galen govier - waste of time - buyer beware

[Evolution69]

What sort of business is  galven govier of http://www.galengovier.com running exactly, i ve taken the time out to take pics and videos documents and send all the info of my car along with payment,  not to even get a reply back,  if my car doesn't meet their standards just say so,  i recall messaging his secretary numerous times just to get one worded answers, and these guys are running a "business",   But quick enough to take payment straight away for nothing avoid these fraudsters,  buyer beware

[birdsandbees]

Been waiting 15 years for my stuff to come back on my SuperBird. He did my Bee and ignored my Bird request, leaving me thinking something was amiss or bogus about my car.

You're wasting your time. Ask what you want to know here and the guys will answer your questions.

[RECHRGD]

He has sure pissed off a bunch of people over the years.  Is he still alive?

[JR]

I'm always amazed to hear people still give this guy money. It appears he's been know more for ripping people off over the last couple of decades more so than actually providing a service.

[Challenger340]

Yep, may wanna walk away from that one.

[Kern Dog]

I'm always amazed to hear people still give this guy money. It appears he's been know more for ripping people off over the last couple of decades more so than actually providing a service.

The man is a worthless piece of crap. 20 years ago he was relevant, he had a lock on the numbers and documentation. His name added value to rare cars...."Documented by Galen" but today, I laugh and shake my head at people that even mention his name. He developed a reputation for being slow to respond and arrogant as well. This asshole would actually go to car shows to document cars and open peoples hoods to look at fender tags, move items from dashboards to look at VINs. My cars have never been rare but if that fat fuck ever tried to open the hood of a car of mine, I'd deliver a hard kick to his ass.

[Bad B-rad]

Its funny because, at one point (20-22 years ago) he had a reputation for being a good guy, and doing a lot of good for the Mopar hobby/community.
I still have his little white books(one says 1998, the other is may 2001, lol)
What happened to this dude?
Was he always a pecker head, or did he become one over time?Did the money change him?

It used to be people said nothing but great thing about him, but now I just hear bad things, very starange?

[Bad B-rad]

Right on Kern Dog!!!!
I have heard the exact same thing about him in regards to the moving stuff to read vins, or opening the doors(pre 68 cars) and opening  the hoods, with out permission, or even a hi, how are you, almost like he is entitled to the info.


Boy sounds like his attitude is his down fall.

[Mopar Nut]

 

[Evolution69]

Thanks guys

Seriously guys their a waste of time and they will take your money in a heartbeat and your cars info and you ll never hear from them again

His worth jack in our hobby
His secutary "Diane" is terabile

I dd rather not have a car thats had anything to do with him or in his so called registery

Just a friendly heads up no my fellow mopar peeps

[JR]

I actually keep my fender tag in a safe, and electrical taped a black business card over my dash VIN in the hopes of annoying him or or anyone like him at a car show one day. 

Not that I go to many Mopar only events, but watching certain guys see your car, and walk straight to identfying numbers creeps me out in some way. It kinda feels like watching a guy walk up to your wife and peek under her skirt.

I cringe every time I see it and immediately think to myself "How much do I NOT want to be friends with that guy..."

[jessejames]

Had the same experience... Glad to hear I wasn't the only one he blew off.

[1970Moparmann]

I met him at a show in Iowa years back and he was very unprofessional.  I will never give any money to him.

[John_Kunkel]

You sent me payment for services? SUCKER!!!!

[68RT440]

About 10 years ago I had a pencil rubbing of my VIN and fender tag, a check made out and the envelope addressed to him. I decided to do some research before I sent the check and I'm glad that I did...I never sent that envelope to him...

[mpd659]

He told me that my 68 Hemi Charger is worth 10% less because the color is GG1. This was at Mopars in the park after my buddy told him about my car🙄

Russ

[tan top]

   been waiting since about August 1989

[A12 Superbee]

I saw on a forum a few years ago a little story about GG, that back in the 80's, he had pretty unrestricted access to the old Chrysler records at head office or some such place and after awhile they didn't even bother him during his visits. Anyway, other people also caught on that these records were a wealth of information and would go there and find that the records had disappeared!

The rumour being that GG had walked out with the data and started to sell the info to punters and soon enough, by way of light fingers, he became the only source of information and has probably made a lot of money out of it.

If that's true, I hope he burns in hell but for taking peoples money without providing a service, he's going there anyway!

