A J Auto Master Sales

Wish I found this  site before I bought the same 1968 Mustang in the review left here by TIM here 6 months ago. The car in question was advertised as a private seller on classiccars.com for a recently fully professional restored 1968 Ford Mustang Convertible.  

Once we inquired online, Eduardo (Edy) Arango reached out via 305-721-8989 as a private seller on classic cars website. He mentioned he has been getting many calls but will show me the car first. After agreeing to see the car, he gave me his home location where the car is located at 721 Cypress Pointe Dr E, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027 at the Grand Palms Residence Gated Community.
We had checked in at a private residence showing our ID to get in.

Once we looked at the car, we asked Eduardo questions on why he was selling the car, how long he had it, he had 2 other Mustangs, stating he needed to make room in his garage for another car he had outside,  We asked why car was painted over in engine, muffler as things will be cover by paint to do proper inspection. He said , all classic cars get painted via engine and bottoms. He mentioned it is fully restored and required. Paint was not as mentioned in description as taken apart to paint car perfectly, but up close in hood and door as well as trunk it was not taken apart but painted over. Engine was painted and never taken out seen by overspray. 

After we agreed as he turned the car on that it was running, he drove the car then right back into his garage. We negotiated a price as he mentioned he had to ask his wife Monica Arango on a final price. Then she came out and stated that she can drop price from $29,900 to $27,500 and required a deposit to hold the car. At this time she went back in her house, when she returned she mentioned she was a DEALER and filled out a intent to purchase form. We were surprised and stated we thought Eduardo was selling the car. We asked as they have private seller on website. (Classic cars.com). She said we are going to sell the car as a dealer, we can do everything for you including title and tag. Stating they have someone at Airway Tag Agency to do it with no wait time.

Agreeing these were mainly cosmetic for they year of the car, payment was processed with $2000 via Venmo with my wife’s phone.  As they pitched that to hold the car since other buyers were coming. The next day we processed another $1000 until we could wire the balance. She requested $10,000 to be wired from bank into AJ Automaster INC as a bill of sale. The balance of $15,000 into her daughter’s personal bank account . (Wire receipts )

After picking up the car, reverse light on one side was not working. When I asked Ed, he said “Oh on these cars with so many years you are lucky if one works”. I looked at him as confused to a car the was fully professionally restored as advertised.

Once the car was driven off trailer it died on my driveway and brakes barely stopped the car. The power steering could not turn the wheels. THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AFTER 5 MINUTES after we unloaded it. We video taped the whole experience.

After doing a closer inspection under the passenger seat the metal sagged. Looking under the carriage it was painted and hard to see. The firewall had holes near engine on passenger side, hence the passenger would have not been protected in case of a fire. There appeared to be materials caulking and painted black to seal areas that would be a fire hazard. The transmission was stated as restored and slips on park, reverse and drive. When I called them that evening Ed mentioned to call him in the morning to go over issues.

When we check the power steering oil was empty, we asked him about it he said “oh just put a little at a time so it won’t leak”. When asked about transmission slipping , he mentioned ”it is just a screw that must have got loose”. When asked about why the car did’t start he mentioned  “ I do not know it was running when you picked it up”. We called tow company to put it back on trailer, he could not start the car either.
 
The new top was replaced but the frame was original and did not close flush and was bent.

They also mentioned an advantage of using them as a dealer they can do registration and title for you to save time vs buying from a private seller. They use a place far from there house as they have a connection mentioned by Monica. She would also save you on taxes, etc.

This person came across as teacher from a prominent high school and was running a legit business. To trust them as they are a dealer so the process would be better. Nightmare as they run this game by flooring the car with auto finance company inc. Stay away!! Once they get caught as mentioning these reviews and EBAY BAN, they refund you stating they are repurposing the car for the full amount. Then when you sign title back, they give you a bill of sale for full amount. Then the wire back a less amount minus  your deposit, title and tag.  The angle is to make money on a non-refundable deposit.  The connection at tag agency makes money and the flooring company does the same line of credit without seeing the car. They continue this with the same car or similar cars as you read other posts here. The state and county are well aware of AJ Auto Master as when I called to file a complaint. They have several complaints in the system. I am reporting them and going through all the legal process to get the rest of my refund and hopefully anyone reading this will avoid this sham.

Vehicle was listed as professionally restored vehicle with a rebuilt engine and transmission as well as a large list of new items added to the car. Vehicle was listed as having a solid straight body with an amazing paint job straight and smooth.
Upon receipt of the vehicle on 10/23/2021 it was immediately discovered that the upon driving car from transport vehicle to my driveway that the vehicle was running very poorly and making a lot of noise and the brakes were minimally responsive at very slow speed. When I pulled into the driveway it was discovered that there was fluid running out under the vehicle later to be determined as engine oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. When I took the car to my mechanic and he inspected the vehicle his words were “This car is a total loss” and proceeded to point out numerous sections of the frame having metal plating covering severe corrosion and rot with holes filled with possibly home insulation stuffed in them and plated over and concealed with a textured black paint to disguise the damage. The engine and transmission were apparently painted with silver spray paint without ever being removed from the car as evidenced by visible overspray. The rear differential was sealed with silicone which was covered by the textured black paint. The body of the vehicle was misaligned likely due to the extensive frame damage causing convertible top to not be able to close properly and drivers door to not line up properly as well as the hood being misaligned as well as a loose bolt on the wall that can not be tightened because of corrosion on the wall. Rear drivers side quarter window is inoperable and misaligned and only able to be raised by pulling up on the window. There was also overspray on the tires indicating that the “new  wheels” were actually spray painted with the tires on to try to give a newer appearance. This was all discovered in a rather brief check by the mechanic.

Purchased a 1967 Mustang on eBay from them on 9/15/20. Wired money via bank transfer (total amount $24,550). Arranged and paid for shipping myself. The night before the car was to be picked up, they text asking me to provide positive feedback on eBay. I said that I'd be happy to provide a great review as soon I had the car in my possession. They said that unless I left review ASAP, they would not release the car. I contacted eBay and they said not to do that as this was feedback extortion. I notified them and they said they would cancel the sale and provide full refund. I told them that I still wanted the car and would leave great feedback after delivery. On the morning of pickup, the shipping company notified me that the seller again refused to release the car unless I left a positive feedback. After contacting them that morning, they said they were cancelling the sale and asked for my banking information (which they already had). After numerous frustrating texts and attempts to collect, they stopped responding and have not provided any sort of refund. I have turned this over to my legal team who is going to file a civil lawsuit, file a formal complaint with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend their dealer's license, file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's office, file a formal complaint with eBay and report them to the FBI field office in Miami. They also plan to contact the seller's local news stations (Local 10 News Investigations and 6 Investigators) and inform them that a member of their community (and educator at a local high school) is involved in an automobile scam. I suggest everyone who has been extorted by these thieves take the same action.

They are still on Hemmings, and I've warned them about the seller. They do not seem to care if they have fraudulent sellers on their site. The seller has changed their name to AJ Car Sales, same address, and they are also selling as a private seller. I bought a 1967 GT500 Tribute from them. It was listed as a turn key with lots of new parts. It was anything but. I paid $20,300 for a car that was worth only $8,000. Trying to get them to take the car back through legal process now.