Thread: Why are peope so scared?

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Maybe i'm biased on this but i went listing one of my rides, the 75' camaro. The rides nice and in decent shape, better than most stock mid gens you'll see out there with alot of options most wont see neither. The price is well below the value, plus taking into account all the new goodies that go with it makes it a steal.

So heres where i ask why so scared?...
The car needs a rebuild on the original motor, so when it comes to selling it I gotta wonder
1. why would anyone think i'd unload it at the price i got it listed at if it were running and driving, and 2. why is it...ok i should back up a but...
1A. why dont people read the listings?? then finally
2. when they do see it needs a rebuild on the SBC 350 then they steer away from it like a puppy just ran out in front of them on the street.

My own thoughts would be if i was looking for a muscle car to drive or pick up to build my own way or heck even to flip, id want something that was at a bargin price even with needing a rebuild. And before someone asks the obvious quetion "why don't i just rebuild the motor and get more out of it?" the answer is i would, but i honestly do not have the space to feasibly do the work to swap the motor out. im limited enough as it is and between the other projects that are being finished up and the assembly for certain items out in the shop i cannot bring on another project right now. and no i do not wish to see the car sit through the winter either.

Any thoughts??

I never was scared to buy a car that needed work....Most of the ones I buy do need work I can afford them that way....You just have to wait for the right guy OR girl. and put up with the rest of the tire kicker till then.

yeah i understand it's just been dragging out for a really long time. seems like once a month the price drops on C-List and even started the bidding out on the Ebay to take into account shipping for the buyer. personally i always liked one that needed a rebuild just cause then i knew what had been done and had the reciepts to prove it. but i guess thats just how i look at it.

I could be way off base too but, I think right now there are a lot of so called "investors" in the market. They think they can put some bucks into a car that will hold it's value better than cash.

Like I said, I could be all wet! Just thinking out loud, but, I have people asking me if I'd sell my 34 for the reason(s) above.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I could be way off base too but, I think right now there are a lot of so called "investors" in the market. They think they can put some bucks into a car that will hold it's value better than cash.

Like I said, I could be all wet! Just thinking out loud, but, I have people asking me if I'd sell my 34 for the reason(s) above.

Exactly for all the reasons you mentioned is why it has become a frustration on my end for how long the car has been for sale with each listing progressively lowering in price to match the market rates for what simlar cars of the same year, condition etc etc have been selling for. and i been doing that month to month based on sales.

The really sad part is just the extra new parts are worth about a 1/3 to 1/2 of the asking price on just the car alone. She just needs some work and would be a gem once again. maybe im just too honest about the condition cause i deal in cars and parts on the side for extra cash. Attached is the most recent pic of the car, in this pic it's been months since i buffed the car so it's showin a bit of paint fade.

IMG_20101126_152238.jpg

And this is what she looks like all polished up.

75camaro.jpg

OK-let me take a shot at this.

A let's see here.


Oh I think I got it now.





They all have wife's.

I just looked at your eBay listing and sure can’t see anything glaring that would prevent someone from buying this car. If I were in a market for a “newer” hot rod this would sure be a good one to snap up. I believe your price is good considering the car. You say upfront that the engine needs rebuilding – is it “drivable” as is? Would someone in Portland be able to drive this one home or would one need a trailer?

There may be one drawback with the whole DEQ/EPA requirements. I know in Oregon that anything made after 1974 MUST pass DEQ to be licensed and insurable. I don’t necessarily agree – but it’s the law and it would be a detriment to my buying something like this and then not being able to put a respectable engine build in her. They (the State) can be very sticky about all of the original emissions controls for the year manufactured right down to the smog pump, vacuum hoses, etc. On a lucky day, you may be able to breeze right through but if you happen to get the real “letter-of-the-law” stickler they will ding you and not pass the car making it un-drivable until such time as all of the original emissions equipment is restored. I know of several instances where this has been a problem and on my own vehicle (2002 Expedition) I was told I could not have an aftermarket air system until such time as I produced the C.A.R.B certification and the DEQ inspector relented – interestingly enough the vehicle still tests well within the limits at over 210K miles..

I hope you do sell the Camaro – it’s a nice looking car. List it here at CHR – ya never know – might be just what someone’s looking for and if they in a state that doesn’t require DEQ type inspections it would be a great car to build un.

Regards,
Glenn

My experience has been, and one of the many reasons I gave up on eBay, is that the majority of people shopping on eBay are looking for that #10 car at a #2 price---plus they want it delivered for free!!!! The internet is good for getting a product out in front of thousands and thousands of people but it also seems to draw every tire kicker in the world looking at cars. Also I believe that a lot of the potential buyers these days would be mechanically challenged to change a tire let alone swap out an engine!!!! Oh yeah, and don't forget the "I want it perfect and I want it right now" crowd have never had to buy something that needs work and take the time to fix it themselves, much easier to just sign the loan papers and drive a new car.....

