link gives a good insight into many types, inc Chesil Porsche 356, Nostalgia Jag cars, a couple of Ferrari Dino kits based on MX5 etc.
http://www.kitcarlinks.com/
Caterham own the Lotus7 but Westfield make a “Seven inspired” car with Westfield livery. That seems to be the cop out.

Sad about Suffolk

Loved looking at them at the Classic Car Show over the years and have quite a few photos of Reg’s (Lowbird) Suffolks

Beautiful cars

I must admit I’ve always thought it odd that they could use Jaguar badges to adorn their creations, I guess Suffolk relied on the fact that there was an original donor car of the same marque

What about Eagle? How do they continue to make their E types? Or are they just complete restorations?