The "Magic" is gone
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
The "Magic" is gone
I have lost interest in my 1981. I have been the owner for 10 years now, have done everything but two things: 1) rebuild the differential and replace the high speed gears with some lower ones, 2) paint.
Everything else has been done: engine, suspension, interior, brakes, trailing arms, etc, etc, etc.
I just have no interest in just driving it to various Cruise'N car shows.... I guess I need a new project. Painting is a project, but at $8k it is too much for me to consider.
So how to sell in this economy? I do not even want to look at the spreadsheet with all the parts cost that I have....never thought this was an investment or that I would even "break even"...when selling.
But what media works to sell? Corvette Forum, Craig's List, ebay..????
Looking for comments.
Thanks
Everything else has been done: engine, suspension, interior, brakes, trailing arms, etc, etc, etc.
I just have no interest in just driving it to various Cruise'N car shows.... I guess I need a new project. Painting is a project, but at $8k it is too much for me to consider.
So how to sell in this economy? I do not even want to look at the spreadsheet with all the parts cost that I have....never thought this was an investment or that I would even "break even"...when selling.
But what media works to sell? Corvette Forum, Craig's List, ebay..????
Looking for comments.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Livonia MI
I appreciate how you feel. I recently sold my classic Mustang because I had done everything to it that I wanted to, and the thrill was gone. No one could believe I could just sell it after putting so much time and money into it, but I was ready for the next project.
I'm afraid I don't have much advice on how to get top dollar because I sold my Mustang back to the guy I bought it from. I got $5,600 more from him than originally paid for the car, but he got the better end of the deal. (I spent well over $10,000 on that car durring the 9 years I owned it.)
Fortunately, since you're not in hurry to sell, you're in a good position to get the most out of the sale. Craigslist really isn't a bad place to advertize. It's free, so why not? And, of course, you should list it here on the forums. An informed buyer is your best bet.
Then take your cash and buy another car. It's easier to do a restoration the second time around. I'm having a much better time with the Vette than I had with the Mustang.
Good luck!
I'm afraid I don't have much advice on how to get top dollar because I sold my Mustang back to the guy I bought it from. I got $5,600 more from him than originally paid for the car, but he got the better end of the deal. (I spent well over $10,000 on that car durring the 9 years I owned it.)
Fortunately, since you're not in hurry to sell, you're in a good position to get the most out of the sale. Craigslist really isn't a bad place to advertize. It's free, so why not? And, of course, you should list it here on the forums. An informed buyer is your best bet.
Then take your cash and buy another car. It's easier to do a restoration the second time around. I'm having a much better time with the Vette than I had with the Mustang.
Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 5
From: Clearwater FL
I agree with the above. When you're not in a rush to sell, you control the deal to find the buyer who is willing to pay the most.
I searched ebay and CL. But ebay's fee's are too high these days for me to list anything anymore with them. Most of my searching was via CL.
I searched ebay and CL. But ebay's fee's are too high these days for me to list anything anymore with them. Most of my searching was via CL.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
That's a bummer to be at that end of the run. I'm at the other end, having just bought the car last October and love it. I sometimes wonder if and when I might get tired of it. I guess ya never know. This is my first 'toy' car. But a big part of it IS working on it and improving it, so when that's done I can see how that would happen.
Good luck and I hope you find something else...
Good luck and I hope you find something else...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Im in the same boat with my 82 Z28 Camaro. Love the car, its nice and fast, everything is new....but its time for me to move on. Ive listed it on Ebay twice and no bites. (4500 for a fresh engine, paint and everything else....I consider this more than fair) Ive had success selling on EBAY before, but it was a much cheaper, project car I sold.
Im dreading putting it on Craigslist because you get SO MUCH spam, BS offers, tire kickers and people who want to offer you their snowplow and a chainsaw as trade. Unfortunately, once spring takes firm hold, I fear Im going to have to put it in craigslist for Max exposure.
Im dreading putting it on Craigslist because you get SO MUCH spam, BS offers, tire kickers and people who want to offer you their snowplow and a chainsaw as trade. Unfortunately, once spring takes firm hold, I fear Im going to have to put it in craigslist for Max exposure.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
I may be wrong, but I am making an assumption that you are like how I used to be.
I don't think you have given yourself a chance to enjoy the car, sounds like you were always
to interested in making the car too nice for the road and taking it to shows and have never
let yourself really enjoy driving the car, with out pampering it and worrying about it
getting dirty. I may be wrong though.
I use to take alot of pride in restoring and or pampering my cars, over time I have found that
the value in having an older car is to drive it, and not worry about the mileage or what you
might break, or that it is getting dirty.
