Lot T145 – 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Lot # T145
Auction: Mecum High Performance Auctions – Kissimmee, FL Auction
Date: January 22 – 24, 2009
This Lot scheduled to be sold THURS 7:55PM

This 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is a true jewel of a find. In the hands of the original owner up until the fall of 2007, it still has the original window sticker from Arnold Chevrolet in Crystal City, MO. This is an original unrestored car with original service records including the original owner protection policy warranty book.

There were 957 Silver Corvettes produced in 1959 and this is one of them, just as it rolled off the showroom floor.

Specs:
- White wall tires
- 283/230 HP 8 cylinder engine
- Deluxe heater
- Courtesy lights
- Windshield washers
- Parking brake alarm
- Sun shades
- Powerglide automatic transmission

The Rarest of all “‘Birds”

Lot# 1295
Auction: Barret-Jackson Scottsdale 2009
Date: January 17, 2009

The rarest of all “Birds”. If your one of the millions of avid Thunderbird owners, restorers or fans, you may have wondered about the very first Thunderbird ever produced. What became of it? Where is it now? How did it look originally? Ford Motor Company and Barrett Jackson are pleased to bring you up to date on the rarest and most valuable T-Bird built by Ford Motor Company.

As you can see, the black beauty is very much alive. It was produced at the Michigan factory on September 9, 1954. This car came equipped with the 292 “Y” block, Fordomatic transmission, power steering, power windows and power seats. The wheelbase is 102″. The BMP rating is 198 and the weight of the vehicle is 3250 lbs.

One of the first performance road test of the newly-created Thunderbird car was by a national magazine was tested on this same car. “Sports Illustrated” did an article October 4, 1954 entitled “Testing the Thunderbird”, and the first T-Bird was used as the test vehicle.

Ford verified the status of this car in 1966, designated as the most valuable T-Bird in existence. This car has captured the attention of writers, collectors and car buffs throughout the United States and globally. This car has been featured in magazines, books, promotions, internet blogs, television shows and more. It has also made many special appearances at various museums, car shows and special events like the 1984 Olympics.

The Ford Motor Company has and continues to commission the car, usually in its private trailer to various events such as their national conferences and car shows including Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI. It has been pictured with generations of Ford executives and celebrities such as Carroll Shelby, Barbara Streisand and Jay Leno to name a few.

The history of the Thunderbird dates back to the early 1950′s when a few individuals at the top of Ford’s organizational chart conceived the idea of a sports car. Designer Frank Hershey fathered the idea of the sports car program that became the Thunderbird. The real history of this car dates back to 1965 when a well admired gentleman and car buff by the name George Watts came across what he called “A needle in a haystack”. After Ford officially verified the status of his car as the first production Thunderbird, he meticulously restored the “original” to original. After documenting every step with photos, it appeared three years later – as if it just rolled off the assembly line. The rest is history.

1956 Chevy Nomad from the “Eddie Van Halen Collection”

Lot# 1259.1
Auction: Barret-Jackson Scottsdale 2009
Date: January 17, 2009

From the Eddie Van Halen collection, this 1956 Chevrolet Nomad features factory air conditioning. 1956 was the very first year of factory air conditioning for Chevrolet.

The power plant consists of a 265/210hp Power Pack V8 with power steering and power brakes. An upgrade to disc brakes was added for better stopping performance and safer driving.

This car received a frame-off restoration, and was part of the Harrah’s Collection prior to being owned by EVH.

Making this auction package even more rare and unique, Eddie Van Halen has personally authorized a custom made, one-of-a-kind guitar built to match the theme of the car. These will be the very first instruments to commemorate the worldwide release of the EVH Brand “Wolfgang” line of guitars that make their debut in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2009. If that isn’t enough, Eddie has included a pair of signature red, white and black striped EVH sneakers.

This is an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the treasured car and guitar of one of rock’s most iconic figures ever. The car comes complete with a copy of the June 1999 issue of “Super Chevy” magazine in which it was featured.

1956 Chevy Bel Air from the “Eddie Van Halen Collection”

Lot# 1259.1
Auction: Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2009
Date: January 17, 2009

From the Eddie Van Halen collection, this 1956 Chevrolet 210 post sedan Pro-street Hot Rod was built by Jim Van Gordon.

