Need to sell this thing, 1966 Buick Electra Convertible SOLD

TTT...

 

TTT
I give up; open to highest cash offer, - remember this car is located in Canada and would have to be legally imported in order to register in the US. It is a US car, built in the US, (Fairfax, Kansas) so no mods or anything would need to be made.

 

TTT
Yeah; it's really gotta go now, gas price in this country has gone up again and shows no sign of coming down to something affordable.
And I got seduced by a cute little import...

 

I was still thinking you were wrong, and that you can sell your Canadian car in the US...

Watch this video by Dennis Collins.

He bought a 60's Shelby from someone living in Alberta.
Canadian registration and all.

The Canadian seller drove the car to Shelby, Montana on a trailer and Dennis bought it right there on the spot.

Listen to what the seller says he experienced at the border.

So, you can drive your Canadian car across the border and sell it there.

 

Thanks Erik, I'll take a look.
The German lead I was working on didn't pan out either, (through a friend) so back to square 1.
It seems no one has any cash, and that there are a lot of dreamers who figure Canada takes just 3 hours to drive across. ("Darf nicht wahr sein! Auf die Karte sieht es nicht so weit...Habt Ihr keinen Autobahnen da drüben?")
Yeah, it's been an experience so far. I've never had this much trouble trying to sell a car. Even tried to give it to family, and no one wanted it. Might end up giving it to the kidney foundation for a tax receipt.

 

Marc.....the MSM don't want anyone to know but we are in a full blown recession and the world is crashing down around us.

If your car was not in Canada i would have bought it.....i have been wanting a MOBILE TANNING BOOTH for awhile...and i have all the spares to keep it running

Good luck...i wish something positive would happen with this car for you.

Peace WildBill

 

I really don't think it's that easy, and I expect some paperwork was done ahead of time and the sellers acted similar to the buyers broker. That being said, it's not that hard either. We sent a car down to California last year with the new owners driving it across the border and it was no hassle whatsoever. There was just a small paperwork issue that the State of California required to plate the car, but that was a simple error and we were able to sort that out quite easily and resend some of the paperwork. Bottom line is that the state your in will require certain bits of paperwork stamped by US Customs primarily (the Canadian side doesn't care much) in order to register the car, so it's best to find out what that is.

I'm selling another car to a fellow in Palm Springs this upcoming and he contacted a broker who will do the paperwork and bring the car across the border where a transporter will take the car the rest of the way. Hopefully Marc has sold the car by then!

@WildBill: I wouldn't hesitate to buy Marc's car. The border issue is not that much of an obstacle and I think he might give you a smokin deal! A little research and organization will make the transition smooth.

 

Thanks Doug, the Wildcat I sent south went easily because the new owner took the time to figure out what he needed, hired a broker who knew a trucking company, and within 4 days of it leaving my driveway he sent me a video of him driving it. It does take a bit of trust because the money gets wired to my account, and you'd have to trust that I own the car or have it in my possession. The Wildcat buyer got me to send him a live video of me going out to the car and starting it up. I'd do it again.

As for a smokin' deal, yeah, I'm about ready to accept anything, I think what I'm asking for the car is about $11,000 US with current exchange; - and that includes a Rochester quad with proper nailhead manifold, some spare instrument clusters, a Buick dealer option 4-way flasher set up still in the box, a couple of radios, a couple of useable aluminum front drums, a tilt column with signal switch for the cornering lights, and a set of cornering lights. The hydraulics for the top are also in there, they failed last year and they were "surgically removed" sealed so as not to spill any brake fluid on the floor or in the car. I'll leave that to the new owner to sort out but the cylinders, lines, and pump motor (which still makes noise but won't pump) is all there.
Shipping would cost about $2500, maybe more, I guess it depends how far away you are from me, I'm not sure. So for about $15000 US and about a month in waiting for the paper to clear you got yourself a drivable convertible that really could only use a good detail clean but can be driven anywhere, it has enough warts and dings (but still is presentable if cleaned up) but can be left in parking lots without worrying about getting it dinged. It also has a 3:07 Posi rear axle and drive shaft that has been completely rebuilt; this car drives like a cloud and is a nice cruiser.

