If you know about this RS/SS 396 car, pls advise!

davepl · #1 12-03-2005, 12:50 AM

I have just purchased what was supposed to be an original (non-matching) RS/SS 396 car from a dealer in Missouri. However, I'm now fairly certain the cowl tag is forged.

The dealer has had the car since '04, but I have no reason yet to believe (nor do I mean to imply) that they in any way knew it was forged. But if anyone knows the history of this car, or saw it at the dealer and had reason to believe the dealer knew it was fake, please PM me with details.

http://softwareonline.com/camaro/index.htm

VIN 124379N603256

Thanks,
Dave

Mr. T · #2 12-03-2005, 01:47 AM

Dave, sent you a pm.

**Hotrodpaul** · #3 12-03-2005, 01:59 AM

The cowl tag looks too crisp compared to my original.

Paul

**Steve Shauger** · #4 12-03-2005, 02:15 AM

Looks OK to me.

**Steve Shauger** · #5 12-03-2005, 02:31 AM

Sorry I was referring to Pauls original pictured above.

Jeff H · #6 12-03-2005, 04:13 AM

Yeah, that blue SS396 has a fake tag. Or a repro tag if you want to call it that. Car might not even be a real SS. If it doesn't have any documentation or matching #'s engine then who knows what it really was.

Pantera · #7 12-04-2005, 08:28 PM

Here is a pic of my '69 tag that I feel is a original since I have owned the car so many years that they didn't fake them that long ago.

by the way my vin on mine is N609995 so it was built a little after yours.

Pantera

davepl · #8 12-04-2005, 09:36 PM

If anyone wants to drop me a note directly about this, my address is

[email protected]

Thanks!
- Dave

davepl · #9 12-04-2005, 09:42 PM

By the way, the ad says the car has a TH400. I'm not familliar with the differences in kickdown cables, but I'm guess this looks to have a TH350 from what you've said above.

The dealer has agreed that they owe me "something". When I asked them what the differnce was if they had to re-list the car accurately, he suggested maybe "one or two thousand". I (cough) said I thought it would be more than that, and that I'd get back to them after the weekend.

I paid $38,500 for the car. So the real question is what's a clone restored to this level worth if its not an X22, maybe not an original RS/SS, and has a TH350 instead of a TH400... ie, if you judge the car strictly on its merits of restoration and assume it was a 307 car when built.

davepl · #10 12-04-2005, 10:08 PM

So here's my current list of why the dealer, as an expert, should have known:

- Car has a forged factory trim tag falsely indicating its original status as an X22 - RS/SS 396 car
- Car appears to have a TH350 transmission. Advertisement for car indicated that it has a TH400, as all 396 cars would have
- Car is the incorrect washer pump; all real RS cars had a specific pump with provisions for headlight washers
- All real RS cars have headlight washers. From the photos, these appear to be missing
- All real 396 cars had a blacked-out rear tailpan; this car's was body color until the dealer repainted it black
- All real 396/325hp cars would have a return vent line to the fuel tank, but it is absent on this car
- Car may have the backup lights in the wrong location for a real RS, though its inconclusive from the photos
- Car has the wrong tachometer; all 396/325hp cars had a tach with a higher redline
- Car has no clock; all factory console-gauge cars with a tach should have a center clock in the dash
- Car appears to have an incorrect 1968 style intake manifold
- Car has a 1970 or later alternator bracket
- Car has the incorrect power steering pump for an original 396 car
- Car has an incorrect steering wheel, likely from a Corvette or full-size GM car

Can anyone add to the list?

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