Hidden VIN does not match VIN plate or paperwork

[69LM1]

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

From the guys own website, he has 24 yrs of doing this. So therefore misrepresenting this Camaro as an SS, would this not also constitute fraud charges over the VIN issues as well.

Good catch EZNova, Mark have that website copied or just do some simple screenshots of these claims before they make any changes. This would go to the dealer "knew or should have known" portion of any legal action an attorney will write. Copy anything that brags about his knowledge of cars, restoring cars and can show his expertise. This should lay a foundation for the attorney to write the suit.

Also, the attorney (and I also recommend the lawyer here) will have to be familiar with VINs and ConVins and lemon laws of that state as well as federal statutes (since it passed state lines).

Finally, the dealer may (should) have liability insurance for these things, and a lawyer will be able to negotiate with them direct and even if the dealership does not want to settle they (the insurance) might rather than have to have a duty to defend on a costly suit.

My .02,

/Rich

[Cpd2433]

Hello All,

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life. I have been on the camaro5 forum for years and this is my first experience in the classic car world.
Anyway would the original poster be willing to contact me via pm and possibly let me know whatever happened with this?

I recently purchased a 1967 Chevelle SS from Sabetta’s Classics in Orrville OH. My situation is not nearly as extreme as the original author of this thread but anyway here is the story:

I viewed and agreed to buy the car on 05Apr2025 and placed a $500 cash deposit. I had originally saw the vehicle listed on a Hagerty marketplace auction but had never bid on a car. The auction ended and I found it listed with the same trim tag and vin on Sabatta’s website. I spent Sat/Sun night in Wooster, OH and returned on Mon 07Apr2025. I had rented a U-Haul trailer to tow the vehicle back to Chicago IL. On Monday I arrived and gave them a cashiers check for the balance. I had never towed a car and the owner Rick stated he would drive it on the trailer and they would strap it down with me.
When I returned home I really got to looking at the car. Between Sat and mon they replaced the front seats in the car I purchased with the seats from a blue 67 Malibu they had for sale. How do I know this??
I have photos from their eBay add and their website of both cars interiors. I also have videos saved of their YouTube videos of both cars. I also have the video of the car when they bought it on hagerty marketplace.

I know have a drivers seat with a hole on the middle of the seat and a hole on the side of the seat that both have black tape over them. Also instead of having all black seats with no chrome emblem, I have a rear seat with no chrome emblems and front seats with the chrome placard on the backrest.

So I will say I do blame myself for not catching this before I drove away with the car but at the same time I didn’t think the car would change in 2 days. Can I afford the get the front seats refinished, I suppose I can eventually, but it’s the premise that I can’t let go of.

Sorry for the long post, just need to vent. I’m hoping Rick makes this right but right now I’m not feeling very confident.
-Josh

[427.060]

Originally Posted by Cpd2433

Hello All,

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life. I have been on the camaro5 forum for years and this is my first experience in the classic car world.
Anyway would the original poster be willing to contact me via pm and possibly let me know whatever happened with this?

-Josh

The original poster hasn't been on this site in over 3 years.

[BCreekDave]

Originally Posted by 427.060

The original poster hasn't been on this site in over 3 years.

The original poster passed away last year.

[Rumbleguts396]

My guess is the dealership has already contacted an attorney. Thus the reason he will not speak with your customer directly. Most likely waiting to see how the car owner is going to proceed. I agree with most, get a lawyer before your buyer says anything to the dealer that may hurt him further if legal proceedings are needed. Hope the best for the Camaro owner and all involved. Hate to hear about these things happening in our hobby, it's supposed to be a hobby to give us peace and joy. Not heartache. Rob

[resto4u]

Is the VIN number way off or close? Could it be a DMV error?

[GotGrunt]

Originally Posted by resto4u

Is the VIN number way off or close? Could it be a DMV error?

I think what the OP means is that the hidden VIN stamps do not match what is on the VIN tag. I’ve seen the hidden VIN off by 1 digit from the factory, but anything other than that is usually a rebody.

[purple panther]

if that dealer was smart they would take it back immediately.

[Charley Lillard]

Did you tell Sabettas what they did ? Might possibly be a employee swapped the seats.

[Cpd2433]

The dealer has reached out to claim that he is going to make it right. I he did admit that he changed out the seats but claims it was prior to me viewing the car on Saturday 05Apr25. He was in and out of angry in our conversation. He claimed they are his cars and he can do whatever he wants with them. I know the seats were mint and matched when I viewed the car on 05Apr25. Their YouTube video of the car was posted on 04Apr25. I would have never agreed to purchase the car with 2 holes in the seats.
He claims the seats were removed because they were damaged and that they are currently being refinished. Again I know this to be BS because he purchased the car from a Hagerty place auction and I have the auction saved and the seats were mint and matched front to back(all black with no metal emblems)
We are supposed to meet halfway in Ft Wayne IN when they are finished. I still think it’s not going to be a positive experience. They better be mint seats. Luckily I know what mint seats look like because I have the hagerty photos and my co-worker just had his seats refurbished in his 71 chevelle ss(I know different seat style, but I know what a quality seat refurbish looks like in person as I store it for him).