I'm writing a magazine article about buying vintage cars through the internet. I'm looking for examples of people who have made deals via ebay, websites, etc--successes and horror stories. How about it? Any juicy stories you'd like to tell?
Bought my Skylark ebay Hey, I bought my Skylark Convertible via ebay. I was cautious and had a copy of the title and vin sent to me so I could run its history prior to purchase. Car was as stated, clean, little rust, 100% orig. It was a great buy, and I was real happy with it. Only thing I got shocked on was the engine was supposedly numbers matching, but when I got there I saw 73 stamped on the heads. Car was a 71. I liked the car, and it made a great platform, so I bought it. Didn't give him any money till I got there though. Drove to NC to get the thing. Brought it back to FL. Got lots of comments at gas stations too. Everybody loved the BUick. p -Jon
i have bought about 6 cars over the internet and sold 2 over the internet. for the most part it has been good. there still are some honest people out there. having said that, there are some real slime out there that just pain lie about there cars. almost took a guy to court on a truck i bought that was not what he said it was. i sold my 70 gsx on e-bay and then 2 months later the guy lies about it's condition and sells it for 9k more. feel bad for the person who bought it. vince
Paranoia is my *other* passtime... here's how I usually buy anything over 1k: "You said this is X, I'll pay full price for it but I need your reciepts/documentation" "The guy I got it from didn't have it" "OK, I'll either give you the value of the lower model or a post dated check cashable on condition that the parts meet my satisfaction as to what you've claimed...are you comfortable with that?" This is a nice neutral test. Most people shrug and figure no biggie, the guys paranoid, he has every right. If they get steamed I walk, plenty of cars and parts out there being sold by nice guys. Pretty much like racing your Buick... if it's really there, you can prove it.
I bought an 87 White Turbo Regal that way. PERFECT transaction. Car was everything represented and more. Seller stuck to their guns on the price, but it was extremely reasonable anyway. I've also bought some parts cars that way. 2 deals went better than expected and one was worse, way worse. Car and parts were there, just not in ready to go mode. Guy promised all I would need to do is show up, winch it up on the trailer and take off. Well, when I got there the guy wasn't there. Showed up 30 minutes later. NO wheels were on the car and it was on Jack stands. One entire rear drum assembly was disassembled. All the tires were flat. Guy had no pump. Basically, it would have taken a few hours to even get the car on the trailer. Needless to say I took off. Alan
I bought both of my cars over internet, well, sort of. I found both cars on the internet and both were 1000 miles or more away from me (a pretty good haul). Both were 70 GS455s. I just made it a point to soak up all of the information the owner would give to me, and I pretty much made a pest of myself. But, I wanted to be sure of what I was getting before I traveled. Both experiences turned out to be great, and I had no complaints. But the most important thing is just to do your homework, get all of the #s and codes off the car, and get lots of pictures if you can. I didn't put down the greenbacks until I saw the car in person, but I did travel quite a ways for them. I guess it is pretty much hit or miss when you buy a car off the internet. I found the car that I have now on eBay, but did not bid on it. After talking to the owner extensively the week of the auction we decided to end the auction early and make arrangements outside of ebay to purchase the car. Everything went to plan.
I found my '68 through Traderonline. It was in Boston and I was in Michigan. I e-mailed back and forth a couple of times, then talked to the owner on the phone several times. I was finally convinced enough to buy a one way ticket and fly out to get the car. I knew that I was buying a "driveable project", and the trip back was an adventure - The heater fan squealed but we had to run it (this was early March) The wind whipped through the shot weatherstrip like a hurricane The radio worked intermittently (couldn't hear it anyway) Went through a quart of oil about every 200 miles Brake booster was shot - you know, push down, no stop, no stop, SKID! Tons of thumbs up from everybody, I'd do it again tomorrow if I could!
