.I recently found a story written by a person who owned a Daytona Blue
1963 Corvette Coupe with all matching numbers. The all-original classic sports
car had an immaculate navy interior where only the carpet had ever been
replaced. The 327 engine was said to supply a rhythmic loping that not only
brought a smile to your face, but got you day dreaming of getting this beauty
parked in your own garage. Then disaster strikes and you're snapped out of your
dream and into his nightmare!
.The owner of this beautiful piece of yank history took his prized car to
what he called alittle "backwoods" show that a lover and he decided
to travel to within the spur of the instant . As owner Jacob Morgan, of
Bakersfield, CA described, "The event was an annual but rather unofficial
gathering of classic car buffs and that i was thrilled to bring my car down.
Unfortunately, the a part of Florida that the event was being held was
extremely dry thanks to drought. About three or four hours after arriving, a
person who owned a red GTO (I couldn't tell you the year because frankly I
didn't care afterward) decided to start out up his ride for the spectators. it
had been only one backfire but it had been enough to start out the dry grass
ablaze--and guess where my Corvette was parked?
.Nearly thirty classic cars were consumed by the blaze started by that
backfiring GTO and my Corvette was one among them. in fact I had the car
properly insured but they only aren't making 1963 Corvettes any more and
therefore the just one I could find that was similar cost $10,000 quite my
policy's payoff. i assume if there's an ethical to my sad tale, it's to avoid
backwoods car shows in the least costs because they're unregulated,
disorganized, and really dangerous to classic cars like my beloved 1963 Corvette
Coupe."
.This may not be your traditional way of losing your prized classic
car, muscle car, street rod, antique car, vintage truck or other collectible
old vehicle, but it does drive home the purpose that we'd like to exercise care
in even the foremost innocent surroundings sort of a car show! Freak accidents
like Mr. Morgan experienced can and do account for several losses to
enthusiasts - not just theft or vandalism.
.Sadly though, theft isn't a rare thing and therefore the methods are
getting weirder . Guy Algar and that i have had pieces stolen off one among our
own vehicles that we were towing back to our shop while we stopped for a fast
bite to eat! We've had an honest number of hubcaps appropriated the years. And,
we actually had the brake lights ripped off of our car hauler while we were
during a parts store at some point learning parts for a customer! We've had one
customer tell us the story where he had taken his wife bent dinner and had
carefully parked his 1969 Corvette at an area restaurant, under an enormous
bright light, and in what seemed to be a "safe" area, only to return
out 45 minutes to an hour later to seek out all his emblems and trim taken
right off the car! Thieves are known to require the whole car hauler (with the
classic sitting on top) right off the tow vehicle's hitch ball and transfer the
hauler to their own tow vehicle when people are on the road, at a car show, or
another sort of event. These are bold moves by people that don't fear the
results .
.Other thefts that are reported round the country have included:
.Dr. Phil just had his '57 Chevy Belair convertible stolen from the Burbank
fix-it shop he had brought it to for repairs.
.A 1937 Buick, valued at over $100,000 was taken from a gated
community parking garage in Fort Worth , Texas.
.Tom of latest Mexico reported the theft of two of his collector cars to
Hemming. Tom owns about half a dozen collector cars altogether, and to store
all of them , he rented out a storage unit. Unfortunately, when he visited
check on them recently, for the primary time in about six months, he found that
two were missing - a 1957 two-door Chevrolet Belair and a 1967 Mercury Cougar
GT.
.There was also a report of a person from Jefferson City , Missouri, who
actually recovered his own stolen car, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro that had been
stolen 16 years before, after seeing it during a Google search!
.In a l. a. suburb, a lady came home to a garage barren of her prized 1957
Chevy Bel-Air which had been valued at quite $150,000. the gorgeous convertible
had been featured in several magazines and television shows and won dozens of
awards at car shows round the country. A neighbor's surveillance camera caught
the actions of the thieves and revealed that the Bel-Air was pushed down the
road by a pickup which had pulled into her driveway just minutes after she had
left. The thieves likely loaded it onto an awaiting trailer. It's thought that
the thieves spotting the car at one among the car shows, followed it home
afterwards, then waited for the chance to steal it.
.A Seattle collector was the victim of a targeted "smash-and
grab" from the warehouse where he kept his cars. The thieves apparently
ransacked the building and drove off with a 396/425 four-speed 1965 Corvette
Stingray; and a 20,000-mile 396/four-speed 1970 Chevelle SS.
.A 1959 Chevrolet Impala was stolen during a Cruise Night. The owner
got good news-bad news when the police tracked down because while they did
recover the classic car, he had put during a claim for the theft together with
his policy after the theft many months before, therefore the car visited the
insurance firm instead of being returned to him. Apparently detectives recovered
the Impala from a workshop nearly eight months after it had been stolen,
repainted and modified.
