Integrity of a VIN – The Key to Identifying a Vehicle & Preserving Your Investment
If the VIN or serial number on your vehicle, or the vehicle which you are buying or selling, has been removed and reinstalled on the car or has been tampered with or altered in any way you could face some serious consequences. These consequences could include criminal prosecution, fines and jail time. On the civil side of the law the monetary damages could be staggering.
Do you know what you are looking for when you look at VIN?
Many individuals, car dealers and collector car auctions have offered vehicles for sale that have VINs that have been tampered with in some fashion. Surprisingly, it is really not that uncommon! Knowledge, on your part, is the key to avoiding such a situation.
For the purpose of this article I am going to refer to all vehicle indemnification numbers as VINs. I recognize that the older vehicles referred to these numbers as serial numbers and some vehicles are registered by engine numbers, body numbers or chassis numbers but for the purpose of this article I will collectively refer to all of these numbers as VINs.
When the manufacturer assigns a VIN to a car or truck it is affixed in a specific fashion and by law (both state and federal) cannot be removed, altered, tampered with or obliterated except for very specific times when it is necessary for the repair of the vehicle.
When you are looking to buy a classic car, vintage or antique car or truck check the VIN tag to ensure that it is present and matches the make and model year of the vehicle you are looking to purchase. Just this past week I ran across two GMC pickup trucks offered for sale with Chevrolet VIN tags! In other words if you are looking at a GMC and the VIN says Chevrolet, that is a major clue something is amiss.
Also this past month I found a Chevrolet pickup truck for sale which purports to be a 1966 with a 1963 VIN tag! There are many sources to decode VIN numbers easily availible through your favorite search engine. These sources are your friend.
Once you have confirmed that the VIN is of the proper type for the year and model that is only the first step. Next look at the patina on the tag, is it consistent with the condition and age of the vehicle that you are looking at? Is the VIN tag affixed to the vehicle with the proper rivet, screws, spot welds, etc.?
I don’t recall knowing of any instances were metal VIN tags were glued on from the factory. There should be something visibly affixing the tag to the vehicle.
If you spot a vehicle with a VIN tag affixed in a non-authentic or questionable manner, stop immediately and contact Bryan W. Shook and Vintage Car Law® for assistance. Likewise, if the font, aspect ratio or the characters themselves do not look proper contact Bryan Shook for a quick opinion.
If you bought a vehicle that has a VIN that has been tampered with or removed at one point you should contact Bryan W. Shook for an opinion and to assess your options. The last thing you want to do is be stuck with a hot potato or worse yet the subject of a criminal investigation for possession (or offering for sale) of a vehicle with a tampered/altered VIN. Even if the seller did not know of the VIN issue this may not be an excuse or defense. Contact Bryan W. Shook for more information.
For popular American cars and trucks through 1972 here is a listing of how the VIN should be affixed. This list is not meant to be comprehensive or complete just illustrative and helpful.
Chevrolet (not including trucks)
1953 – 1959 Corvette – Pan Head Phillips Screws
Early-1960 Corvette – Pan Head Phillips Screws
Late-1960 – 1964 Corvette – Spot Welds
1965 (Very EARLY) Corvette – Pop Rivets
1965 Corvette -1972 Corvette – Rosette Rivets
1951-1964 Chevrolet (not Corvette) – Spot Welded (never RIVETS OR SCREWS)
1965 (Very EARLY) Chevrolet – Pop Rivets
1965 – 1972 Chevrolet – Rosette Rivets
Ford (not including trucks)
Model A through 1967 Ford – Stamped directly into Frame or Body of Vehicle (starting in 1940s there is a body plate affixed to the body or door of the vehicle that bears the VIN but this number must always be checked against the frame stamping/body stamping). Look for a star at the beginning and end of the stamped number.
