It's gotten very quiet in that thread over on BaT. Very quiet.
If, and this is the BIG IF, - if this car actually is stolen, or there is some other sort of fraud involved, then even parting it out could very easily result in the vendor facing potential criminal charges for selling parts of a stolen/misidentified car. You'd essentially have become a chop-shop.
It is time to call the White House and get Putin's number: this car (#1208) is destined for Moscow, where it has been reported that about 40% of ALL high end cars there, have been "sourced" in other European Capitals and sqirrled into Russa. My month long yearly visits to the South of France in the 1980's, with our favorite cars taught me that it is easy to lose either a six cylinder or twelve verson car there. They often disappeared from the elegant private parking lots of the hotels in the south of France, being not far from the Italian border. My BBi at the time was 'borrowed' once for the afternoon, fortunatly to return later, but now with an empty gas tank!
If it is a Reserve auction, no way it will be less than 225K - 250K. And, no way it will become a 'non reserve'. But then we have seen stranger things... Besides, who will be the brave to bid on this 'pronounced dead' Dino #01208? Regards, Alberto
At the moment it appears as though the consignor wants it to die quietly, but I won't be surprised to see some spirited bidding just shy of reserve
I have been consulting on another Dino with similar VIN issues - in fact almost the identical issue - a Euro E series by appearance but with an L series VIN. In my opinion, The current owner of this car has a real messy road ahead of him. How can he now sell this car without uncovering the real story behind the VIN? Going thru this process will take a lot of time and money. Also, no reputable auction house will consign this car- the risk is too great. And I speak from experience as the car I was involved with did appear at public auction (a well known auction company) and was purchased by a dealer. Subsequently, the car was dragged thru the mud on public forums just like 1208 here, and the dealer involved wound up spending quite a substantial sum of money on legal fees to force the auction company to buy it back.
I'm retired, but if I was still employed by a law enforcement agency, I would contact the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Motor Vehicles about some concerns I have. It is possible for the title to be suspended pending a detailed forensic examination of the vehicle. With a suspended title, the vehicle cannot be registered in any State. With a California title, the vehicle would be required to be returned to California for the examination. The detailed forensic examination will take time and will not be done by some CHP traffic officer whose only training is writing speeding tickets. But I'm retired, and I don't feel like sticking my nose in other people's business. However, if I wasn't retired, and if I got involved, I have a feeling that someone would be very unhappy with my report. The CHP can seize a motor vehicle with altered or obscured identification numbers until the legal owner can be identified. As a side note, a number of members of a certain motorcycle club (81) have lost their bikes due to altered of obscured numbers. They were not happy with me.
Unless this car is fully legitimized with its numbers, it will never sell again, not as #01208. Period. Other possibilities: 0. A very detached, non-informed buyer. Plenty of those in the world, more $ than brains. 1. Exported to a ‘very dubious’ 3rd world country, I would not touch it with a 10' pole, and even then… 2. Parts 3. Total insurance loss. Regards, Alberto
Googled it, and, presto, SOLD...That, is a good disappearing act. https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1233773/1971-ferrari-dino-for-sale-in-burbank-california-91506 Regards, Alberto
And you believe everything you read on inter webs, including used car sales sites ? OR did you buy or sell it ?
Surely you are not impugning the integrity of second-hand car salesmen? Arthur Daley would be spinning in his grave!
None of the above, and Arthur Daley would have called it a "nice little earner", or one of his many hilarious ripostes. I would have loved to get my hands on it, but it would have been a nightmare importing it here, with our 'eagle eyed' Customs Dept. They would have doubted the M. Mouse welds a mile away. Bottom line, car confiscated, me, potentially in the can. Thank you, but no. The car has to be declared "SOLD", so we can all forget about it. It will possibly reappear, as what it really is/or not, once the dust and legal docs. are settled. Just an opinion, and you have yours too Regards, Alberto
https://www.facebook.com/576768559006873/posts/1971-ferrari-246offered-at399995-call246-gt-sn-01208-1970-euro-model-rosso-corsa/2306550959361949/ These guys H&L Motorcars in Ft Worth https://www.hlmotorcars.com/ had it for sale last September 2018 @ $399995, maybe on consignment. They look reputable.The pics seem to be the same as the ones on BAT.Anyone in Texas want to give them a call? Surprised that no one on FChat hasn't had this one on the radar before now.
https://www.motorious.com/vehicles/1097/1971-ferrari-246 This is the ad placed on Motorious by the dealer Exclusive Motorcars in LA who it seems placed the car on BAT for #01208. Exclusive still have it on their website https://inventory.emcars.com/vehicles/54/1971-ferrari-246 Interestingly Motorious is part of the Motorsport Network ...who in turn own FChat ..small world eh?
Too bad that Motorious didn't list in the classified ads here on FChat. That would have been interesting.....
The Chassis plate is photographed with a bit less of the previous 'graphic detail'. It even looks slightly better, yet...it still is #01208. Regards, Alberto
