Detecting Fake early S

[mosterius]

With the advent of the spiraling prices of the early "S" cars I know of instances where persons have purchased total S wrecks and used the vin plates etc as donors to a T or the like and then of course they are titled as S. (formerly a T).

What portions of the car can be examined to determine if indeed this has occured ?

Cheers,
David

[glaverbel911]

What to look for comes from lots of experience.. It's one reason why people hire Jeff Smith and myself to fly worldwide to prepurchase inspect early cars.

REGARDS, ROBERT GROSS

[RandyWebb]

All I know is that you need to check all the VINs and the crayoned on numbers in various places that are hard to get to.

[letsrollbabe]

From a practical view, it is hard to make a case that an S or RS that has been badly wrecked and rebuilt with new bodywork and parts is any more "pure" than one rebuilt with "used" body work from another car that is parted out. I think this argument goes toward a discussion of whether "production equipment" made on an assembly line is like a work of unique art that is so pure that the method of repairing brings into question whether it can still be identified with its original S/N. Does a very skilled craftsman who makes use of used body parts NOT deserve to identify his work with the original S/N, as compared to a hack who buys all new parts but butchers it in assembly?

I think the "fake" issue in this case relates more to legal issues involving stolen cars or people trying to perpetrate a fraud by using a S/N for a car that belongs to someone else. The quality of a "restoration" is something else entirely.

Gib Bosworth
R Gruppe #18
Early S Reg #434

[tfiv]

As we all know what makes an S an S is much more than it's VIN. I think the sum of the pieces required to make a decent copy would prevent one from reaping much of a profit. Re-bodying a very rusty, or severely damaged car might be another story.

[72targa]

As we all know what makes an S an S is much more than it's VIN. I think the sum of the pieces required to make a decent copy would prevent one from reaping much of a profit. Re-bodying a very rusty, or severely damaged car might be another story.

Would this be worth it?

http://www.germanautodismantlers.com...m=27&mitem=177

[Rick Cabell]

I justed called them on that car, as I could use the engine. They said that ad came out of their photo archives, and it was sold loooong ago.

[72targa]

Is this one gone, too?...

http://www.germanautodismantlers.com...m=16&mitem=177