Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

Indeed, Mr. “Buizillia” has a good point. Posting the VIN numbers on our website ahead of time would greatly assist in potential buyers to properly engage their due diligence and research. Although we have initiated this practice of providing VIN’s in our Monterey and Florida Catalogs, posting them on the website will be something I will look into and will work to initiate this feature as soon as possible.

Mr. Xplantdad is also correct in his astute assessment…something that YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY, paceme and PeteLeathersac seem to miss:

I have spent a lot of time in this hobby in several high profile positions. My candor and honesty have, many times been misunderstood by my fellow enthusiasts but no one can ever say that I did not “tell it like I see it” or that I have ever lied to anyone. Sometimes people don’t like what I have to say or how I say it… I understand that and have made my peace with it.

It always amazes me how people try to find the “gray” area of things, particularly when the hardest one to be mad it is yourself. I have spoken honestly and candidly for many years about things that no one else does. I state the facts as I see them and render my opinions from my perspective. I don’t hide behind pseudo login names or hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. If you notice, I sign in with my name and sign my name to every post.

You may agree with some of my opinions, you may not. None of these opinions will ever compromise the facts. The facts of responsibility and obligations. Responsibilities and obligations we have by contract. Ones we have as fellow enthusiasts. The ones we have as human beings to each other. Or the facts that the idealisms under which we buy and sell these old cars are great until we encounter the brutal realities like re-bodies, re-stamps, forgeries, blah, blah, blah…

The facts are simple and trying to squeeze the “gray” area out of situations is the reason we have lawyers. In the many years I have been producing collector car auctions (and the many more before that with which I participated in them) there is not a story I have not heard. Most times, things get “twisted up” because some one failed to fulfill their duty. Failed to accurately disclose some relevant issue about a car. Failed to properly research the history, numbers, or documentation. Failed to clearly understand the obligations to which they were bound entering into a transaction. Failed to check the numbers. Failed to read and understand a description clearly. Maybe not for what it said, but sometimes more importantly what it DIDN’T say. But most often it is the result of someone NOT doing something THEY should have and THEN trying to blame some one else for it afterwards.

In the end, I produce the highest caliber of auction event I can possibly conceive. I have a great staff that work to provide the best experience and service I can imagine. I do this because I really enjoy the hobby and the people attached to these cars. I have been fortunate enough to have a nice collection that I can enjoy the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts through racing, shows, rallies, etc. I most certainly do not do this because I HAVE to… This changes things a bit I think. I believe it allows me the luxury of being more candid with what I say and in many ways infinitely more honest. I am not out to please everyone. That is impossible. I am not everyone’s ‘best friend’ nor am I anyone’s “Mommy” or some “Cop” of the hobby. Some folks like me – some don’t. And hey, that’s ok…

As Xplantdad says: “For good or bad… Drew just tells it like he sees it” – to me that equals one thing: Integrity.

I will talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. I’m not hard to find. [email protected] lands directly on my desk. Sometimes in my position I have to make some tough calls. Most of the time it is really lots of fun. And isn’t that what it’s really all about? Fun is the common denominator that binds us all. No one is living and dying over these old cars. No starving children in third world countries are being fed. Me, Craig, Rob, David, Dana, all the rest and every old car on the plant could instantly vanish tomorrow and no one would even blink.

Drew Alcazar

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

That's a much better response, thanks for the additional insight.

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

[ QUOTE ]
In the end, I produce the highest caliber of auction event I can possibly conceive.

[/ QUOTE ] Drew, if that's the case, and I *want* to believe it is, you need to make Peter whole, and deal with the seller on those questionable merits of authenticity, up to and including prosecution if you can prove the seller knew. Judging by the written responses here from credible individuals, several other people obviously factually knew the car was a fraud, but Peter didn't know. So, at this point, i'm not buying one iota that this seller, and perhaps your team, didn't know.

JH

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

Drew, my hat's off to you. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif
There have been similar threads about Barret Jackson, and if Craig ever logged in here to defend himself or his auction house, the planet might well be adversly effected.
The point about "Caveat Emptor", or let the buyer beware, has been beaten to death. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif All you do is provide a service for buyers and sellers to do business, with a fee agreed to by both parties. Nobody is held at gunpoint to either bring their car to auction, or bid on that car.
This forum is open to opinions, and the often cover the full spectrum from wise and knowing to WTF. Thank you for your candor, and your willingness to get involved when you could just as easily hide from any controversy. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
Andy Meyers
JAFO

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Drew,........This forum is open to opinions, and the often cover the full spectrum from wise and knowing to WTF. Thank you for your candor, and your willingness to get involved when you could just as easily hide from any controversy.


