1969 Yenko Camaro... still out there 124379N616431 - Page 6

**bergy** · #51 10-19-2015, 04:03 PM

If there are 2 cars out there with the same VIN, who is entitled to the VIN plate is a function of the continuous registration history of the car & what the intention of the rightful owner was during his ownership period. So, if you own a car & somebody steals your VIN plate, of course the car that it was stolen from is entitled to get it back. On the other hand, if you wreck your car and deem the area where the body stamps are to be unrepairable - thus necessitating replacement panels - the repaired car is entitled to have the original VIN plate on it (if the tag had to be removed, better replace it with police/court supervision - as I'm sure that they did in Marlin's example). This applies even if the "unrepairable" parts (with the VIN stamps) are later grafted into a new car. It's all about the intent of the rightful owner at the time of the repair or theft.

I have a legal opinion on this with court cases cited. The Cobra world has had its' share of litigation on this topic! So, in the case of 616431 - IMO, it's important to figure out what was going on at the time of VIN tag removal. Was the VIN tag merely stolen, or was the original car in a bad wreck and still out there with the original tag still on it?

**Steve Shauger** · #52 10-19-2015, 04:10 PM

The car with original hidden VIN's. Case closed!

COPO CARTEL · #53 10-19-2015, 07:17 PM

Ditto ...Steve . I see this car living a comfortable life a 1/4 mile at a time ! Badged up as a real Yenko as it should be. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif[/img]

**bergy** · #54 10-19-2015, 08:19 PM

So...if you had a car (back when they weren't worth much - not today), and you wrecked it (or intentionally cut the cowl for racing alterations). You then decided to repair your car using parts from another car's cowl (remember - this is back when good cheap parts could be cut out of a car at the junk yard & re-pops weren't available). So you made the repairs that included areas of the partial VINs to YOUR car. All of which was totally legal & you haven't removed your VIN tag. Now you're back on the road with YOUR car. Fast forward to 2015 when some treasure hunter finds the old cut up pieces of your car complete with hidden VINs (believe me - this has happened with Cobras). The treasure hunter grafts the pieces that you discarded into another body (again - this very thing has happened with Cobras) - so now he has a different body with the original, factory, hidden VINs from your car. Finally, the treasure hunter comes to you & says "give me my VIN plate off of YOUR car because I have a car with your original, factory hidden VINs". Of course - you say "OK here's my VIN plate off of my $250,000.00 car that I've owned since new - I'll take the sheriffs VIN and lose $200,000.00". LOL!!!!

I know & respect you guys & for that reason - I somehow don't think you'd give it up that easily.

camaromb · #55 10-19-2015, 08:33 PM

That is the exact scenario of the orange Yenko Camaro that had 5k miles, old drag car with plexiglas windows back in the day, Keith Hudson's car sold with his Yenko collection some years back at the Mecum auction. The vin and trim tag had been purchased many years ago and added to a new body that was restored. The original race car body was found, missing vin and trim tag. I have yet to hear how that one was resolved.

I'm guessing this blue car was stolen at some point and the vin tag was removed. I do not think there is a car with the real vin tag for N616431, this looks like all there is of the original Yenko minus the vin tag.

**enio45** · #56 10-20-2015, 02:35 AM

so i hear the car is already sold.....wonder where it is going??

GenOne · #57 10-20-2015, 02:42 AM

x2

**DW31S** · #58 10-20-2015, 10:28 AM

Whew! I need a nap after trying to figure out and realize all the possibilities of the scenarios posted above. Bergy states a totally plausible account of events and the guy might lose his VIN plate or entire car for that matter, for something he (car owner) did to his OWN car. Seems like the $500.00 pre-purchase inspection fee is not only warranted, but almost mandatory on the high end stuff.

**bergy** · #59 10-20-2015, 10:33 AM

Going to a great guy who got a great deal on a great car (IMO). Maybe he'll post about progress!

**livettes** · #60 10-21-2015, 12:21 AM

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am the lucky guy that was able to purchase this car. I have to say Craig has been one of the most genuine and honorable people I have ever met. We had a hand shake deal over the phone on Saturday and even though he continued to receive phone calls and offers he remained true to his word. I have made a good friend.
I appreciate Charley for giving Craig direction and sharing this cool find with the rest of us.
I plan to share all my findings on the car and openly post the restoration progress on this site.
Thanks to everyone for the input and advice.
Jamie