[A383Wing]

He's on Facebook in a couple groups that I belong to

I have not heard anything good about him either....

[68X426]

Is he still alive?

He was last seen selling used cars at a "classic" dealer.  It would take a patient search of the archives here, or ForBBodies, or Moparts to find the details, but I do remember seeing the advertisement and his soliciting for sales.

From my first hand experience I will say it is shameful he's connected with Mopars, he should be elsewhere, f*ing up in the Brand X world.

[ws23rt]

I met Galen in person in the late nineties. (or thereafter) He stopped by my place to inspect my C500 (that I had inquired about).
His secretary called me to say he was nearby and had time (before his flight out) to look at my car.
As it turned out he was in Oregon to "inspect" several cars a local guy hired him for.
Galen told me the guy stopped him after looking at two cars and sent him on his way. That is why he had time to visit me and my car on his way home. (a "good deal" for me to save on cost)
He seemed focused and took lots of pictures.
As he was about to leave I showed him my 69 Coronet RT hemi 4sp car (one of 57?) and asked a couple of questions. All he did was smile and say he only came to look at one car. If I wanted this one "inspected" while he was here it would cost another $350. I shook his hand and said thanks but I just thought you might like to chat on your way out.
A few weeks later I got the "report" on my C500.  
The bottom line is --I learned nothing about my C500 -but- I had his documents for my money.

When I sold my C500 a few years ago I got the sense from the buyer that the "Galen report" for the car was nothing more than a novelty. As it turns out it may just be that.--Kind of like vintage chewing gum in an ash tray.


 

[resq302]

My "new" 69 GTX vert was "blessed" with a Galen inspection that the previous owner had him do at the Nationals around 2002 or 2003 I think.  Galen rated my car at a 2.3 out of 5 with 1 being the best.  The owner said he did nothing to the car nor had any chips or scratches added to the paint since he had it inspected.  There is NO freaking way that this car would be considered a 2 or even a high 3 with the stuff I have found wrong, missing, or just wear and tear over time.  Granted, the car is an excellent solid car to start with and have fun with but no way it should have rated as high as he scored it.

I, too, have met Galen a few times over the years and BS'd with him at Mopars at E-town.  He learned a few things from me regarding the different depths of the tail light covers on my car vs. my buddies car who was parked next to mine but there still seemed to be that arrogant nature about him.  I also remember how he supposedly burned people at the Barrett Jackson auction a few years back and since then, his name had become dirty.  I also remember hearing something about how he was now working as a used car salesman too.  Fitting, karma ?  who knows.  Very sad to see how someone who was once a huge asset to our hobby fell to such levels.

[1970Moparmann]

I saw on a forum a few years ago a little story about GG, that back in the 80's, he had pretty unrestricted access to the old Chrysler records at head office or some such place and after awhile they didn't even bother him during his visits. Anyway, other people also caught on that these records were a wealth of information and would go there and find that the records had disappeared!

The rumour being that GG had walked out with the data and started to sell the info to punters and soon enough, by way of light fingers, he became the only source of information and has probably made a lot of money out of it.

If that's true, I hope he burns in hell but for taking peoples money without providing a service, he's going there anyway!

Wow... If this is true, what a snake!

[smithenhiven]

How has he not been sued yet,...or has he?  Taking money for a service, and not providing said service is theft.

[Bad B-rad]

I also have heard a variation of A12 SUPERBEE 's post about his(Galen) having un supervised, unrestricted access to Chrysler files, that have now "gone missing".
Also heard he made  claims some were obtained by him from the dumpster, after Chrysler tossed them out. (one mans trash is Galen treasure LOL!!!)
Now I was not there, and just because I heard a similar story doesn't make it 100% true, but the fact that I have been into this hobby for so long, that I have seen him go from a sought after car inspector, validator, and a wealth of Mopar  information, that was a HUGE asset to the hobby, to his name being a dirty word, well there must be a very good reason for that, huge fall from grace.
I lot of people have not so nice things to say about him, and as bad as it is to stereotype people, with out really knowing that person, we must remember, ALL stereotypes come from an element of truth, that's how they start, from a common truth/fact, as politically incorrect  as it may sound.

So basically if it looks like a duck.....................


And that sucks, because I still use those little white casting #'s books, LOL! And I hate to line the pockets of some J.O. who think's his crap don't stink.