OP
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Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9393 Location: Nashville 118 Days Since Last Explosion |
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Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9393 Location: Nashville 118 Days Since Last Explosion |
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Member
Sadly, no scooter yet
Joined: UTC
Posts: 46 Location: Edinburgh and Roanoke |
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Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14691 Location: The state of insanity, SoCal |
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i think this demands a bit of back story.
but also, just from the screen shot it looks like a highline shop. so what's up? -g |
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Member
Sadly, no scooter yet
Joined: UTC
Posts: 46 Location: Edinburgh and Roanoke |
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Molto Verboso
GL, PK, PE200 with hack, Sears Rust Badge
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1345 Location: Deep in the heart of Texas |
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Here's the video. https://youtu.be/0OlMey1CNlg
He had it for sale for $7000. Claims $12K in restoration cost. |
Veni, Vidi, Posti
74 Super, 75 Super, PX project, LML off-roader and '66 Blue Badge Smallframe
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8595 Location: Victoria, Australia |
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Nedminder
62 VBB1T Round Tail W/ leaner sidecar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4023 Location: california |
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Nedminder
62 VBB1T Round Tail W/ leaner sidecar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4023 Location: california |
OP
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1954 ACMA
greasy125 wrote: i think this demands a bit of back story. but also, just from the screen shot it looks like a highline shop. so what's up? -g Every once in a while I would Google 54 Vespa ACMA and it usually led me back to my own posts. Yesterday that changed. There it was in a video. I called the number, a guy named Sean answered. I told him I was interested in the bike. He said, "another guy was interested in it as well." I asked where it was and he said it was in a warehouse in Cincinnati. I told him the bike was stolen and that I had the title. He got quite flustered and said he would get back to me in 30 minutes. So far it has been a long thirty minutes. Stay tuned. I appreciate the moral support and PLEASE don't harass this guy until I find out the story. Thanks everybody. |
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Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9393 Location: Nashville 118 Days Since Last Explosion |
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Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9393 Location: Nashville 118 Days Since Last Explosion |
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Lee Lux, aka @ThatScooterThing, aka DRC174 on here, is in/around Cincinatti and I'm sure he'd be happy to help.
I also know plenty of Cincinatti/Ohio people who'd be more than happy to help out, too. |
Not So Moderator
VNB VSC 09C VMA VSX - vbc vmb
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7953 Location: Hustletown, TX |
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I unfortunately have had too many things stolen, and completely understand the unsettling feeling and need to continually search for years. I personally would not have said anything about it being stolen to the guy that you talked to. Instead I would have someone, or at least bullshit my way through setting up a meeting at which point I would finally involve law enforcement. More than likely he is going to be ditching your call from this point forward. Maybe in a day or so having someone with a local number call him and inquire might help. I wish the best and hope it returns to your hands.
Leave the street justice until after you have it. ( I also sent some info on Sean Cook via PM including business address and facebook info ) |
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Re: 1954 ACMA
GeeT60 wrote: greasy125 wrote: i think this demands a bit of back story. but also, just from the screen shot it looks like a highline shop. so what's up? -g Every once in a while I would Google 54 Vespa ACMA and it usually led me back to my own posts. Yesterday that changed. There it was in a video. I called the number, a guy named Sean answered. I told him I was interested in the bike. He said, "another guy was interested in it as well." I asked where it was and he said it was in a warehouse in Cincinnati. I told him the bike was stolen and that I had the title. He got quite flustered and said he would get back to me in 30 minutes. So far it has been a long thirty minutes. Stay tuned. I appreciate the moral support and PLEASE don't harass this guy until I find out the story. Thanks everybody. |
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Ossessionato
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547 Location: Rochester, Minnesota |
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If that's the person who illegally obtained it's gone again. I would have made an offer of $1000.00 more then he was asking and went for a drive. Get a TracFone and activate it with a phone number local for him. Get someone else to call who won't have the stress in their voice, and sounds different.
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Update
On a positive note, the video guy called me back and was totally helpful in getting to the bottom of things. Fingers crossed.
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Ossessionato
2007 Stella 225
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3547 Location: Rochester, Minnesota |
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Depending on what you want to spend, see if you can find a local private investigator to have a look.
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Hooked
Rat 2003 Stella 2T; 1979 P125x (in pieces, out for paint)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 381 Location: Madtown |
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Can't you have the police department that you originally reported this to send the report over to the police in the bike's current location? Or call them up with your original file # and ask them what to do?
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Look, I get it, I've been searching on craigslist for stolen gear for going on 20 years. You have a rare opportunity, seize it.
