300G manual trans promo GARBAGE

["Wayne Graefen" <wgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Feb. '07 issue of Hemmings Classic Car has a plug in its p. 100 Auction News about a 3 speed manual trans 300G hardtop coming up at World Wide Group's Houston auction next May.  I have to assume that this article is a press release from www.thewwg.com auction company.

I went to their website to send them a comment on the overwhelming falsehood with which they are promoting this car.   On their site, the car is presented as "Mopar's Holy Grail!".   There are NO email links in WWG's web site and no phone numbers for the company.  There are links to forms and nothing else.  They give no way of contacting them other than to consign your car or purchase a $50 catalog!

In the Hemmings car/auction promo, it says that the car was "virtual bid" to $160,000 while not even present at their Hilton Head, SC, auction in early November and that "you can throw your value guide out the window for this one".

This is totally ridiculous.  It is shameless.  This is auction company shenanigans at their worst and severely damages the hobby when believed and acted upon.

A stick 300G is absolutely no big deal.  Granted they only built 14 but because no one wanted them.  A stick G has a standard 375HP engine.  The manual trans was grossly inadequate for the HP and torque of that engine and probable to break.  The only thing desirable about the particular car promoted is that it is red, if you like red, and I wonder whether even that documents as original.  A lot of cars get painted non-authentic "Resale Red" to attract attention at auctions.

I would hope that every reader of this post understands there is a great deal of shill bidding that goes on at auctions.  Bids with no real money behind them.  Phony bids.  Bids placed by people who work for the auction companies in MANY cases.  I've watched many auctions in person and I would estimate 40-50 percent of the bids taken by the auctioneer are completely false and are used strictly to pump up the price until it meets reserve so the car can sell or to pump it up to the level the auctioneer feels the car deserves to sell at.  Phone bidding is the most obvious questionable practice!  Or shill bids are placed by friends of the seller or the seller himself!  Most states allow and protect the use of shill bidding under law!

Yes, I could look up the company's phone number and try talking to them.  They have negated their integrity in print.  I'd rather inform you of the problems with this auction company and car so that you can tell your friends and this car can miss its reserve by $100,000 or more with a suitable bid for what the car truly is - just another G among many.

Be an informed buyer at any place and any time that you make an offer or bid on a car.  To not do so can have dire financial consequences.

Wayne Graefen
(Owner of a documented 300F Special with 400HP and Pont-a-Mousson full synchro 4speed manual trans that truly is rare (1 of 9) and is truly considered by many to be "the holy grail" among Chrysler 300 Letter Car collectors)

Sent to the Chrysler 300 Club Intl and ForwardLook email lists and a few friends

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