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Let's call a spade a spade. Switching VINs is a
felony in any state. Doing so with the intent of deception and for a
profit is flat ugly illegal.
The problem with those who do it is that it is ALMOST
always the original intent because it is an expensive proposition to correctly
clone a hardtop into a convertible. Doing a Shrine parade car from a
4dr sedan to a convertible is one thing and the result is obvious and always
will be so. But when a car is so well done that it COULD BE easily
mistaken as original, then eventually it will get sold as an original and
someone will pay the value difference and be hurt and when found out lawsuits
will ensue. Such has continually been the case with the party mentioned in
this string.
One has to give large kudos to clubs such as the Chrysler
300 Club International for keeping databases by VIN number and keeping factory
production records so that real cars are known and fake cars are exposed.
Documentation is everything with valuable collector cars and for the Letter
Cars, that documentation is available. It is reasons like THIS that
support the collector value rise of given car models. The intrinisic value
of the original car is preserved and the market value rises.
Granted the hobby isn't all about value, and should
be largely about enjoyment, but legality and pleasure can and should go
hand in hand. When the legality breaks down because someone faked a
convertible, the "pleasure" of lawsuits ensues.
Wayne
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