Stolen 71 Challenger found after almost 30 years

[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 ...

[al8apex]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is the latest poop on that wheeler dealer:

http://www.startribune.com/business/70585387.html?elr=KArksCiU1OiPiiUiacyKUUr

[img]http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/502*335/1carfraud1120.jpg[/img]

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]

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?

[/ QUOTE ]


If the Challenger was stolen and then went from collector to collector without being registered, then it would be very difficult to locate the car by any police officer simply running the VIN.

If it was an insured car and reported stolen originally then NICB would have the theft in their database.

If it was not insured at the time of the theft then NICB wouldn't get the info to put into their database.

The lesson here is keep your car properly insured if it is in storage.

The good thing is that since the car wasn't insured for the theft at the time, it went back to the original owner and not the insurance company.

[John Brown]

Related info

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat...true#Post429701

[old5.0]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

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?

[/ QUOTE ]


If the Challenger was stolen and then went from collector to collector without being registered, then it would be very difficult to locate the car by any police officer simply running the VIN.

If it was an insured car and reported stolen originally then NICB would have the theft in their database.

If it was not insured at the time of the theft then NICB wouldn't get the info to put into their database.

The lesson here is keep your car properly insured if it is in storage.

The good thing is that since the car wasn't insured for the theft at the time, it went back to the original owner and not the insurance company.

[/ QUOTE ]

I still don't understand the logic of replacing the fender tag on this car, unless the orginal was lost for some reason. It isn't going to hide the car when it still wears it's born with v.i.n.. And it isn't going to add value to the car, it was already a factory 440 Six Pack shaker hood 71 Challenger. I dunno, there's alot here that doesn't add up.

[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 ]
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 ...

[/ QUOTE ]


Not really, and in AZ. you only need to have a car physically inspected if it has an out of state title. You don't have to have it inspected if it already has an AZ. title.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

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?

[/ QUOTE ]


If the Challenger was stolen and then went from collector to collector without being registered, then it would be very difficult to locate the car by any police officer simply running the VIN.
If it was an insured car and reported stolen originally then NICB would have the theft in their database.

If it was not insured at the time of the theft then NICB wouldn't get the info to put into their database.

The lesson here is keep your car properly insured if it is in storage.

The good thing is that since the car wasn't insured for the theft at the time, it went back to the original owner and not the insurance company.

[/ QUOTE ]


This is the point I am trying to make. The NICB was created to hopefully aid in recovering stolen cars and to share info with law enforcement. There is OBVIOUSLY a big hole in the system. Computers for large agencies like state DMVs have been around for a long time. How difficult can it be to simply enter ANY V.I.N. of a stolen car into a shared data base regardless of being and INSURED car or not? Even if there is no other shared data base other than NICB different states could certainly link to a list of stolen V.I.N. reports originating in THEIR state. Law enforcements FIRST responsibility is to the owner of the car that was violated and it being insured or noy is not their concern.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is the latest poop on that wheeler dealer:

http://www.startribune.com/business/70585387.html?elr=KArksCiU1OiPiiUiacyKUUr

[img]http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/502*335/1carfraud1120.jpg[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]


When all of this started a couple of years ago there were several posts about it on a popular Mopar site. From what I read about it, it sounded like he had actually borrowed a bunch of money from some WISE GUYS and sold some cars that he was brokering and never paid the owners. I think he was trying to bail himself out of his bad borrowing decision. Of course this doesn't excuse his actions. As usual, when people get in that kind of trouble it snowballs. He had been dealing Mopar hipo iron for a long time.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

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?

[/ QUOTE ]


If the Challenger was stolen and then went from collector to collector without being registered, then it would be very difficult to locate the car by any police officer simply running the VIN.
If it was an insured car and reported stolen originally then NICB would have the theft in their database.

If it was not insured at the time of the theft then NICB wouldn't get the info to put into their database.

The lesson here is keep your car properly insured if it is in storage.

The good thing is that since the car wasn't insured for the theft at the time, it went back to the original owner and not the insurance company.

[/ QUOTE ]


This is the point I am trying to make. The NICB was created to hopefully aid in recovering stolen cars and to share info with law enforcement. There is OBVIOUSLY a big hole in the system. Computers for large agencies like state DMVs have been around for a long time. How difficult can it be to simply enter ANY V.I.N. of a stolen car into a shared data base regardless of being and INSURED car or not? Even if there is no other shared data base other than NICB different states could certainly link to a list of stolen V.I.N. reports originating in THEIR state. Law enforcements FIRST responsibility is to the owner of the car that was violated and it being insured or noy is not their concern.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's the solution: Lets require anyone who steals a car to have to register it it so the police can find the car much easier.

NICB is a private organization that collects information for insurance purposes. Law enforcement has access to NCIC, which is a criminal database that is federally regulated and cannot be accessed by non-law enforcement people nor can it be combined with any other non-secure database.