GT Buyer's Beware

PIG-351 · 24-08-2012, 10:53 PM

Hi everyone,

Just found out that the XB GT project car I have left a deposit on is NOT such a good bye after all.

Had a look at it & all the parts that come with it friday week ago, went back on the saturday with a relo (who is a panel man) to have a 2nd look & leave a holding deposit. My thoughts were occupied by the fact the body looked so good, even though the hifill primer over it was a terrible half hearted job!!

Rang Ford Australia & organised a verification letter to see exactly what options she had from the factory . . . . because it LOOKED like a highly optioned car.

Letter turns up in the mail a few days latter & the car has quite a few more options these days that are over & above the few options that it was made with back in December 1973!!

About the only things that are correct are the Yellow Blaze colour scheme with black interior & option 52 wheels.

Friends in high places checked out the vin number for me & the car is question turns out to be stolen at some time in the past.

PLEASE BE WARNED . . . . make 100% sure that you check out the numbers with Ford Australia, your state registration department & Police BEFORE you leave ANY $$$$ on a prospective purchase . . . . NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT MAY SEEM.

I left my holding deposit & if it wasn't for the Ford letter of verification turning up which in turn made me start asking questions, I might have had a VERY VERY EXPENSIVE paddock bomb in my possession by now. I am now out of pocket by my deposit amount only thankfully.

Once again, do your research with the numbers 1st & foremost.

Best of luck.

gcg2503 · 24-08-2012, 10:57 PM

When buying a GT a ford customer relationship letter is only 10% of the story

You really need to get a GT checked out by someone in the know

This is an indisputable and irrefutable rule in buying a Falcon GT

Sorry to hear about your lost $

gtxb67 · 25-08-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

When buying a GT a ford customer relationship letter is only 10% of the story

true - all the letter really does is let you know a gt rolled off the production line with certain options

they are sometimes used as a selling point when a car is for sale, but they verify nothing about the car that is for sale at all
as george suggested you need to get the car checked out by someone who knows gt's and then if the vin matches the verification letter, the letter only let's you know what options the said car had at the time of production

if the car you looked at was in fact a gt with it's original vin, the letter from ford might have stopped you from buying a collectible car

the letter's can be good, but they are such a small part of the story. in some ways, they are only of use, once you have the car, so you can return it to standard

JG33 · 25-08-2012, 01:51 AM

Maybe you should tell the owner the car has been stolen at one time and he should have told you before you gave him the deposit and you want it back.

351hardtop · 25-08-2012, 03:02 AM

Interesting that you got a verification letter. When I was looking at a car recently, I called Ford about getting one and they said that unless I was the registered owner and sent proof, they wouldn't give me a verification letter.

Seems I got a bum steer.

PIG-351 · 26-08-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 351hardtop

Interesting that you got a verification letter. When I was looking at a car recently, I called Ford about getting one and they said that unless I was the registered owner and sent proof, they wouldn't give me a verification letter.

Seems I got a bum steer.

I got the apprentice on the phone perhaps, I had to send proof of ownership plus a copy of my drivers licence to get the letter.

I sent the licence copy plus a copy of the receipt for the deposit I left on the car which had the seller & buyers details & signatures.

XB GS 351 Coupe · 26-08-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIG-351

I got the apprentice on the phone perhaps, I had to send proof of ownership plus a copy of my drivers licence to get the letter.

I sent the licence copy plus a copy of the receipt for the deposit I left on the car which had the seller & buyers details & signatures.

You have put a big statement out there in the OP, and have not responded to any of the responses!!

So what is actually the problem with this car??? Is it still listed as stolen or has it been recovered and it was just stolen and located some time ago??? What was the car advertised as?? How much was/is the car??

Is there any links to the add as it sounds like a good buy to me??

I and most people here still don't understand what the supposed issue with the car is.

PIG-351 · 26-08-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

You have put a big statement out there in the OP, and have not responded to any of the responses!!