It's a good car; I hope someone buys it, I can't believe that I'm the only person on this earth that liked it enough to buy it.

 

Did you watch the video?
The car was bought on the spot in Shelby.
The seller even told what happened at the Coutts border crossing.
Did you also noticed what Dennis said about doing it this way because another car is taking him already 5 months and will hopefully arrive in Shelby in the next hour or so?

Click here to see what happened at the border crossing


Click here to hear Dennis telling about the other car and getting it South

"Because, as the owner you can do it!"

 

I did watch the video, but as I've actually exported a car from Canada into the US, it's not accurate... it's just a video on the internet for entertainment. Not that the process is that difficult, but in order for him to register the car in the US, he will have to have some paperwork stamped by US Customs. What you'll never see is a follow up video where Dennis Collins has issues getting the car registered in his name, and has to go back to the previous owner to help sort it out.

But seriously, it is not that difficult and only requires a quick trip into US Customs offices, particularly on a car older than 25 years and manufactured for use in the US.

 

Have to agree with Doug's comments, I checked the laws, it's illegal to just do that. US Customs then has every right to seize that car, and they will if the documentation isn't in order. That's why Sherriff's Sales have some nice cars in them. With out title, you can not get a car registered or insured in some states. If the car turns up at the DMV office as a "foreign" production serial number, which some were, even if built in the US, then there's trouble.

I would not advise anyone to believe in everything they see on the internet. Just because a guy got away with it once doesn't mean it's legal or they just turn a blind eye to it. Bureaucrats and laws may be stupid, but that's no excuse to flout them. These are people doing jobs, and in many cases, they believe they are the front line protecting the interests of their country. That's what they are taught in school.

And the amazing thing about this is that it wouldn't be the first time I've had to educate a US citizen about the laws in their own country either. Most Americans believe they can do whatever they damn-well want, but their government certainly doesn't see it that way. If I sell a car to an American, I want to make sure he gets it. I'd also like to make sure that I'm still legally able to enter the US, I don't like the prospect of rotting in some US jail for an indeterminant amount of time because US due process doesn't apply to foreigners either, especially if you fall under the jurisdiction of their customs laws. They can do whatever they want to you then.

Up here in Canada, the RCMP handle all that, and I know they will follow up on grey market vehicles and they do seize them, yes, especially used cars or antiques. A buddy of mine brought a Mercedes in from Europe, brought it in through Vancouver in a shipping crate which was duly delivered. A week later the RCMP was there with a tow truck. He had tried to register it without the proper paperwork, and it "red flagged". He had legally owned the car when he was in Europe, but apparently he didn't own it long enough, he miscalculated by 1 day. It was gone, too bad for him, he was in and out of court for 6 years and he never got the car back.

Maybe they get away with it in Europe, maybe it's just a case of driving the car across the line and flogging it, but somehow I don't think that's the case over there either. But there is no free trade in automobiles between Canada and the US, even though a lot of vehicles originate from the US. They are two very different markets and the exchange rate between the currencies makes it very advantageous for an American to buy cars in Canada, and Canadians to sell them in the US. There are taxes involved here, and governments don't like it when they aren't the only ones doing the stealing. I have taken courses in customs back when I was studying criminology in university. The process to import a car into the US (even if it was originally built there) has to be followed otherwise the Sherriff gets a nice car to sell. It's not a difficult process, but it is an exact one. And without a declaration of title or ownership with proof of previous Canadian registration from the previous owner, that car is as good as salvage and will never be registered. That is the law, no arguments.

 

And it left today. It's headed up north to Grande Prairie. With all the wildfires burning, he may regret trying to drive up there in a tent.

I ended up taking a serious loss on it, but at least it and all the remaining Buick parts are now gone.
I'm officially "Buick-less" for the first time in 40 years.
It's been a good run. I'll still be popping in from time to time.

 

Congrats on selling the car. It's sad but I know you needed to sell it.

 

Whew! I’m happy for you that it’s over. What an ordeal.
Cliff