Lied and defrauded on 1971 c10 short bed

[LEEVON]

That's a beautiful truck. I wonder if the seller just didn't know any better? Hard to say what you should do, but the quicker you resolve it and enjoy the truck the better. Depending on what you paid...lawsuit isn't going to get you anything unless the seller has the means to make it right (i.e. buy the truck back, etc.). If you're out a couple grand difference just chalk it up to experience and move on. As for the frame itself, it's not the end of the world, I'd have somebody you trust look into it and repair if needed.

[Lee H]

Plate it and drive it. Chalk it up to a lesson learned, never buy any car or truck without looking it over real good.

[dbstepside]

to me it doesn't matter if it's been shortened and as my father and i have shortened truks as long as i can remember. granted we have always informed a buyer of this. some people don't care and others freak out and that's ok. but if a cut down frame or even if it had been a cab swap would have kept you from buying the truck i think you should have done a little more homework on the truck before you bought it. i do think the seller should have told you if they knew but oh well. btw i like the truck, i would do as others have said and reinforce the weld it it isn't already and cruise the crap out of it.

[briank]

In Illinois its pretty much buyer beware unless you had everything in writing.It appears to be a very nice looking truck, just not what you paid for.Im sure you could sell it and recoup or even make money on it or enjoy the hell out of it.
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[jocko]

what WE think about the fact it's been shortened doesn't really matter - op is rightly furious because it was incorrectly represented - knowingly or unknowingly. Aside from a spot on the people's court, there is no recourse. It is a HARD lesson. But we've seen it on here before. Fortunately - it IS a VERY nice truck - after the frustration wears off a bit, I hope you can still enjoy it. If you paid a huge amount for a shorty - then small claims court might be worthwhile, but probably not - the "i didn't know" defense will actually work in his favor. Sorry man - this really stinks, and we see it fairly often. Good luck and hang in there - enjoy this good lookin little truck.

[prostreetC-10]

You know more about the transaction details than we do. There is always the chance that the owner was just turning it or owned it for awhile and didn't even know.

Funny as it is....I'd NEVER think to check the spid for wheel base length. I would have caught those welds though because I love to roll under rigs I am looking at to buy.

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by lolife99

you have a beautiful truck i would love to own.

I would weld a couple extra reinforcement plates on that frame and drive the crap out of it.
It's a cool truck.

*ditto*

[NewType72]

Plate it, weld it, drive the crap out of it, and be happy you have a beautiful truck no one is going to downplay this truck from what it is because it was shortened were certainly not Barrett Jackson freaks on here. And anything out of Modesto is a lie trust me I've lived between there and Turlock my entire near 20 years of life
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[Fesser]

Small Claims Court allows you to sue (up to $7,500)for things like this. The following is from the state's website explaining things that can be brought through the small claims system

"You were defrauded in the purchase of a car, and desire to cancel the purchase and get back the amount of your down payment from the seller"

Here is the site:
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/s...sic_info.shtml

Disclaimer: I did not read the information posted so I don't know how it works for people from out of state.

In a nutshell, small claims is fairly easy (I went through it once). To win, the burden of proof is only the preponderance of the evidence. Basically if you tilt the scales of justice in your direction,51%, you have a winning case (as opposed to proving your case "beyond a reasonable doubt" in criminal cases).

I think if you could document or prove to the judge that you specifically asked about it being an original short bed, and can show that he assured you it was, you are starting to tilt the scale in your favor (he could have replied"I don't know" "How can I tell" "The guy a bought it from said it was" etc.).

If you go that route, document everything. Judges love evidence. Also consider having it appraised and then getting the appraiser to give a value for long bed vs. shortbed vs. modified longbed. That will give you a number to show your actual damages if you want to keep the truck but be made whole on the difference in value and what you paid (if there is a difference).

Lastly, as stated by someone above, the hard part can be getting your money after a judgement is passed. That involves another set of processes unless the person is a good person who just pays up.

Good luck. Nice looking truck even if cut down.

Frank

[prostreetC-10]

One of the most *****en swap meets I ever went to was in Turlock about 3 years ago!! In the middle of a bunch of fields, I found Holley heaven.

[chevjayfsd]

If the cut was correct, I wouldn't make a big deal... The cut is so incorrect it's sad.

It all just depends on how much $$ you shelled out in my opinion.

[67chevemall]

Most likely the PO sold it because he figured out what a crap job he did on the welds.
Or he got screwed so he made it your problem.
Plate it up and paint it up. Out of sight out of mind. Just enjoy the truck.

[biggestjohn]

Googled the info, found a cashed version of this ad from Sept 12.
Small claims is not an option!

For you to win, you will need to be able to prove everything!! And you'll need a Lawyer.

You could try to get half of your money back thru small claims, but you still need proof.

Personally, I'd chalk it up as a very expensive learned, and move on.

[OJ1988]

Originally Posted by biggestjohn

Googled the info, found a cashed version of this ad from Sept 12.
Small claims is not an option!

For you to win, you will need to be able to prove everything!! And you'll need a Lawyer.

You could try to get half of your money back thru small claims, but you still need proof.

Personally, I'd chalk it up as a very expensive learned, and move on.

