68hemi

I looked at the Ebay listing of the car for sale now and there is next to no text about the car. Where are you guys seeing that they state it needs a frame or anything other than exterior pictures in the snow? The car photographed in the snow makes it look great.

Procrastination Racing

I fully agree. Many may not agree, but people have bought cars for decades, took rare items or items they needed for their own car, and then sold the car. Nothing illegal in that at all. I don't see Valley Corvettes saying this is a bolt-on wheels car and then not selling the wheels.


The seller jays1953vette just flat out lied in his auction.

Of course, they should have examined it before, but the nature of eBay is such most can't. You don't have enough time to get there before the auction ends to see it.

I had a similar experience with a company about 11 years ago. I bought a 1997 Z28 convertible. When I got there, as agreed, they allowed some time to look it over before finalizing, but they were very high pressure. Looked it over fairly well, drove it, and while there were some things, it seemed fair. As I got ready to leave, a mechanic was filling the radiator. I got out there to find it was nearly empty. Water pouring out as it ran. The reason it was fine on the short drive was there was enough coolant to not seize but not enough to blow out. I hadn't check that because the reservoir had coolant and there was pressure on the top hose, so opening the cap would not have been a good idea.

We voided that transaction under threat of legal action as their description was definitely deception and I got my check back.


I had one on a '63 coupe that was worse. It broke apart taking it off the trailer. I fully disclosed that to anyone calling. The agreement was I would deliver on my trailer as I was not going to chance anyone backing out of the sale while unloading from my trailer to the street to load on their trailer. I told them the frame was junk, worthless, not even scrap metal, and would break most likely on unloading.

I found a buyer the same weekend, and it did break unloading. He was very aware before buying.




People have taken good parts off cars and then resold for decades, probably since before you were born. It doesn't make them crooks.

Crooks would be if they told you it is one thing and it turns out not to be. The guy lying about the frame in the first auction was a crook.

People buy there because they advertise and show interesting pictures. Too many are lazy. A dealer has it there and available, so they don't have to hunt ads and go searching. This is why Terry Michaelis did so very well. You want a rare car? He has it. Sure, you pay a premium for that luxury, but that is how life is.

Did your friend advertise his car elsewhere? Did he put it on eBay or whatever? Or did he take the easy way out, drop it off with them, and took their price?

I'm not a fan of Valley, but these are the realities of life. Just because they deal in Corvettes doesn't make them saints, so why would you expect them to be morally superior to any other used car dealer?

Would you trust the dealer of "Honest John's Uzed Kars" on the small dirt lot next to the railroad tracks in the industrial side of town? Then why do you think Valley is somehow a better place to buy? The same is really true for these million dollar showrooms for new Chevys, Toyotas, Nissans, Fords, and all. They are just car dealers, and they are in business to make money, not take care of you and look out for you.

emdoller

You need to read the description. Lots of pics and text.


http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBa...=0&cspheader=1
Ed

Railroadman

Go to the original post and click on the link. Scroll down below the 128 pics and there is a bunch of bold text. Part of that text says

They can't say it any more plainly than that. I don't work for them, I have never dealt with them, and I know others have not been happy with them. But in this particular deal I don't see where they are being crooks or anything close to it. If they can make a profit, legally, more power to them.

Mr D.

What's the problem, $47,500 Buy it Now and do a $50,000 frame off you are only into this car for $97,500. It does have that ultra rare base engine.

emdoller

I agree. Nothing that indicates the current sellers are crooks... idiots for not inspecting the car... perhaps.

Ed

68hemi

Thanks, I did not realize there was a sidebar that you could slide down for more pictures and text--DUH!

I don't really see any problem with anything the dealer is doing here. The don't really seem to be crying about their purchase but rather warning the public about a lying seller. Their ad is well written and honest with plenty of pictures to give people as good of a chance to evaluate what they are selling as you can expect with computer pictures.

champs65

I guess Jays really lit a fire under their ***! VA could list ten cars for sale on Ebay and not have that many photos for all of them combined

Nowhere Man

Jays can prolly list ten cars for sale that have no bodies

champs65

Indeed

EnfieldJoe

What uninformed buyer would spend that much money on that rust bucket? VA sure has alot of nerve with that lofty asking price!!

449er

In this case, they clearly posted plenty of pics showing the frame & door hinge rust areas, nothing dishonest here

tuxnharley

True, nothing dishonest or criminal per se, but very ironic and disingenuous of them to whine about having been defrauded by the prior seller - and then turn around and ask for more money than the price at which they claim to have been mislead. That and having removed items of value.

Seems like they want it both ways...... If they claim to have been misled, it takes a lot of nerve to ask even more than the price at which they feel they over paid.

I understand that is free enterprise, capitalism, and buyer beware - but that doesnt make it right or ethical by my standards.

Railroadman

I see your point and don't disagree. I suppose there is a difference between "it's not worth it" and "it's not what was described". The car apparently was not what was described to them (and they did not/could not check it in person) so that would be reason to claim rip-off. Maybe they were looking for a wider profit margin and would have marked it up even more if it had been what they thought.

That car has had some rough use - the darn parking brake cover is even busted! I carried passengers on mine (and even....well...did something else on mine...) and it never broke.

ejboyd5

If that is VA's Chevrolet shop truck in the background of one of the first pictures, it fairly well summarizes the quality of their operation. Is VA a subsidiary of BHCC?

Frankie the Fink

Someone needs to explain to me how you break out a chunk of fiberglass from the hood surround directly behind the nose emblem. I'm thinking there is a 'story' there....

65GGvert

Take the hood off, remove the engine, drag it across the nose, put the hood back on, don't repair damage.

Frankie the Fink

Ha! That would certainly do it. And fit in with the rest of this car's "patina"

tommyn

Maybe Tom from Mukwonago one of our long time forum members would like to chime in. He must know some of the details as he is listed and the pickup contact. Also note the title must have been lost with unknown ownership as the title was secured with a bond.

Nowhere Man

the car in the question looks like it was someones daily driver for years and was just anther car as they did what they had to do to keep it on the road and thats it. its shame but a northern car from the rust belt what do you expect