The car features a 454cid big block Chevrolet with approx 600hp, a narrowed and bullet proof 9″ Ford rear with Detroit Locker, Mark Williams axels, 4.30 gears, 4-link coil-over suspension, disc brakes, 15×14 Weld racing wheels, wrapped with 33×19.50 Mickey Thompson tires and 15×4 Weld Racing wheels up front. Also features a manual valve body automatic transmission, full racing gauges and a custom interior. This car is completely drag strip and street legal and runs on everything from 110 octane racing fuel to everyday pump gas. The specs on the car are as hot as its looks.

Making this auction package even more rare and unique, Eddie Van Halen has personally authorized a custom made, one-of-a-kind guitar built to match the theme of the car. These will be the very first instruments to commemorate the worldwide release of the EVH Brand “Wolfgang” line of guitars that make their debut in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, January 15, 2009. If that isn’t enough, Eddie has included a pair of signature red, white and black striped EVH sneakers.

This is an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the treasured car and guitar of one of rocks most iconic figures ever. The car comes complete with the original 1956 owner’s manual, and a copy of the June 1999 issue of “Super Chevy” magazine in which it was featured.

Upcoming Public Auto Auctions

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event – January 11 – 18, 2009

The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company is well known for being the premiere classic car auction company in the United States. At the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction even the most serious collector will find enticements in the form of some of the most exclusive vehicles available at auction.

RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona – January 15-16, 2009

The 2009 Arizona Biltmore Auction represents the finest event of its kind in the world. Building on the success of the 2008 auction which saw roughly $30,000,000 in sales and a 95% sales rate, this year’s auction will be even more impressive. With space limited to only 100 outstanding motor cars please contact one of our motor car specialists immediately for consideration of your collector car.

Mecum Auctions’ Muscle Cars & More – January 22-24, 2009

MECUM Auction’s new TV series is a huge success by all measures. In the first two weeks of the MECUM Auto Auction: Muscle Cars and More! live show, more than $3m worth of muscle, Corvette and other classic cars have found new owners from coast-to-coast. Many have come to bid in person during the auctions. Others have purchased cars remotely through telephone and Internet bids which are an integral part of the auction process allowing people to participate from around the world. The show airs live from the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday evenings in HD TV on Discovery’s new HD Theater channel.

Insurance for Vintage Classic Cars

Depending on your planned usage for your new collector, there are several options for classic car insurance. Although getting the right insurance is not complicated, there are some things that you should be aware of that are not so obvious.

Many owners make the mistake of calling their current insurance agent and having them underwrite a standard policy. Seems reasonable enough and hassle free, right? Just roll it under your other auto insurance and take advantage of their “multiple autos” discount. It is estimated that the majority of vintage classic cars are in fact insured this way and those owners are in line to pay for it, in more ways than one. Owners under this description are paying higher premiums and getting less coverage.

The danger with this approach is that the policy your agent gave you is probably the same as your current vehicle’s policy. Even if your current vehicle is a high dollar car, one thing that needs to be considered is; is it appreciating in value? Hypothetically, if you own a newer car for 3-4 years and need to collect insurance in a total loss due to an accident or theft, the payout will be based on the depreciating car value, often based on Kelly Blue Book values for the year, make and model of your car. On the other hand, if you have a beautifully restored 1955 Chevy Bel Air 2-door hardtop stored in your garage, do you think it will be worth more or less three years from now? Hint: more, probably a lot more!

Do not use a standard insurance plan

Classic car insurance has been available for years. You will need to check with your provider, but usually there are some minimal driving restrictions relative to mileage, say less than 5000 miles per year, that apply as a rider on the policy for a vintage classic car. Many will require that you have a day-to-day car already registered so the classic will not be used for routine transportation to and from work or doing daily errands.

Know the various policies

1. Stated Value Policy. This type of policy lets you declare the value of a car that is greater than its depreciated book value. This is better than a standard policy, but will only pay up to the stated amount and does not factor in appreciation.

2. Actual Cash Value Policy. This is more like a standard policy where the value is determined on some kind of depreciated value. With this policy, the insurance adjuster decides what your car is worth. Hopefully they are having a nice day! Not recommended if you are using a insurance company that normally doesn’t cover classic or antique autos.

3. Agreed Value Policy. This is where you and the insurance company agree on the value of the car. There is no depreciation associated with the car. In addition, the agreed upon value can be modified during the life of the policy to reflect increases in value. This way, you are 100 percent protected and assured that you will receive the full value for your car should a loss occure.

Other considerations

• Many classic car insurance policies have minimum age restrictions, 25 to sometimes 30 years old. Younger drivers are not permitted.
• Not all classic car agents are created equally. Make sure you check out their customer service and feel confident that they know replacing a windshield on a 1967 GTO will probably be more expensive than your everyday car.
• Make sure your carrier is licensed in your state.

