So you think he is a corvette brother just because he owns a corvette or says he owns one?

 

I would say it’s about being a decent human being who has nothing to hide

 

How did you make your determination that the guy who called the OP was a decent human being? I would like to know the person before declaring him a decent person. Trust is earned, not given.

 

 

I keep a running "restoration log" of everything that happens, or that I do, to each of my cars. I provide it to the new owner along with tons of pictures, stacks of invoices, related trophies, spare parts, any documents that I received when I purchased the car, vendor documentation on any mods, etc...

That is all the "history" I generally provide....

This request is either:

a) a "flipper' trying to create a "backstory" on the car to pump up the value, or,

b) a split window junkie, so enamored of the car that he thinks every fart prior owners left in the driver's seat adds to the panache.

If this request is a) its smarmy, if b) its creepy...

 

I've been to a lot of car shows and have never once seen a motorized document on display. So yeah, this request raises all sorts of red flags. If it were me, I'd tell the guy what I know about the car, but that's it. Nothing in writing. This world has become way to litigious for me to put anything in writing that doesn't have to be. It's a bizarro request that has zero upside for you and only adds risk to your life. So ask yourself; do you want to add risk to your life? And is that risk worth $5? Lol.

 

How many threads on this forum begin with requests for information about a car's past history. Here we have a case where a new owner has been fortunate enough to locate a prior owner with relevant information and this group is advising that prior owner not to help because of imagined legal complications. This is indeed a low point in our hobby, one perhaps driven by a collective ignorance of the "notary" process. Belairbrian (Post #15) has expressed it accurately relative to Louisiana law and the laws of the other states of the Union.

If the original poster has questions about the accuracy of the "short, short story"with which he has been presented, he is free to rewrite it in his own words to tell the story correctly and add to the history of the car. If any of you had access to such a statement from a prior owner of your car you would be delighted to have same. Why deny this new owner because of unfounded and irrational fear of a "Notary Public."

 

So, if the notarization is just an indication of a verified signature and not a validation of the narrative its attached to -- what purpose does it serve in this context ?

None. Its a strange request and a red flag...post #15 is exactly why it sees odd...
Few here are saying to not be responsive, most don't feel the necessity for a notarized statement...

Any new owner of my cars can call me up and I'll BS their ears off with stories, anecdotes and general info; I'll even write up some high points for them.

Not notarizing squat however...

 

1. You sold the car to Mr Smith
2. Mr Unknown calls and says he bought it from Mr Smith
3. Mr U asks for the history
4. Mr U now wants it written and notarized

Does anyone know this Mr U and his intentions before we comply further?

 

Who and exactly what for are we even talking to this guy? He isn't the guy you sold it to. You have no idea who he is or if he even has a legal reason to ask for any information and what he intends to do with that information. If the OP were someone famous, I can understand that request.

 

 

IF the OP has any inclination at all to proceed on this, he should:

1. Verify who the heck the requester really is. Tell him to send a copy of the vehicle registration, title and his drivers license - and maybe ask him to have those notarized! See what kind of reaction that gets.That will document that the person is who he says and actually owns the car.
2. Once ID and ownership is verified, feel free to provide any history he wants.
3. I wouldn’t notarize the history. It adds nothing to the value or even credibility of the information and appears to me to be a flimsy attempt to make the history look more “official”

Also around here at least, a notary’s fee is more like $20.00.

 

Free, if you're a AAA member.

It would prove that the information provided is from the actual guy who owned it. In other words, it's not a forgery.

Resto documentation is getting pretty out of hand. I met a guy at a show recently who knew practically NOTHING about cars (he asked me some really dumb questions, which I politely answered). Yet he had a perfectly restored NCRS quality C3 (I think it was a 1970). On the fender is the 8-inch think binder with everything from AIM content, photos of the restoration, etc., etc. Obviously put together by the restorer (A C3 NCRS guy in FLA, I believe). He told me the restoration took.... wait for it.... 4 years, and he just got the car last week!

Funny thing was... he won the award for "Early Corvettes, 53-82" category, but had left the show early to beat traffic.

It takes all types.. That's all I'm sayin' !

 

You are wrong with that generalized statement. We are not all advising against telling this person what is known about the car. What some of us are advising against is signing any document or having anything notarized.

It's a low point in the hobby when some unknown future buyer expects a notarized document from a third party. Who does this? Have you ever had such a thing notarized?

 

Yes I have. And I see no problem in this unless you as the signer is a lying thief. What harm is it if a past owner signs a paper saying when he owned the car it was configured and optioned in such a way. I don’t get some people you guys must live with tin foil as a hat

 

You sure that this is all this guy, who is NOT even the guy the OP sold it to is who he claims to be? Are you sure of his intentions for the document?

 

Yes -- but the validated signer could have lied through his teeth in the notarized document; e.g.

"Yes, this car was an original 427/425 horsepower car." signed Joe Dirt

So -- you know Joe Dirt signed it but there is no proof his claim is true.....
Useless to me in this context...

 

So you sold Joe a car. You have an obligation to Joe to explain what was done, etc, etc. Joe flipped the car to me. Now I call you up and ask for a history of the car. After which, I ask for a written statement and for it to be notarized. You have no clue of what I plan to do with this document other than my good word. You haven't met or even heard of me. You don't even have a clue as to who I am. You don't know if I would use this document against Joe for whatever reason.

Know what? I realize I lose some money trading in my guns as opposed to selling to someone I don't know. I also know I can have a bill of sale. I sleep easier at night knowing full well that the LEOs are going to call on someone else BESIDES me and make me have to dredge up that bill of sale if something goes sideways. Sure, I can probably get out of it but I sure don't want that hassle.

 

Yes, that would qualify.

I have and still do own one ton of musclecars, all makes and models, not one group of owners has treated me as well as the people who I have met here, my Corvette brothers,

One fella GAVE me an intake manifold, two other guys sent me ignition shielding BEFORE I sent payment. And fellas who I have spoken to in PM's have all been better than great.

So yes, own or used to own a Vette? My brother.

 

Clearly there are two ways of thinking here....and they are not going to change...no matter what. Those that see no problem in giving a notarized statement and those who feel it is useless and does not benefit them or can possibly inconvenience them.

And....I can surely tell you that if there was car burning at car accident that just happened and you had to reach in to pull the driver out to HELP them. I kinda know who do that and those that would NOT do that. Because those that would not help just stand there with their hands in their pockets thinking about the legal complications if you by chance broke the fingernail of the person you were trying to help....and wait for the emergency personnel to arrive and do what they get paid to do.

SO....do I get sued due to I tried to help....or do I get sued by the family because I did not do anything and the occupant died. Let me see...I will just drive away from the scene and see what that gets me because I am not professionally trained to deal with this. Heck... I did not cause the accident and I do not want to be involved. I got things to do today...I'm too busy.

So...I guess there is a line drawn somewhere between these two situations. Writing up something or helping someone out that is desperate need of help. Its is reality check that some of us you may comes across.

Clearly people who read often times my not truly comprehend POST#15.

SO...if POST #15 was read and comprehended....then the document written and notarized only has certain value...and I guess because it is not a document that been taken to the NEXT LEVEL (Jurat) like what was written in POST #15. The notarized document is only as important as the person who is holding it and how they feel it adds merit to the cars history.

SO I guess it all boils down to the signature on the document and that can be found on many public documents or even work orders you signed at businesses that require your signature... that we all have signed at one time or another. Sorry to stir up any paranoia that some of you may possess.

Those that do....do things....those that do nothing... only observe.

DUB