ethics question - 1968 GT500

My personal opinion is you shouldn't stamp the VIN on block no matter what this person is willing to pay. It is a form of fraud anyway you look at it. Whether or not is illegal or not most likely depends on the laws in your state. I am not a lawyer.
You found one buyer, where there's one, there's more. Find another buyer if you can't resolve this issue with the current interested individual.

 

This is actually illegal depending on what official you ask. With that said I would not want a buyer knowing that you did anything illegal . This could somehow someway come back to haunt you. Resist the temptation to do it at the buyers request would be my advice.

 

From what you are saying the buyer will still pay your price for the car and if he is willing to pay you more to stamp the # in he should be willing to pay for getting someone else to stamp it in. Because of were you are already at with this buyer I would not stamp it in as Bob stated it will come back at you. You also need to remind the buyer not all 68 500's got the # stamped into the Block Some are in back of the driversside head and some are in the back of the intake manifold.


Dominic

 

The buyer really isn't gaining anything. If there is no evidence of the serial numbers being visible and the date code pre-dates the assembly of the car no one can say definetively if the engine is original or not. The history of the car is the tie breaker. Stamping some numbers in 2012 isn't going to change that.

It would seem the buyer is the one being unethical, perhaps he feels it will improve his position if he ever sells the car? In the case where the engine is approriately dated, the increase in value is minimal. What happens if we find out no serial numbers were stamped during the week your car was built? ....

In these cases full disclosure is best. If the buyer doesnt like what you have, they have the option of moving on.

 

I have been asked to do this in the past and each time. I have only lost one buyer because of this (on a 68 J code GT fastback), the car sold 6 weeks later for the same price. My personal reasons for not being the one to stamp the block (or head) are simple, I did not want to be the fall guy 2/5/10 owners down the road when the story of it being a non original motor that was stamped for one of the previous owners forgotten and the car marketed as an "all original, numbers matching" vehicle. If you do decide to stamp it, then you should have a notarized statement from the buyer that he requested you do so and he takes responsibility for any future inconsistencies with the marketing of the car. I would then notify SAAC for future inclusion in the registry of such to further cover your behind legally (and morally).


Bill S.

 

Being a NJ car tell him to go ahead and stamp the block (not you) That alone will be his due justice.

 

No way. As mentioned before, your name will come up in the future as the one that stamped it.

 

Hi,
Just thought I would add 2 cents worth from the practical side.
Ask the person if he would add a few numbers to a check to make it have more value.This may give his "adding" numbers idea a new meaning.This is how it was explained to me years ago.Very simple.
Fraud is never legal period.
P.D.

 

Just a suggestion, do as you wish: When dealing with difficult people, it is WAY easier to just say that you have decided to not sell the car to this person. You never know what their angle is, will there be a future lawsuit over so non-existing issue. Find another buyer and move on.

 

The key here is what you said: "as long as it is never presented as original stampings"

If you do decide to stamp the VIN on the engine, you will want to add to a bill of sale something to the affect that states it is not the original stamping and/or engine, and have the buyer sign it and keep a copy to cover your butt.

Any way you look at it, I still think its a bad idea.