How much was it listed for?

[Daaaanz67]

Man this sucks I saw this same ad on cl. I think he was asking 9,000.00. Still awesome truck you got.
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[tahoekid]

Just got off the phone from the previous owner (45 min)
Just as I expected, he had no idea it was cut down
I explained that this needs to be fixed, and best for me is my $ back
And as I expected he had loaned it from his parents so he dosen't have it
I explained that I don't want to involve legal counsil, but that I paid.....
$11,800 for a factory short bed Cheyenne that was grossly misrepresented..
He had to cut out for school/work so we gonna talk again Thursday morning..
It is a NICE C10, but hard to overcome it's not what it's suppose to be...

[lolife99]

Anything else correct about this truck?
Is it really a Cheyenne?

I would be afraid you would lose in court.
There is nothing hiding the welds on the frame.
They are obvious.
Also the blue overspray on the frame means it's far from a 100% restoration.

However,... I still thing you got a good deal on a sweet truck.
Have you priced paint, materials and bodywork lately?

If you get him to give you your money back,... that would be great.
If you have to hire a lawyer,... I think it will be a losing proposition.
(just my opinion)

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by tahoekid

I explained that I don't want to involve legal counsil, but that I paid.....
$11,800 for a factory short bed Cheyenne that was grossly misrepresented..
He had to cut out for school/work so we gonna talk again Thursday morning..
It is a NICE C10, but hard to overcome it's not what it's suppose to be...

In this day and age, its buyer beware and spending that kind of money should have warranted a thorough inspection before any cash ever changed hands. I was taught at a very young age that you dont take a used car sellers word as the gospel, as others have already said above chalk it up to experience and move on. Mel

[Harpie]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Anything else correct about this truck?
Is it really a Cheyenne?

I would be afraid you would lose in court.
There is nothing hiding the welds on the frame.
They are obvious.
Also the blue overspray on the frame means it's far from a 100% restoration.

However,... I still thing you got a good deal on a sweet truck.
Have you priced paint, materials and bodywork lately?

If you get him to give you your money back,... that would be great.
If you have to hire a lawyer,... I think it will be a losing proposition.
(just my opinion)

I hafta agree with above statement I got screwed on my truck but was my own fault for not looking at the spid and doing my research first. But now that I am well into doing my frame off I would have killed to pay that price for one that nice.

[lolife99]

I talked to a guy this year that had an original (so he thought) 68 swb truck at a car show.
This thing was (in my opinion), a perfect old survivor truck that someone had restored.
He had the entire story from the previous owner on how it made it into his possession.

Long story short,... I asked if I could look at the SPID on the glove box.
This '68 swb truck had 127" wheelbase listed on the SPID.
He was totally floored when I told him what that meant.
It did have an original swb frame,... but the cab and/or glovebox had been swapped.
Either the truck was genuine with a swapped VIN tag and glovebox door,... or someone had built a swb truck out of a lwb truck.
He had no idea.

[Lee H]

IMHO, that's a great truck for the price. Don't think you can buy a driver and make it like that for under 12K. Hope you can enjoy it at some point in time. Like I said above, for that price I'd plate it and drive, and not look back.

[CC69Rat]

An original SWB Cheyenne for that kind of coin is unheard of IMO. (at least from where I come from) I have that in mine and it's not even painted.

If that were an original he would have people beating his door in for $15k. IMO.

Probably not what you want t ohear and I understand principle / integrity but have you considered a SWB frame swap? Just sit it over on another frame and detail it out.. Maybe a full Porterbuilt drop member and just swap the Cab / bed / engine and trans over to the other frame? That would do away with the frame cuts and the uncomfortable feeling you have knowing it's cut down and not Z'ed. Just a thought.

Or re-sell it and advertise it correctly? It should still bring about what you paid for it. .. just my .02.

[no moa]

Does you bill of sale say "as is, where is"?

[biggestjohn]

Originally Posted by tahoekid

Just got off the phone from the previous owner (45 min)
Just as I expected, he had no idea it was cut down
I explained that this needs to be fixed, and best for me is my $ back
And as I expected he had loaned it from his parents so he dosen't have it
I explained that I don't want to involve legal counsil, but that I paid.....
$11,800 for a factory short bed Cheyenne that was grossly misrepresented..
He had to cut out for school/work so we gonna talk again Thursday morning..
It is a NICE C10, but hard to overcome it's not what it's suppose to be...

OK, throwing all emotion out, that is a beautiful truck!! I'm redoing my Longhorn, and though I have not added it all up yet, I can guarantee you I have well over $11,800 in it.

I don't know what the modified short beds will sell for, but I don't think that you got hurt that much.

Learn to love her in spite of her hidden flaws, it might still turn out to be a wonderful relationship. Besides, If you can't prove fraud, and he's not fessing up to it, your gonna lose.

Maybe you can negotiate a partial settlement. Do some research into what these trucks sell for, and try to get the difference.

[OJ1988]

$11,800 and you never looked under the truck? Those welds should have been obvious.

If you didn't know what to look for, for that much coin I would have at least had someone else look it over.

With old stuff like this it usually is buyer beware.