I bought my 64 Skylark on Ebay. It was in Michigan (originally from CA) and the deal went exceptionally well. Numbers matching all original 78,000 mile car down to the carb and even the CA emissions. Lots of pics were on the add and the owner listed all the faults with it. It had been through a minor restoration and was done well. Guess I was lucky, but you also have to do your homework on any car you buy. I got burned on a car I bought locally. The trans let go right after I bought it. So, anything can happen. Just my 2 cents. Mark
70 Stage 1 $200 bucks I was searching ebay came accross a 70 rear bumper rough but the guy said it came off a Stage 1 car and listed the serial# in the ad. I checked the #'s out sure enough it was :laugh: I bid 75.00 bucks on a rusty 70 bumper just to win the aucton. I called him he was only two and half hours away in Indiana!! he said he would take 200 dollars for the car!!! I took a rollback to get it.. When I got their it was pushed behind a building it was rough but it had the original posi rear, GS hood, 400 trans(BB), it was a harvest gold with tan interior, bench seat column shift, 14 steel wheel with dog dish hub caps, aluminum front drums. the emblems where missing and the engine :af: but he gave the name and # number of friend of his who has it in a 48 buick street rod! The guy says I get first crack at it! :Brow: will see I offered 5 455's in it's place he still won't give it up yet. The guy was as nice as they cme him and his dad own a parts store he gave me 10 8' foot section of stainless exhaust pipe 2.5 " and 3",a new yoke for turbo 400 before I left! All from a bumper! Jason
me too Bought my first GS from the internet. Bought a 70 GS 455 from Rust Free Classics . I had been looking for about 6 months. The price was OK, it is a CA car. Having fooled with rust buckets for years, I wanted something solid, which is what I got. The guy specializes in trucks, so having a GS was different for him. He had sold one, and I said to call if he got another. A month later he called and claimed it was "just like the other one except for" and he listed what was different. Course it was not "restored" as he said, but the interior and exterior are nice. The mechanics....well... there is a lot of work to do! Had it shipped from CA, unseen! ou: The worst feeling was when I drove it the first time and it would not go over 30 mph! :af: Turned out to be the carb. That and a full tune up and it runs good. :laugh: I see many cars selling with great mechanics but needing body work or interior....don't know which is better, but I'm happy (and smarter!) and that's what counts! I would do it again, but more carefully! - Bill
bought an 86 regal ltd 455 bought the car on e-bay.everything was as the seller said except the paint was a little worse than what he said. drove there,saw it, offered alittle less,loaded it up and took it home.tkis is the bpg project limited. the best pass so far with the car as purchased was 14.23 @ 99mph. thats with the stock one wheel wonder 2.56 rear end. it now has a gn 8.5 rear with 3.42 gears, mosier 30 spline axles.c-clip elim, and a mini spool. all the rear suspension has been upgraded at the same time. hope to run this weekend,weather permitting, to see what differences it made. will keep everyone posted. overall internet experience was good. t.h.
I bought my 66 GS automatic convertible from a young guy out of Oregon, who was more interested in a local Mopar for sale.He had it on ebay, and it didn't meet reserve, partly because he had it listed only as "BUICK SKYLARK" He gave a decent description, and said he drove it all the time, etc. Upon arrival, I found it needed a rearend rebuild and had a much too large Holley that was fouling the plugs and sludging the valves.I don't think he drove it all the time....He said it had never been hit, but it clearly had, and had a bad old bondo mound repair.It also needed tranny attention, as it wouldn't downshift, and didn't feel like the switch-pitch was functioning. On the positive side, it is all numbers matching, rustfree, and had all of its trim intact. I was going to rebuild the tranny and rearend anyway. He had already installed a new top and interior and the price was great. All of us know what to expect from a used car sale, especially when it is over 5 years old. I personally like to buy my cars needing work, so I know the quality of the finished product, and can get to know the vehicle as I go. I think the average seller is honest, and I make sure to have a signed contract that states what is acceptible, and that the car may be returned for a refund plus shipping costs if there are significant misrepresentations. The bottom line is that if the car is rare enough and the description is accurate, I don't mind a few hidden problems. I think sometimes, the seller isn't as sophisticated about old cars as we, the collectors and restorers of Buicks are. These cars are rare, and most of us take years to develop the knowledge base that we have. The average seller of one of these can't be expected to know what a switch-pitch is supposed to feel like, or that Chevy wheels don't belong on a GS. If the price is low enough, and the seller seems honest, I am very easygoing about it. I haven't been burned yet, but I am knocking on wood, because I have another one on the way as I write this.......
Anyone waiting on shipment of a 66-67 Ragtop. I was on the way home this afternoon and saw a 66-67 buick skylark / GS convertable on a carrier heading east. So if anyone has one in shipment it is on the way. Tim
i found my skylark via ebay, but purchased it independanly after the auction ended with no one topping the reserve. i just had the same thing happen with a mustang and after seeing many photos and getting info via ebay, i'm going out soon fairly confident that it'll be what i'm looking for. (...a daily driver/well-kept beater...i'm not turning to the ford side, don't worry)
I have never purchased a car over the internet, but have drove to look at cars found on the internet, I passed on the deal each time. The seller always misrepresented the car. I have however, sold several cars via the internet. Always turned out good. I always try to be as honest as I can and no one is ever disapointed.
