Cuda Advice Needed!

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Dan Lanning was the builder in Seattle WA. Just e-mailed him to see what he says.
Previous owner just sent me PDF files of the sale from Lanning to him, and the sale of the car body from the guy in AL to Lanning for $3K. What concerns me is the seller in the ebay ad in 08 said all he had left of the car was the vin, fender tag, cowl, core support and title. I guess it would be easy enough to buy the VIN stuff and get a bogus receipt for the body. If the car was re-bodied it was done good enough so it passed all DMV vin inspections and a law enforcement investigation and inspection.
Figures, I find a car I like and it has skeletons in the closet, I mean in the trunk...... 

. It is not like this type if thing has been done before. Then tried to be passed off as the real deal. And what does the DMV really know about these old muscle cars ?      

[4 speed fish]

Unless you remove the paint on the cowl and radiator support there is no way of telling if the car was a re body.That car is not worth 25k to me.It's a 340.Wrong rally gauges, no reverse light on dash.It is modified to the point of very limited buyers.The car would be worth more if it was restored to original condition.

[torredcuda]

The cowl number being removed due to rust still sounds fishy to me.The only other vin stamping is on the radiator support which could have been welded in but why not weld the cowl number in as well? 

[tman]

Can't wait to hear what Mr Lanning says.  He could have purchased a rusted relic.  But what was the relic of or from?  Ebay seller was from 'Bama.  Nevertheless, California did its investigation and they are satisfied.  The car can be licensed with almost no impunity, at least in Cali.  If it went to another State, could be a different story.  No matter what information is gleaned from the builder, the car is clear.  A skeleton in the trunk will follow this car from this day forward.  Im convinced that its a rebody but is it "beyond a reasonable doubt?"  I think Bolo can buy it and enjoy it.  Keep all that paperwork and name of CHP detective.  The "skeleton" is a bargaining chip.  Since you are doing so much research, you must really like it.     
As for value, again its what the buyer will pay for it.  Its a restomod and comparing it to a stock restoration is apples and oranges.  You can do anything you want to restomod a car and charge for it.  Im not a restomod person but you have to respect it.  Tell me is this restomod worth $180K?  Not to me, but someone bought it. 
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1971-Plymouth-Cuda/134076

[tman]

Can't wait to hear what Mr Lanning says.  He could have purchased a rusted relic.  But what was the relic of or from?  Ebay seller was from 'Bama.  Nevertheless, California did its investigation and they are satisfied.  The car can be licensed with almost no impunity, at least in Cali.  If it went to another State, could be a different story.  No matter what information is gleaned from the builder, the car is clear.  A skeleton in the trunk will follow this car from this day forward.  Im convinced that its a rebody but is it "beyond a reasonable doubt?"  I think Bolo can buy it and enjoy it.  Keep all that paperwork and name of CHP detective.  The "skeleton" is a bargaining chip.  Since you are doing so much research, you must really like it.     
As for value, again its what the buyer will pay for it.  Its a restomod and comparing it to a stock restoration is apples and oranges.  You can do anything you want to restomod a car and charge for it.  Im not a restomod person but you have to respect it.  Tell me is this restomod worth $180K?  Not to me, but someone bought it. 
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1971-Plymouth-Cuda/134076

See if this link works:
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1971-Plymouth-Cuda/134076

[bolo185]

Can't wait to hear what Mr Lanning says.  He could have purchased a rusted relic.  But what was the relic of or from?

Barry Washington replied to me stating as far as he is concerned the VIN is blackflagged for life.

And the builder, Mr Lanning,  responded to my questions in a long letter. I cut some of it out but here's most of it:


"Mark
I gave Moses (guy he sold it to) all of this info on the build-up of the Cuda including a pile of receipts totaling many thousands of dollars. I had two cars and made one good one out of the two. As to the amount of each car I used, I don't know why anyone cares. There were no illegal or stolen parts on the car. I assume it passed a Calif VIN verification inspection before he transferred it into his name.  I don't know who or what "The National Transportation & Insurance" is or what their interest is in this car. I never heard from them or of them. I use Pemco with no problem.  As to the CHP, I never heard a word from them either. I assumed they determined that there were no legal issues with the car or they would have contacted me I'm sure. 

I still have the title, VIN and fender tag from the other car and scraped all left over parts. I did sell an extra pair of doors (rusty bottoms)and still have a trunk lid that wasn't bad.

I feel that I took two cars that were headed for the scrap heap and resurrected a pretty decent 70 Cuda. I'm not going to apologize for that. (I know no-one is asking)

The ebay ad didn't come through so I can't address your questions about that. All I can say is, that's just an ad. What I got for my money is nobodies business but mine.  I don't mean that to sound like a smart ass, it's just the way I feel. If you are thinking of buying the car because you like it, I would say Buy It. If you are looking for an investment, buy a CD.

I've never made money on Hot Rods, I do it because I love it. It's a good car. I spared no expense putting it together. It was going to be for my son and I wanted it the best I could do. Before it was done he got interested in Import cars.
Good Luck"


I guess the part where he says "The ebay ad didn't come through so I can't address your questions about that. All I can say is, that's just an ad. What I got for my money is nobodies business but mine"  answers my question.   

But Mr Lanning is right, he took two cars headed for the crusher and made a beautiful Cuda out of it. If the guy in AL advertised a rolling chassis rather than just the VIN parts it would'nt be blackflagged and it would probably be in my garage by now.   

Dont want to    anymore,  I love the car but dont want the drama so I'm continuing with my search! Thanks for all your help so far!

[tman]

Thanks for the update.  Too bad he did not say that he bought the rusted out body for that specific vin.  That is up to interpretation.  Anyhow, good decision and move forward. 

[tommyg29]

I can understand why people react so strongly when a car is rebodied, but in the end if the registering authorities have no problem with it, and there is no evidence of theft of a vehicle involved, and it is "flagged" in a registry, then people can move on and the owner should be able to enjoy the car. Especially when it has been so heavily modified, its not like its ever going to be passed off as a "real" or rare cuda of some type. If all parties have knowledge of the rebody, there is no harm done IMO.
I for one am glad at least one nice mopar was created from the ashes of two.
Probably similar to buying a salvaged title car. It is certainly worth less because it is known (and registered) to have been totaled at some point, but if the car is repaired well enough to drive it, more power to you.