In summary, make sure you have your vintage classic car covered by one of the above policies and not a standard automobile policy that you would use for your teenagers ’98 Honda Accord. While the liability coverage may be the same, the coverage for your beautifully restored ’55 Chevy may amount to peanuts and not the street value of such a collector.

1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 S

Lot#: UNK
Auction: RM Auctions – Automobiles of Arizona
Location: Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
24th Street & Missouri
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Date: Friday, January 16, 2009

“The Miura on offer is one of those desirable ‚ÄòS‚Äô variants, completed February 10, 1970 (Prod. #461 of 765 total Miura production, 338 of which were P400 S models). It is presented in its original and attractive period color scheme of red with a blue interior.”

SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis No.: LAM451271
Estimate: $400,000-$450,000 US

370bhp at 7,700 rpm, transverse mounted four-litre alloy V12 quad-cam engine, Weber carburetors, five-speed manual gearbox, sheet steel platform chassis with aluminum body panels, independent front and rear suspension with A-arms, coil springs with tubular shocks and anti-roll bars, four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 98.4″

This was where it all started Рthe first production automobile to prove itself worthy of the ‘supercar’ tag. Prior to the Lamborghini Miura’s arrival in 1967 many sports cars had offered high levels of performance and handling. The Miura however was the first built around the criteria that define our modern concept of the supercar: massive speed, jaw-dropping design coupled with technical innovation – together with a wallet-wilting price tag to which only the wealthiest could aspire.

Sig. Ferruccio Lamborghini began his historic enterprise with the enlistment of Giotto Bizzarrini – the father of the legendary Ferrari GTO, and one of the engineers driven out of Ferrari during the ‘palace revolt’ of November, 1961 – to create an all-new four-cam V12 engine, initially displacing 3.5 liters. The debut Lamborghini model was the 350GT, which featured an unusual, ‘bubble top’ design by Carrozzeria Touring with ‘frog eye’ headlights. Viewed as an interesting exercise in exotica, it was a remarkably well balanced package, and the engine, in particular, received accolades from the motoring press.

By 1967 the latest version of this powerplant (by now enlarged to 4.0 liters) was used for an entirely new, even revolutionary new model – the iconic Lamborghini Miura. First shown to a stunned public in March 1966 at the Geneva Salon, the Miura was the brainchild of seven young engineers, working after hours at Lamborghini on this radical new sports car. In fact, credit for the design goes to Marcello Gandini at Bertone, who was only 22 at the time. Under the guidance of New Zealand engineer Bob Wallace, the Miura’s chassis was tuned to deliver the handling needed to contain and exploit the prodigious power available. With double wishbone suspension at each corner (in best racing tradition) it was very advanced for a road car. The mid-mounted engine was fitted transversely to allow for a more compact overall stance – an engineering solution inspired by none other than the Austin Mini. The original sketches also called for a glass engine cover and a three-seat layout with the driver in the middle and each of two passengers on either side. Although the latter feature never made it to the production Miuras, it re-emerged on future supercars, most notably on the McLaren F1.

The glass cover was also never used but the rear window louvers used in production were an industry first. As the engine was no longer front-mounted but rather ‘posteriore,’ the first generation of Miuras were named P400s. This turned out to be a sensational, trendsetting decision. Almost immediately the young Lamborghini marque leapfrogged to the head of the class, well ahead of both Ferrari and Maserati with this innovative mid-engine configuration.

The specifications are still impressive today: a lightweight frame, all independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and powered by that well-proven, wonderful sounding V12, breathing through four triple throat Webers. With 350 brake horsepower on tap, the car was capable of nearly 180 mph in the hands of the brave, which was more than a match for any other road going production car. All clothed by that unmistakable, heart-stopping shape, formed in aluminum, the stuff of dreams.

A process of evolution and improvement was maintained throughout the life of the Miura and in 1968, the ‘S,’ for spinto (or, tuned) version appeared, boasting 370 bhp, updated brakes and numerous other enhancements. Faster, more luxuriously appointed and more stable with better braking, it was a large step forward from its already magnificent forebear. The Miura S was capable of reaching 60mph from a standing start in 5.5 seconds and 140mph in less than 30 seconds, with a top speed of 177mph.

