A Florida man has filed suit in federal court asking a judge to declare that a 1960 Corvette he found at a Carlisle Events’ event last month belongs to him.
This story is about men and their toys. The toy is a rare car that is worth $75,000. The men involved both claim they own it.
A souped-up car is at the heart of the dispute. It is one of only three that competed 52 years ago in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France.
Little was known about the car’s fate other than it had crashed in the race. It was discovered in July in a Florida warehouse when a man cleaning up following his father’s death came across it.
Carlisle Events principal owner Lance Miller bought it and then resold it.
But Dan Mathis, Jr. of Florida contends it belongs to his family.
“I have the title to the car,” explained Mathis Jr. “I have the original title to the car. People are enjoying the sight of this car. This car was raced at Le Mans. It was also raced on a drag strip. I think it’s important we get this car back to tell its true history and its complete history that involved my father and now me.”
Miller and the disputed new owner filed suit against Mathis in Cumberland County Court late last month. They claim he has no way to prove he owns the Corvette and that he defamed them by inferring they acquired it in a shady manner.
This story is about men and their toys. The toy is a rare car that is worth $75,000. The men involved both claim they own it.
A souped-up car is at the heart of the dispute. It is one of only three that competed 52 years ago in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France.
Little was known about the car’s fate other than it had crashed in the race. It was discovered in July in a Florida warehouse when a man cleaning up following his father’s death came across it.
Carlisle Events principal owner Lance Miller bought it and then resold it.
But Dan Mathis, Jr. of Florida contends it belongs to his family.
“I have the title to the car,” explained Mathis Jr. “I have the original title to the car. People are enjoying the sight of this car. This car was raced at Le Mans. It was also raced on a drag strip. I think it’s important we get this car back to tell its true history and its complete history that involved my father and now me.”
Miller and the disputed new owner filed suit against Mathis in Cumberland County Court late last month. They claim he has no way to prove he owns the Corvette and that he defamed them by inferring they acquired it in a shady manner.