jdoclogan
Platinum Level Sponsor
Just got back home from my annual car week in Scottsdale. I was able to do a complete inspection of the former Bob Avery car with an RM representative present. Not only was this a re-bodied HA it was done with a later Series II body and was running a 1725 Alpine engine. This #55 tribute car was not well done (most panels were not well gaped and trunk was poorly installed) nor was it advertised properly in the catalog. The catalog is the document that most all buyers use for their guidance going into an auction. I spoke with a significant representative with RM Sotheby's who questioned my claim of false advertising. He suggested that they had stated that the car had been re-bodied in the catalog. [The fact that the RM representative thought the catalog had such information strongly suggest they new it was re-bodied]. After reviewing the catalog with me he recognized that indeed the true nature of #55 was not included.. I gave him my card and he replied that he appreciated the expertise I brought. Apparently the re-bodied condition was mentioned in an off-hand manor at the time of the auction. I assure you this would be difficult in an auction setting or for a phone buyer to pickup on and make a quick readjustment in their vision of owning an original NART Sebring car. I'm not claiming I had influence on the presentation during the auction, but, there appeared to be concern about future legal ramifications by the representative going forward for RM. Lets be clear this is not the car that ran at Sebring. However, those that have choose to continue the misrepresentation provide no justice to an innocent buyer. The new owner must carry the fraudulent story on for the sake of maintaining the supposed value. Sure we can all state that this is a "buyer beware" situation and the new owner would be happy with there purchase no matter what. I say this is deceit exploiting the desires of an individual to believe they have the original. This is not unlike any copied painting of a Baroque master painter being put out as an original. The frame (in this case the top) may be original to the time period but the all important canvas is a fake. Sad day for the World of original automobiles. Sad day for those that support such chicanery.
I will show current evidence that this is not the original #55.
No VIN stamped on the firewall. Nor is there any evidence any VIN was scrubbed off. This is not a Series 1 or 2 Alpine body.
Bonnet prop placement does not match a Series 1 or 2 Alpine. There was no evidence that the body mount had been moved from the right inner fender area to the current cowling position.
There are those that know the factory fit of the factory modified boot for Harrington Alpines was superb. The current fit is a sloppy and poorly executed installation.
I will add that I had the opportunity to purchase a "tooled tribute" GT40 replicating Ken Miles' 1966 Sebring winning GT40 roadster. The tribute GT40 actually had an original prototype radiator with number 001 stamped on the tank and a set of original wheels (that may have been on the original roadster) acquired from Holman Moody. There was a significant amount of provenance surrounding the real story behind the Ken Miles GT 40 roadster's tub with the owner. The tribute's builder/owner acquired exact measurements of the GT40 as the lead tech inspector during the Watkins Glenn 25th anniversary celebration for the GT40. The build was excellent. As an honorable and outstanding car collector he went to great lengths to resize (larger) the replicated VIN plate so no one with expertise could miss that the car was not "the" original Ken Miles car. At no time did he ever claim this to be the original car because ... It wasn't!
I will show current evidence that this is not the original #55.
No VIN stamped on the firewall. Nor is there any evidence any VIN was scrubbed off. This is not a Series 1 or 2 Alpine body.
Bonnet prop placement does not match a Series 1 or 2 Alpine. There was no evidence that the body mount had been moved from the right inner fender area to the current cowling position.
There are those that know the factory fit of the factory modified boot for Harrington Alpines was superb. The current fit is a sloppy and poorly executed installation.
I will add that I had the opportunity to purchase a "tooled tribute" GT40 replicating Ken Miles' 1966 Sebring winning GT40 roadster. The tribute GT40 actually had an original prototype radiator with number 001 stamped on the tank and a set of original wheels (that may have been on the original roadster) acquired from Holman Moody. There was a significant amount of provenance surrounding the real story behind the Ken Miles GT 40 roadster's tub with the owner. The tribute's builder/owner acquired exact measurements of the GT40 as the lead tech inspector during the Watkins Glenn 25th anniversary celebration for the GT40. The build was excellent. As an honorable and outstanding car collector he went to great lengths to resize (larger) the replicated VIN plate so no one with expertise could miss that the car was not "the" original Ken Miles car. At no time did he ever claim this to be the original car because ... It wasn't!
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