I don't have to justify a damned thing to anyone. It is a freakin' car, after all. I just thought I would help you understand that you were speaking out of your rear regarding how I arrived at my design.

PGT surprised me a little. He was rather pleasant and helpful when I asked him about his wheels. I think I even mentioned I was going with a similar look and he didn't flinch. I had no idea he though he had created the Mona Lisa.

had you told me you were going to do the same exact look, I wouldn't have been so non chalant about the whole thing. anybody who knows me knows I'm helpful to a fault - I get 10+ PM's a day asking me something and I reply to them all.

To be honest, this thread is like getting ****ed at the drive-through - a minor irritation, but not a big deal in teh big scheme of things. glad you can justify to yourself a blatant copy of what was a unique look.

I don't even know what to say. At least 5 different people have given you their take on this - including the original - and dammit if he isn't being a sweetheart about it. The people of NAM have spoken, and the survey says you ganked his style, man. It's one thing to do it, but wholly another to deny it.

I said it before, and I'll say it again: original > not

</thread>

...

That is one sweet looking R56 ......

Wow, I'm very disgusted by this thread as I thought Mini owners to be more mature than "waa, he copied my car" or "waa, he did something similar to someone else".

1. You don't have "rights" to a certain look, a lot of Mini's are made and there are only so many differences in particular when only so many stripe kits exist. No one is obligated to ask your permission to do something similar.

2. If someone likes your style and copies it (it's going to happen) take it as flattery. If you can't handle having a car somewhere in the world like yours, well then don't post pictures someone can copy!

3. If you REALLY want to be original, it's going to take something either really far out or really ugly. Otherwise it's all available with a little money and a couple clicks of the mouse. Even custom Ferraris get copied.

Sit back, have a beer and relax.

BTW - nice car, then again I like 90%+ of the Minis I see even when they do look like other ones...

I don't feel that anyone is whining.

I think we're having a discussion on the merits of creativity. More specifically, the ethics and repercussions of creativity, or lack thereof.

Ethics? You have to be kidding... this is not an "ethical" dilemma in any way.

There is nothing wrong with liking a style and copying it, be it portions of the style or everything.

Heck PGT has had so many different styles on his car, I'm sure he will move onto something else real soon. Is anyone allowed to use the old ones he has passed by?

let's talk about this - mine wasn't off the shelf by any means. several variations of it were worked up with Mike at AC based on my original design study (read MSPaint chops) and this is what we came up with - custom cut, made to order, installed by him in MD (he's from AZ). Nothing off the shelf about it, in fact, you'd have to ask to have it duplicated or make it up yourself from existing stock.

my car hasn't waivered one bit since my original idea, worked up well before I even ordered the car. The minor details and wheel choice have changed like the weather, but that's my own vice

...

Wow.

Clearly, you've not read the post. It has nothing to do with the copy. Copy wtf you want. Flatter, yada, yada. Just don't try to act like you didn't blatantly take the damn car. See something cool? Like it? Want it? Copy it? Yay! But don't pretend you didn't.

I think we've beat this horse enough. to continue bickering about it seems only to make a bigger deal than we should. yes, he copied it. yes, it pissed me off. tomorrow's a new day. let's move on.

Too funny. I think PGT should be flattered and MiniJayhawk get an honorarium for having a creative mind that took some of the elements of PGT's style and ran with it.

I'm thinking a least the CR mirror caps would look great on Scooter, but I'm not into the stripes, they do look good on both the R53 and R56 as implemented. I will go with full body viper, if I go at all.

Any suggestions from two very creative MINIites on what would go well on Scooter. DS/W - currently white caps and a UJ flag in the rear window from AC?

Anyone want to play?

He he, yeah I must have missed that

As I said before, I expected more out of the NAM forum. Fortunately it appears only a couple people have these issues. Oh well...

Have a beer and relax.

Wow, that is one heck of a story. Congrats. My process: Told the sales rep I wanted viper stripes. Black and red. Line the outer edge of the inner stripe with the edge of the hood scoop. Don't worry about carrying the black over the top because it won't show. Then I told him to switch the red to the outside stripe and black to inside.

Didn't even need mockups or anything and they didn't have to consult NASA to get it done. But your one of a kind viper stripes are the most amazing and original piece of automotive design in history. I am honored and blessed to have copied you and I am sorry you are pissed that viper stripes are so easy to get these days.

For anyone else thinking about viper stripes --- don't do it. They are a PTG original. He even invented the color red. True.

I am only a hack, but I have seen a few Dark Silver/white that have white stripes and they look fantastic. Very classy and sharp.

everybody take note - class act here. hyperbole > minijaychickenhawk

I tried to be classy and give you credit. But you and your wingman decided that your design is beyond compare or similarity to any other viper stripes. So you don't like being told that your exterior design differs from hundreds of other Minis in color scheme only. I can understand that.

which of the multitude who've posted in support of me are my 'wingman'?

Me thinks someone is a sore loser, it's not like you have the first set of viper stripes ever put on a car!

It's your word against his, though I have to admit I lke his story better.

...

I chanllenge anyone to make a copy of my car!......Oh wait but I dont go posting pictures of it all over the internet. I dont need to show off, or have others like or dislike my car.......

Jayhawk has been straight with the fact it was a blatant ripoff....that is a bit shamefull BUT......PGT, I think posting pictures of your car all over the place, in avatars....etc is a bit like posting nudes of your woman on the net and then getting mad at what others do and say about the pics.

actually, that's the issue at hand. yes, it was and no, he claims it's not. now that he's been called out for it.

this is the very reason I've stopped posted pics on NAM of late. also - it's not what others say and do about the pics that's at issue here.

...

penguin is the only one that really seems to care much. But is it unusal for me to get so many personal messages from people wondering why you think your design is so special and that you are being a little ridiculous?