coupe-less..

[montyv8]

my worst fear happenend today..
firstly some background. As a few of you know from my project thread, I've had an XB coupe for the last three years that I've been getting ready for the road (ex-dragcar).
So I've got it in roadleagal condition, and ready for rego. As I got it with no plates, (has body tags, just not number plates), It had to be inspected to make sure it wasn't a stolen car. I'd already rang the police stolen vehicle unit, and Transport SA to make sure the car was legit, and it came up clear.

So I've put the skinny rims and quiet exhaust on, and headed off to the inspection station with my wife. They start checking the car out, and look reasonably happy.. head back in to their office, and stay there for quite a while. I'm sitting there stressing that they don't like some of my mods, or my big holley and manifold, etc etc..

so a bunch of them come out and start looking under the bonnet again, looking confused. I go over and ask them what they're looking for. Couldn't find the engine number. showed them where it was, and sat back down.

they go back to the office, then one of them comes out looking very serious. Again, I'm thinking they don't like the car..

"There's an issue with the ID of the car. We're taking it, locking it up, and making some phone calls. wait there."

WTF?? so i ask what the hell is going on? is the car stolen??

"I can't divulge that information"

right about then i started to freak out, get very angry and start stressing all at once.
So this other inspector comes out to move my car. I show him how to use the shifter etc, and follow the car to the shed next door. I ask this guy if he knows anything..
"Its the motor. It was in a car that was stolen in 1982 in NSW. we've contacted detectives in NSW, and waiting for them to call us back and let us clear it. till then the car stays with us sorry"

so after half an hour, the guy comes and asks me into an office. "I've got some bad news" .... my heart hit the floor... its like on TV when the family is sitting outside the operating theatre and the doc comes out and says "I'm sorry..."

So they've seized it temporarily, its going on a flatbed truck to the police impound yard, where forensics guys will check to see if the engine has been restamped. meanwhile they'll see if anyone has a financial interest in the motor (insurance company etc), but as it was 25yrs ago, they're confident that I'll have the car back shortly. intact.

I bought the motor off a mate (also a member here) about 2.5yrs ago, and hes had it for almost 10yrs before that. before him it probably went thru 3 or 4 people.. so yeah, everyones fairly confident I'll have it home in 10 or so days. doesn't make me feel any better tho..
the inspectors were really good, very apologetic etc. They could see how upset I was and made me feel a lot better about the situation.. I'm not in the least bit upset with them, as they're just doing there job. Unfortunately theres no-one I get ****ed at really. They actually told the detectives that they think I should be able to take the car..

but after all that they were happy with the car, except the heater hoses weren't fitted, and it might be too loud.. So if/when I do get it back I know it'll pass..

So now its a waiting game... a very upsetting, stressful one..