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Apr 2, 2008 9:09 pm US/Central
Unique Performance Cars Sold At Rock-Bottom Prices
Company Execs Will Not Be Prosecuted
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
CBS 11 News has learned that federal prosecutors have decided not to prosecute executives of a Farmers Branch company that manufactured high-end muscle cars.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, who investigated Unique Performance for three months, the U.S. Attorney in Dallas has informed the service in writing that it will not pursue the case.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service said, "Even though federal crimes have been committed" the federal prosecutor has decided not to pursue them. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Richard Roper has not yet responded to our inquiry on this subject.
But sources tell CBS 11 News the Dallas County District Attorney's office is vigorously investigating criminal allegations that Unique Performance removed or destroyed the vehicle identification numbers of at least 61 vehicles.
According to the Texas Department of Public Service, customers were cheated out of at least $39 million for cars they paid for but didn't receive. In addition, former employees of Unique Performance say they were not paid for the final weeks they worked for Unique Performance.
In late October of last year, the unfinished cars of Unique Performance were confiscated by Farmers Branch Police and Texas DPS and held as evidence at an impound lot in Carrollton. The company had filed for bankruptcy and all of the assets have been auctioned off to the highest bidders.
Click here for the online auction.
Today a steady stream of tow trucks, flat beds and trailers pulled into the impound lot where the cars have been sitting for five months. CBS 11 cameras were present when the highest bidders arrived to pick up their purchases.
The unfinished cars have sat in the auto pound, which resembled a graveyard for rusted and bent old cars. But the new owners, those who purchased them at auction, say they plan to give them new life.
Rodney Moore owns an auto body shop in Garland, and he was the highest bidder for a 1969 Camaro. He intends to restore the vehicle, which has no engine, paint or interior. "This car, with stuff that's missing, it'll probably take a year," said Moore.
A number of the auction customers own custom body shops in North Texas. Shane Funk of Plano says he purchased five Unique Performance cars during the online auction, and he plans to turn them into classic cars, without the Shelby or Foose labels.
"Baby boomers are buying these cars because it's a car that they liked back when they were kids. They couldn't afford them then," said Funk. "Now they're older and more successful."
Funk said while the cars won't bear famous names, he plans to turn them into clones of the "Eleanor" car in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds." That movie catapulted the Shelby Mustang 350 GT into stardom and stirred up a buying frenzy for the famed muscle car.
Unique Performance had a contract with Carroll Shelby Licensing and Chip Foose to manufacture custom-built Mustangs and Camaros. Unique Performance promised to restore the bodies of vehicles originally manufactured in the 1960s, but dozens of customers who didn't receive their cars are suing Unique Performance President Douglas Hasty and Shelby.
The spokesperson for Shelby has not returned our phone calls and Hasty's attorney blames police for the demise of Unique Performance.
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FEATURED SLIDESHOW: Evidence From Farmers Branch 'Muscle Car' Company
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