1968 Ford (earliest production 1968 model year Fords may not have had publicly viewable VINs in the windshield) – (screws – very rare), small diameter head pop rivets or rosette rivets depending upon the assembly plant
1969 Ford – Standard pop rivets or rosette rivets depending upon the assembly plant and time of production
1970-ON – Rosette Rivets (note for 1968-1970 VINs the rivets are not usually visible)
Chrysler, Dodge Plymouth (MOPAR) (not including trucks)
1931 – 1940s – Flat Head rivet
1950s – 1965 – Spot Welded
1966-1972 – Rosette Rivets
Trucks
Chevrolet/GMC Trucks (NOT El Camino)
1940 – early 1950s – Clutch head screws
Early 1950s – 1953 – Expanding Rivets (very large center hole)
1954-1964 – Spot Welds
1965 (Very EARLY) – Standard Pop Rivets
1965 (late) – ON – Rosette Rivets (NEVER standard rivets)
Ford, Mercury Trucks (NOT Ranchero)
Late 1940s – ON – Warranty Plate riveted (usually with expanding rivets (very large center hole)) to Body – Serial Number/VIN stamped into frame rail as found on other Ford products.
Dodge, Plymouth, Fargo Trucks
1940s – 1950s – Straight head screws
1960s – ON – Rivets (Must confirm Frame VIN matches)
If you think there is something fishy with your vehicle’s serial or VIN number contact Bryan W. Shook for an opinion. Also, if you come across a vehicle with a known tampered VIN please let us know so that we can be aware of it for the future and to prevent future acts of misrepresentation and fraud.
As I wrote in prior article concerning fake and fraudulently made certificates of title; these types of problems concerning VINS and titles are very concerning because you may have purchased a car with a nefarious title history. Worse yet, you may not even “own” the car you think you purchased. I have even been involved in cases where multiple cars/trucks share the same VIN in different states/countries!!!
How can you help to protect yourself and have confidence in what you are already own or are buying? Order a Motor Study®! Vintage Car Law® is proud to offer this one of a kind forensic vehicle title abstract and provenance confirmation service. For more than a decade Bryan W. Shook, Esquire and Vintage Car Law® have established themselves as the leader in vehicle research. This experience is now available to the public in the form of Motor Study®. Call now – 717-884-9010.
Are there Fraudulent or Fake Titles in Your Vehicle’s History?
Is your Serial Number or VIN authentic to your vehicle?
Have you recently purchased a car, truck or motorcycle and wondered about its history? Perhaps it is freshly restored or an old original barn-find. How good is the title that you received with it? Is the serial number or vehicle identification number (VIN) authentic? Has it been tampered with, altered, changed or replaced?
Recently it has been noticed that there has been a significant uptick in the number of fraudulent and fake titles for sale on the internet. Some the most prolific concern old Harley Davidsons, Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes and traditional hot rods such as Model T and Model A Fords and 1932 V8 Fords, etc. An additional problem is fraudulent, fake or remade VIN or serial number tags. These titles and tags are very convincing and look legitimate but when scrutinized and compared to the extensive Vintage Car Law® library they are clearly identified for what they are. This is a very concerning problem because you may have purchased a car with a nefarious title history. Worse yet, you may not even “own” the car you think you purchased.
How can you help to protect yourself and have confidence in what you are already own or are buying? Order a Motor Study®! Vintage Car Law® is proud to offer this one of a kind forensic vehicle title abstract and provenance confirmation service. For more than a decade Bryan W. Shook, Esquire and Vintage Car Law® have established themselves as the leader in vehicle research. This experience is now available to the public in the form of Motor Study®.
NO TITLE TO MY CAR WHAT SHOULD I DO? – READ THIS FIRST
Buy a title off of eBay?
Register the vehicle in another State? Vermont?
Not having a title to your vehicle is a stressful and sometimes embarrassing situation. There are legal ways of curing your missing title and there are illegal ways. Buying a title and matching VIN plate and attaching them to your car are generally illegal. Likewise it is unwise to register your vehicle in another non-title state (such as Vermont, Alabama, Georgia) and then “transfer” the vehicle back to Pennsylvania using the out-of-state registration and a bill of sale. Sure there are plenty of videos and articles on the web that seem to show you how to game the system and obtain a title off of a bill of sale. BE CAREFUL AND READ BELOW BEFORE GOING DOWN ANY OF THOSE ROADS.
If you do not have a title for your vehicle I strongly recommend against purchasing a certificate of title off of craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, etc. I have recently noticed an uptick in the number of fraudulent or fake certificates of title for sale. Nearly every state’s DMV title application (Penndot Form MV-1) includes a clause, just above where you sign, which states (usually under penalty of perjury or unsworn falsification to authorities) that the information included on the title application is true and correct. If you purchase a title and obtain a matching VIN plate and attach that to your vehicle you are furthering a fraud and breaking the law. Furthermore, with the prevalence of fraudulent and fake titles out there you could wind up in much larger mess.
Think of the situation where you surreptitiously obtain a title to your vehicle using an out-of-state registration or you a bought VIN plate or title and you get a knock on the door or telephone call from the DMV investigator or State Trooper wishing to inspect your vehicle because someone just presented with the original vehicle. (It’s happened).
Most people are unaware that Certificates of Title are considered securities under Federal law and that possession and presentation of falsely made, forged, altered or counterfeited car titles, in interstate commerce, is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314 for which a person could be fined and imprisoned for up to 10 years! Likewise it is also likely a violation of state securities law.
Additionally, by purchasing a title you could be unsuspectingly obtaining a title to someone else’s vehicle and be guilty of theft by false pretenses (theft by deception). Correspondingly attempting to circumvent Penndot by first registering your vehicle in Vermont (or another non-title state) will certainly run you afoul of the provision on the MV1 that everything on the form is true and correct and you could find yourself making unsworn falsifications to authorities. Any title obtained under false pretenses or with misinformation or “half-truths” is void ab initio, or in plain terms JUNK and recallable by the state.
In summation buying a title or using the Vermont title trick might seem like the easy way out but it could land you in world of legal trouble which is easily avoided by simply obtaining a Court Order directing the DMV to issue a title to you for your vehicle. Attorney Bryan W. Shook and Vintage Car Law® can certainly assist you in your quest to obtain a valid and lawful Pennsylvania Certificate of Title. Attorney Shook has helped thousands of automotive enthusiasts throughout his career obtain reliable information about and legal titles to their automobiles, trucks, trailers and motorcycles. The cost is generally about the same as buying a title or registering the vehicle out-of-state and switching that over to a Pennsylvania title.
In summation buying a title or using the Vermont title trick might seem like the easy way out but it could land you in world of legal trouble which is easily avoided by simply obtaining a Court Order directing the DMV to issue a title to you for your vehicle. Attorney Bryan W. Shook and Vintage Car Law® can certainly assist you in your quest to obtain a valid and lawful Pennsylvania Certificate of Title. Attorney Shook has helped thousands of automotive enthusiasts throughout his career obtain reliable information about and legal titles to their automobiles, trucks, trailers and motorcycles. The cost is generally about the same as buying a title or registering the vehicle out-of-state and switching that over to a Pennsylvania title. If you would like information on how Attorney Shook can help you get a title to your vehicle please email him at bshook@shooklegal.com.
JUDGE AND JURY FIND AGAINST SELLER OF CAR WITH CHANGED TRIM TAG – NOT NUMBERS MATCHING – FRAUD – PUNITIVE DAMAGES
Chicago, Illinois – March 7, 2019 – United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – A judge and jury have unanimously ruled that a car sold as “numbers matching” must have its original trim tag.
The case involved a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 (VIN: 124379N697642) and was prosecuted by Bryan W. Shook, Esquire (Vintage Car Law® – Shook Legal, Ltd.) and Richard K. Hellerman in Federal Court in Chicago. The car was bought by the seller in Illinois circa 2004 and immediately taken to a restoration shop for repairs/restoration. During the restoration the original color of the car was discovered to be Burnished Brown. The seller was unhappy to learn that the original color of the car was brown and not black. It was decided to repaint the car Tuxedo Black and change the cowl tag (trim tag) to reflect the updated color. Also during the restoration the interior was changed from black standard interior (code 711) to black custom interior (code 712). This change was also reflected upon the new cowl tag. The seller owned the car for a number of years and decided, in 2014 to sell it.
Photo of the Camaro – https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rQNM-G8yQW4EjyKnAT9A5tNyFAN2davj
The seller advertised the car in Hemmings Motor News as “1969 Camaro Z28, Tuxedo Black – all #’s and components matching … $119,000” The buyer, who had been looking for such a vehicle (specifically a Black or Hugger Orange Z28), called the seller and specifically asked if the car was originally black and if it was original numbers matching. The seller confirmed these statements and sent a picture of the cowl tag to the buyer as proof. A deal was struck for $119,000 and the car changed hands.
The buyer was very happy with the car; it was beautiful. It was not until an appraisal for insurance purposes, over a year later, that true nature and identity of the car was discovered. During the appraisal, conducted by a noted Camaro appraiser and expert, it was noted that the cowl tag was not original to the car. Additionally, it was discovered that the rear axle was poorly restamped and not original to the car. The buyer was SHOCKED and immediately sought to unwind the deal. The seller stayed steadfast insisting that all was fine with the car.
During the course of the litigation, it was discovered that the seller had not only changed the trim tag, but had also kept the original trim tag without ever previously disclosing this to the buyer. The original trim tag was produced in the discovery phase of the case and the original trim tag clearly showed standard black interior and burnished brown exterior on this 1969 Camaro Z28.
Photo of the original cowl tag – https://drive.google.com/open?id=1f5LuTZQtni99u2eAV1pMGftvTvsIOwgV
A jury trial was held at the end of February, 2019 and the jury unanimously returned a verdict of fraud in favor of the buyer and against the seller. The jury found actual compensatory damages in the amount of $66,350 and $119,000 in punitive damages. The judge separately found in favor of the buyer and against the seller for breach of contract and breach of express warranties and ruled that the seller had to buy back the car (rescission) and pay buyer for all expenses incurred maintaining the subject Camaro since buyer first demanded rescission with costs of the suit. The total judgment award, including the rescission award was in excess of $300,000.00.
Specifically the judge found that the car was not numbers matching on at least four points:
1. The Camaro was not numbers matching because it had a different interior from when it left the manufacturer.
2. The Camaro was not numbers matching because it had a different color than it had when it left the factory.
3. The Camaro was not numbers matching because it had a different rear axle when it left the manufacturer.
4. The Camaro was not numbers matching because it had a different trim tag when it left the manufacturer.
Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market and protect their automotive investments. Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a seasoned automotive collector and restorer and as such brings real world experience and firsthand knowledge to the table for his clients throughout the world. Although Bryan Shook is headquartered in central Pennsylvania (close proximity to Carlisle and Hershey), Attorney Bryan Shook is available anywhere for consultation, advice, and information, most times, on as short as a day’s notice. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at bshook@shooklegal.com or by phone at 717-884-9010. More information can be found at Http://www.vintagecarlaw.com.
Judge Rules that disgruntled ex-wife can sell husband’s rare 1968 Camaro
Pottsville, Pennsylvania – Vintage Car Law and Bryan W. Shook, Esquire where recently successful in defending and proving the title to a rare 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport. Bryan W. Shook, Esquire acted as lead trial counsel to the buyer of the rare 1968 Camaro. The buyer purchased the Camaro from the ex-wife of the last titled owner. When the husband found out his Camaro had been sold he sought to get the car back. Attorney Shook petitioned the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County for an order declaring that his client was the sole lawful owner of the Camaro and to extinguish any claim the husband may have to the car. The court ruled that the wife had the power to sell the car even though she did not have the Certificate of Title in her name. The Court’s Opinion can be found here – Judge Rules that disgruntled ex-wife can sell husband’s 1968 Camaro.
