[Healeys] eBay body/Vin plate auctions

[Patrick & Caroline Quinn]

Hello

 

I agree with Steve in that there is nothing illegal about selling, buying
and using tags. 

 

We all know how the prices of BN2s have escalated as of late and over the
last couple of months I know of two rusted hulks of chassis have been bought
purely for their tags alone and one of these was then shipped half way round
the world.

 

Can't see any difference between buying a set of tags alone and buying a
tagged hulk.

 

What I do think is patently wrong is to have a known car, then fit parts and
a chassis plate from a more desirable (pricey) model and then claiming it is
the more expensive car. Of the 640 100Ms built I am sure there are 1,347
left.

 

Hoo Roo

 

Patrick Quinn

Blue Mountains, Australia

 

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
BJ8Healeys
Sent: Wednesday, 21 June 2017 10:08 AM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] eBay body/Vin plate auctions

 

It probably isn't illegal to sell the tags, and I've seen others come up for
sale on eBay, but I believe most state DMVs would look dimly on someone
buying the tags to use on a car they didn't belong to.  That said, the
Healey community would be astounded to know how many BJ8s alone are running
around now with tags from other cars -- even those from "high-dollar"
restorations, and how many owners don't know that until I tell them.  I
spend a lot of my time as BJ8 Registrar trying to help people sort out
scrambled identities.  Depending on which state or province the owner lives
in, it can be simple or impossible to correct an incorrect VIN.

When I was trying to help one guy in North Carolina correct the VIN and
title of a BJ8 with a BJ7 VIN plate from New York, I was told by the DMV
representative that it is a felony to remove a tag, and only a
manufacturer's representative can do so.  The laws obviously are not written
to accommodate cars that haven't been manufactured in 50 years.

 

What amazes me is the tag seller thinks he can get $500 for an original tag,
when it is easy to buy a blank and have it stamped with whatever number you
want for just a few bucks.  The DMV guy almost went apoplectic when I told
him that.  From my point of view as keeper of the BJ8 Registry, I'm glad the
tags showed up on eBay.  They are probably the only clue to cars that went
to Healey Heaven long ago.

 

Steve Byers

HBJ8L/36666

BJ8 Registry

AHCA Delegate at Large

Havelock, NC  

 

 

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob
Spidell
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2017 6:25 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] eBay body/Vin plate auctions

 

Wow ... Wouldn't have thought this was legal (or is it?).

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