[SS427]

Motown, I totally disagree with you about bringing things like this out in the open. For starters, how and with whom deals are made are private issues and forums are no place to discuss these issues. It is a shame that not only do I feel the need to publically defend myself but we are also using someone else's thread to do it in.

I hired Ron Bentz to locate this car for me after I had spent almost a year looking for it with very little success. Ron found the car in exactly 2 days from our initial contact. Over lunch on the day I came to look at the car, Ron refused to accept a finders fee as he stated he did this out of friendship and not for monetary gain. However, I stated I did NOT do business this way and for such a great find, I insisted he accept a finders fee if and when I purchased the car. The dollar amount was not discussed at that time and certainly will not be discussed here though suffice to say, I wish I could make that much money in two days. Ron was very greatful right up to the point that he found out that Chad and I had worked aout a deal to purchase the car instead of just me. The price of the car climbed to more than I had budgeted and Chad and I have worked together for several years so it was a natural. The fee has yet to have been paid as Ron and I are working out some issues but I will assure everyone here, Ron is being paid even though he did not want a payment. He was hired to perform a service for me of which he did. What took place after that has no bearing on our agreement. I might also add that Ron will not post on this board anymore because he and another member had an open disagreement on this board. Because of that, we lost someone who was bringing a lot of knowledge and experience to the board. All over 'comments' that were made that were no one elses business. Case in point. If you do a search on Ron's last post, you will find it.

I want to make several points here. Most people I had heard about were looking and still are for a 1969 Dick Harrell car, NOT the 1970 DH Camaro. I only know of a couple of people that were looking for the 70 car but I had already narrowed it down when I heard about them.

I hired Ron to perform a service for me, ie; locate the car. In two days, he was successful in doing just that. Against his wishes, I told him that a finders fee would be paid if I bought the car. I ended up not being the sole buyer but I am still paying as promissed. What happened to the car after it was located was between me and my wife not someone I hired to locate the car for me. I will also add that cash finders fee was in hand the day we picked up the car as it was my understanding that Ron was going to be present to video the picking up of the car. Ron lived about 4 miles from the location and the morning that we picked up the car, it was raining. We assumed that Ron thought the transaction might not take place. I had confirmed the pickup time and date with him two nights before. Ron told me he was also not a player on this car for financial reasons nor was he a broker.

It is very much a shame that such a neat and rare find is being clouded by 'rumors' that someone who did not want a finders fee is now circulating. I am a man of my words and it was I who insisted that Ron accept a fee not Ron.

Maybe someday, some people will be more interested in this 5800 original mile find rather than how a transaction was initiated. This car is phenomenally original and a testiment to Mr. Chevrolets abilities. It is also a shame that it was brought out on the board rather than privately as I have nothing to hide. I have spoken to one person privately who I was afraid that I had stepped on their toes and was assured that was not the case.
Rick Nelson