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Old 09-04-2020, 07:02 AM   #1
Chuck Kuntz
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Default Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

What is the safest way to buy a car that is too far away to purchase in person? I am very tempted to buy one that I would have to have shipped a long distance. It is in the USA.
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:20 AM   #2
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Are you a member of the V8 FORD club?.....check the Roster and see if there’s a local member......hire an “expert” to inspect it....the “safest” way??....plane fairs are cheap right now....go yourself or send a friend who looks at cars the same way you do.....other than seeing it yourself, I don’t know if there is a safe way. I’ve bought a number of things from you Chuck, and in my opinion your descriptions are spot on to mine.....wish I could help more. Good Luck and if you buy it, show us some pics!!.......Mark
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:40 AM   #3
Gene1949
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

You would be relying on someone else's perception of that car.
A few hundred dollars in plane fair is relatively cheap insurance if you are going to spend significant money.
The internet is filled with horror stories about "long distant" buyers being scammed or disappointed.
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:50 AM   #4
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

The EFV8 Club or Model A club roster......OR maybe here on "The Barn". Where is the car??? BE very clear what "YOU" are looking for and what "YOU" want. We did this "very" thing years ago buying a WWII Ford Jeep up in North Carolina. We contacted a V8 Club member in the town and he went and looked at them for US and chose one for us.......He was great and did a "great job" for us BUT as stated above he choose what was "the best" in his "eye" and not necessarily was best in "my eye". My dad was not clear and specific with him other than to say "pick the best one!". He picked one that was very straight body wise (and would have been great foundation for a full restoration project) but needed mechanical work!!! We ended up with one NOT as straight BUT better mechanical wise!!! SO Be very clear and precise what you want with whoever you decide to get to go look at the car for you

Last edited by rockfla; 09-04-2020 at 07:58 AM.
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:55 AM   #5
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Once you've made the decision to purchase and closed the deal hopefully after seeing the vehicle in person or had it inspected by a qualified person or service there is still the issue of transporting it to you, title transfer, and payment. Payment should be via wire transfer to an account you set up just for this. Hopefully you have a local banker who can assist you. There are many options on transporting, open or enclosed? There are several highly regarded transporters on the HAMB who would be good choices but they are not the only options. Not sure how the title transfer would work, depends on the states involved. But make sure all the paperwork is in order prior to closing the deal. JMO. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.
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Old 09-04-2020, 08:48 AM   #6
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

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Where is the car? Maybe a Fordbarn person could take a look for you as a preliminary inspection. Then you could go see it also. Or perhaps you could go look at it with the Fordbarner present. 4 eyes are better than 2.
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Old 09-04-2020, 10:51 AM   #7
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

No crying after you purchase without a peek first
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Old 09-04-2020, 10:59 AM   #8
Chuck Kuntz
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

I am 78 and don't care to fly due to the virus.
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Old 09-04-2020, 11:26 AM   #9
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

If you enlist the assistance of someone local to look at the car, be they friend, acquaintance, fellow club member, or barner, in addition to all of the above, make sure you pick someone knows what they are looking at, i.e. if it is a '32, pick someone who knows '32s and their strengths and weaknesses and knows where to look to find them. The same goes for a '40 or a '53, etc. There's a world of difference between '32s and '53s and often year to year in between and no one knows them all.
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Old 09-04-2020, 11:30 AM   #10
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

All good advise; I am the seller of a car with the buyer in Germany. It is daunting. Newc
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Old 09-04-2020, 01:00 PM   #11
grumppyoldman
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Where are you located Kuntz, in the US or overseas? Al
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Old 09-04-2020, 02:50 PM   #12
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

By an AD i just seen that Kuntz listed, he is in Altoona, PA.

Maybe he will list what kind of car it is
and the State it is in

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Old 09-04-2020, 03:14 PM   #13
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Quote:
Originally Posted by grumppyoldman View Post
Where are you located Kuntz, in the US or overseas? Al
He's in Altoona Pennsylvania
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Old 09-04-2020, 04:06 PM   #14
Chuck Kuntz
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Is that a 32 glaser in the photo rockfla. I have a late 1931.
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Old 09-04-2020, 04:45 PM   #15
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Wear a mask and a good face shield. You will be fine flying.

Phil
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Old 09-04-2020, 06:26 PM   #16
19Fordy
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Chuck, if you can't see the car in person and drive it, don't buy it, unless you can afford the financial risk.

You will regret it.
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Old 09-04-2020, 06:48 PM   #17
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

Hi Chuck,

These days with the easy & ability to send videos & pictures, ask for pictures of specific areas you know to have been troublesome for the particular model. Ask for a complete around the car video with sound.

Fact is I transport more than 100 cars per year & 90% of the buyers I transport for buy the car without ever seeing it in person. That includes many that are well into the 6 figure range.

As far as payment, I recommend to all my customers that they do wire transfers as it is the safest way.

God Bless
Bill
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:03 PM   #18
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

The last couple I took a chance on barely made it off the car carrier. Cheap 6v golf kart battery, axles that only had a couple of threads holding the drums on, not to mention bored over the safe limit, second gear that went clack every couple of feet, oh yeah then popped out of gear, rock hard tires, radiators plugged up, Columbia over drives that look like a bomb went off inside them (but still worked!) Worse case scenarios that will bite you if you don't inspect them personally or ask the right questions to begin with...
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Old 09-04-2020, 08:54 PM   #19
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

I bought my 40 standard coupe in CA. without seeing it personally. I had some friends that knew the car and the reputation of the owner plus I got to talk at length to the original builder of the car. I had lots of detailed pictures and specs. I had Reliable haul the car to Nebraska and everything turned out great. I'm very happy with my purchase and after a few updates really enjoy driving the car and it gets a good response wherever I take it. I was lucky, I'm sure not every purchase works out this way. I've also sold a half dozen cars overseas with no problems. Out of the 6 I only had 1 buyer fly over from Japan to come to Nebraska and see the car personally. He looked at the car, I started the car, he sat in the car, He made a generous down payment and left, but he never drove the car because it was cJanuary and we up to our butts in snow

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Old 09-04-2020, 09:15 PM   #20
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Default Re: Safest Way to Buy a Car Long Distance??

I did EVERYTHING wrong, and bought a '36 3-window out of Texas in 1995, after only looking at the pictures and talking to the owner twice. I loved that car, and drove it for five years when I realized it was too cramped for me. A close inspection would have revealed any of the problems it might have had, but not the ultimate result.
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