So what is actually the problem with this car??? Is it still listed as stolen or has it been recovered and it was just stolen and located some time ago??? What was the car advertised as?? How much was/is the car??

Is there any links to the add as it sounds like a good buy to me??

I and most people here still don't understand what the supposed issue with the car is.

It was advertised on Gumtree with a not neg price of $15,000 & without any pictures as he apparently doesn't own a computer or have internet access . . . . & also I guess because he NEVER EVER took any pics of his beloved XB GT.

It was listed as stolen at some time in the past & a member of 1 of the GT clubs found this out for me after quizzing the options list.

Faint vin number & engine number stampings plus extra options like the sunroof, which doesn't appear to be added by a roof cut & no sign of holes being filled in at ends of rear quarters, front guards or doors where protector stripes locating stud holes once were made me think re-shell or wheel barrow cut.

It isn't the sought of GT that I would be happy with in the future even though it might be a good buy to yourself or others.

I was attempting to warn people about the dodgey goings on out there with some sellers & to protect yourself 1st & foremost.

gcg2503 · 25-08-2012, 03:29 AM

Ford will decode a GTs options over the phone

Nine times out of ten they will send you it's details via email if you get a helpful operator

To get a verification letter in the mail you need proof of ownership

Iggypoppin' · 25-08-2012, 05:41 AM

Why didn't you get your money back?
Good to hear you dodged a bullet, and a good lesson for anyone looking at purchasing a GT falcon.

OLDFORDNUT · 25-08-2012, 07:32 AM

Sorry is car stolen or was it stolen and recovered in the past,if recovered why is it a problem that needed to be disclosed to buyer( if owner even knew),so its got more options added why is that a bad thing? am i missing something here?

XB GS 351 Coupe · 25-08-2012, 12:54 PM

I too read the above twice and can not see what is wrong with the car unless I am missing something, from what you said it's a genuine XB GT with a few extra factory options added??? So just how did you dodge a bullet??

How exactly did it LOOK like a highly optioned car?? What was it advertised as???

I have had cars stolen in the past and recovered and how does that make a difference to the car?? It's getting rebuild anyway by the sound of it.

When you put it back together just put the options you want on it and enjoy the car, not sure why you lost your deposit and what the actual problem is!?!?!

PS Good Bye means 'see you later" bye bye while 'good buy' is to buy or purchase something.

PIG-351 · 26-08-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I too read the above twice and can not see what is wrong with the car unless I am missing something, from what you said it's a genuine XB GT with a few extra factory options added??? So just how did you dodge a bullet??

How exactly did it LOOK like a highly optioned car?? What was it advertised as???

I have had cars stolen in the past and recovered and how does that make a difference to the car?? It's getting rebuild anyway by the sound of it.

When you put it back together just put the options you want on it and enjoy the car, not sure why you lost your deposit and what the actual problem is!?!?!

PS Good Bye means 'see you later" bye bye while 'good buy' is to buy or purchase something.

It looked like a highly optioned car because it was advertised that way & all the options were stated in the advert, plus an 8000rpm XA GT tacho & a heap of extra parts to go with the car.

Because I have decided not to go ahead & BUY the car as it is hiding a few secrets that I wouldn't be happy living with & the fact that the seller didn't disclose them, the seller has decided to keep my deposit which is NOT what I am warning everyone about.

PS:- OOOPS . . . . my bad, typo error, so bye bye again for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDFORDNUT

Sorry is car stolen or was it stolen and recovered in the past,if recovered why is it a problem that needed to be disclosed to buyer( if owner even knew),so its got more options added why is that a bad thing? am i missing something here?

Stolen & recovered in the past.

It isn't a bad thing that the car now has a few extra options at all.

The vin number in the tower is barely legible even with all the paint removed from that area. It could have all the extra options due to a wheel barrow conversion (cut & shut with the rear of another car) or be a complete re-shell . . . . either are not my desired GT Falcon.