If you haven't done it for a while or maybe never at all, take a long drive with the wife,
maybe go visit some near by towns and have lunch, and enjoy the car out on some back
country roads and just unwind, you might decide to keep it after after finding a use for it again.
Good luck in what ever you end up doing.
Riggs
I don't think you have given yourself a chance to enjoy the car, sounds like you were always
to interested in making the car too nice for the road and taking it to shows and have never
let yourself really enjoy driving the car, with out pampering it and worrying about it
getting dirty. I may be wrong though.
I use to take alot of pride in restoring and or pampering my cars, over time I have found that
the value in having an older car is to drive it, and not worry about the mileage or what you
might break, or that it is getting dirty.
If you haven't done it for a while or maybe never at all, take a long drive with the wife,
maybe go visit some near by towns and have lunch, and enjoy the car out on some back
country roads and just unwind, you might decide to keep it after after finding a use for it again.
Good luck in what ever you end up doing.
Riggs
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
im giving Baby to my oldest son in 3 years as a gift when he finishes his masters in EE. then im getting a new viper for my next project... Danny will never sale Baby... thus I can always drive her again if i want.... we put over $30,000 in her... never going to sale her.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,997
Likes: 6,213
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
ebay is the absolute best bang for the buck in selling your car. I have one car on this week and Im putting our '03 on there next week. I sold (and bought) several there.
I can't imagine what people are saying are expensive fees. You get huge national exposure, a ton of pictures, and you can make a deal offline any time. Absolutely the best idea out there.
I also will list on this forum and Craigslist etc... they are free. Crazy not to. But ebay is the best method.
I can't imagine what people are saying are expensive fees. You get huge national exposure, a ton of pictures, and you can make a deal offline any time. Absolutely the best idea out there.
I also will list on this forum and Craigslist etc... they are free. Crazy not to. But ebay is the best method.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,502
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
Lanny-
I'll defer to VetteBuyer's expertise - -heck, his handle says it all. Listing it here is fun if you can take the heat.
But I'll tell you that I sold 4 cars in the past year - -our SRX, an old MGB, wife's Lexus and the 05 Corvette on Phoenix Craig's list. The Lexus sold in 4 hours- the Vette took a week, the SRX sold the first day.
I took four good camera photos (ie- not cellphone) of the front/side, pass/rear, interior and the detailed engine and wrote a thorough explanation of the options, miles and things I was proud of on the car.
Most importantly, I priced them a few hundred below what I saw on Craig's list for similar cars while knowing that my cars simply looked better and needed nothing to be enjoyed by a new owner. I considered it worth giving up a few bucks to get it out of the garage. And I was realistic in dealing with good faith offers to reach a deal with the first looker.
Since they all sold quickly, I didn't have to contend with a bunch of phone calls or no-show tire kickers.
No doubt, you'd have a wider audience on Ebay- especially for a collector type vehicle, but my experience with Craig's list locally has been decent if you approach it realistically.
Just my .02 -
I'll defer to VetteBuyer's expertise - -heck, his handle says it all. Listing it here is fun if you can take the heat.
But I'll tell you that I sold 4 cars in the past year - -our SRX, an old MGB, wife's Lexus and the 05 Corvette on Phoenix Craig's list. The Lexus sold in 4 hours- the Vette took a week, the SRX sold the first day.
I took four good camera photos (ie- not cellphone) of the front/side, pass/rear, interior and the detailed engine and wrote a thorough explanation of the options, miles and things I was proud of on the car.
Most importantly, I priced them a few hundred below what I saw on Craig's list for similar cars while knowing that my cars simply looked better and needed nothing to be enjoyed by a new owner. I considered it worth giving up a few bucks to get it out of the garage. And I was realistic in dealing with good faith offers to reach a deal with the first looker.
Since they all sold quickly, I didn't have to contend with a bunch of phone calls or no-show tire kickers.
No doubt, you'd have a wider audience on Ebay- especially for a collector type vehicle, but my experience with Craig's list locally has been decent if you approach it realistically.
Just my .02 -
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,997
Likes: 6,213
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
CQRT is right, Craigslist is a very viable option, too. I was making the point that ebay is not to be avoided due to "fees."
I think Craigslist brings out some of the tirekickers, but for zero listing dollars, it's definitely worthwhile and I know people make sales through them, too.
Use multiple sources... ebay, Craigslist, Forum...
I think Craigslist brings out some of the tirekickers, but for zero listing dollars, it's definitely worthwhile and I know people make sales through them, too.
Use multiple sources... ebay, Craigslist, Forum...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I've only sold one corvette, my 82CE. What I did was to go to every cruise-in and car show in my area with a For Sale Sign on the car. It drew crowds and a lot of interest. I sold it to the 1st person who came over for a test drive.....at full asking price. 
