[martyb]

Originally Posted by SS427

I think Chris and I pretty much do the same thing (I learned it from him) as I have an 11 page inspection worksheet where I go over virtually every major item on the car, check part numbers, dates, codes, etc. It is a culmination of all those items on the inspection report and the actual physical condition of the car that allows me to determine if a car is 'potentially' real or not. I also look at the overall restoration (if restored) of a car and see what all was done, how it was done, what is original and what is not. Based on the bodies inspection a lot can be told and determined from that as well. I also have a very extensive 30 year old database that helps me if that particular cars history is in it. There are also small nuances that changed from plant to plant and day to day. Again, drawing from my database I check to see if a particular car follows what I have documented. Yes things could have been changed during a restoration but again, I take everything into an account.

I cannot speak for Chris but I will never certify a car. I only write up a conclusion report and give my professional opinion as to its originality. Both Chris and I have been restoring, documenting and inspecting these cars for many years and I could very easily build a car from scratch that had every correct factory part and was correctly date coded including fake paperwork to disguise itself as a real LS6. No one would ever know it was a fraud unless they owned the car at one time in its previous life. If Chris or I can do that so can others and unfortunately they do. That is why I will never certify one. Based on the history of the car, previous owners, restoration photos, etc, etc I hope that I can make a very honest decision as to whether a car is real or not. I know I have been fooled at least once so it can happen again but without full documentation there is just no way to know if a car started out as an original LS6 bodied car unless you were there on the assembly line when it was made.

There were 6 plants that produced the LS6 and unless you know each plant intimately most fraudulent restorers will never know all the minor differences between the plants such as font, stamp locations, clips, solenoid designs, undercoating and sound deadener application, primer colors, etc, etc. Same goes for the 'reproduction' paperwork, there are lots of differences between the plants in how the sheets were done. They unfortunately are getting damn good and faking those. The sad part is a vast majority of the paperwork that is being reproduced is being done so by the current car owner and for 'show' purposes only but it never gets sold the next time that way.

I can attest to the level of diligence and detail that Rick provides during his inspection process, I watched it first hand when he inspected my car earlier this year. Was a pleasure to watch and learn from one of the very best!

Marty