United States Congress sets National Collector Car Appreciation Day as July 9, 2010

May 8, 2010 · Posted in News · Comments Off on United States Congress sets National Collector Car Appreciation Day as July 9, 2010 

NATIONAL COLLECTOR CAR APPRECIATION DAY

By: Bryan W. Shook, Esquire

Email: bshook@shooklegal.com

May 4, 2010 – At the persuasion of the SEMA Action network with assistance from automotive restoration manufacturers association (ARMO), the United States Senate approved Senate Resolution 213 on May 4, 2010.   The Resolution sets National Collector Car Appreciation Day as July 9, 2010.  Local, regional and national events to celebrate the newly enacted appreciation day are being developed across the country.  This marks a large step forward in collector car hobby. 

The resolution, which can be viewed online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.RES.513: states that:

 

Designating July 9, 2010, as `Collector Car Appreciation Day’ and recognizing that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.

Whereas many people in the United States maintain classic automobiles as a pastime and do so with great passion and as a means of individual expression;

Whereas the Senate recognizes the effect that the more than 100-year history of the automobile has had on the economic progress of the Nation and supports wholeheartedly all activities involved in the restoration and exhibition of classic automobiles;

Whereas collection, restoration, and preservation of automobiles is an activity shared across generations and across all segments of society;

Whereas thousands of local car clubs and related businesses have been instrumental in preserving a historic part of the heritage of this Nation by encouraging the restoration and exhibition of such vintage works of art;

Whereas automotive restoration provides well-paying, high-skilled jobs for people in all 50 States; and

Whereas automobiles have provided the inspiration for music, photography, cinema, fashion, and other artistic pursuits that have become part of the popular culture of the United States: Now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(1) designates July 9, 2010, as `Collector Car Appreciation Day’;

(2) recognizes that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States;

(3) encourages the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, and other Federal agencies to support events and commemorations of `Collector Car Appreciation Day’, including exhibitions and educational and cultural activities for young people; and

(4) encourages the people of the United States to engage in events and commemorations of `Collector Car Appreciation Day’ that create opportunities for collector car owners to educate young people on the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of the United States, including through the collection and restoration of collector cars.

Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market. Attorney Bryan Shook is available throughout the United States for consultation, advice, and information. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com

Bid with Knowledge; Buy with Confidence – Vintage Car Law

Mid Atlantic Regional NCRS Meet – Gettysburg, PA – May 6-9-2010

April 27, 2010 · Posted in News · Comments Off on Mid Atlantic Regional NCRS Meet – Gettysburg, PA – May 6-9-2010 

NCRS REGIONAL MEET IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA SCHEDULED FOR MAY 6-8, 2010

By: Bryan W. Shook, Esquire

Email: bshook@shooklegal.com

 

Call all Corvette enthusiasts, after a long winter’s wait, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society is hosting the Gettysburg Regional NCRS Meet on May 6-8, 2010.  This is a can’t miss event for East Coast Corvette Enthusiasts.

Several special vehicles are scheduled to be on display including a low mileage, all original, Polo Green, 1994 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 formerly of the Chip Miller Collection.  The car’s current owner, Andrew Saft of Harrisburg, is proud to offer this important ZR1 for flight judging.  Corvettes released from the prized Chip Miller Collection have been known throughout the hobby for years for their quality, provenance and pedigree.  This NCRS appearance represents a coming out of sorts for the current Saft Collection ZR1.  While ANY ZR1 is exciting both to see and drive, this particular all original ZR1 is sure to please the spectators and enthusiasts that get an opportunity to view it at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet next week.

 The NCRS flight process is not a process to be taken lightly, only the best cars are awarded flight awards and any owner who leaves Gettysburg with such an award has surely added much deserved province to his or her beloved Corvette.  Best of Luck!

Attorney Bryan W. Shook is not only a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market.  Attorney Bryan Shook is available throughout the United States for consultation, advice, and information. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com.

 

NCRS # 51181

 

Bid with knowledge. Buy with confidence. – Vintage Car Law

32nd Annual Spring Carlisle Swap Meet & Collector Car Auction – April 21-26, 2009

April 18, 2009 · Posted in Uncategorized · Comment 

32nd Annual Spring Carlisle Swap Meet & Collector Car Auction

By: Bryan W. Shook, Esquire

Email: bshook@shooklegal.com

 

The 32nd annual Spring Carlisle Swap Meet & Car Corral are about to get underway.  Officially the event runs from April 21 through April 26, 2009, but large vendors are starting to arrive today.   Carlisle’s swap meet offers what might be the best selection of automotive treasurers of any swap meet in the world.  For the automotive faithful that make their annual trek to Mecca, the weather for this year’s Spring Carlisle looks to be better than most years, with forecasted highs in the low to mid 70s and clear skies!  I know, the diehards will be depressed … “What no rain, how can it be Carlisle without rain???”

