It's a dangerous world out there! Glad you had your anti-scam antenna up.
Close call - Nearly scammed
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Close call - Nearly scammed
I recently bidded on a 5684 mile, one owner, extra clean, always garaged VY 07 on fleabay. The bidding did not hit reserve but after contacting the owner via email he offered it for $29.5. Fortunately he was out of town a couple weeks and I had time to investigate further since something seem a little off. Autocheck came back clean but showed a title registration in Arizona. Tried to nail down the owner who said it had a own owner title. Went to the chevy dealer today to check the warranty in service date and was told the car had a warranty block, meaning no powertrain or brake warranty due to abuse. Sure enough, it is a Bondurant car. Would have found this out after seeing the title but that would have been after securing financing, borrowing a car hauler, and driving 7.5 hours. Moral of the story is to always check out a car as much as possible and if something does not sound just right, it probably is not.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 122
From: st paul minnesota
I was under the impression that Bondurant 'used cars' could only be sold with a restricted type title of sorts due to the modifications, etc. and were usually purchased by individuals/clubs for autocross or other race type use. The Mustangs were sold that way a few years ago, as when I attended the school in '05 a few students asked specifically about what happens to the cars when the school is done with them and that was the answer given at that time. Maybe things have changed...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Only communicated with the owner through emails and the car was located in Springfield, MO. I would not have bought the car sight unseen. Not sure if the title would have shown Bondurant or not. The more I deal with ebay the more suspicious I get. Sadly someone else will end up probably screwed on the deal. That is why I prefer deals with the actual owner of a car. Many of the deals on ebay are through folks who will and deal in corvettes, picking them up at auctions and turning them. Another useful tool I have found is a review of posts on forums. One "pristine", only lightly modded C5 owner posted extensively about nitrous and track times. May have never installed anything on that car but a red flag never the less. Live and learn.
Unfortunately I agreed to buy a set of 07 service manuals this morning before running the vin#. Sent a pm to the seller apologizing and offered to compensate him for his trouble. If nothing else I'll buy the manuals and resell. I still have my honor.
Unfortunately I agreed to buy a set of 07 service manuals this morning before running the vin#. Sent a pm to the seller apologizing and offered to compensate him for his trouble. If nothing else I'll buy the manuals and resell. I still have my honor.
Good work!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13,007
Likes: 0
From: Happiness is Busch in Victory Lane!
St. Jude Donor '09 & '12, '14
A Title is usually branded for salvage or clean.
I doubt Bondurants car would be branded on the title... Maybe someone can clarify.
You were smart to check the Vin with GM.
I doubt Bondurants car would be branded on the title... Maybe someone can clarify.
You were smart to check the Vin with GM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 9
From: Upstate New York
... Autocheck came back clean but showed a title registration in Arizona. Tried to nail down the owner who said it had a own owner title. Went to the chevy dealer today to check the warranty in service date and was told the car had a warranty block, meaning no powertrain or brake warranty due to abuse. Sure enough, it is a Bondurant car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
LMB-C6, the vin printout from the GM dealer listed Bondurant. The seller advertised it as one owner. The Autocheck report showed the car as a lease/rental car so I knew he got it from auction. I asked the seller via email about the one owner part and he replied it was a "one owner title and it was garaged, as always". All pictures were taken in front of a house. I have learned to put little faith in pictures. He also had another vet in an auction also listed in Springfield. Texas titles show the previous owner and mileage at time of purchase. Did not get far enough to see the car or title in the deal.
I'll never buy a car sight unseen and will be more leary about traveling any distance to look at a car without some investigation. I have noticed several cars sold through ebay as being auction cars where the sellers try to make it out as though the car is a one owner vehicle, usually with pictures taken in front of a house and garage. The title will show the one owner if the seller has never transferred the title which they would do being dealers. Buyer always beware.
I'll never buy a car sight unseen and will be more leary about traveling any distance to look at a car without some investigation. I have noticed several cars sold through ebay as being auction cars where the sellers try to make it out as though the car is a one owner vehicle, usually with pictures taken in front of a house and garage. The title will show the one owner if the seller has never transferred the title which they would do being dealers. Buyer always beware.
