3JsVette
Perhaps you will like this one and by all means clue me in,

I saw this one last night,

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/1373469175.html

I thought oh boy a donor for me, I have seen the prices of comparable cars on CL and Fleabay and I was thinking this one might be the silver tuna for me, I could pop down and drive her home today,

I write for more info and bigger pictures and of course asking price,
He says he would like to get 19K now correct me if I am wrong but isn't that about 9K on the high side?
He says he paid 14.5 4 years ago and don't Corvettes go up in value.

The ad indicates this is a car needing restoration, guys clue me in, is the price because it "was" a BB car or is the seller just out of tune?

Okay, either way I am bummed out,

 

I guess he was bummed too

 

gq82
How weird,
Still coming up for me, here is the ad copy,
The pictures showed a tired faded blue car with a hard top painted a red color, the car also had an aftermarket L-88 hood,

Here is the ad, does that sound 19K?

"1968 corvette conv.
Org. 427 car now has a 350 ci. Daily runner, solid frame, could use spot painting, carpet kit.
wipers need work, headlights sluggish, I have replaced all vac. lines prob needs canisters rebuilt.
I have a hardtop, but need headliner and paint.
I have no time or the $$ to restore this car. If I did I would'nt sell it.
This is the next generation corvette to go way up in value buy now while there still attainable.
Best reasonable offer / trades considered , something interesting I like old caddies, I need a hhr panel van.
Call "

 

Well it is a convertible and was a b/b.....for some that carries value but IMO not 19K worth. I hate putting a value on something I haven't seen but I would think it's worth closer to what you had in mind.

 

I'm sure he would...but not from me and I am a certified '68 lover.

 

Mike what do you think it would be worth?

One problem I run into with hunting a donor is people that are wishful thinking or out of the loop or both,
They price their cars many 1000's more than what I see comparable cars sell for, in same cases I have seen asking prices nearly double,
I know people can ask whatever they desire but doesn't mean it will ever sell, and it is depressing to me as a buyer, I don't expect a rare bargain just "going rate"

In the case of this car, it's modded, runs a small block, was a BB car,
Needs restoration,
Going by fleabay prices it's right at double going rate, but I also believe Fleabay is full of sport bidders they bid for fun knowing if the reserve isn't met they don't have to buy anyway,
I had a dork doing that to me years back,

 

"Was a BB" is another way of saying "NOM car."

The only real measurable value you can affix to a "former BB" is through the guy who is planning to do a full-boat restamp job.

If the problem is that multiple sellers are pricing their lower-value cars way over market, then make what YOU feel is a "reasonable offer" (seller did ask for that) and when you can't make a deal, tell the seller you will be interested if his sale doesn't go as expected and he wants to call you back.

If this happens enough times, you will buy the car you want at the price you want. If you don't, then that means they were more correct about the prices than you were.

PS: ebay bidding prices mean nothing. People bid just for the sake of bidding and dont intend to buy. Many of these goofs intentionally stay away from the reserve. The majority of the sales are done offline meaning you dont really know what ebay's "going rate" is.

 

Hey VB thanks for getting on on this one,
Here are the pics of this one, they wont help much,






I have posted about the entire idea of the compter being a buffer for some people they say whatever they want hiding behind a compter screen,
The way that applies to me in my car hunt is, When someone dreamer or foolish person honestly is asking too much and asks for offers,
I make a fair offer they go on a cussing me out streak,

Sure my skin is thick enough for that but I simply hate to upset people so I seldom make offers on these type cars and I miss out,
Then I learn mostly on here several cars I was interested in but that were overpriced in my mind, must have been too high as they have been on and off "for sale" for years,

This always takes me back to thinking the car I buy will not even be on the net , I might get a tip from one of you kind souls but the car itself will never get posted,
Seems by the time a person posts a vette on the net the view is already a skew,

I do have people tell me about this or that car that sounds perfect for me I email them on here and never hear back details on said car,

PS,
That cheap 68 on here, I would have bought that car, no BS but I needed that one question answered about chassis and rust, all that didnt happen until after I was speant on it,
Then too it did give me a "bad" feeling when the seller first said all parts go with it for that price then raised the price,

 

Bats,
I think you need to hire that 16 year old from the other thread to start shopping for you.

 

Try this... write your best offer on a 3x5 card and seal it in an envelope along with your contact info. Hand it to the man saying something like this; "This is my best offer for your car. Take it as an insurance policy: you may now consider the car sold. If you get tired of dreamers and tire kickers call me. I am less than an hour's ride away and I own a trailer. Thanks!"

 

Ah Rick do you spell your name with a silent "P"?
Just kidding back at ya,
You know not only do I need that kid to shop for me but I need to take his course on how to make the big bucks....

markids77,
Good idea but it's never a winner for me, I told the fellow with a custom 68 what I would pay, it was fair and only a bit less than the 12.8 he wanted for a car with rust holes in the cowl, his reply was that he needed every bit of 12.8 to buy what he wanted,
I have made offers to cars online the people come ungluded, not just saying "No" but they go off on me,

 

OUCH!

 

"The 13 Bats" I don't get it either. I agree with you the price is double of what a reasonable asking price would be. I don't understand why people feel a car is worth more when "it was" something that it no longer is. Like Steve says it will still be another NOM car. I also agree that for what you want to build this is the type of car that would be a good start but not at 20K. On the other hand I know you're getting frustrated but the type of car you're looking for is out there and you will find it. In the mean time just think of all the entertainment you're providing for the forum. While I'm at it I'm flattered you thought of me 1st. While we don't always agree I'm with you on this project.

 

I also do British motorcycles and have purchased two machines using the approach I suggested. In both instances the response came at a much later date... like 3 years (no kidding!) on the last one. I like it because I never have to hear the tirade when the offer is opened as I'm no longer there. No way to tell how many people toss my offers but I have two bikes to my credit that would not have happened any other way......Any way to up the odds seems worthwhile especially when dealing with folk who are either emotionally attached to or who bought their rides at the peak market or both. Having the written information helps when they decide it is time to sell, not store the item.

 

I think the biggest issue with these cars is...Most people who own these old cars that need restoration are not vette guys and think because it is a corvette its worth alot of money. Bats have you checked any local clubs for a member that has a project they are getting rid of? Seems like a good place to get a fair price for a good car.
Also I ran across this one on fleabay What do you think? It looks like a good project start to me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-...=p4506.c0.m245

 

3JsVette,
If we always agreed what fun would that be?

markids77,
I will try your idea, perhaps in an email version, but will use your words it was good and we can see how it goes, might work,

400hp427vette,
Yea, you hit the nail on the head 9 out of 10 sellers are like this fellow I started the tread over who tells me since he paid 14.5 a few years ago it must be worth 19 now because it's a vette,

Ebay car, I saw that one, love it, if I picked one year it would be 69, but I wrote them about rust and never received a reply I didn't push it because at 14K it is either slightly on the high side for price or a better car to be returned to stock than for me to Ahem...Hack,
I really do have issues with doing this to a car that is too um, squared away,
I would rather start with some poor unloved car,

I really wanted a driver, but I have extended my looking to projects too,
I have done more body offs than I can count for kits and other cars I am not sure why I don't want to tackle it on this vette project,
I am a perfectionist and obsessed with details, perhaps I fear I would never really get it driving so I just want to start with a driver car if that makes any sense,
I really wanted something to drive as I tinker with it,

The other irony I noticed is that here on the forum custom sucks it hurts value but people selling a flared car boy oh boy it's like the flares are solid gold,