Not your mamma's 65' Buick Wagon (FOR SALE)

Stormin'-
That's one of those that I would think people look at and laugh at the price, I know I did! some people's trash is another's treasure huh...I've also seen a few hulks that are what I'd consider strictly parts cars priced at several thousand! I DON'T want to be one of those idiots...I know that the wagons (no matter what's been done) have a ceiling as to value and don't want my expectations to be more than they should be. I would think even though production numbers were fairly low, that there would be a few more on the market-that's gotta count for something as well eh?

 

Well, like you pointed out, you've got a lot of additional components that are worth a lot. If they aren't critical for the car to run, maybe you could sell them separately and not confuse the value of the wagon as it stands. Its miles ahead of those 'hulks', so offering the wagon for its better than hulk value and selling the other parts and recover your investment or what you get from the wagon sale and your expected price of $7,000 or maybe more.

Others with more car selling experience might have different strategies, but that's what I'd do.

I'd bet that the goal is to minimize your losses, not maximize your investment, so you have to take the package apart and identify what different buyers would want, and hit their 'hotspots' or 'sweetspots'.

Somebody who's a Buick Wagon Purist will want all stock components. A Ratrodder would want more power and bling goodies. Then there's the weekend warrior who likes to tinker and build a super daily driver or build an eye-grabbing street machine.

Cut it up into each class of buyer on a spreadsheet/table and line up what each 'market' would want, and how much you feel you can expect, packaged or bundled or not.

 

" A Ratrodder would want more power and bling goodies."

umm...i always thought a ratrodder would want rust, crappy paint, and the car to ride less than 3 inches from the ground?

 

Dallas.smith, here's another thought.

Sit down with an image of each of those kinds of buyers and write an ad for each of them.

If you take those 'Hulk wagon' ads into each of those ads, unless someone lives close to Phoenix, AZ, they've got a huge transportation cost. So right there, you're providing a driveable vehicle. The hulks can't be driven. They'd save hundreds or maybe over $1,000.

As a hulk project, they'd have $4,300 into it, and more parts to buy, more bodywork (although not likely structural rust).

You know your car. They only have second-hand info from the title or the DOT, plus the rest is what you see. One big black money pit.

What would it cost to make it roadworthy?

How much to transport it from here to opposite corners?

What about advertising on European sites? (I'll get blasted for that.)

There's a market, or that 'hulk' vendor wouldn't be asking $3,250 on a globally accessible website.

 

I've hung out at the HAMB for too long. They almost spit-polish them.

 

ya, know what norm,

im a purist. i love rats the original low maitenence hot rod. looks bad a$$ and you arent blowing out an elbow waxing it or glareing at some little kid who is eyeing it up. but i have seen some unsafe rat rods....ones i wouldnt feel safe going around the block in! i see this sport wagon....that dallas has for sale here...lowered, satin finish blue, custom hand-pinstripes and 17" torq thrusts. ...i also see my wife sitting on the couch glareing at me as i write this, because i have that look in my eye.

....if i only had 7k to spare

 

I know how the evil eye feels, right through the back of your head. Like a laser beam.

Ok, to stay on topic or eat crow again. I don't know much about the Buick wagon and all the goodies you've got for it, but you should target your ads to people with the wampum. You know the US market and which ones are really hurting. Qualify the buyer. Cash is best, not even a certified check. Western Union is too.

Hope that helps, dallas.

 

i wouldnt tell him not to do a bank check, ....but if you do do one make them go with you to the bank!

 

Let me say this....if that 77 T&C was worth 7-8K. Is this Buick worth 7K? Another thing...you NEVER get your money out of a built engine alone...or tranny. The only way to come close to getting your money out of a car is to buy it low and do minimal things to make it nice. Trouble here...as I see it...is you spent money on the mechanics and the rest of the car is still an old wagon. You can clean and fix cheaply and market the car and take a hit. Or you can finish it and probably take a bigger hit. Or...you could take out your new parts and replace with the originals again and try to break even on the car and still retain your new parts. I've built a lot of cars and I can tell you...the more you put in the farther you get from breaking even. People build cars for themselves. When they tire of them they put huge price tags on them but never get the price. They end up dumping it for far less. JMHO

 

SF, You have a way with words. That's the long and short of it. The Europeans like them. Might be the best bet.

 

The Europeans like cherries. What'll you bet that's where that nice T&C is headed?

 

Alright guys,
I'm not looking to make a mint on this or recover the time and/or money invested in the deal. I want it to go to someone who like me, enjoys the classic american rides (no matter what the badging) that made the U.S.A the powerhouse we were for the quality it was! The big block has to stay because the 300 took a dirt nap... My main objective is to put in in the hands of someone who will keep the faith and not some newbe that will stack it up racing Mustangs and rice burners from green to green, in doing so I am willing to take a hit but at the same time I know if I sell it at a reduced rate, it may not be in the best, safest or most able hands. If you can't afford it in the first place you can't afford to fix it kind of thing, no? I'd love to keep it but I just don't have the room and in the Pacific Northwest A garage is a must for this type of ride-it has spent a good deal of the last 20 years in one. I hate to see her go but the pain would be lessened knowing it could remain part of our history for another 43 years if she's lucky! I still get a kick out of the many people who tell me that their mother had one just like it.

 

Remain a part of history....it now has a 455 in it! It is no longer a numbers car or a representative of the past except in body.
Look...I have not seen this entire car. If it's a great car...put it on ebay with a reserve and have done with it. You are fishing for an answer that no one can give you on this car because we really haven't SEEN it except for distant shots. At least that's all I've seen. No matter how you frame a question or how much you sell an idea...if you keep getting the same answer then that's the answer you are getting. A good salesman knows when to quit selling.
And I mean no offense by this comment.

 

Silver....
I'm past the whole pricing issue and understand all of the in's and out's-up's and down's. What I was looking for was a very basic high and low which Stormin' was kind enough to assist with. The rest is simple conversation. I know it's not gonna matter now that the #'s don't match but sometimes that's part of the fun!!:banana:I guess I've worn out my welcome huh?!?!

 

This might inspire or not:

Europe:
http://www.ch300imp.com/links_us.htm

US:
http://www.buyandsell.com/Defaultbas.aspx

Canada:
http://www.tradepoint.ca/

http://www.buysell.ca/brand/buysell/splash.aspx

http://www.buy-and-sell-canada.ca/

http://www.unclehenrys.com/

Australia/NZ - Check the links:
http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/ask_the_unique_cars_team.htm

And this should take you to every Buick Club in the world:
http://www.automotive-links.com/ind/ind.htm

If you do the same old, you usually get the same old.

Good luck.