New Hemmings Cover

[njsteve]

I believe the issue people have is that you created counterfeit documents. That is the problem. Yes, there are cars with counterfeit docs, and VIN swaps, and all sorts of shady baggage out there. But when you proudly display the fact that you have had these docs created for your car, that raises the hackles on a large percentage of people out there who place a high value on authenticity. It tarnishes an otherwise masterful piece of automotive artwork.

This reminds me of the defense that real counterfeiters try to use (unsuccessfully, I might add): "I'm just making a copy of a Van Gogh, or a $100 bill, or..."

If you put the original artist's name on the bottom, i.e., Van Gogh, then it makes it a criminal act.

If you used your own name, that's a little different. For example, if your name is Bob Smith and you put "Bob Smith" on the bottom of your "Van Gogh" then it is obvious to all, now and in the future, that it is not a counterfeit. In this case, you could have put your name as the selling dealer, salesman, buyer, etc, not actual persons and businesses, then it would be obvious to all, it was not counterfeit.

I am not saying that what you did is a crime (It applies only to specific items like currency or if you tried to pass it to a buyer representing it as real) but when you make up documents that have an original dealer instead of your own name, it turns into an avalanche down the slippery legal slope.

By the way, cudos on not changing the VIN tag. If you had, and then had your unnamed associate make up "new old paperwork" to match it, you both would have graduated into committing several federal felonies including Conspiracy, altering/removing/defacing a VIN number, mail fraud and wire fraud.

It's a beautiful car, and you've done a great job building it, but if it were me, I'd get rid of those "documents" and enjoy the car for what it is: a car you built to satisfy your own personal wishes of having a 68 302 ragtop. You should have the right to enjoy it without the headaches and rumors associated with the NOP (new old paperwork).