Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

natboy · Joined: 04 Mar 2014 Posts: 10

Hi Folks
Just spent another uneventful Sunday morning driving to the west midlands to view a Triumph Herald which to owner said was in great condition but when you get there its a complete pile of poo,this was not reflected in the price he wanted for it. Do these people live in the real world ? Do they actually research the going rate for the car they are selling? When you do ring them up and ask questions about the car its like getting blood out of a stone, so they waste your time and money in fuel to go and have a look at it and surprise,surprise is this the car you had advertised? OMG. Sorry folks i get sooo frustrated with sellers who over price their classics ive been looking for a decent 13/60 herald for months but all i seem to get are nasty cars hiding under nice new paint or time wasters am i the only one this happens to.

peppiB · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject:

I used to buy and restore cars with a mate. One day we traveled to Liverpool to collect an old Nissan Skyline - allegedly in fair condition with just a small amount of work required. When we arrived the car was parked against a wall. Close examination showed considerable damage to the nearside and almost non existent bulkhead and floor. The seller said he thought these were minor problems! If we had tried to hitch an A frame to that, the whole front end would have pulled away. What a waste of fuel and time. The car was re advertised saying 'possibly some welding required to bulkhead' Rolling Eyes

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:57 pm Post subject:

It's an old problem, I'm afraid. Lost count of the number of times I've been - sometimes taking my dad (as second driver) and a wad of cash - to look at cars that turned out to be total wrecks, indeed at one point I looked at so many terminally rotten Minis in particular that I simply gave up! The annoying thing was that many of these rotboxes had virtually new MOTs. I remember one in particular that had a big rust hole in the outer sill, while having a quick feel to see how bad it was my hand (whole hand, not just a finger) went straight through the inner sill as well, it was only the carpet that was holding it together!

Nowadays the ads I like are the ones with lots of photos, especially ones that cover all the usual rotspots. Not a guarantee of course but gives you a better idea than mere words.

47Jag · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:14 am Post subject:

BB,

I think you are right. I recently sold my 1938 Buick Limo and when the guy came to collect it I asked him if he was pleased with his purchase and he said it was the amount of pictures that I had supplied that made him decide to buy without seeing the car 'in the flesh'

Art

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

I drove all the way from Portsmouth to Hull to buy a VW LT camper van, and came away without it as it was definitely not as described, what a heap.... Evil or Very Mad

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

A member of our Royale caravan club drove from North Wales to south Wales to buy a Royale described as immaculate. It was a heap of rotten wood, and almost unfit to tow. Our member was extremely annoyed, as North to South is not an easy trip, and demanded that the seller at least re-imbursed his £80 fuel costs. The seller was so astonished at being asked that he gave him a cheque on the spot!

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

I've travelled to view so many pedigrees, and found mongrels, that I should get an invite to Crufts as a judge.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:54 pm Post subject:

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

christine lowery · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject:

to me emmerson
and a fine pile of spares she was
chris Twisted Evil

JohnDale · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:52 am Post subject:

I recently went to my pal's house in Edinburgh & then travelled to Harrogate, to look at a Ford Consul Convertible. Described as requiring nothing needing doing, it was almost impossible to find anywhere my wee magnet could find metal. The pictures posted were many but avoided all the stuff he didn't want to be seen. This was not a 'punter' but a dealer. He was busy messing about with another car & didn't even come to speak to us but left that to his retired father who, 'knew nothing about the car'. Waste of a day plus fuel. Cheers,JD.
_________________
1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

Fatbloke · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 12:00 pm Post subject:

Surely these are just the perils of buying anything 2nd hand? Happened to me for almost everything from cars down to a kids tricycle!

I'm just glad I went to see them rather than "bidding" on just the photos and consider it part of the adventure! Smile

_________________
Mike,

A Fatbloke in a Herald.

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

I'm rather surprised by the naivety of some on this thread. Sorry folks but it is so. I never believe what I read and if not satisfied demand specific photos. I mean, if you have three quarter-angle shots on view, why not the fourth? Alarm bells start ringing straight away. So I ask for further photos before wasting my time and petrol. And if you know the car model you are talking about well, you know what photos to ask for.

Peter_L · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:55 pm Post subject: