Ever since I can remember I've wanted a vintage Pontiac. After all, my mom's daily driver when I was a kid was a 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV, a car that today is worth $50,000 in poor shape. Money issues meant the "Goat" had to go when I was 14. I'd love to have that car today.
I had some stipulations. The car would have to have the 400 cid engine and it would have to come with a manual transmission. I'd rather eat worms than drive an automatic. So, about five years ago, I created a continuing search on eBay for 1967-1969 Firebirds meeting my criteria. Every day during that time I received an email with the latest Firebirds listed on eBay. I bid a few times, but never really came close to buying the car of my boyhood dreams.
I had some stipulations. The car would have to have the 400 cid engine and it would have to come with a manual transmission. I'd rather eat worms than drive an automatic. So, about five years ago, I created a continuing search on eBay for 1967-1969 Firebirds meeting my criteria. Every day during that time I received an email with the latest Firebirds listed on eBay. I bid a few times, but never really came close to buying the car of my boyhood dreams.
Then, in late April, it happened. It seemed all too sudden--if five years of monitoring the market can seem at all sudden. I saw a white 1968 Firebird I liked and watched the auction. The price seemed reasonable, but like so many Firebirds before, the reserve price wasn't met. As the auction neared its end, I took a look. The reserve was still on, though the price was to my liking. I thought no more of it and went to pick up my girlfriend.
I left my laptop open to that page and returned a couple of hours later. The price was still to my liking, the reserve was off and there were only five minutes left in the auction. I placed a bid and worried that I might actually win this one.
Win it I did and the buyer's remorse immediately kicked in. There were a few decent pictures of the car, but they were shot in bright sun and I couldn't really tell if the bodywork was good. The lister's description of the car was also woefully light. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into.
To further the angst, the lister instructed that the only ways to pay were by cash or wire transfer. eBay expressly stated that buyers shouldn't pay by wire transfer as this was a common tactic of rip-off artists. Uh-oh. What had I gotten myself into?
The previous owner's phone number was listed, so I gave him a call. He didn't even know the auction had ended, and seemed to know very little about the car other than he saw it in Pittsburgh, liked it, and bought it. He explained that he had an auto shop and he had sold several hot rods and customs on eBay. I checked out his feedback and started to feel better about doing a wire transfer, but I still didn't really know what was in the car I had bought.
In the end, I went ahead with the wire transfer and had the car shipped. It all worked out quite well, but I must recommend that you shouldn't be like me. When buying a car on eBay, you should:
-Know what you're looking at. This is about the only thing I had going for me. I knew I was getting a good price on the car if it was at all like it looked in the pictures. That brings me to my next point.
-Make sure to look at enough pictures that you are satisfied that the car is up to your standards. Writing to ask for more pictures will prove that the car is in the condition the seller claims and let you know that he actually has the car.
-If at all possible, go to see the car with someone who knows vehicles of its type, or ask a friend who lives nearby to look at it for you.
-Ask the owner any questions you may have about what was done during the restoration, what parts are in the car (heads, headers, carburetor, rear end gear, transmission, etc.), and how well the work was done.
-Finally, follow eBay's advice and pay with PayPal or a Cashier's Check delivered in person.
Next time: My Baby Arrives, Now What Exactly Did I Get?
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