Legendary drag racer Dave Strickler raced the Dodge during the 1965 season. The Dodge was
then sold to another racecar driver, Chuck McJury, who made substantial alterations to the
vehicle. Among other things, McJury replaced the vehicle’s original 1965 Dodge Coronet body
with a 1966/1967 Dodge Charger body. McJury sold the car to Melvin Smith. Melvin Smith then
sold the Dodge to David Fengel in 1979 or 1980. By that time, the vehicle was in poor condition,
described it as a “body shell on wheels” with “[n]o engine” and “no transmission.”
Atwell (Defendant) purchased the Dodge from Fengel in the early 1990s for $35,000.
Fengel provided Atwell with documentation concerning the vehicle’s history, alterations, and
chain of title, including the vehicle’s original 1965 certificate of title, bearing Dave Strickler’s
name and address.
Atwell gathered parts and spent more than 10 years restoring the vehicle. Atwell then
worked with Edward Strzelecki to sell the Dodge after he had finished restoring it. In February
2007, Strzelecki sent letters to potential buyers offering the vehicle for sale and providing
certain information concerning the vehicle’s history, restoration, and chain of title. In one of
those letters, dated February 4, 2007, Strzelecki wrote to Nicholas Smith describing the vehicle
as “Dave Strickler’s 65 Dodge ‘FACTORY’ Altered Wheel–Base.” Strzelecki explained that the
Dodge was on loan to the Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where it was on
“semi-permanent display.” Strzelecki claimed in his letter that the Chrysler Museum had
appraised the vehicle and had insured it for more than $2 million.
Nicholas Smith, an officer of Bev Smith (plaintiff), considered Strzelecki to be a friend.
Strzelecki gave him a binder containing extensive information and documentation pertaining to
the Dodge. Nicholas Smith confirmed that he had reviewed the contents of the binder before
agreeing to purchase the Dodge from Atwell.
Nicholas Smith traveled to Michigan and went to the Chrysler Museum with Strzelecki
to personally inspect the vehicle. He walked around the vehicle at the Chrysler Museum but
remained “outside of the rails that protected the car from visitors.”
Smith ultimately agreed to give defendant $600,000 in cash, plus two other classic
automobiles in exchange: (1) a 1964 Dodge Coronet Hemi Super Stock valued at $278,000, and
(2) a 1964 Ford Thunderbolt valued at $250,000. The bill of sale contained the following:
Steve Atwell hereby agrees to sell and Bev Smith Ford agrees to purchase the Dave
Strickler 1965 Dodge AWB (“AWB” means “altered wheelbase.”) drag car, VIN
W151191681. Seller represents this vehicle to be the real and authentic Strickler car,
that he (Atwell) is the true owner of the car, and further that no liens or encumbrances
exist against the vehicle.
After the sale, and while at a classic car event in Ohio in July 2008, a car historian
informed Nicholas Smith that the Dodge had a “donor body” and was not the “real” Strickler car.
On April 20, 2010, plaintiff’s attorneys in Florida sent a letter to defendant that stated in
pertinent part:
[Plaintiff] has learned that the Strickler Car it purchased from you is in fact not the “real
and authentic” vehicle driven by Dave Strickler in the 1960s, as you expressly
represented and warranted during the sale and in the Contract. [Plaintiff] now knows that
the vehicle was re-bodied and otherwise restored using predominantly non-original and
reproduction parts. [Plaintiff] would never have purchased the Strickler Car if it knew the
vehicle was not the “real and authentic” vehicle as promised.
As a result of your material misrepresentations regarding the authenticity and restoration
of the Strickler Car, [plaintiff] has suffered and continues to suffer substantial
damages…. Stated simply, you exploited the authenticity and restoration of the Strickler
Car to fraudulently gain a profit from [plaintiff].
Your false misrepresentations and warranties regarding the restoration and authenticity
of the Strickler Car are all actionable under the law….
On September 28, 2010, Smith commenced this action. The trial court granted
summary judgment for Atwell.
ISSUE: Could Smith revoke his acceptance of the car?