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Ibex or Gazelle? ('98)
January 1999:
Has the final chapter been written in the Eurasia Gazelle saga? It
would appear so: On January 15th 1999 American TV broadcaster ABC ran a
Eurasia expose on the show "20/20".
One US viewer tells of American businessman (Eurasia Motor Corp.)
supposedly building and supplying `Gazelles' to unsuspecting dealers in the
States. Great interest shown by dealers. The documentary showed salespitch,
info' and brochures which were obviously derived from
Ibex.
A transcript of the damning programme,
The Invisible Car,
is available on the ABC website at
http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/transcripts/2020_990115scammed_trans.html
Eurasia reputedly extracted an astonishing $2 million out of eager US car
dealers despite the fact that many had only seen pictures and video of the
"Gazelle".
24 September 1998: The real thing - the genuine
new generation Ibex
with Cosworth Ford power is revealed.
10 September 1998:
The New York Times ran a story about
Eurasia Motor Corporation.
The story stated that several US car dealers were trying to recover
substantial deposits that had been paid to Eurasia for dealerships.
It implied that any four wheel drive was unlikely to materialise
through Eurasia.
On the other hand, 4wdonline believes that John Foers,
manufacturer of the very real and capable
Ibex 4WD
(which we have seen and touched),
in cooperation with Cosworth,
is well advanced in development of a sporty 4WD that
has no connection at all with Eurasia.
14 March 1998:
US Sport Utility wannabe Eurasia Motor Corporation appears to be running out
of steam. The once flourishing website has now been reduced to a rather
dreary "watch this space" 'net cul-de-sac
[emcgazelle.com];
gone are the 4WD [pictures].
Sources close to Foers suggest that a prototype vehicle does indeed exist,
and that it will shortly be unveiled to the public.
[This is better than Melrose Place.]
Feb 1998:
Cosworth, well known for their racing successes and engine work,
Birkin (S.A.), and Foers Engineering of Yorkshire,
are developing a sports 4x4 based on the Foers
Ibex 4WD
and are considering ways of distributing it in North America -
with or without Eurasia Motor Corpn.
In 1997 Eurasia made various releases
[see [here]]
that they would be selling
Gazelle, Endura and Rage sports 4x4s
based on the Ibex and showing pictures
of what appeared actually to be Ibex 4x4s.
However, it seems that discussions are still in progress on just
who will distribute the new 4x4.
The project is said to be well advanced and you may be able to buy one
in the not too distant future.
... and via the email 3/1998,
(Ivan Schwartz) ...
Below is a press release for general circulation from Cosworth:
28 January 1998:
Media statement concerning Eurasia Motor Corporation
jointly issued by Cosworth, Birkin, and Foers Engineering.
Cosworth, the world renowned automotive powertrain specialist, together with
Birkin of
South Africa and Foers Engineering of the UK, its two partners in a joint
vehicle project
aimed at the US market, today issued the following media statement:
"Cosworth, Birkin and Foers Engineering have been jointly developing a sports
utility
vehicle for the US market. Recently we have become concerned by statements in
the
North American media attributed to Eurasia Motor Corporation of Fort
Lauderdale,
Florida, implying that it will be selling that new vehicle in the US under the
names Gazelle,
Endura and Rage with a powerplant produced in collaboration with Cosworth.
"Although we did have
some initial discussions with Eurasia Motor Corporation
concerning the possibility of it distributing our vehicle for us, these
discussions came to
nothing and we now have no connection whatsoever with Eurasia. Any vehicle it
may
market will not incorporate any technology from Cosworth, Birkin or Foers
Engineering.
"Our own project
is now nearing launching and we have recently appointed a yet
to be
named independent importer and distributor for it in North America".
Source: Cosworth
Go to the
Foers
and
4WD News
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