Buying a car 2000 away

[foxfire42]

I'm looking to buy a car from an Estate. I found an Escrow company that will hold the money until I receive the vehicle and accept it. Their price for this service is 8.9% which seems high. Does anyone on here know another way of being protected for less? I've purchased 3 cars in the past but from MARC or MAFCA members and there's been no problems.

Barb

[glenn in camino]

Find a Model A club in the area where the car is and ask if there is someone in the club who will go look at the car to evaluate it and call you with his honest description.

[WHN]

When we have sold cars we require the new owner or his representative to inspect car before deposit is taken. Than full payment in cash before shipping or delivery.

You could have car inspected for you, (car inspection company) if you cannot do inspection your self.

I would not ship a car to anyone who might decide to not buy it.

I must be really missing something here.

[Synchro909]

Where is the car? Maybe someone nearby could look at it for you.

[Charlie Stephens]

Maybe it is just me but I think I smell a scam, be careful.

Charlie Stephens

[Crankster]

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8.9%? Wow, nice work if ya can get it!

[burner31]

For a purchase of this importance, if it was me, I would keep the 8.9% in my pocket and go see/get the car myself.
Call me cynical, but I have to agree with post #5
Post #2 also is a wise choice, and you could also throw the club a small donation, surely less than 8.9% of the total purchase price

[Dollar Bill]

Does anyone on here know another way of being protected for less?

Best solution is go see for yourself. If that's not an option, I would seek an appraisal from someone familiar with vintage autos.

Also good advice to inquire of local Model A club members for recommendations on how to proceed.

[Fomoco998]

There is a lot of estate sale scams out there nowadays . Fake escrows take your money and don't even have the car . Beware just my .02

[ronn]

Pay with paypal and pay the 3% fees.

[2manycars]

I just sold a 36 coupe. I offered to have a member of the V8 club look at it for the buyer, but he decided to fly from Denver and rent a car at the airport and come see the car, inspect it, and drive it. He transferred the money to my account on the spot, and then arranged for transport. Seeing is believing.

[Marshall V. Daut]

2000 miles from Arizona or Washington State? Then the car must be in the eastern Midwest or Mid-South? As someone suggested, please tell us where the car is located and perhaps one of the "Fordbarn" gang can check it out for you. That would save you a bundle and give you peace of mind that the car actually exists and is as advertised. Most of us on this website are up to our gills in Model A ownership, so unless the car is a $350 A-400 with a slightly dented left rear fender, you probably don't need to worry about one of us snatching it away from you. Otherwise, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and taking a big chance.
Marshall in SE Iowa, across from Illinois (Am I warm in the location?)

[Clem Clement]

Recently I inspected a car for a guy in Texas. He seemed pleased. I was as good as I could be, and pointed out that there has been some custom work and since the tires were flat at it didn't start, be careful. I could not see under the thing

[700rpm]

Having someone inspect it is a good idea if you trust that inspector. About ten years ago a local friend who knew nothing about A's found a pickup in the LA area that sounded good. I knew a former LA MAFCA board member! and asked him to recommend someone he knew down there to inspect the car. He did, and sent his acquaintance out to look at it. He came back with a positive report and my local friend sent the seller the money, hitched up a trailer, drove 1000 miles to get the car.

It looked good, but in the event it wouldn't start, and had two flat tires. The roof was installed incorrectly, as was the header. If I had been able to go with him, I would have told him to forget it. But he bought it anyway. When he got it home, we discovered it had two sticky valves and wasn't timed right. It took us about 12 hours to get it diagnosed and repaired and running, and fix the flats. He loved that truck after that, and eventually sold it to his neighbor, who also loved it, and bought a better one.

I doubt the "inspector" ever even looked at the first car. The moral of the story is, get an inspector you trust and who really knows what they're looking at!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I'll rent you my Dog, he can SMELL a RAT, 187 Yards away

[foxfire42]

WOW! lots of good advice. I've never had a bad experience so may be just too trusting.
Looks like the general consensus is to go look at the car with my own eyes. I have the time (retired) and a trailer. I just don't like the idea of all that windshield time. I can tap a friend that will help me drive. The last time I looked at the weather channel it was COLD outside!

Sorry Bill, Dog can't help. His smeller would have to work 13,326,720 feet from Fresno but thanks for the offer......

