I was just writing to tell everybody about a wonderful experience I had at the hands of 2 Ripoff artists. Last year I purchased a Yellow 1970 Buick GS 350 from a couple who lived in OHIO. I bought the car on Ebay and paid for it sight unseen after talking to the couple many times on the phone. Tim and Carol seemed very honest after I notified them that the car was an original 350 car...not Stage 1 as stated. I worked that out before the purchase. I paid $3500 for a nice solid roller(or so I was told). They told me it had a great body that had 1 repaint and was real solid. They also stated the frame and floors were solid. The car was yellow\black top and brown bench interior...They stored it and raced it at Quaker City Dragway in Ohio. When I got the vehicle(had it shipped),it made me puke! The car was full of bondo,had no wiring,heater box,or floor boards,and the frame was rotted from front to back....a total junk! When I called them,they finally answered after 2 weeks, they told me they didn't know anything abouth the frame or floors being bad!!! To sum it up,I got screwed and if it wasn't so far from me,they would have had a visitor in person. Either way,be careful of Ebay sales when you can't see it in person and beware of Tim or Carol at Quaker City Dragway in Ohio....You may be next!
I hate hearing stories like this....it just makes you sick. I've learned that it really pays to have someone you know, or a local club member inspect the car for you if you can't make it yourself. I've done several inspections in the St. Louis area for people on v8buick, the BPG, and BCA. Even a couple people who have no idea who I am have me check out other cars such as Chevelles, or whatever. I take detailed notes about every body section, engine, top, inerior, undercarriage, paint, wheels, tires, rubber...etc. Sometimes it helps to have someone you know is well-versed in being able to see the trouble spots and issues hiding behind paint, too.
I am a car guy also and know what to look for. I took somebody for their word and it backfired...tough lesson to learn. I am unsure if this is the right column to post this in but wanted to warn fellow members.
Right column for sure... I don't blame you for wanting to get your experience public. It's a very frustrating (and sometimes financially devastating) situation.
i remember seeing the car on ebay and i talked to Tim and Carol at Columbus during the BPG event. they had a bunch of extra parts from the car for sale. i also saw Tim at Canfield swap meet. who knows maybe they will be at Columbus again this year.
Made the same mistake on a 77 T/A - looked GREAT in pics and only had 35k on it... when it pulled up i wanted to barf. 135k? 235?? what a POS the ONLY saving grace was that the seller was basically an honest man who thought he really had a 35k car. I shipped it back and he refunded my $$---all it cost me was a grand in shipping...an airplane ticket ( at the time ) would have been $250.00. Lesson learned! Robert
I am sure they are shopping swap meets on my money! I hope they get what's coming to them. Who knows,maybe we'll meet in person one day?o No:
I bought the 68 GS California that was at the GS Nationals this year. $500. It was worth it to me to for all the trim parts I needed but really the car was a rusted out POS. The same car was on racingjunk.com for $2500 advertised as really solid with a little rust in the quarters. If someone would have bought or even gone out of their way to look at the car based on the adds description they would have been really pissed!
GrEAT POST!! People need to know these "people" are out there. In early Mar. '05 my friend drove us over 1,200 mi. to pick up a 67 'lark w/ a455 in tampa. Self painted- looked great in pics. Turns ou the painted it w/ something that would wear off in a year. The body mounts were fiberglassed to the frame. There was 3 inches of bondo inside the qtrs. The trunk and package tray were rotted. I say this because his description HERE ON THIS BOARD and many conversations over the phone led me to believe he lived in bazzaro world. Even told my friend not to get down to look- they had ants. So I started it a moved it 10 ft. They looked like deers in headlights. I had been up over 36 hrs at this point, so I just told them they were lucky I could no longer see straight!!! Bastards!!!!:rant:
Lots of good people selling on ebay, sucks that a few of them are using it to rip people off. thanks for the warning.