Bryan W. Shook, Esquire is the principal of Vintage Car Law Attorney Bryan Shook has helped hundreds of Pennsylvania residents properly title their antique and collector cars through petitioning the Courts. If you would like information on how Attorney Shook can help you get a title to your antique or collector car please email him at bshook@shooklegal.com.
Forensic Vehicle Fraud Investigations Available by Bryan W. Shook, Esquire
Forensic Vehicle Fraud Investigations conducted by Bryan W. Shook, Esquire
- VIN Research (Numbers Matching, Rebodies, VIN swap, etc.)
- Fraud/Misrepresentation
- Breach of Contract
- Auction Misrepresentation
- Prior Owner Research
- Title History
- Acid Etching (macro-etching) to raise obliterated stampings
- Engine Numbers
- Confidential Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
- VIN derivatives
- Serial Numbers
- Chassis Numbers
- Body Panel Date Codes/Run Numbers
- Data Plate and Trim Tag/Cowl Tag Decoding
- Pedigree/Provenance
- Race History
- Restoration Quality
- Production Characteristics
Often times the true identity, authenticity, original options, RPO, VIN, production date, or assembly manner of a vehicle is unknown or perhaps it is called into question. Bryan W. Shook’s methodology and extensive network of resources assists with the accurate identification and authentication of vehicles. This same approach also aids in the identification of questionable vehicles and vehicle’s attributes, provenance, pedigree, options or characteristics.
To find the fakes and answer the questions raised by the vehicle takes time, diligence and most of all an extensive exploration of the vehicle itself and the supporting documentation, if any. Bryan Shook painstakingly researches the pedigree and provenance of the vehicles for which he is contracted to investigate or authenticate. If something is amiss, he will likely find it. Bryan Shook is available on short notice to forensically investigate or document your single car or entire collection. Many times Mr. Shook insists upon an in-person evaluation of the vehicle so that the nuances of the vehicle can be studied and recorded.
Authentication is proving (or disproving) what that the classic car is what the owner or seller says it is. To a layperson, the car’s body and presentation is what makes it recognizable. To successfully authenticate a vehicle the minutia must be evaluated such as aberrations in the font used to stamp vehicle identification numbers.
As a practicing licensed trial attorney and award winning vehicle restorer, Bryan W. Shook, relies upon his unique training in evaluating and weighing evidence when scrutinizing and interviewing locatable past owners. The final product and opinion of Bryan W. Shook is presented to the owner with all supporting documentation which can be merged into the vehicle’s dossier. If necessary and requested all communications and discoveries will be held with the strictest confidence.
Bryan W. Shook has also assembled what is believed to be the most complete database of information surrounding Pennsylvania Certificates of Title and historical title information. This knowledge base has proven invaluable in the research of historically important Pennsylvania vehicles.
Selected Projects to Date:
- 1905 Thomas Model 27 60-horsepower (1st known U.S. produced 6cyl automobile)
- 1912 Packard
- 1913 Alco
- 1913 Pierce Arrow
- 1924 Rolls-Royce
- 1929 Packard
- 1930 duPont Model G (only known duPont with the optional aluminum cylinder head)
- 1931 Chrysler
- 1953 Corvette (sold for near world record price after research was completed)
- 1961 Corvette
- 1967 Camaro Z28 (proved early ownership history by Pennsylvania Title records)
- 1967 Chevelle SS L78
- 1967 Jaguar E-Type
- 1967 Shelby GT500
- 1969 Corvette L88
- 1970 Chevelle LS6 convertible
- 1972 El Camino
- 1976 Corvette Stingray
For more information on how Bryan W. Shook, Esquire can assist you with your vehicle or collection, please call him at 717-884-9010 or email him bshook@shooklegal.com for more information on Bryan W. Shook’s collector car practice, please visit http://www.vintagecarlaw.com.
