Daniel Schmitt & Co Prestige Cars Joe Burgarello Completely Ripped Off by Liars and Thieves Saint Louis, Missouri

Buying a Mustang


Found a 1968 Mustang  California Special on EBay the dearest one at the time.  It was advertised with a NADA valuation of $32,800  when it did not sell I contacted the dealer Daniel Schmitt & Co. Prestige Cars in St Louie.

We rang several times asking all the relevant questions, they told us it was absolutely the best, like it had just left the factory, genuine 51,000 miles, never been in an accident, no rust, chrome in good condition. What lies.

 Downloaded 27 pages of photos and information that all looked and sounded good.  We negotiated a price with the salesman and had the car shipped to Australia. 

When it arrived, what a shock the car needs a total restoration as for the mileage 51,000 miles more like 551,000 every panel has been bent at some time, not one panel lines up, boot and bonnet have had holes where something has been fitted and removed, holes bogged and starting to fall out.  One-inch hole into the trunk. The car had a fresh paint job the worst I have ever seen painted over rust, bonnet and boot latches, wiring looms, painted in trunk over mats and rubbish in bottom corners, the only rubbers on the Mustang that resemble rubber are the tyres.

The windscreen sealed to chrome with silicone, the only good chrome on the mustang are taillight surrounds, rear bumper and trim around rear window.  Rust around wheel arches, the rust under the car in frames you would have to see to believe, shocking.  The car had the wrong grille, wrong fog lights, wrong console, wrong radio, wrong exterior mirrors fitted in the wrong place on the door.  The spare wheel is not Ford.


We contacted Joe Burgarello and complained about the mustang when we told him about all the faults, especially the underneath he stated that they did not have a lift to see the underside of the car.Another blatant lie.  He offered me $750.00 compensation or send the car back from Australia and they would give us $2,000 off any car on the lot. Why would anyone want to make a second deal with these liars.

We made contact with EBay about the way it was advertised, but because I  did not purchase the Mustang through EBay they would not comment. We also contacted BBB and the Attorney General they were no help at all.

I have written to NADA twice about how they  can arrive at a valuation, but have got no reply.  I believe this is fraudulent advertising. The valuation should  have been no more than $2000 - $4000 and the dealer should have stated that the Mustang needed full restoration.


In regards to the NADA valuations there was another Mustang for auction on another web site this year the NADA valuation was $96,450.00 it sold for $44,000.00 Not a real accurate valuation.


I still have  the car  it has not left my garage since it arrived in Australia plus 27 pages of the original advertisement.  I would love to hear from anyone who looked at the Mustang when it was for sale, mid 2008 or anyone who has had a bad experience with this dealer or NADA . I hope I can save anyone else being caught this way.