I’m pretty worn out with the state of Defender auctions at BaT but I don’t really want to become the “anti-Wagonboytd” troll who dogs out every auction. From rattle-can restorations to outright VIN-swaps there is much deserving of criticism, and that criticism needs a home.
I’ll start this off with a recent one that touches me in all the wrong places.
If this truck is a restoration then I’ll happily eat crow. To my eyes it’s a straight-up VIN swap - there’s nothing original about this thing except the plate riveted to the brake tower. The chassis VIN looks like it was stamped using a punch set from Harbor Freight. I would not have the balls to sell this truck without a lot more evidence if it’s legitimacy. If it was mine and I owned both trucks I could maybe make the argument that I restored the old with the new, and I certainly wouldn’t hand-stamp a VIN. But this stands to be purchased by someone who doesn’t know the story behind it, and that doesn’t sit well with me.
The good news is that they want too damn much for it.
I’ll start this off with a recent one that touches me in all the wrong places.
1985 Land Rover 110 Td5
Bid for the chance to own a 1985 Land Rover 110 Td5 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #26,885.
bringatrailer.com
If this truck is a restoration then I’ll happily eat crow. To my eyes it’s a straight-up VIN swap - there’s nothing original about this thing except the plate riveted to the brake tower. The chassis VIN looks like it was stamped using a punch set from Harbor Freight. I would not have the balls to sell this truck without a lot more evidence if it’s legitimacy. If it was mine and I owned both trucks I could maybe make the argument that I restored the old with the new, and I certainly wouldn’t hand-stamp a VIN. But this stands to be purchased by someone who doesn’t know the story behind it, and that doesn’t sit well with me.
The good news is that they want too damn much for it.