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Vintage-car deception on eBay alleged against Obetz man
Monday, June 27, 2011 03:11 PM
Updated: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 12:15 AM
By Stephanie Czekalinski
The Columbus Dispatch
This eBay ad photo purported to show a 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16, valued at about $155,000. Only 200 were made.
This eBay ad photo purported to show a 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16, valued at about $155,000. Only 200 were made.
When a rare 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16 popped up for sale on eBay, classic-car enthusiasts took notice.
But soon, those Z16 fans were contacting eBay to complain. By the end of April, the post from central Ohio was pulled amid questions about the vehicle's authenticity.
Then someone tipped the State Highway Patrol, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
Yesterday, Bobby Patton, 58, of 2238 Bridlewood Blvd. in Obetz, was indicted on four felony counts. O'Brien alleges that Patton tried to pass off a 1965 Chevy Chevelle SS for the higher-end Z16 model.
The "black book" value of a Chevelle SS is approximately $28,000, according to the prosecutor's office. The Z16 model - considered by some collectors to be Chevrolet's most-significant "muscle car" ever - is valued at about $155,000.
"It looks like Mr. Patton spent a lot of time to make it appear that it was something it wasn't - and something that was a lot more expensive," said O'Brien.
The Z16 - officially the 1965 Malibu SS 396, but called the Z16 by collectors - has more horsepower than the Chevelle SS and is much rarer, said Steve Moskowitz of Hershey, Pa., executive director of the Antique Automobile Club of America.
Only about 200 Z16s were made, according to the website www.z16chevelle.com. With the exception of a few prototypes, all the Z16s were built in February, March or April 1965.
Patton listed the asking price for the doctored Chevelle at $100,000, according to the prosecutor's office. A picture with his ad showed the car with an array of trophies.
The post also included pictures of a cowl identification tag and VIN plate, both of which appeared to be handmade. The car's original title also appeared to be altered, O'Brien said.
Collectors noted that such a rare vehicle more likely would be sold at auction.
Patton was charged with one count each of tampering with records, possession of criminal tools, telecommunication fraud and attempted criminal simulation.
If convicted of all the charges, he could get eight years in prison, prosecutors said. He's scheduled to appear in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on July 13.
Patton couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.
Cloned vehicles, which are customized or rebuilt to resemble different ones that are more valuable, are common, but it's rare that someone would try to sell one as the real deal, said Moskowitz, who is not familiar with Patton's case.
"If it was done to defraud people, that's unconscionable," he said.
Vintage-car deception on eBay alleged against Obetz man
Monday, June 27, 2011 03:11 PM
Updated: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 12:15 AM
By Stephanie Czekalinski
The Columbus Dispatch
This eBay ad photo purported to show a 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16, valued at about $155,000. Only 200 were made.
This eBay ad photo purported to show a 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16, valued at about $155,000. Only 200 were made.
When a rare 1965 Chevy Chevelle Z16 popped up for sale on eBay, classic-car enthusiasts took notice.
But soon, those Z16 fans were contacting eBay to complain. By the end of April, the post from central Ohio was pulled amid questions about the vehicle's authenticity.
Then someone tipped the State Highway Patrol, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
Yesterday, Bobby Patton, 58, of 2238 Bridlewood Blvd. in Obetz, was indicted on four felony counts. O'Brien alleges that Patton tried to pass off a 1965 Chevy Chevelle SS for the higher-end Z16 model.
The "black book" value of a Chevelle SS is approximately $28,000, according to the prosecutor's office. The Z16 model - considered by some collectors to be Chevrolet's most-significant "muscle car" ever - is valued at about $155,000.
"It looks like Mr. Patton spent a lot of time to make it appear that it was something it wasn't - and something that was a lot more expensive," said O'Brien.
The Z16 - officially the 1965 Malibu SS 396, but called the Z16 by collectors - has more horsepower than the Chevelle SS and is much rarer, said Steve Moskowitz of Hershey, Pa., executive director of the Antique Automobile Club of America.
Only about 200 Z16s were made, according to the website www.z16chevelle.com. With the exception of a few prototypes, all the Z16s were built in February, March or April 1965.
Patton listed the asking price for the doctored Chevelle at $100,000, according to the prosecutor's office. A picture with his ad showed the car with an array of trophies.
The post also included pictures of a cowl identification tag and VIN plate, both of which appeared to be handmade. The car's original title also appeared to be altered, O'Brien said.
Collectors noted that such a rare vehicle more likely would be sold at auction.
Patton was charged with one count each of tampering with records, possession of criminal tools, telecommunication fraud and attempted criminal simulation.
If convicted of all the charges, he could get eight years in prison, prosecutors said. He's scheduled to appear in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on July 13.
Patton couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.
Cloned vehicles, which are customized or rebuilt to resemble different ones that are more valuable, are common, but it's rare that someone would try to sell one as the real deal, said Moskowitz, who is not familiar with Patton's case.
"If it was done to defraud people, that's unconscionable," he said.