The owner has had the car since 1991, he is now 38, that means he would have been 17 or 18 when he purchased the car. I asked to see pics of the car from all those years ago to which I was told he never ever took any pics of the car!!

I still have pics of my 1st car, a rusted out, bogged up 250 column auto XB Futura sedan that the old man handed down to me.

Something seems fishy if a kid who owns a GT Falcon never takes pics of it, could it be that he doesn't want to show pics as the buyer might see the car is not what he has advertised it as . . . . a GT with factory windback, etc, etc!!

Rodp · 26-08-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIG-351

The owner has had the car since 1991, he is now 38, that means he would have been 17 or 18 when he purchased the car. I asked to see pics of the car from all those years ago to which I was told he never ever took any pics of the car!!

FWIW, I had an XW GT when I was 22 which is ~20 years ago. Owned it for about 5 years, had it completely resprayed and a fair bit of engine work done on it and I never took a single photo of it.

When I had my Golf R32 I took a few pics under protest on a camera phone. The only pictures I've ever taken of a car I've owned. Some people just can't be bothered taking pictures.

XB GS 351 Coupe · 27-08-2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIG-351

It looked like a highly optioned car because it was advertised that way & all the options were stated in the advert, plus an 8000rpm XA GT tacho & a heap of extra parts to go with the car.

Because I have decided not to go ahead & BUY the car as it is hiding a few secrets that I wouldn't be happy living with & the fact that the seller didn't disclose them, the seller has decided to keep my deposit which is NOT what I am warning everyone about.

PS:- OOOPS . . . . my bad, typo error, so bye bye again for now.

Stolen & recovered in the past.

It isn't a bad thing that the car now has a few extra options at all.

The vin number in the tower is barely legible even with all the paint removed from that area. It could have all the extra options due to a wheel barrow conversion (cut & shut with the rear of another car) or be a complete re-shell . . . . either are not my desired GT Falcon.

The owner has had the car since 1991, he is now 38, that means he would have been 17 or 18 when he purchased the car. I asked to see pics of the car from all those years ago to which I was told he never ever took any pics of the car!!

I still have pics of my 1st car, a rusted out, bogged up 250 column auto XB Futura sedan that the old man handed down to me.

Something seems fishy if a kid who owns a GT Falcon never takes pics of it, could it be that he doesn't want to show pics as the buyer might see the car is not what he has advertised it as . . . . a GT with factory windback, etc, etc!!

That does seem a bit dodgy, no photos of a car he owned for all that time, and no computer or internet???

Was he living under a rock all these years, I don't think you can get a phone these days that does not have a camera of some sort...

pottery beige · 27-08-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

That does seem a bit dodgy, no photos of a car he owned for all that time, and no computer or internet???

Was he living under a rock all these years, I don't think you can get a phone these days that does not have a camera of some sort...

im 38.. bought / brought my first laptop last year and only have a couple happy snaps of my XA GT from twenty years ago....

302 XC · 27-08-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

That does seem a bit dodgy, no photos of a car he owned for all that time, and no computer or internet???

Was he living under a rock all these years, I don't think you can get a phone these days that does not have a camera of some sort...

There are more people who dont have internet access than you mite think
I know many people who like to do trasactions and enjoy the thrill of finding that elusive car,part,whatever the good ol fashion way

I understand many mite put a deposit on something perhaps sought after,and lots and lots back out of deposited deals all the time,for whatever the reason either by the purchaser or the seller changes their mind, but i cant fathum how its a warning to another buyer than a car thats got more options or extras than it had from new is hardly worthy of a warning,or that one time in its life it was stolen or recovered,or even that the seller is dodgy as hell because he/she doesnt get hung up on taking a gazzillion pics of their ride

It could be dodgy , but why not post the links or contact details of it and let someone else check it out ???

