NEED HELP = stolen 1973 Trans Am restoration project
 

I need the help of this forum, the Pontiac community & the guys who know the 70-73 F-body cars to help find our 1973 Trans Am. It was stolen at Terry Spear's shop in Columbia TN. We went there with the police to finally cut our losses with him & just get the car back but once we got there we discovered the car was gone. When questioned by the police Terry said he put it outside one day & someone must have stolen it, he didn't know anything about it (the owner of a restoration shop put a car outside then didn't know it went missing....). When the officer cross referenced the eye witnesses living across the street they never saw any red car at the shop place outside. When we asked to take the remaining parts home, Terry Spear said they were all in the car when he moved it outside & they must have been stolen too. The major parts include the following:

original #'s matching completely rebuilt 455 (carb to pan)
original 4 spd & hurst shifter
original 10 bolt
red trans am fenders
red trans am hood
red shaker scoop
red nose
rechromed rear bumper
Rally II with new BFG radial TA's 245/60-15
Dash
TA bezel & gauges
restored AC unit
all the glass

The last official picture we have of the car is by Tom Hart in June 2013 for a Pontiacs of Tennessee article. He went to Terry's shop to do an article on him & luckily snapped a pic as well as mentioned it. It can be found here:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/pontiactn/...%20-%20rev.pdf

When questioned by the police Terry said it was just a rolling shell & there was nothing in the car but clearly you can see there was from the picture.

I have searched Craig's List & found some of his parts he posts there but so far none were from the TA. He also sells on eBay but I have not been able to find his current user name to search his history of past auctions.

We do not have much left after paying him thousands over the years to finish the car but my father & I been able to put together a small $1000 reward for any information that would bring an arrest regarding this case OR a recovery of parts over $1000. If you or anyone you know has purchased a firebird shell or parts from Terry Spear since June 2013 PLEASE contact myself of Sergeant Michael Kash of the Columbia TN Police dpt at 931-982-0299

Thank you all very very much with anything you can do!

If he put it outside one day and it disappeared, did he file a stolen vehicle report? If not, why not? Sounds like the guy's a crook from what you're posting. Good luck with your search. FYI... your pdf link above doesn't work.

I agree , him having the car in his possession as a shop owner makes him responsible. Sounds like a court date in your future.

I'd be going after the business and his insurance. He is responsible for the security of the car.

I know it probably didn't have auto insurance on it, but did you check with your home owner's insurance? They may cover it.

yep, if you signed a repair order and there was an understanding that it was in his posession then... he's responsible for the car. If he didn't have it in a secure location than he's got trouble coming.

So your saying he was like..."Red 73 Trans Am? Oh yeah, I remember that car. I guess someone must have stolen it."
Wow. This one tops them all.

yep, it is pretty bad............

BTW - here is that link again to the article:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/pontiactn/...%20-%20rev.pdf

Very sad to see this happen to anybody, yet alone, one of our forum brothers. It's sad that he has no recourse or even shame to even make up that stupid lie and lie to the police to their faces. I'm praying that this all works out for you. Also, when all said and done, prosecute his a$$ to the fullest.

I would think posting the VIN would be a smart thing to do at this point. It's easy to change the vehicle color.

I'm really sorry to hear this is happening. I hope you get your car back.

This sucks - this Terry guy sounds like a Major Loser. I hope you own his Shop soon!

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support.

I did pull the VIN from the police report today so be on the lookout for:

2V87Y3N141428

Thanks everyone who is looking out for us

Sounds like you had something of a falling out... did he literally push it outside and leave it in front of the shop? If he did, and he is not lying, the first thing I would do is figure out where his employees live... maybe someone helped themselves.

Where I work someone stole a car out of the parking lot. The lot is fenced and has security cameras. The guy who owned the car was overseas for a few months. Three weeks later the owner comes back and his car is gone. He went through the security tapes day by day to figure out when it moved, then narrowed it down until he saw the lights come on that evening. A subcontract employee stole the car, thought he was being smart by taking it out through an unused entrance by moving a barricade because that entrance was not directly monitored. It also turns out that there was a camera that happened to have a view... they went to the guys house and the car was parked out front.

His employees are his sons...
Oldest son, Todd, who is 19 is the main worker when he is not in trouble :(

Looks like some people are looking out for others :}

After posting this ad on Nashville TN CL:
http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/4809393450.html

Someone contacted me & told me to look on the Pontiac Pickers Classified group on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Pont...1725361258730/

I cant believe he had the balls to say what he said like that in a public forum & self incriminate himself. Heck, 2 people saw that car in his shop a year ago & one even remembered the ad Terry posted on CL where he listed it for sale!!! ---> If ANYONE remembers this ad or knows who purchased this car from Terry about a year ago, PLEASE contact me

FB = Content not found.

I think that is a closed group. I went to FB & searched for Pontiac Pickers Classified. When I got there I asked to join the group. Takes a few minutes to approve & then once I did I saw all the comments people have been posting about him & our car!

Screen capture is your friend. I am curious, willing to help, but will not join that FB group, as my FB info is private.

x2! This is good info.

Press print screen. Open a word document or paint and press ctrl+v or right click and select paste. Save the file. You should be doing this with any info you find. Especially if you can also get a date and time in the shot. Keep us updated. Glad to hear you're making some progress.

FYI the VIN # is 2V87Y3N141428.
Someone posted on TAC for me too as well as a new one I put up:

http://transamcountry.com/community/...?topic=68503.0

http://transamcountry.com/community/...?topic=68669.0

Thanks guys for the help!!!

So still no leads? What about the owner or his son?

Cops documented that when they talked to Terry (resto shop owner) & his son & their stories did not match up but they didn't do anything about it. I have contacted the police several times now with additional leads & info with the same results.....................

That's maddening. Liars and thieves...it gets no worse than that.

Totally agree. Nothing worse than a thief disguised as a car guy.

no car yet but...

PONTIAC BUYERS BEWARE: Terry Spear arrested!!!
FYI to the Pontiac community that if you have purchased a car or parts from Terry Spear they may be stolen!

Terry Cumming Spear, 61, 613 Hillsboro Road, Franklin, was arrested and charged with theft over $10,000. Spear was jailed and released Tuesday on $5,000 bond. - See more at:

http://columbiadailyherald.com/news/...-reports-10115

Very sad story. Hope you get to the end of it sooner than later...and find the car! Glad he was arrested and in the system now.

This is why my car has always been insured...even as a project car. Just too much invested not to be.

This very close to me. I'm in Hendersonville. I will be on the lookout.

Any update on this?
This made me so mad and it is not even my car.

Mad as can be..,
I have a similar story but not now.
At least your guy got arrested.

No car & he served no jail time too...
I wish there was a national registry to search against as that could help.

Have you tried posting on the PY forums? They are hardcore Pontiac enthusiast It is all pontiac related. Also a section on there just for 70-73 Firebird/TA

Jon

Yep, PY was the first place I posted. Thanks 👍🏻

Just checking in to see if there is an update.

I am up in the Northeast and this really got to me. I have a 73 Formula 400 and have put a lot of $$ and skin into it. I look all the time for Pontiac 2nd gen stuff and I always keep 141428 in mind. I doubt it would have made it way up here, but who knows...

Sounds like a crooked shop owner to me. I'd bet anything he knows where it is and/or who took it.

Any resolution on this?