I concur Dave - especially with the "I want it perfect and I want it now.." It seems that we've got a really spoiled generation of people who have succumbed to the instant gratification model. If only then know how much more satisfaction can be had in life if one is ready and willing to work for something now and again..

there is alot of i want it dirt cheap ... i do not want to build it just drive it ..on Ebay but i could be wrong there is alot of guys that look at a engine as a big deal and do not have a line on a guy like alot of gear heads know more then one guy that can help them or a shop in there town. life seams more fast pace no one wants to do it them self or take the time to learn . i have a SHP dart 400 short block on ebay i did some trading with a good customer for work and cash to pick it up all new good price still not sold on e bay been on for many weeks hard for me to think that you can not sell a small block any more ? Economy ??? so i see it as well but i do not deal with cars but i see some of it in what i try to sell on line

There are a lot fewer buyers today who have become more selective. That, coupled with some sellers being overly enthusiastic in evaluating how nice what they have is, has led to a lot of skepticism on the part of buyers. Highly desirable stuff is still selling, especially the nicer examples, but the more mundane are languishing.

Although Gary has probably the most blunt honest responses I do agree with what Glenn had to say about the emissions testing. I will say that although the car does have a clean title it is in Washington as that is where i now reside up in the pudget sound area and have that in the listing. As far as condition of the motor, it is pulled, even have a pic of it up on the cherry picker in the ad.

To those that have emailed about the motor i did tell them if they were up in my area i have a guy who runs a machine shop specializing in SBC motors that will do short blocks for $150 and long blocks for $300 which is a smoking deal. I myself did price out the rebuild kits which reallly arent even that bad as far as costs go to rebuild it back to stock. Ranging from $350-500 bucks, of course building performance costs more but that's where deciding what you'd want to do comes into play.

I did post an ad awhile back but adjusted my price recently to match my C-list ad (thanks to mrmustang who revised it within hours of contacting him...thank you again) obviously the ebay was a last resort to get something out of the car with 2 ways of buying it, one as is with the aftermarket products or pay a lil extra for a turn key drop in ready motor which i thought maybe id at least give an option to people to have that option if they just didn't know how to go about rebuilding or setting up to have a motor rebuilt.

but like dave, pat n glenn said to me i too think that people are mechanically challenged and in an attempt to not pull my own hair out blame their parents for not teaching guys some basic fundementals in life. im not that old but i remember getting pretty good by age of 13/14 changing out the ole mans u joints on that 86' K5 blazer that just couldnt seem to maintain one for more than a few months. Loved his lessons in life when i bought my first mustang and learned a valuable lesson on not using carb cleaner unless im rebuilding it. after a night of rebuilding the carb she was all ready for the road the next day. i still thank him when im working on my current cars for telling me to go down and see George at NAPA and buy a Chiltons and get a rebuild kit cause he was going to help me. I never realized his help was going to be read the manual and come see me when you bolt it back on LOL!!

Pat n Bob, i agree with what you guys said too cause i have also gotten a bit picky as to what im buying and market prices reflect the economy to a point with more people with less money or out of work. I just thought if I started off the bid at the give away price someone would have bought it by now or at least bid the first time it was up. And yeah there are TONS of tire kickers out there that basically say oh i'll buy it if you ship it to me. So basically they want me to just sign over the title and donate the car to them cause their broke,,,or like Gary said,,,have a WIFE.

I am glad to see im not completely biased thinking that car buyers are not only lazy not wanting to take the time to build their own or want that turn key gem at the dirty low price of a lemon. hopefully in the next 48 hours someone will actually bid on it cause id hate to go having to list it again at the "im already eating it" price.

Thanks again all of you for your advice and insight with your opinions on what the market is reflecting. Ive had alot of feedback on the car from other "car guys" that i know and yours and their opinions seem to be running parallel to one another. I do know one thing i learned from buying a hot rod 8 years ago to now, is gained a lot more experience as to what sells and what has a limited market (2nd gen Camaro's) wont ever be buying one of these cars again!

PS Glenn thank you for looking over my ad and giving me some feedback, i think i'll be taking what you said and revising some of my verbage i used in listing the car.

(Paypal account required) is not a good thing. I detour from that. Not saying that's why, but it's always bothered me. When you do that, ebay can keep your paypal account turned on which turns me off.

Yeah it's why i gave an option to pay in cash in person. I normally accept other methods but with so many scammers out there in the last couple years i made a trade off for security with sticking with paypal for a deposit.