Researching any info re: Paul Cunningham, Competition Cobra privateer

[Nedsel]

[quote=1ntCobra;1498073]Ned,

I see the wrecked car and I see a registration for CSX2049. How do you know that registration for CSX2049 belongs to the wrecked car? Is there any photographic evidence of the wrecked car showing a vin stamping? Isn't it possible someone tried to put together the wrong registration and the wrecked car in order to get a title if they did not have the paper work for the wrecked car?

We know that the wrecked car is CSX 2049 because we have tracked the car from its selling dealership to its first owner, who was Ann Abiden, and we examined the wrecked front end of the car after it had been purloined from the storage facility where its current owner had been keeping it. It showed a VIN of CSX 2049. The current owner is the same one who bought the car as a wreck from Abiden in 1967 (hence the date on the photos above), we have copies of the CA registration(s) showing both his name as well as Abiden's during the time he was paying off the loan, and he actually appears in photo #4 above. There is no question that the car Cunningham was killed in is 2049.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

We know that the wrecked car is CSX 2049 because we have tracked the car from its selling dealership to its first owner, who was Ann Abiden, and we examined the wrecked front end of the car after it had been purloined from the storage facility where its current owner had been keeping it. It showed a VIN of CSX 2049. The current owner is the same one who bought the car as a wreck from Abiden in 1967 (hence the date on the photos above), we have copies of the CA registration(s) showing both his name as well as Abiden's during the time he was paying off the loan, and he actually appears in photo #4 above. There is no question that the car Cunningham was killed in is 2049.

Ned,

You say the current owner is that one who purchased it from Ann Abiden. Is that Hasselrig as mentioned in the 1987 registry? Was the car not sold to Wesselink in 1987? Did the car alway remain in Hasselrig's storage? Or was it stolen and later returned to Hasselrig? Or maybe the current owner who bought the car from Ann Abiden is not Hasselrig?

And why is it that the 2008 registry doesn't mention Ann Abiden or Hasselrig?

[Nedsel]

The current owner of 2049 is indeed Lanse Hasselrig. He bought it from Ann Abiden. He is partners in the car today with Rick Wesselink, as Hasselrig lacked the funds to repair/ restore the car on his own. As for the 2008 registry, apologies for the mis-information. We were given a very thorough report on the car by an individual who worked for the FBI and performed DMV research, and he submitted his report shortly before the 2008 book went to print. We altered what we thought we knew based on his assertions, absent sufficient time to double-check his report. What none of us knew at the time was that said individual had a brain tumor that was rendering rational thought impossible for this individual. And he had an agenda which included an effort to subvert the car's true history in favor of an acquaintance who wanted to purchase a clone and have it legitimized. We have since corrected every bit of data.

[1985 CCX]

In support of Ned.

Getting the facts on any of these cars is always an adventure.
Most of the original players are passed and the ones left don't recall 100%. Same deal with AC MKIV, my facts are from people that were there recalling facts from 35 years ago; as I was just a boy in that time period. The Cobra is even more difficult as "in the day" was now 56+ years ago and they are a million dollars in value. Now trying to correct and decode the what was remembered and the actual occurnaces is the mission and unfortunately it may take a few turns in that process.

In the end the most accurate story is what we all want for these registries.
Great Job to all that pull facts together.
It's a thankless job for the most part.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

What none of us knew at the time was that said individual had a brain tumor that was rendering rational thought impossible for this individual. And he had an agenda which included an effort to subvert the car's true history in favor of an acquaintance who wanted to purchase a clone and have it legitimized.

Well that certainly sounds unusual. How often does this sort of thing happen?