Importance of Choosing The Right Restoration Shop
Recently we were reminded, by an Ohio Court of Appeals, of the importance of selecting the proper restoration shop when it comes time to have repairs made to your classic car. The case reminded us that restoration facilities are not always as they seem and not all are ethical, forthright and honest in their practices and actions.
The case of State of Ohio v. Keith Shellhouse, 2014-Ohio-1823 which was decided on April 23, 2014 is very illustrative of the need to vet the restoration shop you are considering before dropping off your car, parts and most importantly, money. In the aforementioned case, Keith Shellhouse owner of Independent Autobody and Pro Restorations in Richland County, Ohio, was found guilty by a jury and the Court of Appeals affirmed the jury’s verdict. The case reports that in one instance a 1967 Ford Mustang was brought to Shellhouse’s restoration shop in Richland County, Ohio for repair. Mr. Shellhouse, it was alleged, then sold the vehicle without the owner’s authorization to do so. Mr. Shellhouse sent notice of the sale to an address in Michigan when he knew that the owner resided in Florida. The appellate court also noted that multiple witnesses testified as to Mr. Shellhouses’s pattern of conduct of accepting cars for repair with their owners’ money and then failed to do the working, sometimes failing to even return the cars. Mr. Shellhouse was also found guilty of tampering with motor vehicle records, a felony of the third degree. Keith Shellhouse was sentenced to four years in jail for his actions.
When you are in searching for a restoration shop, do not go by advertisements and discussions with the shop alone. If you are considering sending your vehicle to a restoration shop the following items (at a minimum) should be considered:
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Visit the shop, in person (then visit another shop (or several) for comparisons)
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Speak with customers of the shop (current and past) (if the shop won’t give out customer’s names to speak with that is an immediate red flag)
- Demand a written restoration contract including a detailed scope of work, payment terms, set price or hourly estimates not to be exceeded without prior written change order authorizations signed by both the shop and you the owner. The contract should have a start date and a completion date. The contract should also require that the shop document the restoration with photographs (time-stamped, preferably) and provide them to you with written updates on a specific interval basis.
In the end having your car restored should be an enjoyable experience, not one wrought with fear that you will never see your car or money again. Most restoration shops are on the up and up and you will have nothing to worry about. Your best insurance however is a firm written car restoration contract.
Bryan W. Shook, Esquire is an attorney in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania who is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping collectors and hobbyists protect their automotive investments. Bryan Shook represents some of the most notable automotive restorers in the world and has been responsible for litigating and resolving some of the leading antique automobile cases in the United States. Attorney Shook is available to consult with you or your restoration shop concerning any aspect of automotive or Pennsylvania business law. If you own an old car restoration shop, are you in compliance with all of the consumer protection statutes, including the Pennsylvania Auto Industry Trade Regulations, the Lanham Act and the FTC regulations? If you have any questions regarding compliance or wish to have a restoration contract drafted or reviewed, please do not hesitate to contact Attorney Bryan W. Shook. Bryan Shook can be reached at his Office at 717-884-9010 or by email at bshook@shooklegal.com.
The Dirty Side of the Hobby – Fake Pedigree & Provenance
Forgeries and fakes have long been the scourge of the collector car hobby. This practice has continued thanks to many “entrepreneurs” who have established businesses selling “reproduction” tags and paperwork for older vehicles. Reproduction however would imply that it is a replica of the original but actually the term “reproduction” in this sense usually means counterfeit.
In the Corvette, Chevelle and Camaro market “aged” build sheets or tank sheets, made to order, to your specifications, have long been available. The number of counterfeiters who forge historical vehicle documents and paperwork is very concerning. Sham documents have been openly advertised for nearly two decades in Hemmings Motor News, eBay, Craigslist and on the internet. Some of this fake paperwork is so doctored that it actually smells old or in the case of Corvette tank sheets like gasoline. Of course if you interview any of the outfits that create these items you would quickly be told that they are novelty items. All too often, however, people are deceived by the very existence of this fake paperwork and lulled into a sense of security when viewing such a vehicle which may be for sale under the mistaken guise that it has pedigree and provenance, to wit, the counterfeit documentation.