.Hemmings News also reported of a reader whose 1970 Ford Maverick was
stolen from his range in Missouri. The car was found and returned, but the
investigation apparently revealed that the thief had been watching the owner
for two years, with the intention of stealing it and using it to race with.
Chilling thing to seek out out.
.A 1979 Buick Electra 225 edition was stolen out of a grocery parking
zone in suburban Detroit with the thief escaping with an urn inside the trunk
that contained the remains of the owner's stepfather!
.After saving for over 40 years, a person from Virginia bought the car of
his dreams, a 1962 Dodge Lancer. Buying his dream car, he began his restoration
project, which was about 60 percent complete when he relocated to Texas.
Without a garage to stay it in after his move, he stored it during a 24-foot
enclosed trailer along side a 1971 Dodge Colt he planned to show into a racer ,
and kept the trailer parked at a storage lot. At the top of July, the trailer
and everything in it disappeared.
.The last story actually features a happy ending because it had been
recovered thanks to alert shop owners being suspicious of person eager to
unload a Lancer for less than $1,500 including the various boxes of parts.
After some research, the owner was reunited together with his car. Guy and that
i are approached on numerous occasions by people eager to sell their vehicles.
Some have hardship stories and therefore the callers are willing to unload the
car for a true bargain. We've always walked from these offers, primarily
because we're not within the business of shopping for and selling cars (we're
not dealers or re-sellers), but also because we're cautious of a
"too-good-to-be-true" price. One call especially did make us very
suspicious, because the woman caller insisted that the sale had to be completed
by Monday (she called our shop over the weekend) and therefore the price was
extremely low for a rather rare model Mustang. Alert shop owners are often
instrumental in aiding within the recovery of stolen classic cars.
.But not all stories have a cheerful ending like this. Classic cars, muscle
cars and antiques can make their thanks to chop shops, find yourself damaged
and abandoned, and even being re-sold on websites like eBay and Craigslist!
.Just yesterday, I reported on a 1954 Chevy pickup which was stolen from a
woman's driveway in Oklahoma City . (Ironically this text was already written
and scheduled for release today when the news hit. I've added her case because,
unfortunately, it emphasizes how common thefts became .) .She wisely reached
bent the Hemmings community of enthusiasts for help. Hemmings.com features a
huge following, mentioned as "Hemmings Nation", and appealing for
help to a community of enthusiasts like this will be instrumental in helping to
offer vital information to police and authorities who can help track and
recover a stolen classic car. We applaud the work that Hemmings does.
.And, the methods that thieves are using, as you'll see, are as varied
because the sorts of vehicles! Even seemingly innocent little car shows and
gatherings are places you would like to exercise a touch caution and care. As I
reported during a July article, carjackings involving classic cars are even
becoming more commonplace.
.Surprisingly, in some cases, the web has been helpful in aiding within the
recovery of classic cars and muscle cars. There are numerous stories, very
similar to the Camaro owner above, and a person who found his 1949 Ford through
an inventory on Craigslist (the two men responsible were arrested and charged
with disassembling a vehicle after the owner positively identified it as his)
where owners are ready to locate their cars in Internet searches.
.For those not so fortunate, insurance is that the only consolation. We
highly recommend classic car or "collector" automobile insurance .
There are variety of companies that provide this specialized insurance, and
it's generally well well worth the cost. Classic Car News provided a piece of
writing , Purchasing Classic automobile insurance , containing an inventory of
companies along side links to contact them. I also recommend Hagerty
Insurance's publication, Deterring Collector Car Theft, which has
recommendations on theft prevention.
.In addition to the quick-strip thefts, thieves usually always alter,
remove or forge VIN numbers, which make identification of the car or truck
harder . Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) are serial numbers for vehicles
that are wont to differentiate similar makes and models. very similar to Social
Security numbers, every vehicle features a different VIN. VIN plates are
usually located on the dashboard on newer cars, but are often found within the
door jams of older models. VIN plates are often switched with another vehicle
for a quick coverup.
.The point here is to remember of your surroundings, including where you
park your car. Don't take it without any consideration that simply because
you're at an occasion with fellow enthusiasts that something bad can't happen.
Take preventive action by securing your old car or truck. Guy Algar suggests,
"Don't forget to require precautions even reception . you'll feel safe
parking your ride in 'the safety' of your two car garage, but remember, albeit
you do not have windows where people can peer in and spot your valued car,
thieves also can follow you home from work, a cruise, or maybe the grocery and
plan a theft after surveilling your home and learning your schedule. If you've
got a ride that catches people's attention, remember that it also can catch the
incorrect attention!"
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