Totaled

[jac1976]

I need help finding my Porsche.

On March 25, I was involved in crash while on the Hill Country Rallye. My 1973.5 T Targa was totaled. The car was towed to a yard. A few weeks later I received a notice from the lot owner indicating that he could take a lien on the vehicle if the towing and storage fees were not paid. I immediately called and offered to pay and was told the letter I received he was "required by the state" to send and not to worry that my insurance would cover it. My insurance adjuster subsequently visited the lot and evaluated the damage. I received a second notice and was again reassured by the lot operator. I explained that it may be some time until I was able to make the hour and a half trip to the lot as I was still immobilized. Additionally, I wanted to bring my mechanic with me and assess whether I should take the agreed-upon value from my insurer or buy the vehicle back and part it out. At that point, I would turn it over or have it brought back to a storage facility that my wife was getting. Weeks later I get a call from the lot operator asking when I would be out to retrieve the car. I told him my wife, a teacher, was finishing the school year in a few weeks and would have the time to secure the storage as I had decided to keep the vehicle and I was arranging to have the vehicle transported. I again offered to pay and he said we would settle up when I retrieved the vehicle.

Within a few weeks of this conversation, I get a text message about my car from fellow Pelican nameisbauer who witnessed my wreck first-hand. He was surprised I sold the car. So was I. In fact, I thought he was joking until he sent a link to Beverly Hills Car Club featuring my car. A flurry of phone calls followed where I was told essentially to go f myself by the lot operator and that the car was purchased "legally" and "above the table" by BHCC. Despite explaining the family history of the car and its importance to me, far beyond its monetary value, I was met with "this is a business." And I understand that. After trying to negotiate a better price than the $29k + that BHCC was asking, the car was again sold. They told me that cannot reveal where the car ended up.

As it stands today, I am trying to locate the car. Additionally, upon the advice and urging of attorney friends, I am pursuing the lot operator who "induced" (attorneys' words, not mine) to believe we had an understanding. Although I felt he was duplicitous, I honestly believed I had no recourse since I received written notice. This remains to be seen. Nevertheless, I will likely never get the car back. I simply would like some memento (the aftermarket shift knob or original dealer license frame, etc.) of the car, as my dad purchased it in 1973 and it has been in my family since that time.

Work, family, self-pity among other factors have figured into the equation since that time. I had essentially stepped away from Porsches. Hell, I haven't been on Pelican since that time. Upon dusting off an old iPad for my kid, I set to close a number of tabs on the web explorer...there were a number open to Pelican, among other Porsche sites. A few days later, I am on the front porch with my 3 year old boy. Our postman walks up and asks how my knee is and notes that I seem to be getting around much better. My boy chimes in that the "doctor fixed it with screws." He continues to say, "he wrecked his Porsche, but it's being fixed at the shop."

My emotions range from pissed off with the fate of my car to excitement about getting back in a Porsche. Wrecking a family heirloom was bad enough. Having it taken and profited on is a whole other story. At the end of the day, I am happy to be alive. I am also grateful all the guys at the HCR event, particularly those on that drive that morning who called 911 (nine one one) directed them to our remote site, sat with me until the paramedics arrived, and even took time out of a beautiful day to drive in central Texas to check on me and bring me a sandwich in the emergency room. Thank you.

I don't hold out a lot of hope for recovering much of anything. This may just be an exercise of catharsis. Any advice and all comments are welcome. I am currently at work and will later provided the VIN and engine numbers. Quickly though, the car is an original matching numbers silver 1973.5 911T Targa. It's most notable feature is that it looks like it hit a tree head on. Which it did. The engine tins are powder coated black and there is/was some paracord in place of a broken air box strap.

More to follow. Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks for allowing me to vent.

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by jac1976

I need help finding my Porsche.

