Ford GT Seized And Auctioned In Fraud Case


usmcfred

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Oct 26, 2006
546
Massachusetts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal officials say they've auctioned off a Renoir painting and a custom-built sports car they seized from a convicted con man to help repay victims of his $6 million fraud.

The U.S. attorney's office in Providence says on Thursday that it raised $740,000 from the two auctions of the items seized from Rocco DeSimone.

The Renoir work on canvas is titled "Paysage a Cagnes" and sold for $551,000. The 2006 Ford GT sports car sold for $189,000.

The sum will go toward partial restitution of DeSimone's victims.

DeSimone was convicted in 2011 of seven counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Prosecutors said he scammed investors into giving him money for inventions, then wasted their money on things like falconry and jamming with the band Aerosmith.
 

Fast Freddy

GPS'D 225 MPH
Mark II Lifetime
Aug 5, 2005
2,685
Avondale, Arizona
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal officials say they've auctioned off a Renoir painting and a custom-built sports car they seized from a convicted con man to help repay victims of his $6 million fraud.

The U.S. attorney's office in Providence says on Thursday that it raised $740,000 from the two auctions of the items seized from Rocco DeSimone.

The Renoir work on canvas is titled "Paysage a Cagnes" and sold for $551,000. The 2006 Ford GT sports car sold for $189,000.

The sum will go toward partial restitution of DeSimone's victims.

DeSimone was convicted in 2011 of seven counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Prosecutors said he scammed investors into giving him money for inventions, then wasted their money on things like falconry and jamming with the band Aerosmith.

not sure about you guys, but i would have spent the money on hookers and blow :frown
 

twobjshelbys

GT Owner
Jul 26, 2010
6,063
Las Vegas, NV
So here's just a regular auction with a gt at almost 190
 

MAD IN NC

Proud Owner/ BOD blah bla
Mark IV Lifetime
Feb 14, 2006
4,211
North Carolina
not sure about you guys, but i would have spent the money on hookers and blow :frown

LMAO - when on the dark side why not go all the way!
 

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,361
Washington State
So here's just a regular auction with a gt at almost 190

But the piece says it was a "custom-built" car...which implies, at least to me, that it wasn't a stocker. One would think it should have brought more - depending on WHAT was "custom" about it (t.t.? Whipple? GTX1?). :shrug
 

RPM217

2005 white/blue stripe
Jun 18, 2010
1,660
Rye Brook, New York
But the piece says it was a "custom-built" car...which implies, at least to me, that it wasn't a stocker. One would think it should have brought more - depending on WHAT was "custom" about it (t.t.? Whipple? GTX1?). :shrug
Miles, condition, accident history? All would have a bearing on value
 

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,361
Washington State
...and also who was bidding.

But, assuming all that was the normal fare.................
 

Lorenzo

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Dec 28, 2008
626
U.S.A.
But the piece says it was a "custom-built" car...which implies, at least to me, that it wasn't a stocker. One would think it should have brought more - depending on WHAT was "custom" about it (t.t.? Whipple? GTX1?). :shrug

So, EP. in your opinion an FGT with some of these kind of modifications should bring a higher price?
 

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,361
Washington State
In general, NO. Historically, a mint, 'no stories', original car (no matter what the car may be) has been worth more than a modded one - as far as the 'typical' collector/buyer is concerned. The only real exception to that would be the ONE GUY who just has to have specific car "X" 'cause he just flat out l-o-v-e-s it.

In this case though, for some reason $190K just sounds 'cheap' to me in today's mkt.
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
In general, NO. Historically, a mint, 'no stories', original car (no matter what the car may be) has been worth more than a modded one - as far as the 'typical' collector/buyer is concerned. The only real exception to that would be the ONE GUY who just has to have specific car "X" 'cause he just flat out l-o-v-e-s it.

In this case though, for some reason $190K just sounds 'cheap' to me in today's mkt.

I know of a fool that sold his mint, 'no stories', original blu/wht car without ever really driving it. Just think what it would be worth in today's market!
 

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,361
Washington State
^ My guess is 'twould be worth about the same as that in which I reinvested the money...mebbe slightly less.
 

FBA

GT Owner
Dec 5, 2010
1,663
31.022340° N / 44.846191° W
Was that guy a member here?
 

KMCBOSS

RED GT owner
Mark II Lifetime
Dec 3, 2006
995
Bremerton, Washington
But the piece says it was a "custom-built" car...which implies, at least to me, that it wasn't a stocker. One would think it should have brought more - depending on WHAT was "custom" about it (t.t.? Whipple? GTX1?). :shrug


perhaps it was the dreamcycle car