“An exercise in automotive art” – Road & Track Magazine, April, 1970

The Miura on offer is one of those desirable ‘S’ variants, completed February 10, 1970 (Prod. #461 of 765 total Miura production, 338 of which were P400 S models). It is presented in its original and attractive period color scheme of red with a blue interior.

This is a very correct, original and low mileage (23,500) Miura S. It has had a short list of owners, the most recent of whom purchased the car in 1997 in excellent, ‘driver’ condition. Over the ensuing years he has methodically and sympathetically upgraded the car using top specialists and with little regard to expense. A spectacular new finish was applied by Bob Barber Paintworks of Stowe, PA, while the mechanicals have been freshened and comprehensively sorted by Michael Pechstein of Vintage MotorSports. The interior is new and the car has been thoroughly detailed. This Lamborghini not only ‘looks the business,’ but it pulls like a train! The Miura S truly ‘ticks all the boxes’ and this is a striking and proper example of the breed.

Your Car Ad Could Be Here!

The 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe is a car that most collectors want if they don’t already have one. It’s an icon when it comes to vintage classic cars and has become a valuable asset to any collection.

But, how do you sell one if you want to? By advertising in the “Featured” advertising space on Vintage Classic Car Sales. For a small fee of $29, your ad will be displayed at the top of the home page and have it’s very own sales page on our site until it sells or you pull it down. With the premium listing space provided, we’re betting it sells, and sells fast!

The small fee of $29 is far better than any classified ad price you would find in any publication or newspaper and it has our “Good ‘Til Canceled Guarantee.”

To take advantage of our premier ad listing service, simply fill out the form below and submit your picture and ad copy for immediate approval.

Premium Ad Submission Form

My Fieldset

1. Your Name(required)
2. Email(valid email required)
3. Website
4. Message

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Collector’s Market

Collector Cars Earn Higher Rate of Return than Stocks and Gold

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Oct. 13, 2008
Turns out the guy driving that 1967 Shelby GT500 as an enthusiast has the side benefit of being a smart investor. Leading into the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company’s inaugural event in Las Vegas, the world’s leading collector car auction house reported that many of the top cars sold have performed better in value than the stock market and gold over the last 10 years.

“Though most people buy a collector car to enjoy, they have also proven to be one of the soundest investment vehicles in the global marketplace over the past 10 years,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman
and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “It’s rare that a hobby and someone’s passion has the potential of being a great investment.”

The Barrett-Jackson mini-index was created in 2003 and consists of representative cars that reflect the diversity seen in the collector car market. These cars span from 1957 to 1970 and are primarily
European and American sports cars and U.S. muscle cars. The cars used in the index are the 1957 Thunderbird, 1967 Jaguar XKE, 1967 Shelby GT500, 1970 Camaro Z/28, 1970 M R ‘Cuda, 1965 Austin Healy MK III and a 1967 Corvette 427/435.

According to the data released October 2008, the value of the cars in the Barrett-Jackson mini-index grew by a compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent from Q1 1998 to Q1 2008, which included economic and political upheaval stemming from major events ranging from the invasion of Iraq, the Dot Com bubble crash, and 9/11. During that same period, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) grew a compounded 5 percent annually while the S&P 500 Index grew 4 percent . The price of gold grew a compounded 11 percent in the same period.

“These numbers paint a vivid picture of the intrinsic value and growth of the collector car market,” said Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson . “A financial analyst will tell you that every market
has year-to-year fluctuations, but that the true measure is performance over time. We’re proud to be part of that great performance of the collector car market and we believe our expansion in Las Vegas will reinforce the view that collector cars are not only our consumers’ passion but offer the potential of
providing long-term value. Most enthusiasts like me take great solace that as a car collector, we own tangible assets that have not only stood up to the test of time in value, but can also be driven and enjoyed.”

“With all the turbulence in the current capital markets, we are pleased with our key economic indicators for the Las Vegas event. Tickets sales have been strong, our Las Vegas consignment slots were sold out, and bidder registration has exceeded our expectations. Bidder interest and registration have not waned despite the negative news coming from Wall Street.”

Buying Vintage Classic Cars on eBay

If you are considering purchasing your classic car on eBay Motors, or on one of the other web auction sites, you are not alone. eBay is now considered to be the dominant force in vintage classic cars and associated parts sales. In 2006, eBay reported the following:

• On average, one car is sold on eBay motors every minute.
• More cars are sold on eBay before 9:00am than an average dealership sells in a year.
• eBay Motors was ranked as the #1 automotive website.
• There are more than 2.8 million different car parts available for purchase on eBay Motors at the time this report was written.
• Our last check showed 46,591 cars & trucks for sale.

