here ya go Ted

From what I understand...

I reached out to the guy who posted the Samba ad. He said his name was Steve / Steven. I was working with him to learn more about how it was titled. He got back to me and said it was a 78-79 Speedster. At this point my interest waned.

This afternoon (Saturday) I received a note from Billy, to let me know that the car which was listed on the Samba was actually HIS car and that the guy who listed the ad (Steve) - didn't actually own it. He (Steve) was in dealings to buy the car from the current owner (Billy). 

At this point I figured - there are one too many people involved in this horse trade. That and the 78 Speedster title = headache.  I thanked Steve Gui for his time.

In my confusion - I forgot to thank Billy for letting me know about the devils three way I was mixed up in.  I've moved on.

I encourage Billy to post his car here and or on CL. I think it's a nice project and wish it were titled as a 73 or older VW.

I think I summed that up right.  Billy, what say you?

Ted

So this Steven was trying to sell the car before he had closed the purchase of it from Billy. Is that it?

Doh. I didn't see this. Yup. Must have been.

T

Yup. That's what I gathered / have been led to understand.  

Steve was setting up the mother of all flips. Buy the car from Billy... sell it to someone without really doing a thing. Meanwhile I was still trying to learn about the title / the vehicle vin, and possibly (if things with the VIN checked out) have someone look at it. But we hadn't got that far yet. 

Billy reached out to let me know he still owned the car because he didn't want to see James or anyone make a trip to try and see the car, when it was still in his possession, 6 hours from Huston.  Billy, That shows good character in my book. 

Ted

Ted...would it occur to you that Steve may have read your well over 100 posts on this list over the last two weeks and sorta..." saw you coming " ? You may have bit but just not get hooked this time. Maybe something to think about when someone else advised patience last week ? Just thinkin'....:-)

It took me about three months to find my deal and I had to travel from Ottawa, Canada to Boise, Idaho to get the deal done. I did have a flying friend in Boise that was able to get over and check the car out before I committed. There's plenty of good people on this list in a variety of locations that can check things out for you too. Relax, Amigo....it will happen.

Nope. That never occurred to me. Kind of embarrassing to read that, even if it may not have been the case. 

I had a long talk with another Speedster guy last night and I was just telling BobV that I'm kind of done looking for out of state cars.

If something comes along, great - but clearly I'm running in circles looking like an ass. 

Ted

in all fairness to Ted someone refered him to the car on samba

The car is actually titled as 79

ASVE in KS which is liker cali's SPCN

Ted, this might be what you are looking for...?

 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster (repilica) - $15000 (bellingham)

1956 Porsche Speedster 356 (replica). Black on black. Manual, dual carb. Assembled in Seattle. Paint new in 2005. New top 2005 (never been used). New windshield in 2006. $2,500 in brakes, clutch, and engine work in 2006. New clutch cable (2012). 53, xxx miles on car. Runs and drives great. 2nd owner. 
In process of painting dash (gloss black) and installing new steering wheel. 
Asking 15,000 obo.
-Jeff for more information and pictures.
in Geneva Neighborhood
253-224-6435

• Location: bellingham
• do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers

Ted's been in contact with this guy and I've offered to drive down and look at it.

Hello Steve,

Thanks for reaching out. As ALB stated - I've contacted the seller. This car does have a California reassigned VIN # fixed to the inner door jamb. The odd part is that the car is currently registered as a 78 Porsche in Washington. This could be an odd twist for CA registration. The photos  you see of the car in the ad are from 2008.

The seller, has sent me 10-14 new photos. The car has acquired quite a few more bumps and bruises now. For example - the dash is flat black and partially sanded down for a respray. Interior door jambs have  lot of overspray on them. The trunk and engine area are a mix of  flat black / zolitone / fake rock looking paint. 914 gauges. The top needs to be restitched or reattached to the header bow. Nothing major stands out. He's had some recent work done to the car, with receipts. Besides the registration and the shipping, everything else seems cosmetic. The missing seal around the motor is kind of a bummer

Yes, ALB offered to go have a look. It's quite the haul for him, so I wanted to figure out the VIN issue and make sure I was 100% serious before I have him lock up his valuable time. Kind of like I did with the Malibu car. Once I was 100% sure it was a car I would buy if it 'checked out', then I took Jim up on his offer. I don't want to burn ALBs time if the CA VIN has it listed as a 78 anything. Seems like a smart move to me.

