SCAM Alert Heads Up

[zpilot]

Just a heads up that there is a Locked 1997 40th Anniversary on Craigslist advertised as 68K original miles for $12,000 thats a total SCAM. I was ready with bank info in hand to wire the money in the morning but last minute had doubts when I noticed the 40th emblems missing on the fenders. I ran a car fax and turns out it has 160K miles and its salvaged title.

Link : http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/5060545995.html

Hope I can reach out soon enough before someone makes a mistake like I almost did.

 

[zpilot]

Screen Shot

 

[e9999]

good to know. you might want to make your thread title more specific to catch a prospective buyer's attention. Although it's catchy enough already for those of us spending too much time on MUD...

 

[Dubbinchris]

It has the two tone leather like a 40th should.

 

[zpilot]

Im not questioning that its not a 40th, I questioned that it might have paint work done because the emblems were missing. I just want to point out that the seller might not be aware of the title and mileage issue and could have been scammed himself when he purchased it. The carfax mentioned the salvage branding did not transfer over from NY to New Jersey and might be a title wash. It could be that he purchased it thinking it had 30K miles in 2002 as he claims it to have had when he purchased it.

 

[Ocho77]

Yep. I called and talked to the guy about 30 minutes after he posted it, and was ready to drive to NJ to check it out. I ran the VIN and found the same things.

Good heads up.

 

[ERG80]

It will get more traffic here but you may also want post this over in the classifieds too.

 

[danthman114]

i found something similar in california. it was exactly 100k miles off of what it really had.

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

Peaked my curiosity so I emailed the seller. His response, "I did a through history when I bought it. It was owned by a company in Ma and was stolen and placed in a Pa state police yard for 2 years. Radio was removed. I have document from the state police and Liberty mutual attesting to the information. Took it through the courts and have a records and Court order to prove mileage and condition. Upon verification of all info courts awarded a title and replacement vin"

Makes sense when looking at the vehicle report...but the mileage thing is strange.

Why he wouldn't disclose is also strange.

 

[Dubbinchris]

I'm sure a quick inspection from anyone decent with a wrench should be able to tell the difference between a 60k car and one with 100k more than that.

 

[120mm]

"Replacement VIN". WTF is that?

 

[danthman114]

"Replacement VIN". WTF is that?

illegal.

 

[Dubbinchris]

No there are certain legal situations where states will issue a new VIN for a vehicle that had one previously.

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

Wow...sure jumped down a rabbit hole on this one! I just talked to the owner over the phone (he asked me to call him through our emails and gave me his number).

Okay, the car was company owned in NY (by a university I think he said) and stolen in 99 and sat in a police impound, radio was removed and someone had tried to switch the vin on it (from what I understand).

The current owner literally has all of the documentation from the reporting officer, the judge, and Liberty Mutual who went through its complete history, where it was inspected, investigated, and then re-issued a clear PA title and a new state issued VIN number. A VIN check report supports all of that, and actually shows that it has no odometer issues. The current title is free and clear (not salvage).

While I was on the phone with him he read a whole bunch of the documentation he has to me, and offered to scan it to me (if anyone is interested).

The thing has lockers, and the underside could be eaten off of. His wife drove it about a mile to and from work to the elementary school she teaches at.

May be too scary for long distance buyers, but anyone local could go and see all of the documentation and inspect the vehicle. I'm sure he would scan over the docs to any interested long distance buyer as well.

I attached the VIN check report I ran on it (I already have a subscription so I ran one).

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

VIN check report

 

[Dubbinchris]

Man, I would almost sell my 80 to pick this up since it seems to check out.

 

[FZJ80 in KC]

He actually just forwarded me 9 attachments of the documents he has. One of the docs is from Property Damage Aprraisers for Liberty Mutual Insurance and the remarks read, "There is no VIN number on the vehicle. When it was stolen the thieves took and or destroyed every vin on the vehicle."

Other reports show the only damage was a missing radio.

If anyone wants copies let me know.

 

[LS1FJ40]

That's a beautiful rig. I hope it all checks out and someone snatches it up.

 

[inkpot]

Any explanation for missing badges? Still sounds like front end damage/repairs.

 

[Dirty Koala]

I am about 23 miles away from where this is located. If anyone is serious I can probably get out there to take a look.