Government Halts Barrett-Jackson Sale of GM Cars

2
1572

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Update: A CorvetteBlogger reader tells us the sale of GM vehicles at Barrett-Jackson is back on. The reversal of the NHTSA sent a wave of applause and high-fives throughout the Palm Beach auction.

We got the news late Thursday evening that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration halted the sale of some of GM’s Heritage Collection Corvettes and other cars due to concerns that buyers may be unaware that cars sold on a scrap title or bill of sale are not to be registered for the street, despite the fact that GM and Barrett-Jackson list a disclaimer that says the same.

Sports Car Market reports:

West Palm Beach, Florida: Midway through Friday’s collector car sale, representatives of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) forced Barrett-Jackson to stop the sale of certain cars from the GM Heritage Fleet. Our sources tell us that this order from NHTSA was completely unexpected; Barrett-Jackson and GM have been extremely careful to note, in written material posted on the cars, which GM cars are sold on “salvage titles” or similar, and cannot be registered. Apparently, despite this, NHTSA is concerned that someone “might try” to register the cars for the street.

GM and Barrett-Jackson are attempting to resolve this so that the cars, which have been heavily publicized and have drawn bidders from across the nation, can be sold. Unfortunately, discussions are hampered by the fact that the relevant NHTSA offices are closed for the day, and reportedly will be closed tomorrow as well.

The disclaimers can be seen on each of the GM Corvettes and cars sold with “scrap” titles or Bill of Sales. The disclaimers read:

THIS IS A CONCEPT VEHICLE. NEITHER GM NOR BARRETT-JACKSON MAKE ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CERTIFIED TO COMPLY WITH ANY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAWS, RULES OR REGULATIONS AND MAY NOT BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADS. THIS VEHICLE WILL BE CONVEYED TO BUYER WITH NO MANUFACTURER STATEMENT OF ORIGIN (MSO) OR TITLE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A COMPLETE VIN. SOLD ON BILL OF SALE ONLY.
The Government intervention Thursday evening halted the sale of 18 GM cars including two Corvettes:
  • Lot #57 – 2005 Corvette C6 Coupe Test Mule
  • Lot #57.1 – 1988 Corvette Twin Turbo Coupe


Source:
Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction

Related:
Corvette Auction: GM to Sell Part of Heritage Collection
Auction Results: 1988 35th Anniversary Corvette Sells For Record High
Corvette Auction: 2009 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Preview

Technorati Tags:
| | | | | | | | | | | |



-

2 COMMENTS

  1. The sale is back on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was at the aucion this afternoon when the NHTSB reversed it’s ruling which sent an ovation throughout the auction hall. People were high fiving and auction prices started going through the roof!

Comments are closed.