So as not to seem like I'm "toying with the seller", I have been 100% up front with him since day one. I think my first words to him were "Thanks for taking the time to chat. First and foremost how is the car registered? Anything other than a 73 or older VW?"  

Might seem silly but the year of the pan and/or a VW vin are critical for me. Having a difficult time registering any car is a deal killer for me.  Conversely he is also pretty firm on what he thinks the car is worth. He didn't budge much off of 15,000. 

Thanks for thinking of me. I'm going to continue to see how the VIN checks out. If that seems like it's doable, I'll see what the next steps are. Meanwhile the seller is showing the car to local prospects. We've both been up front with each other. I'm in NO WAY toying with him or locking his car up in shenanigans.

After this one, I'm done looking at out of state cars. If something turns up locally in my price range, great. If not great.

Ted

"California reassigned VIN # fixed to the inner door jamb." That sounds like a SPCNS registered car.  Does it look like this?  If it is then someone here has brought back in to the state a previously registered car and can walk you through the process. BTW, I think the cut-off is 1976 and older.

is it the white older IM you're talking about or another one because I emailed asking for more pics of the white older IM and someone named Guy got back to me

Morning Art,

It's a little bit different than that:

The little number on the left (Control ID#) reads 203825.

Any DMV sleuths out there?

Ted

Ted,  Not sure about that one.  A couple of comments, interesting the last 3 digits are the same in both cases.  Also the abbreviation for California, has only been CA, for a few decades, prior to federalization, of 2 letters per state, California was, "Calif."

And one last observation although not a strong case but worth to mention, the picture of the engine looks to be a generator.  VW bugs switched to alternators in 1973.

Yup. I think it's totally legit registration plate. I just need to figure out what California listed as the 'born on date'. According to the seller, it's been in Seattle since the late 70's. I though he said '78, but I can't find an actual mention of that in our correspondence.

I will call DMV on Monday to see if they can provide more information.

Ted

Ted.

That one looks pretty good!  You better get to it before I do!

Ha! ALB is going to look at the black one for me on Tuesday. If the vin checks out and if ALB gives it a thumbs up -  I promise to buy a set of cruzin windows from you.

(I'll let you know how it goes with the DMV/VIN as well as what ALB says on Tuesday...)

Ted

hope it comes together for you TEd looks pretty decent.  they go quick I snagged the white one in Costa Mesa two weeks ago for $7500- turn out pretty decent well lots of surprises that is all cosmetic but the things that don't show up in pictures but being here on the "right" coast ha doesn't give me the luxury of eye balling it funny don't know if you remember but it didn't have a top on in the pictures because the frame had never been attached well the day it was delivered last week we were in the midst of getting a foot of snow luckily I got it into a garage very quickly, anyway hope this is the one!!!!  

Jane

OH! You snatched up the white one with the red interior? Nice. You were quick on the draw.

It's a small little speedster world, isn't it?

I'll let you know how it goes with Al's inspection and the DMV.

Take care,

Ted

it is indeed!!  I was only joking about the black one though I sincerely hope it works out well for you it sure looks nice.  The white one I got was a lot rougher than the pictures revealed not that the seller didn't didn't disclose anything I just mean paint flaws etc that can't be detected through pictures that aren't high resolution and a CA buyer would have had to go through the smog process which he didn't want to do I don't know anything about that here in PA but he was saying it's a real pain anyway this black one looks a lot nicer and I sure hope everything checks out because maybe it's me but there doesn't seem to be as many for sale lately.  Just remember as you surely know if it isn't this one it's only because there's another one waiting out there for you good luck !

Jane

Ted ;

Dialog sent.