[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

"Not only were they built by union minorities following 6 pack lunches and a joint"

Although I agree the buyer has 100% of the responsibility and to me (and I have no cars) an auction seems like a terrible place to buy a car, the quote above is telling.

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

Mr. Buizilla,

If I failed earlier to be more clear I apologize. Here is the current disposition on this particular Camaro.

The buyer took delivery of the vehicle from our auction site in Florida. We collateralized him as a bidder, as we do everyone and he wrote us a check for his purchase, checked out with the car and we awaited an electronic wire transfer on Monday, the next business day following the auction.

The buyer contacted us alleging that he felt the car was a “re-body – chop job” and indicated he had placed a “Stop Payment” on his check and would not be funding the purchase.

At this point the car was in Miami and we sent Reliable Carriers to pick the car up. Typically, in these situations, we act as essentially an “escrow” agent to secure the title, car and funds pending a thorough investigation as to the validity of any allegations.

In this case, with no money (a worthless piece of paper = a NSF check) and a car that had been partially dismantled sitting in Miami we took the best course of action we knew how. We secured the car and re-delivered the car to the seller.

Let me be abundantly clear on the facts:

1) The buyer never funded the transaction – so there is no money to “refund”.
2) The seller bought the car through the Barrett-Jackson in January 2007. He was the first buyer to “pay up” for this car and this is further evidence that he absolutely did NOT know the vehicle’s history
3) The seller is a well know enthusiast who has a large company and also many, many cars, most well over the 6 figure range. To think that he would compromise his good standing in the hobby for this single Camaro is well beyond my imagination. It is my very strong opinion that this seller was not maliciously involved in any wrong doing in any way WHAT SO EVER.
4) An investigation is underway to determine the status of allegations that this vehicle is a “re-body”. Experts infinitely more knowledgeable than I will have to accurately determine if indeed it is a re-body entirely or possibly just a badly damaged vehicle that was repaired.

The seller received a car back that was partially dismantled, and has now been at the mercy of many unsubstantiated allegations, reckless comments, and loose conjecture. Can you imagine how he feels?

Whether or not you “buy” this explanation and factual outline is immaterial and irrelevant.

How would you like it if some one started this kind of messages about YOUR car? No pictures, no facts, no expert testimony from well respected authorities in the hobby, just took your car off an auction site, dismantled it, and then posted this crap…

I said it before and now again: PLEASE, do the owner of this vehicle the courtesy of investigating the history of this particular car prior to being crucified in this (or any other) anonymous public forum.

One thing I DO know is that ANY fellow enthusiasts deserves at LEAST that!

Drew Alcazar

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

This is the same car I had advertised on this site !! We released the car to someone on this site, we found out it was possibly a re-bodied and sold it for a much lower price. Funny thing is, we saw it back out there with a WHOPPER price tag.
I won't rep any REBODY cars and neither did my Seller !!!
We knew this car would resurface with a clean story !!!!!
No better of a place to hide such cars but at an Auction https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif Buyer Beware !!

I don't blame the Auction houses for these mishaps..

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

Is this the same Silver and Blue Automatic COPO that was at the Camaro Nats June 07?

Re: russo and steel chop job camaro copo
 

Drew, I understand your points, and they are clear. Are you saying he gave you an NSF check? or it was a stop payment check? big difference... how was he to know it wasn't a re-body if he didn't remove any panels to confirm a rumor?? I would have done the same thing looking for rumor proof. can't do that in the auction hall either... while I agree it IS buyer beware in most instances, it should also be seller beware in this instance. RichP has just stated, as others have, that the car wasn't legit, yet it appears again as legit. Pete thought it was legit. What would happen if I asked Pete as a broker to buy this car for me and this happened?? Clearly, people along the way knew this, your client very well may not have, but a bunch sure did...

did I understand you to just write that BJ sold this car as legit as well?? should be real easy to track it from RichP's honest client clean on to BJ if that's the case..

and, I do compliment your upstanding willingness to clear the air.

JH