One thing I’ve learned after a decade in this business is that Ferrari takes its name, logo, and other branding very seriously. The company isn’t afraid to take legal action when others use its branding for personal gain or modify their products in a way that may, in its eyes, harm its image.
There are numerous examples of this, some more famous than others. Over the years, Ferrari has garnered a reputation for defending its brand so strongly that other companies don’t dare whisper its name or show its logos in photos for fear of being targeted by the company’s lawyers.
The result of this is aftermarket parts makers and tuners who have to tactfully skirt around the word “Ferrari” and all its associated brand names and logos while trying to sell a product that is deeply intertwined with the brand. It makes for press releases—usually soulless documents that sound like they were crafted in a boardroom with the 12 most boring people you’ve ever met—that are way funnier to read than they have any right to be.
Ferrari Doesn’t Care If You’re Famous
There are several known instances of Ferrari threatening legal action (or following through on it) against people and organizations that it believes paint the brand in a bad light. Let me enlighten you to just a few.
The most relevant incident I can think of is when DJ and music producer Joel Zimmerman, who goes by the stage name Deadmau5, wrapped his Ferrari 458 Spider in a “Nyan Cat” internet meme theme back in 2014, and gave it “Purrari” badges in place of the iconic prancing horse. The car’s mods were widely covered online before Ferrari sent Zimmerman a Cease and Desist letter, forcing him to remove the wrap and the badges or face legal action.
A similar thing happened with Jean ’Beurlys’ Blaton, a Belgian billionaire who had his F40 LM heavily modified into a custom “Barchetta” variant with new bodywork and a revised suspension, among other things. Instead of asking Blaton to change the car back to its original state, Ferrari sent a Cease and Desist letter telling him to remove all Ferrari badges and other markings that might identify the car as a Ferrari.
Ferrari took things even further in 2020 with Swiss fashion designer Philipp Plein, who featured modified versions of his 812 Superfast on Instagram and used its cars at a 2018 fashion show to, according to the brand, represent “a lifestyle totally inconsistent with [Ferrari’s] brand perception, in connection with performers making sexual innuendos and using Ferrari’s cars as props in a manner which is per se distasteful,” according to Carscoops. In this case, Ferrari actually sued Plein and won, forcing the designer to pay the equivalent of $352,000 in compensation and legal fees.
Here’s How This Tuner Did It
That brings us to this news release from Talos Vehicles, a British restomod and tuner shop that sells customized versions of the modern Land Rover Defender, the Porsche 911 GT3, and the vintage Audi S1. Last year, it revealed it would be offering a modified version of the Ferrari 599, called the Talos XXT. It’s made to look like the track-only XX version of the 599, with a huge wing out back and a handful of other cosmetic and mechanical changes.
Source: Talos Vehicles
The company announced today some of its most popular customization requests for the XXT, and in that announcement, there is not one mention of the word “Ferrari,” despite the car very obviously still being a Ferrari. In at least one instance, Talos clearly dances around naming the brand. I bolded the areas where this occurs:
Limited to just five units worldwide, the TALOS XXT offers owners a fully customised race-inspired Grand Touring experience, with bespoke options including its finish and paintwork.
Indeed, paying homage to the XXT’s carbon fibre bodywork is the awesome ‘Full carbon’ design. This unique design showcases the craftsmanship of the XXT, with naked matt carbon fibre panels across the vehicle, complemented with a black interior featuring Alcantara seats and trim.
Source: Talos Vehicles
Meanwhile, the eye-catching ‘Verde Jewel’ customisation is set to turn heads with its striking colour combination. The car’s prospective UK owner has opted for a breathtaking green finish, offset with a stunning red Alcantara interior, in a nod to the car’s Maranello roots. Furthermore, to reflect the customer’s own heritage, the exterior features the Union Jack on the rear wing end-plates, also reinforcing the British craftsmanship of the XXT.
As well-written as this release is, Talos does, at one point, mention the name of the car (again, bolded for clarity):
Starting life as a donor 599 GTB, the TALOS XXT is available in both left and right-hand drive variants together with bespoke options including custom engine upgrades.
Source: Talos Vehicles
And unlike that F40 I mentioned earlier, the XXT is still very much covered in Ferrari badges inside and out. So, despite all of the mods and not mentioning the brand by name, Talos is nonetheless presenting this car as a Ferrari 599 GTB. Whether that’s enough to open the British tuner company to a lawsuit from Maranello, I’m not sure. But knowing Ferrari, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take some kind of action.
Brian Silvestro is The Autopian's news editor. Best known for buying cheap, rusty project cars, he currently drives a 2008 Range Rover with around 218,000 miles. When he’s not writing about the car world, he enjoys participating in fun drives, track days, and endurance racing events.
Back in the late ’80s, there was a flourishing Ferrari replica industry in So Cal, the most famous of which was Modena Design, which made the cars for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.Ferrari in the space of a year or two shut almost all of them down and the others—like Modena—closed up shop before the lawyers got to them.
Member
Top Dead Center
1 month ago
I’ve always wondered how they don’t sue Jamroquai? Always thought he has Ferrari logo ish for his group, that said he reps a lot of their cars in his videos so maybe it’s a secret product placement…
Member
Dodsworth
1 month ago
I can’t remember the show but years ago I saw a cartoon where a character won a Ferraro. That was clever.
It’s about two brothers living together in a city, the older brother’s boss went to jail. Younger brother goes to visit the boss in jail to get something signed so they can get an unemployment check, and the boss gives the younger brother the keys to his Ferraro and hilarity ensues
Sorta like Mike of StanceWork’s 244GTK. Kaz told him would be the perfecr car but it couldn’t win a Gran Turismo award because Ferrari would never let them put it in the game. Kind of a shame because a bunch of his in his Discord do a weekly time attack challenge and the last round of 2025 was modded 308s at Willow Springs.
Ferrari can go and suck a sad one. They sold the cars to customers for top dollar on the open market and these people are free to do whatever they like with their cars. It is not illegal to modify your own property, tools whatever to fit your needs and desires.
Back in the late ’80s, there was a flourishing Ferrari replica industry in So Cal, the most famous of which was Modena Design, which made the cars for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.Ferrari in the space of a year or two shut almost all of them down and the others—like Modena—closed up shop before the lawyers got to them.
I’ve always wondered how they don’t sue Jamroquai? Always thought he has Ferrari logo ish for his group, that said he reps a lot of their cars in his videos so maybe it’s a secret product placement…
I can’t remember the show but years ago I saw a cartoon where a character won a Ferraro. That was clever.
I remember when Ferraro was the vice presidential candidate.
It’s Italian for blacksmith, so I guess it’s like having the name Smith.
That’s the cartoon Mission Hill!
It’s about two brothers living together in a city, the older brother’s boss went to jail. Younger brother goes to visit the boss in jail to get something signed so they can get an unemployment check, and the boss gives the younger brother the keys to his Ferraro and hilarity ensues
Mission Hill! Thank you! I loved that show.
Sorta like Mike of StanceWork’s 244GTK. Kaz told him would be the perfecr car but it couldn’t win a Gran Turismo award because Ferrari would never let them put it in the game. Kind of a shame because a bunch of his in his Discord do a weekly time attack challenge and the last round of 2025 was modded 308s at Willow Springs.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpLKI840VOt_0ry61uExbLzfmRXcG6CFHmwwhNNGJZ_g&s=10
Ferrari can go and suck a sad one. They sold the cars to customers for top dollar on the open market and these people are free to do whatever they like with their cars. It is not illegal to modify your own property, tools whatever to fit your needs and desires.