Parts "cobbing" issues

[Michael J.]

Here is an interesting investigative story done about award winning Mustangs, but you do worry about this when buying an award winning Corvette too:

http://www.mustangandfords.com/features/1505-parts-cobbing-the-dark-side-of-mustang-hobby/original.html

[Loren L.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

It's even more of an "interesting investigative" story when you consider that the author included in his book "Corvette Masterpieces" a car that he presented as EX 87 and Eng. #5951 that turned out to be neither.

[Michael J.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

That I did not know, but I guess that makes him an expert on frauds, right?

[Frank D.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

I can't tell you how many times I've heard of borrowed bias-ply tires/wheels and tar top batteries to get past judging.

Nothing new here....and often some of the Top Flight/BG cars offered for sale have rare parts that have long since "flown the coop".
This has been going on a long time..

[Patrick H.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

I can't tell you how many times I've heard of borrowed bias-ply tires/wheels and tar top batteries to get past judging.

Nothing new here....and often some of the Top Flight/BG cars offered for sale have rare parts that have long since "flown the coop".
This has been going on a long time..

Agree. This happens in every realm of old cars and judging. It's one of the reasons why the award is good for the day of judging only, and not a moment longer.

[Rob V.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

Michael--

Thank you very much for posting the link from Mustangs and Fords; the article was not only very interesting, but I added a "new" word to my vocabulary (e.g., cobbing).

Best Regards,

[Russ S.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

It's the car owner that is the loser when he has to borrow parts to get an award. He may have an award but he doesn't have the car. I would feel cheated by myself if my car was less than what it takes to achieve the award.

[David B.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

This is more prevalent with Corvettes and has been going on for years. Unfortunately with the absurd prices being paid at auctions it seems to be getting worse. Can be summed up with one word "FRAUD" !!

[Philip A.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

Completely agree. Also shows that ANY judging award is only 100% valid while the vehicle sits on the judging field. As soon as it leaves the judging field, there are no guarantees.

[Michael J.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

I know of some people who buy Corvettes from a certain dealer, and they have the car inspected, close the deal, and insist on immediately taking the car after that as they know the dealer's reputation for switching parts before it is shipped to a customer, sad. And Rob, "cobbing" was a new word for me too.

[Ara G.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

I know of some people who buy Corvettes from a certain dealer, and they have the car inspected, close the deal, and insist on immediately taking the car after that as they know the dealer's reputation for switching parts before it is shipped to a customer, sad. And Rob, "cobbling" was a new word for me too.

Mike, when a dealer has more parts than cars that's all the evidence you need.....LOL......"there's your horse your honor".....

[Edward M.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

Many of us have joked many times about having a show quality parts rental at each event.

Imagine the following sales booth at a show....

Need a absolutely 100% correct battery, daily rental starts at $200. How about a absolutely perfect set of 56-57 tail light assemblies, no problem. Wings nuts, correctly marked bolts, gas caps, we got it all.

Need a trim tag for a day. We do factory correct installations, with correct rivets at no extra cost. We will install and remove the trim tag for you. Just tell us what color combination and date codes you need.

Credit cards and Paypal accepted.

Terms of rental:

Renter must put down a deposit equal to twice the actual value of the part (to insure the return of the part after the load period has expired).
Vendor is in no way responsible for decisions of judges.

[Joe R.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

Ed,

I know you would have listed the dealers but the list would bog down the system that NCRS uses and it would cost many bucks as advertisers would quit advertising! LOL

JR

[Edward M.]

Re: Parts "cobbing" issues

And something else, the writer of that article has, I believe, used the wrong word to describe this...

Cobbing: A building trades term for Kludge, which is a workaround or quick and dirty solution that is clumsy, but results is a quick solution to the problem.

Cobbling: to make something by putting together different parts in a quick way

I think cobbling would be the correct term, but what do I know.