I (and other members of the local NC Jaguar Club) have recently received a proposal/request from a company in NY City (Cooper Film Cars/Cooper Classics) asking if we would be interested in providing our Jaguars for stationary "photo shoots" in Manhattan. The company reportedly will "pay for our time", ship the cars by enclosed transport, and "everything is fully insured". The company has a most impressive web site (www.cooperclassiccars.com) and "sounds" legitimate, but a "disasterous scam" might sound the same. Having "your" car featured in a "Commercal Photo Shoot" (and being paid for it) sounds intriguing -But I wonder if anyone has done this or knows anything about this Company -or why they are looking in NC when there are many Jaguars of similar vintage and style in the North-east and NY Jaguar Clubs. My (and the other members contacted) work schedules would probably prevent us from transporting the car or going with the car in person.

Jerry Ellison
Fayetteville, NC
XK140 OTS

Submitted by rdnjridge@aol.com on Thu, 05/04/2006 - 13:47

My car was being considered for a ad (this week was the shoot), actually signed a contract, but ran into a problem when they wanted to take the door off the car to shoot it. They went with a Porsche instead (what a mistake, no accounting for taste,lol)

99 XK8

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Thu, 04/20/2006 - 13:54

Edited on 2006-04-25 0:47:53

there is an amazing ammount of demand for vehicles of all kinds for advertising, just look in any magazine or on TV. a director often wants a specific car and they will search everywhere for it. We have shipped cars from Los Angeles to Florida and then to Africa for a movie and regularly ship across the country. This is one of my business interests check out the site at; http://www.101classiccarrental.com we have over 1500 cars all across the US and in some other Countries. Most production companies are very reliable and have full insurance but you do have to be be careful. Jaguar affectionado and etc.

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Wed, 04/19/2006 - 07:33

Otto, You're right. My Morgan owner friend went to the photo shoot and was treated royally and fed some good meals and in general had a great time. That being said, there are so many scams on the internet these dasy that are cleaver and so many fake web sites that look real, that I think a bit of skepticism is necessary. I am sure we've seen web sites that look just like eBay or PayPal or Chase Bank etc but are frauds designed to lure us into sending passwords and Social Security numbers. If the Nigerian bank accounts or the winning numbers in some European lottery scams didn't work, we would stop seeing them in our in-boxes. But this situation had a positive and happy ending.
2000 S-Type V8

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 14:58

He said that he had an over zealous assistant who started to look for cars a bit far afield and mentioned getting help in the past from some people I know. This has relieved my concerns and some other postings about the BBB etc make me feel that this is a legitimate request. If there is anyone in the NY area who wants to get their XJC into a photo shoot next week in NYC, let me know and I will have Cooper Classics contact you! Or email them on your own......
2000 S-Type V8

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 12:05

I had a reply from Cooper Classics and he said that someone there was "over zealous" in thier search radius. He said that he prefered to use local cars and mentioned the names of some Jag people in the area who had helped him in the past and who I know, so this gives creedance to his request. I don't know anyone with a black XJC but I forwarded his request to some other club members who may be able to help.

2000 S-Type V8

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 11:56

This same fellow has just contacted me looking for a black XJC for a photo shoot next week. I sent him an email asking him why he was looking for Jags in North Carolina and was willing to pay to ship them to NY. I forwarded his request about the XJC to some local club members but told them to ask lots of questions before doing anything since this thread on the JCNA pages has me concerned.I'll post anything else I learn if it is relevant to this discussion.
2000 S-Type V8

Submitted by EAGLE4521@att.net on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 09:13

Jerry,
Go to the BBB website. Top left hand corner under "check it out", click Business. Under telephone # enter 212.929.3909. Cooper comes up and BBB reports no claims in past 3 years. They are also listed in D & B but you have to pay for a report (library is free or used to be).
Mike

Submitted by EAGLE4521@att.net on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 08:45

Jerry,
I would check with the Better Business Bureau and also check them out in Dun and Bradstreet (your local library will have the books). Also ask them for references - previous customers, ten is a good number. You are wise to be wary. They could be very good people, on the other hand..."You just won $10 million from a Nigerian lottery...". "If it sounds to good to be true...". Good Luck
Mike

Submitted by stuross41@eart… on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 07:39

This company has also contacted some Morgan club members in my area with the same offer. They said they were looking for a BRG Morgan roadster. My car is blue, so I contacted several local NJ/NY area members with the correct cars for this request and asked them to contact Cooper Classics themselves so I would not be giving out their names or emails without permission. One member has contacted them and sent email photos of his Morgan and is awaiting further action.I was not suspicious since I live near NYC, but now that you have mentioned that they are looking for Jags all the way in NC, I wonder what is going on. There are lots of Jags of all eras in this area and several local clubs as well as a number of reputible and well known classic car dealers who would be able to either supply cars or contact owners. If I learn any more about this,soon, I will reply with the information.

2000 S-Type V8