Streetbeasts fraud controversy
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George G. Levin eventually pleaded guilty in the case in summer of 1999, and was ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution. Shortly thereafter, sales plummeted, and Classic Motor Carriages was evicted from its headquarters. Around the same time, Levin re-opened the kit car business under a new name: "Auto Resolutions" (later changed to "StreetBeasts"). | George G. Levin eventually pleaded guilty in the case in summer of 1999, and was ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution. Shortly thereafter, sales plummeted, and Classic Motor Carriages was evicted from its headquarters. Around the same time, Levin re-opened the kit car business under a new name: "Auto Resolutions" (later changed to "StreetBeasts"). | ||
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==StreetBeasts attempts to silence criticism== | ==StreetBeasts attempts to silence criticism== | ||
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These forum posts were an attempt at producing what is known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilling_effect_(term) Chilling effect], the suppression of free speech with fear tactics. | These forum posts were an attempt at producing what is known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilling_effect_(term) Chilling effect], the suppression of free speech with fear tactics. | ||
| − | + | ==Specific problems with StreetBeasts kit cars== | |
| + | ===Aesthetically incorrect body design=== | ||
| + | This section needs photographs to demonstrate the body differences between Streetbeasts and other hotrods. '''This section needs a photograph demonstrating a side-by-side comparison of a StreetBeasts kit car with a "real" car of the same make/model.''' | ||
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| + | ===Poor resale value=== | ||
| + | Streetbeasts are reputed to have a poor resale value when compared to other kit cars, and to other fiberglass-bodied street rods. | ||
| + | ===Lack of parts interchangeability=== | ||
| + | On their website, StreetBeasts claims that their bodies are "pretty close" to the originals, but then goes on to state that "Street Beasts parts generally do not interchange with parts on original steel bodied cars". | ||
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| + | Most aftermarket or original parts will not interchange with StreetBeast vehicles. This compels StreetBeast kit car owners to order replacement parts directly from Streetbeasts. | ||
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| + | ===Incompetent technical support=== | ||
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| + | ===Aggressive sales tactics=== | ||
| + | StreetBeasts sales tactics are notoriously aggressive, and they have a reputation for endlessly pursuing people via phone, in an attempt to induce them to place a deposit down for a StreetBeasts kit. | ||
==Factors in favor of StreetBeast vehicles== | ==Factors in favor of StreetBeast vehicles== | ||
Streetbeast fiberglass is thick. Their website claims that the fiberglass bodies are "an average of 3/8 of an inch thick or more". | Streetbeast fiberglass is thick. Their website claims that the fiberglass bodies are "an average of 3/8 of an inch thick or more". | ||
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