A change for this year’s event is that the Collector Car Auction will be held on Thursday and Friday nights, April 23 & 24, 2009 at the Carlisle Expo Center.  Also new for Spring Carlisle is a cruise-in to be held on Sunday at the grandstands.  This follows last fall’s successful Sunday cruise-in.  I look for several hundred cars to attend.

As for the auction, there are several very appealing lots.  With more than 250 vehicles scheduled to cross the auction block, there is certain to be something that appeals to everyone!  See you in Carlisle! Http://www.carlisleevents.com.

Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market.  Attorney Bryan Shook is available throughout the United States for consultation, advice, and information. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com.

Bid with knowledge. Buy with confidence. – Vintage Car Law

Let’s Review: Barrett-Jackson – Palm Beach 2009 Collector Car Auction

April 12, 2009 · Posted in News · Comment 

Let’s Review:

Barrett-Jackson – Palm Beach 2009

By: Bryan W. Shook, Esquire

Email: bshook@shooklegal.com 

Well, it’s hard to believe but the 7th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction is behind us. 

How did the stars of the auction do?

The top seller of the weekend was Lot Number 369.1 the Super Chevy Magazine feature custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS titled “Project American Heroes”.  The Camaro, which included parts supplied by over twenty five major speed parts producers and a legendary LS-series GM 427cu GMMG supplied powerplant, hammered sold for $500,000.00!  The proceeds from the sale of the Camaro will go to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation, a truly worthy cause.

Two other stars of the auction with their proceeds going to charity were Lots Nos. 655 and 655.1 the 2004 Ford Mustang GT Convertible concept car and the 2004 Ford Mustang GT Coupe concept car, respectively.  These cars debuted in January 2003 at the North American Auto Show and arguably started the current muscle car frenzy amongst the big three.  Many people believe that these two concept Mustangs are what raised the ante for General Motors and Chrysler to go all in again and give the public what they want, FUN muscle or muscle-type cars.  Ford let these two ponies out of their livery for Charity.  Both concepts sold individually for $175,000.00, each, a bargain, any way you slice it.  The proceeds from the sale of these two pieces of current American automotive history went straight to the benefit of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  After the bidding for the coupe stalled around $150,000.00, Barrett-Jackson, CEO, Craig Jackson and Barrett-Jackson, President, Steve Davis, big against each other with Mr. Davis eventually taking home the concept car for the very reasonable price of $175,000.00. 

The third historic Mustang that Ford auctioned off, was lot number 665, a 2010 Shelby GT500 coupe, the very first available for public sale.  The hammer price was $150,000.00 and the proceeds above MSRP for the car went straight to the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation. 

So, how did my “sleeper” predictions go?  Pretty well, but judge for yourselves.

1920 Chevrolet Model T – 1 Ton (open cab) chassis truck (Lot # 678) – Sold $37,400.00

1964 ½ Ford Mustang convertible (Lot #347) – Sold $51,700.00

1972 Chevrolet C10 Cheyenne Short Bed pickup (Lot #32) – Sold $35,200.00

1976 Chevrolet C10 Silverado Long Bed pickup (Lot #330.1) – Sold $29,150.00

1994 Pontiac Trans Am 25th Anniversary Edition Convertible (Lot #58) – Sold $37,950.00

1999 Pontiac Trans Am 30th Anniversary Coupe – Daytona 500 Pace Car (Lot #616.1) – Sold $39,600.00

I think my sleepers performed very well considering that the lack of national publicity that other auction cars enjoyed and the current economic situation but they all sold at the high end of their respective value ranges, proving that good quality cars (and trucks) will always command higher prices. 

Closing Thought – I believe GM has sold over 200 or so of its Heritage Collection and I hope that this “garage sale” is over soon.  On the bright side, I hope that the new owners of these GM refugees allow the cars to see the light of day again and hopefully we can all enjoy them at an upcoming automotive event or car show.

Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a devoted automotive enthusiast, but is also an experience litigator who devotes a large portion of his law practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists understand today’s market.  Attorney Bryan W. Shook is a seasoned automotive collector and restorer and as such brings real world experience and firsthand knowledge to the table for his clients.  Attorney Bryan Shook is available throughout the United States for consultation, advice, and information. If you’d like more information about this topic or would like to speak with Attorney Bryan W. Shook please email him at BShook@shooklegal.com.

Bid with knowledge. Buy with confidence – Vintage Car Law

Jury Verdict: Restamped Engine is not “original” “number’s matching” engine!!!

March 6, 2009 · Posted in News · Comments Off on Jury Verdict: Restamped Engine is not “original” “number’s matching” engine!!! 

