Stolen 71 Challenger found after almost 30 years

[al8apex]

http://www.thesunnews.com/724/gallery/11...ffiliate.78.JPG

[MultiMopars]

This story has been on at least two Mopar sites in the last week or so.

Talk about a bunch of people that have no idea of what they are saying.

Not to mention, the police had no record of the original theift?

The V.I.N. had apparently never been tampered with, which as we know tells us the model, engine, year, and plant built in of the car. They go on and on about the fender tag and how it was changed to HIDE the true identity of the car. What a bunch of IDIOTS. The police don't look at the fender tag to determine the identity of a car but rather the V.I.N. We all know that often times fender tags are missing and it means nothing LEGALLY. Now if you don't have a V.I.N. tag and try to get a car registered in a state that requires a physical inspection your going to have some explaining to do. The car will NEVER get registered without one and you run the risk of having the car impounded by the authorities.

This story is the kind of thing that makes people THINK that an items like a fender tag has some kind of LEGAL signifigance. I can assure you that it does NOT.

This also brings to mind recent posts about the strength of the NICB in recovering stolen cars. Although the posts were more about IDing rebodies. This just goes to show you that there are plenty of holes in THEIR system that prevent them from finding stolen cars that are still running around WITH their ORIGINAL V.I.N. plates in place. If this is the case how in the world do we think they are ever going to be able to truely identify a rebodied car that was never stolen or had any stolen parts used?

[COPO CARTEL]

The ad says that Govier made a fender tag for a man in 1998 from Elkton MN. That has to be the one and only Fred Engelhart a mopar broker.

[PeteLeathersac]

"...We all know that often times fender tags are missing and it means nothing LEGALLY..."

It sure means something legally in Oklahoma!.
Ask Lynn!.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...fpart/all/vc/1


Great the Challenger is back home!.


~ Pete

--------------------
I like real cars best...the REAL real ones!

[69hurstSC]

"If he certifies a car, that's as good as it gets other than having God come down and certify it,"
LOL Kool-Aid anyone?

[x Baldwin Motion]

"the car was delivered to Whittington's home in The Lakes subdivision"

That's my hood, I'll look this guy up when I go down in the winter.

[old5.0]

[ QUOTE ]
"If he certifies a car, that's as good as it gets other than having God come down and certify it,"
LOL Kool-Aid anyone?

[/ QUOTE ]

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
"...We all know that often times fender tags are missing and it means nothing LEGALLY..."

It sure means something legally in Oklahoma!.
Ask Lynn!.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...fpart/all/vc/1


Great the Challenger is back home!.


~ Pete

--------------------
I like real cars best...the REAL real ones!


[/ QUOTE ]



My whole point to posting about this was to point out that law enforcement was looking at the WRONG things with regards to this car? Yes, a fender tag on a 1969 and newer Mopar does have the V.I.N. on it. Maybe that was changed on this car maybe not. The point to this is that the car STILL had the original V.I.N. as it had when stolen. We all know it it very easy to get a new title for an old car. So, if there is no check by DMVs in all states for stolen vehicles by V.I.N. then the only time a stolen car is going to be recovered is by LUCK or insurance investigators checking V.I.N.s at car shows etc. This is not just MY opinion, as I just two weeks ago had my 1981 H.D. Sturgis Lowrider stolen. The insurance investigator told me that they have a fair recovery of stolen motorcycles because they DO check V.I.N.s at motorcycle gathering.

The bottom line here is that a stolen vehicle can be re-registered in another's name with the original V.I.N. and could never be discovered. It would be very simple to avoid this if ALL state DMVs files would flag stolen V.I.N.s when someone tried to register it.

I just read the law posted on the link. That law doesn't really have much for teeth as it is a misdemeanor for first offense. Seems pretty obvious that some judge or law maker in OK. felt like they got burned on an old car and are trying to plug holes. SOMEONE with some clout got that law enacted. It allows for additional civil action to recover "damages" which is probably the real reason behind the law.

Mopar fender tags for 68 and older don't have the V.I.N. on them so unless you have a broadcast sheet, window sticker, or IBM card to cross reference the "hidden numbers" (Sales Order numbers)to the V.I.N. how could you PROVE what fender tag belongs on which car in the case of 68 and older Mopar cars?

Up until this OK law NO STATE has ever recognized anything other than the combination of legal title and V.I.N. plate as legal identifiers for vehicles.

This OK law also has exceptions for removal for restoration, which is typically when the monkey business begins. Who is going to be charged with the lose of a trim tag during restoration? My guess is that at least 75% of them are lost by body shops. Some are misplaced and forgotten when a nervious seller removes it for safe keeping. How do you know who and when removed one? How are you going to prove that one is a reproduction and who and when it was done unless someone that was involved in it admits to it? Good luck in that case.

[HEMIBEE]

I looked at that car 20 miles from my house, (if it's the same car), I found it quite strange that there was no tag on the car, but there had bean one on it since it was painted. at the time the upper controll arms were switched from side to side in the front so if you turned the wheels the tires would tip over. 17000.00 if I remember correct, it was such a cool car I almost talked myself into buying the thing anyway, but if this is the same car I'm glad I walked on it now for sure.

[al8apex]

this is amazing story, more of them are popping up all the time

here is a TRUE story of a 65 FI Corvette that was stolen in 1970

a neighbor of mine bought it this summer from a dealer in CA

the car had been owned by the last owner for nearly 20 years and it had been registered in CA every one of those 19 years.

That owner bought the car with a good NJ title in the 80's

He then had it inspected (as all out of state cars have to be) and then registered and was given a clear title (one in his name)

When my neighbor took the car to the AZ station to have it inspected (I think most every state has this process) it came back from the NICB as being stolen ... in 1970

Regardless of the train of titles or proof of purchase it was confiscated

that was back in June, he just had a court hearing with all the "investigators" (insurance) and the judge said she would get back to them ...

meanwhile he is out his $55k and the car sat outside all summer (did I mention this was a NCRS level "restored" car?)

the original owner had let his insurance lapse before the car was stolen

it was stolen in TN and recovered that year in IL and then sold at a sheriffs auction

that was in 1970

fast forward to 2009

the owner of the car when it was stolen finds out that his old car was recovered in AZ

what does he do? He goes down to the TN DMV and requests a duplicate title for the VIN number he now has ... they give him one without his having to show any proof

so now the car has TWO titles ...

it is still unraveling, the dealer in CA "jumped" the title ...

the car WAS insured before it was confiscated

just a giant cluster as to who gets what (the TN man wants his car back ... duh) our neighbors want their money or the car, but since it sat outside and still is he really does not want it back ...