Dont start me on mobile fones , the things you ring people with that takes longer to make a call due to all the other gadgets it has,that i dont want
There a fone not a mobile computer,nothin annoys me more than pumped up mobile fone sales piches, oh i does this , it does that
How about something that makes a fone call

JG33 · 26-08-2012, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDFORDNUT

Sorry is car stolen or was it stolen and recovered in the past,if recovered why is it a problem that needed to be disclosed to buyer( if owner even knew)?

Nothing wrong not disclosing if your car was stolen at one time but if the buyer finds out and they don't like it, they should get their deposit back.

It's like buying a house then you find out someone has died in it previously. Some people are funny about that.

OLDFORDNUT · 26-08-2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG33

Nothing wrong not disclosing if your car was stolen at one time but if the buyer finds out and they don't like it, they should get their deposit back.

It's like buying a house then you find out someone has died in it previously. Some people are funny about that.

mate someone dying in house is one hell of a lot different,he has not replied yet which is strange as we can all understand if its on stolen vehicle register now,and he can get deposit back then

**cs123** · 26-08-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG33

Nothing wrong not disclosing if your car was stolen at one time but if the buyer finds out and they don't like it, they should get their deposit back.

It's like buying a house then you find out someone has died in it previously. Some people are funny about that.

Some people are funny about smoking in cars. Would you have to disclose that too?

JG33 · 26-08-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

Some people are funny about smoking in cars. Would you have to disclose that too?

Lol...Hey I'm just going by what peoples attitudes are.
Only reason sellers don't disclose their car was stolen at one time is because it is less chance for them to sell their car.

Don't bother me, my ute was stolen & recovered 11 years ago, I still bought it.

Kryton · 25-08-2012, 01:03 PM

Exactly - dont see the big deal.
So what, it has extras - remove them and sell them.
Its been stolen and recovered - big deal.
The owner may not even know this himself.
If you checked with Vicroads (or whatever) and it comes up clean, it makes no difference.
If it still comes back as stolen (which i doubt), you need to notify the Police, in which case, this is the only bullet you dodged.
Seems youve done nothing but wasted the owners time and thrown your deposit away for nothing.

XB GS 351 Coupe · 25-08-2012, 01:17 PM

Correct if the car is still outstanding and not recovered on the system call police (or get the owner to call them) and depending on the circumstances they will just recover the car or they might have to investigate the cars history further.

Moby Vic · 25-08-2012, 01:44 PM

Potential silver lining: Having a non-original car frees you for further modifications. You don't hurt its value by adding awesomeness.

It won't get you your money back, but it may put a smile on your face.

**DJR-351** · 25-08-2012, 01:59 PM

Well i don't know about the OP's car in question, but i would definitely "beware" of this one....

http://www.adpost.com/au/vehicles/9387/

05_ENFORCER · 25-08-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Well i don't know about the OP's car in question, but i would definitely "beware" of this one....

http://www.adpost.com/au/vehicles/9387/

Missed a zero in the price maybe??

.

**DJR-351** · 25-08-2012, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Missed a zero in the price maybe??

.

And maybe one or two off the Odo reading.....?

05_ENFORCER · 25-08-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR-351

And maybe one or two off the Odo reading.....?

dyslexic??

.

SPArKy_Dave · 26-08-2012, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Well i don't know about the OP's car in question, but i would definitely "beware" of this one....

http://www.adpost.com/au/vehicles/9387/

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

Missed a zero in the price maybe??

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR-351

And maybe one or two off the Odo reading.....?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05_ENFORCER

dyslexic??

.

No no............ you're all wrong...... it's the chromed slotters.....
or is it the Queensland rego plates.

Or maybe it's the colour coded protection pack bumper bars?

That alone, sets my 'suss' alarm right off.

Kryton · 25-08-2012, 02:18 PM

Even if it was $2900 and wasnt a real GT, you could hardly go wrong with what your getting (provided it isnt stolen).
Parts value alone would be worth more than that.