BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

**Bryan L.** · April 30, 2006, 05:15 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Sorry that this has happened to you. I heard nothing but horror stories about him for at least 5 years. I know at one time his Driveline advertising privileges were taken away. There are a lot of snakes in this business.

I'm glad I sent mine to Charlie Santorelli who is honest and does fantastic belts at a reasonable price.

BL

**Jerry A.** · April 30, 2006, 05:20 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Thanks Bryan, I will try my best to get him!!
Jerry

**Joe L.** · April 30, 2006, 08:05 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Jerry-----

I agree that I've heard nothing but tales of frustration with this company.

Once-upon-a-time I did buy something from him when I was at Bloomington (as I recall, when it was at the Interstate Center in Normal, IL). It was a set of extremely nice, earlier 1969-type seat belts (black plastic buckle with round release in center of buckle). His price was excellent, the belts were beautiful (not a 100% correct, but close) and I was very pleased with them (I needed them like I need a hole in my head, but that's true of the other 13,000+ parts in my collection, too).

What's more, he seemed like a very nice guy. I remember him very well----sort of tall and slender. In fact, I recall that he accepted my personal check with no qualms and didn't even bother to look at my ID when I routinely showed it to him.

From all these stories I hear about him, it seems like he must be a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" sort of guy. But, my only experience with him was quite favorable. Of course, I didn't send him anything to restore (and, obviously, I never would).

For awhile, if not still, he was also into smog parts. In fact, he outbid me a few times on a few smog items. I was surpised that he would pay as much as he did for the pieces (especially if he was going to resell them) since I know of other sources from which I could have bought the pieces for less than he paid for them.

I sort of wonder if this seat belt/smog business is some sort of "side line" for him rather than a full-time occupation or full time business.

**Patrick H.** · April 30, 2006, 08:35 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Joe,

As I understand it, these are not (or at least were not) his full time businesses.

Prior to sending him my belts 6-7 years ago, I checked with several NCRS members, and all recommended Sunwest without reservation. Unfortunately I think he ran into some "personal" problems around the exact same time I sent him my belts. Based on the stories above, apparently some of those personal problems have not yet been fully sorted out.

Patrick

**Jim W.** · April 30, 2006, 10:54 PM

Re: Sunwest Auto Specialties

I had a similar experience to Joe's. I got a beautiful set of belts at a good price from him at Florida's Old Town Meet about three years ago. Nice guy and seemed very knowledgeable. He gave me his card but didn't respond to e-mails when I was trying to find some belts for a friend. I finally snagged him by phone one evening. Jim Weeks - Member #2978

**John R.** · April 30, 2006, 11:04 PM

Good Experience with Sunwest Auto Specialties

Within the last month, I bought a set of 58 seatbelts from Sunwest. The belts were shipped promptly and were excellent. No problem dealing with Karl. He was very attentive to my order and my requirements.

**Gene B.** · May 1, 2006, 09:24 AM

Re: Good Experience with Sunwest Auto Specialties

I can tell you his work is great, but if you purchase something from him, you need to do it at a show, like bloomington, in person, where you take the purchase with you.

My experience with him was I was a national had a pair fo very nice 63 buckles and tangs. He sawe them, and wanted them. We talked about trading the pair of 63 buckles for a set of 1958 complete seat belts, buckles, webbing material and labels. He was very nice willing to make the deal, so I gave him the 63 buckles with the agreement that he would send my the 58 seat belts and buckles, within the next two weeks.

It took almost 8 months to get the stuff. I called and called and called. I left messages, with no response. One of his tricks is to answer the phone and then claim he is someone else, when he finds out it is one of his problems. I finally threatened to take out a driveline ad and describe his thievery. That worked. He finally sent me the 58 buckles and belts. They are very nice, but what a pain in the a-- to deal with.

This was in 1995, so based on the above, he hasn't chnaged his tactics.

Gene

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:14 PM

Re: Good Experience with Sunwest Auto Specialties

Thanks Gene, Jerry

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:15 PM

Re: Good Experience with Sunwest Auto Specialties

Problem is that he has my $ and belts for restoration!!

Thanks, Jerry

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:17 PM

Re: Sunwest Auto Specialties

Thanks Jim, Jerry

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:18 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

I think you are right!, Jerry

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:21 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Joe, Just found out that he just got his law degree from night school. Seems to me that he is going to need it!!

Jerry

**Jerry A.** · May 1, 2006, 05:22 PM

Re: BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

Yea, you were smart!!

Jerry

**Clare Carpenter** · May 3, 2006, 09:04 AM

I'll second that for Charlie Santorelli

Top notch work at a fair price. He will give you what you want, show or functional go and deliver it when he says he will. You can't go wrong with Charlie.

BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

BE AWARE!!!Sunwest Auto Specialties, K Roepke,

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