Re: [Chrysler300] Lake Tahoe controversy

[<fabe7445@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   All,

   First, John deserves credit for bringing this matter to the attention of the membership, discussion
   will no doubt be lively.
   
   From my point of view I know there are gut feelings that will be expressed but we should look at
   the situation as rationally as possible.

   What are the main differences between a Windsor and a letter car ?

   Frame - the same
   Suspension, wheels and tires - different but easily changed
   engine and tranny - different but easily changed
   Dog house - different but easily changed
   Side trim - different but easily changed
   Main body - same
   Interior - totally different but changeable

   By taking a Windsor and changing all the necessary items you have an automobile identical to
   a 300 as it came off the assembly line EXCEPT the serial number.

   Therefore it is a Windsor in 300 clothes. Do we need an * category ?

   If I had mega $ and purchased a Barrett Jackson 300 and later found out it was the serial number
   tag changed there would be litigation or an old fashion a--  whuppin.

   By the way, I am building a 70 Challenger  T/A convertible. It will be a clone even tho it has a 
   factory 340 T/A six pack engine (casting numbers correct).

   Jim Faber in sunny and 70F South Carolina
> 
> From: "John J. Hertog" <crossram@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2006/04/04 Tue PM 07:46:19 EDT
> To: 'rob kern' <robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,  Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Chrysler300] Lake Tahoe controversy
> 
> Rob Kern, 
> 
> Your question is certainly a valid one and deserves an answer.  I am going
> to try to formulate one. Perhaps it will clear the air somewhat, and the
> membership should be aware of the issue at hand. Unfortunately, this
> listserver only reached about 400 out of the 1000 total members - too bad
> all cannot be included.  So here goes, and bear with me 'cause it ain't
> simple. 
> 
> I would also like to take this opportunity to invite Mr. Michael Burke,
> whose yellow Windsor / alleged 300 is the subject of this controversy, to
> set the record straight. He's on this listserver too. 
> 
> For many years, the subject of revinned / rebodied / fake / cloned 300's has
> reared its ugly head. Some decades ago, David Glassel, in Texas, specialized
> in chopping up hardtops, be they NewYorkers, Saratoga's or 300's, and
> creating fake convertibles. He did this for profit. He switched VIN tags
> from one shell to another; he was caught. The Club was involved in a
> lawsuit. Glassel lost. This was before the time I became involved in this
> Club. 
> 
> Many Glassel cars (fake converts) still exist today. Unfortunately for our
> Swedish friends, most of them are in their country. But there are also
> plenty in the USA. The Club has compiled a list of those cars. 
> 
> A couple-three years ago, some of the officers and directors became
> concerned that our Club did not have a policy to deal with such fake cars.
> Namely, if one should show up at a meet, how should we treat it?  As a real
> car? Give it an award? Judge it in Concours? Without an official Club policy
> in place, without any rule, we felt that we couldn't really deal with such
> cars in an appropriate manner. I then proposed an amendment to the Club's
> constitution, whereby any vehicle known to the Club as having had its VIN
> tag switched / tampered with / replaced would NOT be recognized by our Club.
> 
> 
> At the same time that this amendment was proposed and being discussed,
> Michael Burke was building himself a "clone" 300F. Unfortunate timing. Mr.
> Burke took a very, very rusty white 300F hardtop purchased from Bob
> Donatucci, and took a nice, solid 1960 Windsor bodyshell; he transferred all
> of the 300F components to the Windsor, including the VIN tag. He painted it
> yellow and started to drive it to meets, beginning with the one in
> Allentown, PA. ; please note that this car is NOT Michael Burke's original
> yellow 300F, that he used to drive to meets in years past. It's another
> vehicle entirely. 
> 
> At first, Mr. Burke was quite open about what he had done - used a '60
> Windsor to rebody his 300F . Then, all of a sudden, the crap hit the fan. An
> officer of this Club didn't want to include the Burke car in the official
> car count at the following Detroit, Michigan meet, stating: "it's not a real
> 300". 
> 
> Fast forward to the Tahoe meet. By now Michael Burke has heard that there is
> a proposed amendment to "outlaw" clone cars. He takes it personally
> (whereas, actually, the amendment had been proposed way before anyone ever
> got wind of the Burke clone car). Various threats are made. In the interest
> of keeping the peace and not spoiling Mr. Jett's wonderful meet, the
> Executive Committee and Mr. Burke agreed, prior to the business meeting, to
> let the matter drop entirely.  Subsequently, Mr. Burke accepted a Long
> Distance award for having driven to the meet in his yellow '60 Windsor (to
> which a 300F Vin tag is attached). 
> 
> And that, Mr. Kern, is my version of the facts and my explanation and my
> reply to your question. You and your fellow members certainly deserve it. 
> 
> I would like to quickly add the following personal comment:  as per our
> Constitution, our Club is dedicated to the PRESERVATION and RESTORATION  of
> 1955 thru 1965 Chrysler 300 Letter Series, and the 300 Hurst.  
> 
> As an officer of this Club, I do believe that our Club should encourage the
> restoration of authentic cars, and discourage rebodying and the switching of
> VIN tags.  I believe that the vast majority of our members are good, honest
> people who own real, authentic, correct automobiles. Do you all want to
> recognize cloned / rebodied fake cars ? 
> 
> Simply put, I believe that the Chysler 300 Club International, Inc. should
> NOT RECOGNIZE any vehicle whose VIN tag is known to have been tampered with
> and/or switched to another bodyshell. Michael Burke, of course, opposes such
> a rule. That's were we stand today. Status quo. 
> 
> John Hertog 
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> 
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