Classic Car Restoration Deal Gone Bad Led To Felony Charge: Cops

RIVERWOODS, IL — A DeKalb County man faces a felony theft charge after police were told he swapped out the engine of a Riverwoods resident's classic car for an inferior one. His arrest came about three years after the Deerfield Road resident agreed to let the man restore his 1966 Chevy Impala.

Alan R. Luebbers, 38, of the 600 block of Kennedy Street, Waterman, was arrested on Dec. 16 by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office on a warrant issued by Riverwoods police following a six-month investigation.

According to Chief Bruce Dayno, a Riverwoods resident called police in early July, a few days after getting the car back from Luebbers.

Police learned the resident had paid Luebbers $10,000 in cash and $7,000 in checks to restore the car, but after payments were made Luebbers returned it the Chevy was in worse condition that when it he had picked it up about two and half years earlier.

Witnesses familiar with the Impala's former 350-cubic-inch engine verified for police that it had been swapped for an inferior one, Dayno said.

Luebbers was released on a recognizance bond Tuesday and did not respond to a message seeking comment Friday. He is is due back in Lake County court Jan. 8 for a status of attorney hearing.