OSBI Investigating Whether Classic Mustangs are Counterfeits

UPDATE:  Owner of Classic Recreations LLC, Jason Engel, was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Motor Vehicle with a removed Vehicle Identification Number in Canadian County. Engel pled guilty and received a deferred sentence. 

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation served search warrants at a Yukon car restoration shop Thursday as part of a counterfeit Mustang car ring operation.

According to OSBI, the shop, Classic Recreations LLC at the corner of 3rd and Birch streets, was part of an investigation that began Wednesday when Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers pulled over a car with a trailer carrying two junk Mustang cars. Officers checked the vehicles and noticed the Vehicle Identification Numbers were missing. The trailer was from Classic Recreations in Yukon, which led to the warrants being served at the shop.

Investigators found kit cars were being passed off as restored Mustang Shelby cars and being sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"They were basically removing VIN plates and putting them on manufactured cars and then they were marketing them as classic original Mustangs," said Gary Perkins, OSBI Special Agent in Charge. "They were presenting them as original Mustangs when in fact they were not."

On his Web site, Jason Engel claims to build classic Shelby G.T. Mustangs and that you can order your dream car today. The shop charges between $120,000 to almost $200,000 for the classic cars.

"I think that's pretty crazy,$200,000 cars and they're not real so evidently it's a scam," said Joshua Massey, a neighbor of the restoration shop.

OSBI said the shop's owner, Engel, didn't believe he was doing anything wrong.

OSBI seized about six cars in different stages of the restoration process and are investigating records to determine who has purchased the cars.

Investigators will be presenting their information to the Canadian County D.A. who will determine what charges, if any, are filed.

If you think you may have purchased one of these Mustangs from Classic Recreations in Yukon, you are encouraged to contact the OSBI at (405) 848-6724.