[deuce_roadster]

I just sold a brand x car to a guy that was 1200 miles from me. I insisted I wouldn't sell it unless he looked at it in person and could judge the condition. (it was a totally rust free 65 chevelle convertible) anyway, he and his bother drove up here, inspected it, went to town and got a 1 way U-Haul trailer and headed back home. You could do the same sort of thing, go look at it (either drive or fly) and if it meets your standards, buy it and either arrainge transportation or rent a 1 way trailer. Be a shame to tow your trailer round trip if it ended up a car you didn't want. I think you would spend less then the escrow fee you quoted and be happier with the purchase if you bought it.

[Dave in MN]

I have never purchased a Model A without looking at it before buying. Most people have a different over the phone rating system of condition than I do and that's the problem.
I would/do look before buying. Always!
Good Day!

[Synchro909]

Maybe I've just been lucky but I've bought 2 cars from the US sight unseen. The first exceeded my expectations and is still the best driving A I have. The second had obviously been restored by someone to flip at a profit. Some of the work could have been better. It had done who knows how many miles since but I suspect quite a few. It had brand new tyres on it yet the main bearings were loose. It had worn out a set of tyres at least. I took between 0.005 and 0.007" out of each main bearing! Boy, did it rattle! Anyway, after correcting a few things, I have a good car. Sometimes you just gotta trust someone.
On behalf of a forum member who is selling a car and wanted to make sure the person he was dealing with was OK, I just tracked him down (he lives about 1,200 miles from me) and confirmed he could deal with him with confidence. I suggest you ask someone on this forum who has no dog in the fight to help out.

[SteveB31]

Hop on the airplane. Plane ticket way cheaper then getting taken. If you like the car when you see it, wire transfer the money, rent a storage place, drive it over to the storage place and leave it- pick it up when you have time to get it. I have done this more then once. Just my thoughts

Steve @ Bert’s

[Fullraceflathead]

If you refuse to go see it in person you could arrange to look at it by Facebook Live video. There still is risk but you would at least know the Car is real and you could ask specific questions about the car and they would video it per your request.
If it was me tho I'd still want to see it in person.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Dave in MN

I have never purchased a Model A without looking at it before buying. Most people have a different over the phone rating system of condition than I do and that's the problem.
I would/do look before buying. Always!
Good Day!

I agree, especially if you get someone to help drive. It's nice to get away and see the country once in a while. My problem is I'm always in a hurry to get there and don't take time to see things.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

DO BE CAREFUL!! ! A Friend bought a NICE lookin' "ROADWORTHY" '29 Town Sedan, $2,300 & 3 months LATER, It was TRULY ROADWORTHY!
It was BEAUTIFUL, all BLACK, had 19" Wheels, but they didn't look too ODD on it. Most Folks didn't even pay attention to them.
Bill Suspicious

[dpson]

I've purchased three cars on eBay from southern California and have been somewhat disappointed with two of the three. One had hidden collision damage that was not in the description or easily seen in the photos. The seller reluctantly made a price adjustment that really didn't cover the amount of the damages. If at all possible I recommend either viewing the car in person or having someone inspect it for you.

[foxfire42]

Here's the latest. I pulled the plug. Before investing in plane fare I told the seller I would arrange to have it inspected at my expense. I was thinking that was a reasonable solution and price to pay to see if it were ligit. Then I could fly out and look at it and touch it with money in hand. Well, seems that the seller wasn't open to having it inspected. Without an address where the vehicle is physically located I'll do my shopping locally. Thanks for all the great input. It's been a money saving day......................

[Bruce Adams]

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foxfire42, so now that its over WHERE WAS THIS CAR?

[denniskliesen]

Both times I bought out of state cars, I flew or drove to look at them. I would never buy a car without an inspection. I know lots of people that felt confident the pictures told them the story they wanted to see or hear but ended up very disappointed

[bikejunk]

So let us say it is a 10,000 dollar car 8% of that will fly you any where in the USA and back =the old math ; )

[trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by foxfire42

I'm looking to buy a car from an Estate.

Barb

An Estate is different than an Individual.

It is a collection of property to be liquidated - the car is one of several items.

Depending on who is handling the sale - there might be little interest or time to deal with inquiries from out of the immediate area.

If you need to " kick the tires " - fly or drive and go take a look.

Jim

[2manycars]

Better safe than sorry.