An additional problem is that of “air cars” (cars created from “thin air” with nothing more than a VIN). With counterfeit documents, air cars are immediately given credence and pedigree. In additional to fake window stickers, build sheets, FMVSS stickers, Corvette Order Copy (“Tank Sticker”) there are also forgers out there that make new VIN tags, cowl tags, trim tags and others that offer the proper rivets or screws to affix the fake tags.
One method of outing some of the fakes in the hobby has been recently introduced. A service of the National Corvette Restorer’s Society (NCRS) which tells owners when their cars were built and where they were delivered new has the potential for exposing several fraudulently presented classic Chevys. With the information provided by the NCRS, hobbyists will be able to verify their car’s paperwork, VIN number and cowl/trim tag to make sure that it all connects properly.
With the “birthday” of a car known, you can make sure that the VIN is consistent with that month of production and that the engine production stamping precedes the cars build date. Also with this information, you can determine if the assembly week code on the trim tag is consistent with the date given by the NCRS. Finally, if the vehicle has “paperwork” or a window sticker (or build sheet) the dealership should match that or be reasonably close in vicinity (e.g. same zone — dealer trades) to the dealership provided by the NCRS. If any of this information does not match or if the birthday of the car does not correlate to the VIN, engine stamping or cowl tag, then you have major problems. If the information does not match, it is wise to investigate the car carefully and, if necessary, hire and expert to examine the vehicle for signs of further molestation and restamping.
If you find that the vehicle you own is a clone or has doctored paperwork, a tampered VIN, restamped engine, transmission or replacement VIN tag, cowl tag or trim tag, you should immediately contact an attorney to learn about your legal rights and what recourse and options you may have.
Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market and protect their automotive investments. Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a seasoned automotive collector and restorer and as such brings real world experience and firsthand knowledge to the table for his clients throughout the world. Although Bryan Shook is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (close proximity to Carlisle and Hershey), Attorney Bryan Shook is available anywhere for consultation, advice, and information, most times, on as short as a day’s notice. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com or by phone at 717-884-9010. More information can be found at Http://www.vintagecarlaw.com.
Original Dealer Data Availible from NCRS
http://www.chevymuscledocs.com is now live. With permission granted by the General Motors Heritage Center, the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) is now offering owners of 1965 through 1972 Chevrolet Camaro, Nova and Chevelle the opportunity to discover the exact date that their car was built (i.e. the cars birthday) and the dealer to which it was originally delivered. This is not necessarily the selling dealer as dealer trades were common in the 1960s. The NCRS is hopeful that the release of this information will lead to owners discovering new information and history regarding their cars. This is a great thing for the hobby. The NCRS and the GM Heritage Center should be applauded for their efforts in presenting and opening this information to the hobby.
Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market and protect their automotive investments. Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a seasoned automotive collector and restorer and as such brings real world experience and firsthand knowledge to the table for his clients throughout the world. Although Bryan Shook is headquartered in central Pennsylvania (close proximity to Carlisle and Hershey), Attorney Bryan Shook is available anywhere for consultation, advice, and information, most times, on as short as a day’s notice. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com or by phone at 717-884-9010. More information can be found at Http://www.vintagecarlaw.com.
Insist upon viewing the dossier when considering an antique or collector car
Importance of Pedigree, Provenance and Continuous History
In our previous article, The Economics of Car Valuations, we discussed some of the factors, generally, that drive the values of antique and collector vehicles. The present article highlights the importance of establishing, maintaining and proving the pedigree, provenance and continuous history of your collector car and assembling such in the vehicle’s dossier (i.e. file of records concerning the vehicle).