On March 25, I was involved in crash while on the Hill Country Rallye. My 1973.5 T Targa was totaled. The car was towed to a yard. A few weeks later I received a notice from the lot owner indicating that he could take a lien on the vehicle if the towing and storage fees were not paid. I immediately called and offered to pay and was told the letter I received he was "required by the state" to send and not to worry that my insurance would cover it. My insurance adjuster subsequently visited the lot and evaluated the damage. I received a second notice and was again reassured by the lot operator. I explained that it may be some time until I was able to make the hour and a half trip to the lot as I was still immobilized. Additionally, I wanted to bring my mechanic with me and assess whether I should take the agreed-upon value from my insurer or buy the vehicle back and part it out. At that point, I would turn it over or have it brought back to a storage facility that my wife was getting. Weeks later I get a call from the lot operator asking when I would be out to retrieve the car. I told him my wife, a teacher, was finishing the school year in a few weeks and would have the time to secure the storage as I had decided to keep the vehicle and I was arranging to have the vehicle transported. I again offered to pay and he said we would settle up when I retrieved the vehicle.

Within a few weeks of this conversation, I get a text message about my car from fellow Pelican nameisbauer who witnessed my wreck first-hand. He was surprised I sold the car. So was I. In fact, I thought he was joking until he sent a link to Beverly Hills Car Club featuring my car. A flurry of phone calls followed where I was told essentially to go f myself by the lot operator and that the car was purchased "legally" and "above the table" by BHCC. Despite explaining the family history of the car and its importance to me, far beyond its monetary value, I was met with "this is a business." And I understand that. After trying to negotiate a better price than the $29k + that BHCC was asking, the car was again sold. They told me that cannot reveal where the car ended up.

As it stands today, I am trying to locate the car. Additionally, upon the advice and urging of attorney friends, I am pursuing the lot operator who "induced" (attorneys' words, not mine) to believe we had an understanding. Although I felt he was duplicitous, I honestly believed I had no recourse since I received written notice. This remains to be seen. Nevertheless, I will likely never get the car back. I simply would like some memento (the aftermarket shift knob or original dealer license frame, etc.) of the car, as my dad purchased it in 1973 and it has been in my family since that time.

Work, family, self-pity among other factors have figured into the equation since that time. I had essentially stepped away from Porsches. Hell, I haven't been on Pelican since that time. Upon dusting off an old iPad for my kid, I set to close a number of tabs on the web explorer...there were a number open to Pelican, among other Porsche sites. A few days later, I am on the front porch with my 3 year old boy. Our postman walks up and asks how my knee is and notes that I seem to be getting around much better. My boy chimes in that the "doctor fixed it with screws." He continues to say, "he wrecked his Porsche, but it's being fixed at the shop."

My emotions range from pissed off with the fate of my car to excitement about getting back in a Porsche. Wrecking a family heirloom was bad enough. Having it taken and profited on is a whole other story. At the end of the day, I am happy to be alive. I am also grateful all the guys at the HCR event, particularly those on that drive that morning who called 911 (nine one one) directed them to our remote site, sat with me until the paramedics arrived, and even took time out of a beautiful day to drive in central Texas to check on me and bring me a sandwich in the emergency room. Thank you.

I don't hold out a lot of hope for recovering much of anything. This may just be an exercise of catharsis. Any advice and all comments are welcome. I am currently at work and will later provided the VIN and engine numbers. Quickly though, the car is an original matching numbers silver 1973.5 911T Targa. It's most notable feature is that it looks like it hit a tree head on. Which it did. The engine tins are powder coated black and there is/was some paracord in place of a broken air box strap.

More to follow. Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks for allowing me to vent.

If your insurance "totaled the car" wouldn't you just get paid the amount it was valued at and then the car belongs to the insurance company? And if so, why are you pursuing? Sounds like you wanted to do a buyback?

[T77911S]

sounds like that lot owner has a nice scam

" don't worry about paying me" once the time is up the car is his.

people suck

try a car fax. doesn't that show who all owned a car?

[LIRS6]

Sorry for your experiences, it may help to post VIN # in case some sympathetic Pelican has the car in their possession, and is willing to accommodate you.

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by T77911S

try a car fax. doesn't that show who all owned a car?

No, it shows where the car has been registered, but not usually the owner, if memory serves.

