Post by 65cuda on Sept 2, 2007 19:54:42 GMT -5
This poor guy got shafted, buying a car on ebay.
Please beware of any cars being sold by user tanthny25. He is a very good scammer. He had 1970 chevelle ss 454 listed on ebay. The car looked good in the pics but were all taken from a distance. He described it as being in very good condition, and upon talking to him was told that it was his personal car, and that it drove and handled wonderful. I asked the usual questions such as was there any rust, were the body panels straight?, were there any oil of fluid leaks, and how did it run. He convinced me that it was a great car, very solid, with no rust or leaks. He also assured me that it was a true ss 454.
After I purchased the car, I contacted him to arrange to go to Indiana to get it. I was going to use a tow dolly and tow it home rather than drive it since I didn't know the car. Well Todd, (the seller) insisted that it was too nice of a car to tow on a dolly, and offered to have it shipped to me very cheap. The price I was offered was too good to pass up, so stupidly I said ok.
Well, when the car arrived it was a sad day for me. It would barely run, had no brakes, was leaking fluids from everywhere, and had rust repairs from one end to the other. And of course He insisted that I transfer the funds to his bank before he shipped the car.
Ebay was no help, nor was square trade. I talked to my attorney but was advised that pursuing legal action would cost thousands of dollars and I still might not get my cash back. I threatened Todd with legal against him because he sent me the title open. In otherwards, his name was not associated with the car at all.
I am now in the process of getting the car drivable. So far here is what we have found,
The rearend came out of it the first time I tried to drive it. The rearend had been replaced, and was never refilled with grease. It also was not a posi-trac unit as Todd stated.
The rear brakes were never refilled with fluid, and bled out after the rearend change.
The whole underside of the car had been undercoated heavily to hide rust. Upon inspection, we found rust wholes in the front floorpans.
The mechanic working on it for me says that this car has been sitting for several years, more than likely in a junk yard.
The engine was pulled out, painted and replaced. All the gaskets on the engine are dried out, and it leaks oil and anti freeze from everywhere.
The transmission is a turbo 350 and not the 400 stated by Todd. It too is dried out, leaks very badly, and is in need of a rebuild.
pretty much every body panel on the car has been filled with bondo to hide rust. Even the hood and decklid.
I paid about 17k for a car in need of a total restoration, and now am pretty sure that Todd sold me a clone, and not a true ss.
Any info anyone can give me as to how to tell if it is a true ss would be appreciated. It does have front disk brakes, the correct gauges, the correct sway bar in the rear, a working cowl induction hood and all the badges.
My advice would be unless you are buying a totally restored car, go look at it before sending all the cash. at least if you just send a deposit, you will be out only that.
By the way, tanthny25's name is Todd Stewart from Indiana. I also found out that he goes by Troy. Please beware of this seller.
11/18/06 update- We tore down the engine for a rebuild only to find that the block was cracked, so basically all I have for 17k is a rusty body. Never buy a car on ebay without going and checking it out first. I should have paid a deposit, drove up and looked at the car, at least then I would have only been out a deposit!!
Please beware of any cars being sold by user tanthny25. He is a very good scammer. He had 1970 chevelle ss 454 listed on ebay. The car looked good in the pics but were all taken from a distance. He described it as being in very good condition, and upon talking to him was told that it was his personal car, and that it drove and handled wonderful. I asked the usual questions such as was there any rust, were the body panels straight?, were there any oil of fluid leaks, and how did it run. He convinced me that it was a great car, very solid, with no rust or leaks. He also assured me that it was a true ss 454.
After I purchased the car, I contacted him to arrange to go to Indiana to get it. I was going to use a tow dolly and tow it home rather than drive it since I didn't know the car. Well Todd, (the seller) insisted that it was too nice of a car to tow on a dolly, and offered to have it shipped to me very cheap. The price I was offered was too good to pass up, so stupidly I said ok.
Well, when the car arrived it was a sad day for me. It would barely run, had no brakes, was leaking fluids from everywhere, and had rust repairs from one end to the other. And of course He insisted that I transfer the funds to his bank before he shipped the car.
Ebay was no help, nor was square trade. I talked to my attorney but was advised that pursuing legal action would cost thousands of dollars and I still might not get my cash back. I threatened Todd with legal against him because he sent me the title open. In otherwards, his name was not associated with the car at all.
I am now in the process of getting the car drivable. So far here is what we have found,
The rearend came out of it the first time I tried to drive it. The rearend had been replaced, and was never refilled with grease. It also was not a posi-trac unit as Todd stated.
The rear brakes were never refilled with fluid, and bled out after the rearend change.
The whole underside of the car had been undercoated heavily to hide rust. Upon inspection, we found rust wholes in the front floorpans.
The mechanic working on it for me says that this car has been sitting for several years, more than likely in a junk yard.
The engine was pulled out, painted and replaced. All the gaskets on the engine are dried out, and it leaks oil and anti freeze from everywhere.
The transmission is a turbo 350 and not the 400 stated by Todd. It too is dried out, leaks very badly, and is in need of a rebuild.
pretty much every body panel on the car has been filled with bondo to hide rust. Even the hood and decklid.
I paid about 17k for a car in need of a total restoration, and now am pretty sure that Todd sold me a clone, and not a true ss.
Any info anyone can give me as to how to tell if it is a true ss would be appreciated. It does have front disk brakes, the correct gauges, the correct sway bar in the rear, a working cowl induction hood and all the badges.
My advice would be unless you are buying a totally restored car, go look at it before sending all the cash. at least if you just send a deposit, you will be out only that.
By the way, tanthny25's name is Todd Stewart from Indiana. I also found out that he goes by Troy. Please beware of this seller.
11/18/06 update- We tore down the engine for a rebuild only to find that the block was cracked, so basically all I have for 17k is a rusty body. Never buy a car on ebay without going and checking it out first. I should have paid a deposit, drove up and looked at the car, at least then I would have only been out a deposit!!