If you look at the cars that sell at the top of the market, they all have one thing in common; a noted history that is clear and transparent. In the collector car market, investors and hobbyists have a choice as to what car they buy. While it is true that they will usually buy the prettiest and most correct example that they can afford, they will also weigh the vehicle’s history. A vehicle’s history has always played a role in the value of the vehicle, but it has only been as of late that the vehicle’s history has played a tremendous role in the value of antique and collector vehicles.
If you are looking to purchase an antique car or expensive collector car insist on viewing the dossier which should include records, names of previous owners and services and restorations that the vehicle received.
If you are looking to sell your antique or collector car then it is incumbent upon you to document your vehicle and create the type of dossier of records that the buyers today are insisting upon.
What should be in the dossier?
At a minimum, the dossier should include a sheet of paper listing all of the important production notes and numbers of the vehicle. Ideally, there would be a binder or computer file containing photographs and narrative decoding of the various components and numbers on the vehicle. The file may also include pre-restoration photographs as well as restoration photographs and photographs of the vehicle with awards it has earned or notable places where it has been invited or displayed. Receipts and notes concerning the service performed on the vehicle should be included as should any affidavits of former owners.
The area in which most dossiers are deficient is with respect to historical documents, previous ownership and service records and notes. Attention to this subject is most important. Every vehicle has a story to tell, it is your job as the vehicle’s current custodian/caretaker to preserve that story for future generations. That is, in a sense what the dossier is, is it not?
Continuous History
The notion of Continuous History was first announced by Mr. Justice Otton in the case of Old Bentley Number One (Hubbard vs. Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd.) in the High Court of Justice – Queen’s Bench Division, Royal Courts of Justice, London in 1990. From that day forth in 1990, it became clear to everyone involved with Bentley Speed Sixes, in order for a car offered for sale to be described as a Speed Six, it was now essential that the vehicle be accompanied by a continuous history.
What is continuous history when it comes to antique and collector vehicles?
Continuous history is, according to the Courts in London, a full, unbroken and authentic set of documents which identify in a reliable manner who has owned the car, the uses that it has been put to and a description of its service history and any restoration, rebuilding or reconstruction work that the car has experienced throughout its life since originally leaving the factory.
The case of Brewer v. Mann ([2010] EWHC 2444 (QB)) demonstrated why continuous history documentation of a Bentley Speed Six is so important, however the importance was transportable to all other antique and collector cars. In Brewer v. Mann, the car had two significant features (or flaws) that made it essential for the description to be more detailed than simply stating that the car was a Speed Six car. These features (or flaws) were that the engine was not a Speed Six engine (i.e. non original engine) and the only surviving part of the original car was a small section of the chassis. There was also a lack of a continuous history for the years between 1930 and 1981 even though, during that period, the car had been completely reconstructed. Thus, there was no way that the car could be authenticated as a Speed Six or, indeed as a vintage Bentley.
In consequence, it was particularly important that the contractual description accurately described all the significant changes that occurred during the car’s lifetime and the seller found some way in which to authenticate those changes or stated in the description that they were not capable of being supported by a continuous history. The need for full documentary evidence of the relevant history of a Speed Six or any other collector vehicle is highlighted by the increased valuation placed upon the vehicle by auction goers and appraisers.
In sum, it is crucial that collector car owners establish dossiers for the cars they own and insist upon reviewing the dossier for cars that they are considering purchasing. Ultimately, the industry and all collectors should strive to have a documented continuous history for every collector car, no matter the importance or perceived value 0f that particular car.
Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market and protect their automotive investments. Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a seasoned automotive collector and restorer and as such brings real world experience and firsthand knowledge to the table for his clients throughout the world. Although Bryan Shook is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (close proximity to Carlisle and Hershey), Attorney Bryan Shook is available anywhere for consultation, advice, and information, most times, on as short as a day’s notice. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com or by phone at 717-884-9010. More information can be found at Http://www.vintagecarlaw.com.
