Selling a RACE CAR

[STEVEN NOVOSEL]

There is alot of racers ?????? That seem to collect photo's....anyone else notice that....steve

[Joe DeMarzo]

I sold the same car 3x times this year and willl be driving it again next year, Guess that answers that question.

[al wisniewski]

I see that in my business too.They call and want a real AH car built and then when you do a quote,they end up just wanting a 10 second bracket car.I've been trying to sell my B/SR and some guy wanted to trade me a JR.dragster for it. Champagne tastes and beer money!

[Ronnie Smith Jr]

I had the same issues with people collecting photos, er jpegs, I sent everything via email. I had detailed photos of the chassis and detailed notes of the motors, trans, rears, etc. The ole strokers who wanted something for nothing. One guy even had the balls to offer 10k for the complete SS car tk with spare motor and the other spare parts. Then my hopes went through the roof with one guy ( a Nordic) who told me he wanted everything. The Euro to dollar was good then , too. I asked him for some references and called them (noted S/SS racers) and received positive feedback and even had a SS racer unsolicited call me on the "buyers" behalf. While making arrangements to prepare to ship the vehicle the guy gives me a dear john story. Fortunately for me, I was not out any funds, just my time.

I felt the same as Smitty, I was not going to give the car away. Then, out of the blue, I receive a call from a gentleman in Canada who wants to come down and look at it. He shows up, looks it over and snatches it up.

Smitty, not sure that I agree on the Ford vs Chevy thing. The Camaro was for sale for nearly 2 years and there are plenty other Chevy and GM cars that have been and still are for sale now. It's just a sign of the times with the poor economy.

RJ, it is not only cars but parts too. I had one guy buy parts from me and "sent me the check" for two weeks before getting back to me. In the meantime, I could have sold the part in question twice. Since he drug his feet and did not buy it, I still have the part because the second guy found the part elsewhere. I had one stroker call me for 30 minutes talking about one of my driveline pieces that he wanted. The funny thing about it, it was the right piece for his combination and he ended up going elsewhere and getting the wrong piece. Go figure.

I've been moving the SS parts to concentrate on JR dragsters and still don't have all the pieces I need for them. With the economy the way it is, I am hesitant on the money I am spending on the junior program so as not to over-spend or buy unnecessary pieces.

For what its worth...

Ronnie, Jr.

[herbjr]

No deposit and I wont hold it a day. I had a problem with a JR Dragster I sold last year. One guy told me he wanted it no deposit, 2 weeks later another guy called me at 3pm, he was at the track at 7pm and in his truck at 9pm. The first guy cussed me out but I called him 3x that day and he didnt call me back. Cash talks. The other thing I do is after about 3 phone calls I tell them there is nothing else I can tell yo uabout the car, the only people making money here are phone companies, not to be rude but if you want it I need a deposit. That usually gets rid of them or they buy it.

[dean ribeiro]

Ron:
you have a PM

Dean

[THE LEGEND]

I got a 78 nova project car. The only plus is it has a 12 bolt chevy rear. I put it on here foe $600 bucks I think. I had people wanting pictures. LOL
I told one guy go to the junk yard and look at a 78 Nova that will be your picture.

I sold 2 stockers On the WWW. I did get tired of sending pictures but it's what you gotta do if you want to sell.
Chip

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by herbjr

No deposit and I wont hold it a day. I had a problem with a JR Dragster I sold last year. One guy told me he wanted it no deposit, 2 weeks later another guy called me at 3pm, he was at the track at 7pm and in his truck at 9pm. The first guy cussed me out but I called him 3x that day and he didnt call me back. Cash talks. The other thing I do is after about 3 phone calls I tell them there is nothing else I can tell yo uabout the car, the only people making money here are phone companies, not to be rude but if you want it I need a deposit. That usually gets rid of them or they buy it.

Racecars and muscle cars are pretty much the same transaction. I have done it as a side business for 15 years or so. I have had the same experiences. Picture collectors, idiots who don't know what they are looking at, my favorite, the scammers from abroad who want to OVERPAY with cash back....(I double the price for them, and never hear from them again)

A lot of guys(never sold a collectible car to a girl yet) are dreamers. The internet seems to bring out many more of these. Racing Junk will put you in contact with a lot of buyers, but some you would rather not do business with. Ebay, well I think it can be a good place to find a car, but its not an easy place to sell. Believe it or not, you may have some luck in Hemmings Motor News..not too many race cars listed, and if your car has some other appeal(collectible/restorable) it might be able to bring even more money than as a race car, you should in fact, your car is likely rust free, problem free compared to "restored" cars.

I try to give the potential buyer as much info as I can so they can make an informed decision, then its up to them to either come out and view, send someone to view and inspect. If they start to want to haggle without ever seeing the car, I take them as not serious.

I have made the mistake of sending video, photo copies of buildsheets, pictures on my fed ex dime, what a waste of my time.

When I investigate buying a car, I may send a email to start, then call and ask every question I can think of..I like to ask the seller, are there any others questions I should be asking? Often, yes.....if it seems like a fit, off for a visit, sizable deposit with agreed upon terms for the balance with performace requirements if a race car(proof of performance) and date to complete......I do throw in a deposit refundable if death or disability occurs, but only to me, if the seller dies, it may complicate the test portion, but its still a deal.

I am sure I am not alone in wishing people would not tire kick, etc. Parts I always get a credit card or money order before I ship.

I did sell a Lil Red Express sight unseen to a collector in Kansas, money order came, I was so happy I through in every spare part I could find in the attic for him.......car carrier came a few weeks later, but that is the exception, and I broke my cardinal rule for my Dakota stocker I found on Racing Junk last year......Not only did I buy it sight unseen, but I didn't have any performance contigencies, but I asked every question I could, trusted the guy, and am 150% happy. Intercity couldn't get their huge rig up my street, so I got the thrill of a late night stocker test run up the streets!

[CycloneFE]

For the "strokers" I say the car is FOR SALE not ON SALE.

I also do my homework to sell as well as buy.

Make a list as to everything the vehicle has and get some pics. Save all of this in the computer for easy retrieval and send the same info to everyone that asks. You can even print out a copy and post locally or leave at businesses.

Good luck with the car.

[stage1scott]

The Internet has certainly changed the way the process works. I always place the largest ad feasible
(ie buy the gallery ad and 2 weeks of frontpage duplication on racing junk) and post as many quality pictures as they allow-then when the inevitable request for more/different/better pics comes in, I just refer them back to the ad. I actually had a guy in Texas who said he wanted my Buick, called me half a dozen times, talked to several well know Buick guys accross the country who know my car, and still wasn't convinced it could be rust free. I offered to split the cost of a plane ticket to socal for him to inspect, and he still couldn't be convinced!! at the time that flight was about 90 bucks for each of us. OTOH, the Olyenik car hauler I had on here and racing junk went to a guy in Austrailia, full price, no issues, could not have been an easier transaction, and I was terrified to do an international deal but it was great. YOu jus thave to keep answering the emails and phone calls if you want to sell in this economy.