[slammin]

Originally Posted by foxfire42

Here's the latest. I pulled the plug. Before investing in plane fare I told the seller I would arrange to have it inspected at my expense. I was thinking that was a reasonable solution and price to pay to see if it were ligit. Then I could fly out and look at it and touch it with money in hand. Well, seems that the seller wasn't open to having it inspected. Without an address where the vehicle is physically located I'll do my shopping locally. Thanks for all the great input. It's been a money saving day......................

You made the right decision. A seller who won't allow an inspection is a thief. Decide how far you can drive over a long weekend and limit your search to that distance. Since you are near the west coast, MAFCA has 65 chapters in Cali, 6 in Arizona and a dozen in Washington. I would start contacting some of those chapters. Let them know what you want to buy. Those groups usually know the cars that are or may be available. Happy hunting!

[SSsssteamer]

One problem of having a third party inspect your possible purchase. A "friend" from Olympia, we will call "Bob", I had asked him to look at an engine for sale out of Portland, Oregon. I asked Bob to help me in arriving at a price with the seller. Bob went and looked at the engine, he bought it, and then for a good profit, Bob sold it to one of my friends in Idaho. Bob never got back to me after his back door deal. My Idaho friend emailed me and asked me if he made a good deal on buying Bob's engine. Beware...

[slammin]

With friends like Bob, who needs enemies?

[Purdy Swoft]

I bought one sight unseen from Sullivans garage a few years ago and was well pleased with the purchase . Mark sent good pictures and the price was right . I had the car delivered from Londondary New Hampshire . I didn't see how I could go wrong . I'm a bodyman and a Purdy good shade tree mechanic . Others that had looked at the car was concerned about the engine because it hadn't run since 1963 . I had a spare running engine and wasn't really concerned . When I got the car , I was surprised to discover that it had a low milage , numbers matching engine . I overhauled the engine , welded up the bullet holes in the body and fenders and whatever else that was needed . I ended up with a Purdy good roadster that I never though I would have . I sent Mark a check for the car and thats it in my avatar .

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by SSsssteamer

One problem of having a third party inspect your possible purchase. A "friend" from Olympia, we will call "Bob", I had asked him to look at an engine for sale out of Portland, Oregon. I asked Bob to help me in arriving at a price with the seller. Bob went and looked at the engine, he bought it, and then for a good profit, Bob sold it to one of my friends in Idaho. Bob never got back to me after his back door deal. My Idaho friend emailed me and asked me if he made a good deal on buying Bob's engine. Beware...

That reminds me of a 1956 Studabaker power hawk that I was going to buy in 1970 . I made the mistake of telling the guy that I worked for that when I got off , I was going to buy the car . The S.O.B bought the car before I could get off from work . I guess that it was a good thing in a way . It wasn' but a few days before I opened up Tims body shop and never looked back .

[Bill's Auto Works]

Hello Barb,

Good to converse with you earlier in the week!

Sorry you did not get the car you were looking at, but if he was not open for an inspection, that would definitely send up a red flag.

Funny thing about these type of posts (& there are many) is everyone says go look at it yourself. I have transported somewhere between 2200 & 2500 vehicles in my 35 years of business & I would bet less than 10% of the people go look at the vehicle before buying it. Even most of the high end stuff (over $100,000.00) I have done dozens of those type of vehicles & can only remember a couple where the buyer saw it first.

God Bless & better luck on the next one.
Bill Squires(owner)
Bill's Auto Works
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[larrys40]

I agree with Marshall and Bert. I've had guys fly me somewhere to inspect what they are serious about and drop me something for my time. As Marshall said sounds like it's somewhere in the middle of the country so if that's the case maybe one of us nearby can help. Or as Steve said hop in a plane yourself if possible and make arrangements from there.
If it's significant money a personal checkout is money well spent. It will be cheaper than the disappointment of a less than stellar purchase

Larry Shepard
St. Louis area

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

That reminds me of a 1956 Studabaker power hawk that I was going to buy in 1970 . I made the mistake of telling the guy that I worked for that when I got off , I was going to buy the car . The S.O.B bought the car before I could get off from work . I guess that it was a good thing in a way . It wasn' but a few days before I opened up Tims body shop and never looked back .

The same thing happened to me twice by 2 different friends. They are still my friends, but I no longer tell anyone of an impending purchase.