Kansas Man ‘Throwing a Party’ to Celebrate New Law That Saves His 1959 Corvette from the Crusher

It’s time to party like it’s 1959!

That’s 1959, as in the model year of the classic Corvette that’s been entangled in a legal battle ever since Rich Martinez of Kansas bought it from an out-of-state dealership.

After six years of battling the system, Martinez appears to be just a signature away from being able to finally enjoy what he’s described as his dream car. (Update: Kansas Governor signed the bill into law on March 22nd!)

A little background:

Martinez bought a restored 1959 Corvette for $50,000 from an Indiana dealer in 2016, only to have the car seized when a Kansas state trooper discovered a problem with its VIN during a mandatory registration inspection. Lawmen eventually determined Martinez was an “innocent owner” and didn’t know that during an earlier restoration, the original VIN had been removed, then replaced. But, they said under Kansas law, the Corvette still had to be seized and crushed.

Now, however, that Kansas law appears to be changing, with only the signature of Gov. Laura Kelly standing between the passage of House Bill 2594 and the return of the car to Martinez.

“I’m throwing a party. I’m having a good time,” a now-jubilant Martinez said. “I want to give free rides around the block.”

Kansas State Rep. Leon Delperdang played a role in getting the new law passed. “I’ve personally seen where there’s damage, there’s rust, there’s repairs that need to be made where the VIN plates are,” he said. “And, per state statute as it stands today, the vehicle is considered contraband and needs to be destroyed. There’s got to be a better answer than that, you know?”

Apparently, there soon will be. The new law will exempt classic vehicles being repaired or restored and would also exempt classic car owners who didn’t know or had no reason to know their car was stolen.

Unfortunately, during the time in storage in tow lots and a big shed in Topeka, the Corvette has suffered damage – to the tune of an estimated $28,000. No word on who will be paying for that damage, though Martinez has already had to shoulder a $30,000 legal bill fighting the seizure.

“This has been a very costly, and emotional time for me,” he says. “I think that we can do better when there is no crime.”

You can watch the video interview with Mr. Martinez at kctv5.com.

Source:
kctv5.com

Related:
Seizure of 1959 Corvette Prompts Kansas Lawmakers to Review VIN Mandate for Antique Vehicles
Kansas Highway Patrol Seizes 1959 Corvette from ‘Innocent Owner’ and Now Wants to Destroy It
[VIDEO] Lawyer Weighs In on State Wanting to Destroy an Innocent Man’s 1959 Corvette