Call the police. If it's deemed that this is a stolen bike, the guy who has it now must surrender it -- even if he paid for it in a legitimate sale. It's possible that he is/will not be on your side. The longer you don't have it, the greater the risk that "the other guy who is interested" buys it in a "cash sale" and vanishes. When that happens, you get nothing. So, if you haven't already, call the cops and do it right. Otherwise, I'm going to be the first guy who posts the ROFLMAO emoji. :p |
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Molto Verboso
bare metal cafe racer
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379 Location: Aotearoa (New Zealand) |
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Molto Verboso
bare metal cafe racer
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379 Location: Aotearoa (New Zealand) |
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GeeT60 wrote: On a positive note, the video guy called me back and was totally helpful in getting to the bottom of things. Fingers crossed. Let's respect GeeT60's request to work with the guy - who is likely innocent and a victim himself given he has returned the call. Crossing fingers for a good outcome. |
Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14691 Location: The state of insanity, SoCal |
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Quote: I took it to a shop in Covington, OH to get the restoration done and that's where all of the trouble started. This shop never did anything they promised to do and much of the work was just done wrong. Finally after two years and no Vespa I e-mailed them to say that I was coming to pick the bike up. That's when they said they had sold it for parts. After I had spent a ridiculous amount of money on it. That's where the communication ended. They never contacted me before or after they sold the bike. how long was it at the shop? and also, if i'd spent a "ridiculous amount of money" i'd be jumping in a u-haul to go get my shizz or making a big ass stink at the shop. i want the dirty details. also, we don't normally name and shame around these parts, but i'll give you carte blanche on this one... just so somebody else doesn't get burned. -g |
Ossessionato
79 P200E (Ruby), 62 Allstate (B-62)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4167 Location: Florence, OR |
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greasy125 wrote: Quote: I took it to a shop in Covington, OH to get the restoration done and that's where all of the trouble started. This shop never did anything they promised to do and much of the work was just done wrong. Finally after two years and no Vespa I e-mailed them to say that I was coming to pick the bike up. That's when they said they had sold it for parts. After I had spent a ridiculous amount of money on it. That's where the communication ended. They never contacted me before or after they sold the bike. how long was it at the shop? and also, if i'd spent a "ridiculous amount of money" i'd be jumping in a u-haul to go get my shizz or making a big ass stink at the shop. i want the dirty details. also, we don't normally name and shame around these parts, but i'll give you carte blanche on this one... just so somebody else doesn't get burned. -g |
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It was a big wtf moment. The bike was in the shop for approximately two years.
I was living in Ohio when the work started, cleaning out my Mom's house after she rode her last Vespa so to speak. After a year I ended up moving out of state for work. Costs kept piling up and communication went into radio silence. I finally got fed up and e-mailed them that I was coming to pick up the bike. The office manager told me that I had to talk to the owner. That took a few more days but I finally got ahold of the owner and he said, "We sold it for parts because we hadn't heard from you. Bottom line, they never called, e-mailed or wrote or returned my calls. At the time I was going to take them to court and because of being out of state it just kind of faded away. I'm not shaming but it wouldn't be hard for anyone to figure out. I'm just happy that I still have the title. It was annoying as all hell and trust me, when I saw it online, well, I was mildly annoyed. BTW, the reason the bike was 2 years in the shop is that this place usually did really high end antique restorations. Folks that could afford to spend $200K on a restoration. That wasn't me but I figured, how much could a small frame Vespa cost. They took the bike completely apart. Essentially, I chose the wrong shop. I didn't find that out until I was too far down the road. |
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Nedminder
62 VBB1T Round Tail W/ leaner sidecar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4023 Location: california |
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Nedminder
62 VBB1T Round Tail W/ leaner sidecar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4023 Location: california |
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Hey man.
Crazy story. Smart to contact. Now you need to document. Suggest: Text the guy with photo of ur title. X out the sensitive data. Restate it's stolen and what happened on the call. This will create a paper trail and give you legal leverage - he would be committing a crime selling something he had every reason to believe was stolen. Otherwise he can say he didn't know. Tell him to call you and work out how he I'll return it. Move quick before he can sell or move it and claim ignorance. You'll get a call. My$.02 Good luck! |
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Molto Verboso
bare metal cafe racer
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379 Location: Aotearoa (New Zealand) |
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Molto Verboso
bare metal cafe racer
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379 Location: Aotearoa (New Zealand) |
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GeeT60 wrote: At the time I was going to take them to court and because of being out of state it just kind of faded away. Because walking away like that kinda meant you abandoned it. And now poor Steve may get shafted because who knows how many hands it's been through - unless he bought it directly from this resto company. I'm guessing that this happened at a time in your life where you couldn't deal with it - that there were bigger issues going on. I've been there - 'lost' a Kombi because I couldn't deal with it. Tricky mess. Hope it has a happy ending somehow. |
Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 9512 Location: seattle/athens |
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I suggest that the next thing you do is see if the VIN# is in the official, legally enforceable National stolen vehicle data base. If you never filed it as 'stolen' regardless of the circumstances, and it's not there, you may have little to work with.
