70 Cuda U Code: catch and release

[edl]

torrecuda - thanks for this

i think i get what you guys are saying - you are saying that if i paid 2k and at the end he said no tag for you that would be a waste - and normally, the probability is high that without a build sheet that is exactly what would happen and so this is (under normal circumsntances) a waste of a significant amount of money

that makes perfect sense

i think you are also saying that if the likelihood is high that this will yield a fender tag than it is well worth it to have the tag - do i have it right?

if yes, i think i got lucky on this one because the prior owner had contacted Galen in 2006 to do this when his body shop lost the tag - and Galen already had the tag registered from some earlier owner - so this inspection is not so much to see what the car is, but to verify that this is indeed the car that they already have the information on - in short, i guess it isn't a slam dunk, but i think the likelihood is higher than not that a fender tag will result - and i think you guys would say that if that is the case it is worth cost - right?

[Challenger6pak]

Tell Galen you want a guarentee in writing that he will give you a fender tag.  He already knows if he has the info to give you a tag or not.  If he will guarentee it you are in a position where you will have to allow yourself to be taken advantage of financially to get the tag.  In my opinion with your car it is worth getting the tag if it is a real , not fabricated tag. If he won't guarentee, then he already knows that he is not going to give you a tag, so don't waste your money.

[quapman]

$2K to GayLen?

Can you say "GOUGE"?

[Katfish]

Tell Galen you want a guarentee in writing that he will give you a fender tag.  He already knows if he has the info to give you a tag or not.  If he will guarentee it you are in a position where you will have to allow yourself to be taken advantage of financially to get the tag.  In my opinion with your car it is worth getting the tag if it is a real , not fabricated tag. If he won't guarentee, then he already knows that he is not going to give you a tag, so don't waste your money.

   Get some up front guarantee if possible.  Sounds like you have a nice car worth documenting, I'd hate to see you out $2k.

[edl]

Crystal Clear!!   

i think i got as much of a guarantee as i am going to get - his assistant (who, yes, was staring at the tag detail) confirmed managed to confirm that my car is indeed yellow and black - no a/c - she wouldn't go further

toward the end she said "im pretty sure" he will be able to give you a tag

i guess if he guaranteed it, there might not be a reason for him to come - but it would be very wrong to know that my goal is a tag (as opposed to learning about the car or helping with some obscure techincal aspect of restoration), know that he will not issue a tag and come anyway and charge me - that would be wrong

as for the cost, more than half is travel - so i think the breakdown was 750 inspection; 150 tag (maybe that means i will get it since they already charged me for it?), some other fee for a report, airfare, car rental, night at hotel, meals

meaning if i lived next door to him would be more like 1K - regardless, it is a big number for me - my really high expectation is that a tag will result from this - think a good thought that it works out

and thanks for being frank...like the emoticon at the beginning says, need to hit me over the head with a brick till i get it!

 

[Topcat]

$2K to GayLen?

Can you say "GOUGE"?

 

While the guy does know alot, I have read posts (especially on Moparts) that others have caught him giving bad or not totally correct info.

Those might be rare or few cases but I don't keep records on him.

Its well known he charges alot and his word on coming out in a timely manner has been known not to be very quick. (Like months later after he has your money)

[tommyg29]

now that I see you may be able to obtain a tag that would definitely make the car a reasonable deal at $16k, but I had no idea govier charged that kind of money!
but that tag and a build sheet will definitely add value if you keep it original as possible.

[quapman]

Am I to understand there is NO build sheet and GG already has the tag info on file?

If this is correct, then an inspection should take about 5 minutes and he should be able to hand you the tag.

Man, I wish I made $150/minute.

GayLen must have an extra big shopping list this year or is late on a boat payment or something.

In my opinion, he preys on new guys like you. There's no way in He!! I'd pay that goof THAT much $$ for what he does.

[Challenger6pak]

I do not agree with Gallen's prices.  If I were in the same position with either of my 6 pack cars and the tag was the sure thing, I would let Galen take advantage of me because it will be worth having the correct tag in the end. It is a position of what else can you do. Edl's car has less than 1000 in production.  It's rarer than my 6 pack. It is worth documenting with the original tag. It's lousy that he is stuck.

[torredcuda]

torrecuda - thanks for this

i think i get what you guys are saying - you are saying that if i paid 2k and at the end he said no tag for you that would be a waste - and normally, the probability is high that without a build sheet that is exactly what would happen and so this is (under normal circumsntances) a waste of a significant amount of money

that makes perfect sense

i think you are also saying that if the likelihood is high that this will yield a fender tag than it is well worth it to have the tag - do i have it right?

if yes, i think i got lucky on this one because the prior owner had contacted Galen in 2006 to do this when his body shop lost the tag - and Galen already had the tag registered from some earlier owner - so this inspection is not so much to see what the car is, but to verify that this is indeed the car that they already have the information on - in short, i guess it isn't a slam dunk, but i think the likelihood is higher than not that a fender tag will result - and i think you guys would say that if that is the case it is worth cost - right?

Right on!

[72hemi]

I think you did good on buying the car. Not too many lemon twist yellow 440 4 speed 70 cuda's built. I also think that paying galen to inspect the car is a good idea if the end result is one of his rubber stamps and a replacement fender tag, because if you sell the car down the road, regardless of what some have said here having the fender tag and his blessing will add value to the car that far exceeds the price of the inspection.

Very cool project and good luck with the inspection and restoration. Do as much of the restoration as you can including body work and interior, that will save you a fortune.

[edl]

[...] because if you sell the car down the road, regardless of what some have said here having the fender tag and his blessing will add value to the car that far exceeds the price of the inspection.

Guys - thanks alot for your support and trust me - i am with you 150% - i wish i didn't have to spend this money - but i am doing it for just the reason  72hemi says - i am counting on the fender tag adding a lot more value to the car than the 2K i will spend - if true, i have no choice but to do this

like challenger6pak says, i am stuck and forced to consume this service - yes he has the tag info and yes there is no broadcast sheet

i can see that he needs to know that this is indeed the car that matches his records and so i understand that - just wish there were some way to prove that other than an on-site visit that as quapman says will take not too long

i suggested a live video conference using skype or the cellphone - but they said he had to come in person

anyway - need to look on the brightside - it will add more than 2k in value to the car and hopefully he can give me a good lesson on Mopars

thanks for the support

[Challenger6pak]

I have been with Galen when he does this service.  He does need to come out.  He will check all of your date codes.  Make sure everything you have for the car that is not on it is available.  For instance, if the glass is out of the car make sure he can see it if he chooses.  It is one of many parts that are date coded. He will check to see if everything is correct that is non date coded for the car also.  He will give you a report on everything and hopefully a fender tag.

[quapman]

While I am obviously biased, I do agree that having the tag for the car will make it more valuable in the end.

Good to hear that GG does a THOROUGH inspection. Still a lot of enchiladas and paying for his meals is WAY over the top.

[Alaskan_TA]

Galen runs a tag service, the name of his company - GTS stands for Galen's Tag Service.

He should be able to make you a reproduction tag since he has the original data on file WITHOUT you having to pay him to do a full blown inspection.

His price for that used to be around 200 bucks.