When it comes to the collector car industry especially pertaining to Chevrolet built cars, fraud is a major issue. If you look at any collector car magazine or Trader book, it is amazing how many 1967 427/435 horse Corvettes are for sale. 90% even claim they are numbers matching or all original.
22,940 Coupes and Convertible Vettes were built in 67. From that number only 3754 cars were made with that engine/horsepower rating. Let's take in account that it is 43 years after the last one was made and how many owners back in the day ran the snot out of almost everyone of them. If you have ever owned a big block Corvette then you are also very aware of the constant maintenance and breakage that is involved.
Here we are in 2010 and it seems that they are growing on trees. My point is that in the industry I am aware of many dirtbag organizations that are restamping blocks, changing vin numbers, forging all kinds of documentation and other things to rip off any wanting buyer of a high dollar Vette. This is big business and someone can easily take a car that is worth 50k and make it a 150k car in a short period of time.
Corvettes aren't the only cars being faked but they are some of the most expensive cars on the market therefore making it worth the risk to fake one. Take for instance a 1969 Z28 Camaro. Around 04-05 the Z was a highly sought after collector car with some highly optioned cars going for 6 figures. The next thing you know the market is flooded with numbers matching Z28's.
These problems are all a result of GM's poor job of documenting and keeping information on the cars they built. Of course back then know one cared not realizing what some of these cars are worth today but needless to say it has opened the flood gates for scammers and crooks to make a buck. A GM vin number doesn't tell you a whole lot. It tells you that it's a coupe or convertible, 6 cylinder or v8 ( not what size v8 or horsepower level), where it was made and what sequential numbers it was built. That information isn't a whole lot of help.
Ford on the other hand did a better job of the type of car it was inside the vin number. Ford vins will tell you almost everything you need to know including major options. You can look at a Ford vin and it will tell you whether it was a 6 cylinder coupe or a Boss 429. There is also a Marti Report that you can buy for any Ford that will also include the built sheet and other information. Know one provides this for Chevy's.
In my inventory, I have a very rare, beautifully restored 1966 Chevy II Nova SS with the L79 package. This package included a 11:1 compression 327 rated at 350 horsepower with 4 speed manual transmission and 12 bolt rearend. You could only get a 12 bolt in one of these dueces from the factory with the L79 option group. I feel that this car is a true L79 car. The problem is I do not any paperwork or documentation stating this. I could restamp the block but I won't. I could doctor up some paperwork stating that it is a L79 but I refuse to. I refuse to be in this industry without honesty and integrity and if other people would do the same it would be a much better hobby for enthusiests and collectors alike. I believe in my heart that this is a true L79 but the proof is in the paperwork. With that being said, I would dare to bet that this is one of the nicest restored 66 Novas in the country and seeing it in person people would not argue that statement.
Buyer beware as they say. The collector car industry has a lot of wonderful and honest people in it but there are a large number of money hungry dirtbags out their waiting to take advantage of an uneducated buyer. Fraud is the word and it is a big problem in the collector car industry. Make sure you do your homework when buying one of these cars. If you need some help or have any questions about buying a car give me a call or email me and I will gladly help you make a good decision. Til next time