[Pecosbill]

For the record, I have been the victim of a VIN tag swap. Not only was the car not a "true" GTO, but it turns out to have been stolen about 15 years prior to my buying it. Fortunately for me the DOT was unable to locate the previous owner and the court did ultimately award me title to the car. I finished up my restoration and whenever I sell the car the total story will be told. There is no difference whatsoever between this car and a "real" GTO, but a whole lot of would-be buyers will drop off the radar screen because of the car's history. Someone will get a car that's in tip-top shape, is a lot of fun to drive and draws stares and compliments wherever it goes for a good bit less than what the "real thing" would sell for.

But none of that means that what Andre is doing with his car is intentionally trying to defraud anyone. Andre has had this car for 25 years and has no intention of parting with it unless forced to. Rzrektd, you have assumed that Andre is involved in a VIN tag swap without a shred of evidence to support that assumption. You have no idea as to how much of the original body he is using and certainly have no proof that he is just swapping VIN tags and using the Lemans body. Yet even after Andre gave us his assurance that there was no VIN tag swap going on, you continued to question his integrity on the subject. There was no call for that.

This whole matter again brings up the question as to just what comprises a "true" GTO; if the front fender is from a Lemans and the rest from a GTO is the whole car now tainted? No? Well then how about if the Lemans' quarters, fenders and deck lid are used? What if the GTO is broadsided and the whole body is replaced over the original frame and drivetrain? Is that still a goat? This topic has been beaten to death is previous threads on this board without resolution.

As to Andre's comments regarding future claims to having done some of the work on the restoration, I don't see how anyone who read those comments couldn't see that they were in jest.

Rzrektd, your accusations are way out of line as are Bryan's "rich-snobs" comments. (Oh, and by the way, if you'll take the time to read the 1st Amendment you'll find that it only pertains to the government infringing on your freedom of speech, not a private organization. Just an FYI.)

You and Bryan have questioned the integrity and insulted without cause a respected member of this board. There was and is no call for that. My comment "My first inclination was to invite this punk out for an old-fashioned ass-whippiin'" was designed to show my own inner 18 year old coming out, but if you'll take the time to read the entire comment you will see that I at no time called Bryan out, but rather tried to explain away his words as a youthful indiscretion that he will someday look back on and shake his head at his own behavior.

You, on the other hand, appear to be directly calling me out. Yes, my A$$, as you put it, has cashed many checks in my lifetime, more so than you'll ever know, and I can assure you that it is still highly capable of doing so. If you want to come on down to San Antonio and check the balance in my account, by all means do so. Or if that's too far for you, I'll be in Pittsburgh to play in a ball game at PNC on June 10th and will be glad to take up the subject with you at that time.

Let's move this to PM's so that the rest of the PY Forum can get back to enjoying what Andre is posting.