Folks Of Interest F**ked In Argentina: Photos Of The Con

Okay, okay...........I have TJJ#3 in my cart right now, waiting on the shifter knob to keep it company..........now about that shifter knob................

 

Even now, I'd be tempted.....

 

I haven't seen the article although my pal slick50 pickup up the book for me at the roundup I haven't been over to see him yet.

What's the story? HRP

 

@Ryan - When I read the article in TJJ #3, I kept wanting to see better "photographic evidence" (not just the B&W photos of the Bill Johansson e-mails) ... so thanks for sharing these (albeit low-rez) color images with us.

 

90k worth of cars bought without putting hands on them?
Thats the gist I'm getting... asking to be burned at that rate...

 

Thought ths was going to be anothr GP Bugatti scam story. The make repops down ther and try to sell them as real ones. Bob

 

one can't really match the prices of those cars (without seeing them in person) to those pictures.....but aren't some of those prices similar to state side cars in similar condition? the 36 looked pretty nice.....they don't look like any were right hand drive or phaetons...what gives? I know; get a copy of "TJJ#3

 

That Bill Johansson Guy should sleep with one eye open....for the rest of his days. What a F**cker!

 

We need more info Ryan! Based on that last picture in The Jalopy Journal #3 and the way you left us hangin my mind tells me someone took care of this con. At least that would make for a somewhat happy ending to the story.

 

Yes , have heard of the scams this guy ran, but it wasn't just Americans he screwed , some Kiwis got burned as well. Obviously the guy is keeping a very low (snake belly) profile.

 

I've been dealing in cars my whole adult life and my rule of thumb has always been to know somebody that knows the person I'm buying from.Or an awesome Ebay reputation.Even the car in my avatar was bought over the phone from halfway across the country because of the owner being friends with a guy who was friends with my dad.I've bought and sold a lot of cars that way and never had a problem.I can smell a rat halfway across the planet.

 

The 34 body in my avatar came out of Argentina,it was rough but I knew that and a friend of a friend looked at it before I paid any money.Just my own expierience.Have heard a lot of scam stories too.

 

Sometimes, having a lot of money, sucks common sense right out of ya.

 

Read the story and my statement may seem simple minded, but often times true. What's the difference between someone falling for "too good to be true" and "stupid rich guy" dumping out his wallet at the deal of the century? 1K...5K.....100K? Not trying to bitch, just really wanting to know the difference.

 

Not what I was eluding to, but thanks for a little more clarification on the buyers state of mind or intent. Sometimes, when my wallets feeling fat, I tend to jump without thinking things all the way through or maybe ignoring a bit of info. I'm just a regular guy, but I've known wealthy folks that have done it. Bottom line is, it sucks when it happens.

 

This is the first I have heard of this con. There are a lot of cars in New Zealand that came out of Argentina, there was a guy that bought a heap of them over around 20 years ago. A mate has a 36 roadster that came from there only a few years ago. I have never heard of "Bill" but could make some enquiries if it would help.
Russell

 

Not sure if said roadster was on list A or B? Not that it really matters.....
I dropped a check in a mailbox once for $8000. The check went to Austin, and I got a 64 Belair. While waiting for the car, I thought to myself - what the fuck was I thinking???

If it had never shown up, I would only be able to blame myself and I wouldn't expect anyone to feel sorry for me.

 

The grammar Nazis are watching.....

 

Does this mean I'm not banned?

 

There are a few people down here that have been burnt in similar deals as well, most likely not by the aforementioned suspect(s). They all lost various sums of money for cars that never materialised from the other side of the world. If it's too good to be true, then it really is too good and best passed. Human nature is that we believe it will never happen to us but when you trust someone you don't know, unfortunate things do happen and once they have your money, they're happy. Multiply this a few times and it's quite a lucrative scam from their point of view.

 

I havent read the artical in the Journal, but if the thief is down here, he could be found. NZ is a small country, hopefully he shriveled up and died.

 

He was definitely around in NZ 20 years or so ago - I remember being shown a pile of pictures of cars that could be bought through Bill back then, but his reputation wasn't good even then so I passed.