Bryan W. Shook, Esquire

717-884-9010

BShook@shooklegal.com 

Des Moines, Iowa (1-29-2009) – Jury rules that seller breached contract when he did not disclose a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (VIN 124379L524309) did not retain its original engine.  

 

The case began in June 2003 when the Defendant, David Reyes, acquired the Camaro from a co-worker for $15,000.00.  When the Defendant acquired the Camaro from his co-worker, he testified that it did not have its original engine and that another engine was given to him by his co-worker at the time of the sale.  This other engine was the crux of the case.  

 

The story goes that when the engine in the vehicle began to run poorly and smoke a little, the Defendant had the engine that his co-worker had given him rebuilt.  Apparently, his co-worker had located the other engine and choose it because it was date coded appropriately for this particular December 1969 built Camaro.  The story goes that the co-worker had the vehicle identification number of the Camaro stamped into this replacement engine, making the replacement engine look identical to the original engine, prior to the Defendant acquiring it.  

 

In April 2004, Defendant placed the newly rebuilt, but non-original, restamped engine in the Camaro and placed the Camaro for sale through the internet auction website, eBay.com.  The Defendant placed the vehicle up for auction with a “Buy it Now®” price of $35,000.00, over twice what he paid for the vehicle less than a year earlier.  This may not seem to be a big deal, but in this case, the numbers on the non-original engine were stamped so well, that even the Defendant’s own expert witness on cross examination by Attorney Shook, at the trial could not tell they were restamped.  No where in the description did the Defendant ever say the vehicle did not have its original engine and he never disclosed this fact.  

 

Specifically, the Defendant advertised the car has being “Numbers Matching DZ302 Original,” “unmolested,” “low mileage,” and “as close to being a true survivor as any you’ll find.”  The auction ended with the Plaintiff, Daryl Hansmeier of Davenport, Iowa buying the Camaro for $25,200.00.

 

 It was never disclosed to Plaintiff that the engine in the vehicle was not the original engine, as a matter of fact, the engine restamping was not disclosed to Mr. Hansmeier until February 27, 2007 nearly three years after the sale of the vehicle.  

 

In March 2007, the buyer, Mr. Hansmeier contacted noted classic car fraud attorney, Bryan W. Shook (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania) to help him resolve this matter.  An inspection of the Camaro was performed by world-renowned Camaro guru, Jerry MacNeish (Eldersburg, Maryland).  Upon inspection, Mr. MacNeish confirmed that while the Camaro was a genuine Z/28 model, it did have a restamped, non-original engine.  Mr. MacNeish valued the car at $19,500.00 at the time of purchase, meaning that Mr. Hansmeier paid too much for the vehicle when he purchased it.

 

Local counsel, David Hellstern of the Kreamer Law Firm in West Des Moines, Iowa and Attorney Shook subsequently filed suit on behalf of the Plaintiff, Daryl Hansmeier and his wife for Breach of Contract, Fraud, Material Misrepresentation and Breach of Warranties.  

 

A three day trial was held at the Polk County Iowa Courthouse on January 26-28, 2009 with the Honorable Chief Judge Arthur Gamble presiding..  The Defendant, Mr. Reyes’, defense was that he and the Plaintiff, Mr. Hansmeier, had different meanings of the terms of the contract, namely the term, “Numbers Matching DZ 302 Original.”  The Plaintiff put on the testimony of noted Camaro historian and chief judge of concours judging at the Camaro Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jerry MacNeish, who testified that the phrase, “Numbers Matching DZ 302 Original,” means, to someone in the market for a 1969 Camaro Z/28 that they are looking at a vehicle with its original 302 cubic inch engine with it’s original stampings.  Mr. MacNeish stated unequivocally that a person without specialized knowledge would not be able to tell that the engine had been restamped and accordingly wouldn’t know that he had been deceived until someone told him.  

 

The jury retired to the deliberation room early in the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28, 2009 and quickly returned a unanimous verdict finding that the seller, David Reyes was liable for breach of contract for failing to deliver to Mr. Hansmeier the 1969 Camaro he promised him, specifically, a 1969 Camaro Z/28 retaining its original, correct, numbers matching engine.

 Attorney Bryan W. Shook, is a true car guy, in every sense of the work, he is not only an collector, restorer and hobbyist, but is also and attorney who devotes a large portion of his practice to helping other collectors and hobbyists when they find themselves the victim of receiving something other than how it was advertised.  Currently Attorney Shook is involved in automotive deception cases and represents clients in nearly a dozen states.   Attorney Shook had this to say about the case, “Let it be known, that misrepresentations in the collector car hobby will not be dealt with lightly, the court system proved this today by a unanimous jury verdict in favor of full disclosure and truthful dealings.”

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