I would think that 4 years is within the statute of limitations, and if you haven't yet, you could report it now. You can truthfully tell them that you were trying to work with and then find the guy at the shop, and you were searching online since trying to find out where it was, so you could claim it. You didn't want to claim it was stolen if it was just some kind of mixup. Ain't a lawyer, so grain of salt... Good luck! If it was me, and you find out the guy that has it to be innocent, I'd consider offering at least whatever he's outa pocket if he did any needed work on it properly. |
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So what sort of shape was the scooter in when you originally dropped it off at the shop? And how much money did you pay them to work on it? I don't know your state laws, but maybe they did a "mechanics lien" on the scooter?
https://www.lienitnow.com/ohio-faq https://frostbrowntodd.com/five-frequent-fatal-mistakes-of-ohio-mechanics-lien-claimants/ |
Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14691 Location: The state of insanity, SoCal |
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qascooter wrote: I was thinking the same thing - 2 years? Whaaaat??? but to adios it as "parts" if you're a shop is just straight bullshit. and it don't matter what kind of shop you are. a phone call or an email of: come get your shit is in order. but it sounds like this was some high end resto car joint so they thought it was probably just a toy and not worth their time. -g |
bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7070 Location: So Cal |
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First off, you now know that the manager of the shop lied to you when he said "we sold the scooter off for parts." Just looked at your post from 12 years ago when you first got the scoot ...
My 54 Vespa ACMA They sold the whole damn thing. That's out right fraud. Second, every state has laws that spell out the process a mechanic has to follow to sell a vehicle that belongs to a customer. Virtually all states require some form of notice to be actually given to the owner of the vehicle and a statement of the amount due for any work or storage fees. Did you ever receive any such statement? Suggest you look into the laws that apply in your state. That aside, I would immediately notify the local police that someone is listing for sale a rare vehicle to which you have title. Send a copy of the title and have it taken into custody before it disappears for another 12 years. |
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Hooked
2020 GTS 300 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 137 Location: Teh REAL Northern California |
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Anyone think about the statute of limitations? They may have expired after all this time, leaving the original owner SOL.
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SoCalGuy laid it out just the way it should have gone down and what you should be jumping to do right now. It makes me furious every time I read through this topic, just not right.
I can tell you something right now, when I found out just how bad I had got taken on my scoot I was pissed for years but I didn't give up and I got myself on a mission to get it to where I would be satisfied ( happy ) with the end result, your scooter is so damn unique and rare that I honestly can't understand how you let it get this far out of your control , man get this shit back in your control, there's no cost too high !!! |
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Jim McClain wrote: Anyone think about the statute of limitations? They may have expired after all this time, leaving the original owner SOL. |
Molto Verboso
'64 Motovespa 150S (177) , '65 VBB, '66 Allstate SF, '66 180SS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1754 Location: S.Salem, NY |
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I think this all goes back to the original shop that sold it out from under you. What was done then ? Did they compensate you in any way ? It is definitely time to bring in the police and give them everything you have and know.
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Addicted
P Series / Li / LML / Motobi
Joined: UTC
Posts: 511 Location: UK - 3rd Rock From the Sun |
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Addicted
P Series / Li / LML / Motobi
Joined: UTC
Posts: 511 Location: UK - 3rd Rock From the Sun |
Hooked
Rat 2003 Stella 2T; 1979 P125x (in pieces, out for paint)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 381 Location: Madtown |
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I looked up the website of the company that was restoring the ACMA scooter:
https://www.ddclassic.com It looks like a real company, doing very high-end work, mostly on cars. It's hard to imagine a place like that stealing a scooter, even a rare one. They were surely exercising a mechanic's lien for allegedly unpaid work. I assume they would have a different take than the original owner on what happened. Hard to know given how strangely the situation seems to have unfolded, but it seems that there was a "failure to communicate" or two, if I can quote Cool Hand Luke. |
Sergeant at Arms
Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14691 Location: The state of insanity, SoCal |
Addicted
85 Vepsa PX150E with sidecar, 80 P200 with sidecar, 96 Goldwing with Hannigan Sidecar, LR87aj5, LR91aj3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 578 Location: Central Washington State |
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Walking on eggshells here.
"A mechanic's lien is a security interest in the title to the property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property." I have signed a few of these lien forms over the years...and of course, I never read them before signing, "just a boilerplate form". Then one time I came too near to losing some bit of this or that. Most have some type of "loss of contact" statement that can legally reach out and bite the unaware in the wallet or ass. |
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