He later told me he was afraid someone who saw the car at the same show he did would buy it before he could.
He later told me he was afraid someone who saw the car at the same show he did would buy it before he could.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
I may be wrong, but I am making an assumption that you are like how I used to be.
I don't think you have given yourself a chance to enjoy the car, sounds like you were always
to interested in making the car too nice for the road and taking it to shows and have never
let yourself really enjoy driving the car, with out pampering it and worrying about it
getting dirty. I may be wrong though.
I use to take alot of pride in restoring and or pampering my cars, over time I have found that
the value in having an older car is to drive it, and not worry about the mileage or what you
might break, or that it is getting dirty.
If you haven't done it for a while or maybe never at all, take a long drive with the wife,
maybe go visit some near by towns and have lunch, and enjoy the car out on some back
country roads and just unwind, you might decide to keep it after after finding a use for it again.
Good luck in what ever you end up doing.
Riggs
I don't think you have given yourself a chance to enjoy the car, sounds like you were always
to interested in making the car too nice for the road and taking it to shows and have never
let yourself really enjoy driving the car, with out pampering it and worrying about it
getting dirty. I may be wrong though.
I use to take alot of pride in restoring and or pampering my cars, over time I have found that
the value in having an older car is to drive it, and not worry about the mileage or what you
might break, or that it is getting dirty.
If you haven't done it for a while or maybe never at all, take a long drive with the wife,
maybe go visit some near by towns and have lunch, and enjoy the car out on some back
country roads and just unwind, you might decide to keep it after after finding a use for it again.
Good luck in what ever you end up doing.
Riggs
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
I have lost interest in my 1981. I have been the owner for 10 years now, have done everything but two things: 1) rebuild the differential and replace the high speed gears with some lower ones, 2) paint.
Everything else has been done: engine, suspension, interior, brakes, trailing arms, etc, etc, etc.
I just have no interest in just driving it to various Cruise'N car shows.... I guess I need a new project. Painting is a project, but at $8k it is too much for me to consider.
So how to sell in this economy? I do not even want to look at the spreadsheet with all the parts cost that I have....never thought this was an investment or that I would even "break even"...when selling.
But what media works to sell? Corvette Forum, Craig's List, ebay..????
Looking for comments.
Thanks
Everything else has been done: engine, suspension, interior, brakes, trailing arms, etc, etc, etc.
I just have no interest in just driving it to various Cruise'N car shows.... I guess I need a new project. Painting is a project, but at $8k it is too much for me to consider.
So how to sell in this economy? I do not even want to look at the spreadsheet with all the parts cost that I have....never thought this was an investment or that I would even "break even"...when selling.
But what media works to sell? Corvette Forum, Craig's List, ebay..????
Looking for comments.
Thanks
I may have found a buyer... He posted he wants a 81 and is comming out from alstralia next month
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
ebay is the absolute best bang for the buck in selling your car. I have one car on this week and Im putting our '03 on there next week. I sold (and bought) several there.
I can't imagine what people are saying are expensive fees. You get huge national exposure, a ton of pictures, and you can make a deal offline any time. Absolutely the best idea out there.
I also will list on this forum and Craigslist etc... they are free. Crazy not to. But ebay is the best method.
I can't imagine what people are saying are expensive fees. You get huge national exposure, a ton of pictures, and you can make a deal offline any time. Absolutely the best idea out there.
I also will list on this forum and Craigslist etc... they are free. Crazy not to. But ebay is the best method.
I agree totally with this. No better way to get your car seen. I have sold a few by listing them on Ebay. Cheap for the exposure you are getting. I use Craig's List too, but always hide my e-mail and give a phone number as only those serious will call. Eliminates alot of the "clutter" inherent on Craig's List.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Over the years I have gotten the same feeling, where I'm almost not interested inj the car anymore. Other priorities have kept me from even working on it, much less driving it.
But then once in a while I take it out, and hit that loud pedal, and remember. The power is incredible, and the looks I get from other drivers, or kids on bikes that see the car as it passes by,........
You will never be able to get the money you put into the car back. It's just not going to happen. And in my case it cost me nothing to keep, except insurance. So I will keep it.
My oldest daughter has her eye on it as her inheritance already.
But then once in a while I take it out, and hit that loud pedal, and remember. The power is incredible, and the looks I get from other drivers, or kids on bikes that see the car as it passes by,........
You will never be able to get the money you put into the car back. It's just not going to happen. And in my case it cost me nothing to keep, except insurance. So I will keep it.
My oldest daughter has her eye on it as her inheritance already.