[theiceman]

wow , ripped off by a professional thief in my mind.

[jac1976]

With respect to the insurance. Yes, there was an agreed upon value which I could have been paid and the insurer would then take possession of the car. As it was explained to me, in order to buy back, I would allow the company to “auction” the car and I would be able to match the winning bid which would be subtracted from my agreed upon value. Essentially, I get the car and the balance of the agreed upon value. A few sentimental items excepted, I wanted my mechanic to assess the value of the car in order to decide what bid amount would leave me in the best possible financial position compared to taking the agreed value in total. Further complicating the matter was the fact that 4 weeks following the accident I received a ticket for the accident. I spoke directly with the ticketing officer who, while not witness to the accident, concluded the cause of the accident was excessive speed. As an aside, I am uncertain still what speed is appropriate when hitting a tree head on. Those that witnessed the wreck (and should be noted had a better vantage point and a borderline encyclopedic knowledge of these cars) point to a tie rod failure and provided not only a description of the behavior of the car prior to impact, but also the trajectory and tracks left by the car as evidence. Long and short was that I hired a lawyer to fight the ticket as I 1) didn’t want added insult to injury 2) thought the ticket was dubious and 3) feared what ramifications this might have had on the insurance claim and future insurability. Thus, retaining the car while my case was adjudicated would allow my mechanic or whomever to examine and possibly support my claim. Again, this was all speculation on my part, but I wanted to make sure all of my “i”s were dotted and “t”s were crossed. At the time, with mounting medical bills, a work schedule and income hamstrung by my injury, and uncertainty about the ultimate function of a right knee with a patella that had its remaining 4 pieces held together with screws and wire, I thought I was making a prudent decison. In hind sight, none of this was necessary and ultimately contributed to me losing the car.

Make no mistake, I hold myself accountable from the minute I left the road (possibly even prior for not doing as thorough a check of all systems) until now. There are obvious points where I should have just taken the money or found someone to pick up the car and discounted any of the aforementioned concerns. Hell, I even should have found a way to pay the ridiculous price BHCC was asking for what I felt was still my car. I certainly wish I had as I now sit with no insurance money and no car. Trust me, I have thought about this more than a healthy person should. I never thought I would total the car and I certainly would never abandon the car in a tow lot. I think it is unconscionable that a person can honestly say he thought I wasn’t going to pick up this particular car... and even more inconceivable since he had spoken to me a number of times.

[tobluforu]

Did you not get a dime for the car in the state it was in?

[wildthing]

Yeah you trusted a stranger on a phone call. Sorry to hear it. Can't offer any advice or help. Can't turn back the clock either. If you have pictures, I could be on the lookout for it.

[jac1976]

Not a dime.

[2.7RS]

Is it this one?

https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1973-porsche-911t-targa-c-7355.htm

[2.7RS]

If it was you. So sorry for your loss. Glad you survived.

[proporsche]

good work 2.7RS
..looks like the one ....sorry about the loss....the world is full of crooks...

Ivan

[pmax]

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

If it was you. So sorry for your loss. Glad you survived.

If there’s a silver lining, this is it and that no one was in the passenger seat.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-marketplace-discussion/961619-really-worth-30k-2.html#post9642832

[jac1976]

That's the one. I am also thankful that I was alone.

[realgren]

If that's really the car, I'm so glad you're alive! It looks like a pretty nasty crash.

Best of luck getting the car back.

[SCrescue]

I'm certainly sympathetic to your plight, but I don't understand how the yard owner could legally sell/auction your car under the circumstances you've described without you receiving any compensation from your insurer or from the sale. How is that legally possible?

[jac1976]

I agree and don’t understand either. That is why I have a lawyer involved.

[sugarwood]

Isn't the car legally yours?

1973 and later require a title.
You still have the title?
Isn't the car stolen at this point?
How can BHCC sell a stolen car with no title?
Do you think they sold it with a "no title" clause?

[jac1976]

No, because the lot operator claimed the car was abandoned and was able to take over the title.