As impressive as those statistics may be, it can be as expensive as it is exciting to buy a classic auto online unless you prepare for the purchase properly. There is much to learn in order to effectively buy a beauty instead of a beast on eBay Motors, even if you are a veteran “eBayer”.

In order to be effective in your bidding, we recommend a reliable high speed computer and a high speed internet connection such as broadband. You can use a dial-up connection but, for those crucial last minute bids, you will often find yourself out-maneuvered by the competition.

The very first step in buying a collector car on eBay is to register as an eBay member, if you haven’t already done so. There are several advantages of registering before you start searching through eBay’s listings, some of which include:

• The ability to “watch” auctions without bidding and request email notification for your watched items. This simply means you can add auctions to your auction watch list and you will be sent alerts via email about those auctions (i.e. auction endings, bidding activity, etc.).
• The ability to save your favorite searches from which eBay will email you new search results as they are listed.
• The ability to research past or expired auctions to make informed buying and selling decisions by comparing the history of like items sold on eBay with the current auctions.

If you haven’t bought or sold on eBay before, there are many things to consider before you jump right in and try your hand at buying items as expensive as vintage classic cars. It is recommended that you consider practicing your bidding technique by bidding on low priced items that you may need and would buy anyway, just at a physical store and not online. This way, if you happen to make a mistake, it is not an expensive one and it becomes a cheap education in the art of bidding.

Auctions are often an emotional experience. It isn’t improbable that you can become emotionally wrapped up in the process and end up spending much more for an item simply because you refused to lose! This is not uncommon and happens with almost all new auction participants with little experience. This is where a strict discipline is needed unless you have a bottomless supply of money and price really isn’t a factor. Sometimes you will find an item that you just “can’t live without” and it becomes a goal to win the auction no matter what the cost. In most cases, however, you will need to set a limit to the amount you will spend for an item and maintain the discipline it takes to stick to that maximum and not go over. More will be discussed about this subject later.

During your practice bidding on the low priced items, there are some habits you should develop that will aid you when the price is in the thousands of dollars. One of those habits is to, if the pictures and description of the items look good, e-mail the seller with any questions you can think of so that you can gain experience using the messaging tool in eBay. This is done within the eBay site by sending a message to the seller or by requesting a more detailed description and additional photographs. This test will ensure that your computer will be able to accept photos and display them for viewing.

As you graduate from small, cheap items to looking for that dream machine, browse or search through the inventory of cars that might interest you. Use the intuitive buttons to navigate through the pages. Then use the listings and headlines to drill down into the auction listings of all the makes, models or years of production that you could possibly want. As you view the listing, there are many terms that may need explanation, such as:

• Reserve: That is the minimum price the seller will accept for the item. You will not always be able to see the reserve price in an active auction. If you place a bid below the reserve, the listing will show that the reserve has not been met.
• Buy it Now: That is the price that the buyer will accept immediately and end the auction with you as the winner. This price is not always a good indication of the reserve price but may be close to it.
• Best Offer: This feature lets a buyer make an offer to the seller for him or her to accept or decline.
• Meet the Seller: Under this heading you can read the feedback/comments left by other buyers who purchased from this seller. One note, always try to deal with sellers that have a high number of positive feedback entries and few, if any negative feedback entries. These comments are gathered voluntarily on the performance of buyers and sellers in the auction process and are recorded for you to see.
• Buy Safely: Review the Vehicle Purchase Protection; it’s an excellent and necessary insurance against fraud or misrepresentation of up to $50,000 per vehicle. The Vehicle History Report is only available for cars produced after 1981, so if the model you are looking for falls into that category, the more you know about the car, the better.

Once you find a vehicle that you are interested in purchasing, you should obtain information about the item’s history, features and current condition. Read the description of the vehicle thoroughly. The seller should elaborate on all the details of the car such as; the condition, terms of sale, any guarantee and so forth. You should also expect there to be plenty of pictures of the vehicle including the engine compartment, trunk, interior, exterior and undercarriage. If the seller has disclosed any blemishes, close up pictures of the blemish should be included. It is critical to understand the title status of the vehicle and any issues there may be with liens or lack of documentation that would hinder registering the vehicle. If the car has been restored, ask for any pictures taken before, during and after the restoration. If you have a question that isn’t addressed in the description or by reviewing the pictures, contact the seller by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link at the top of the listing. Don’t wait until the end of the auction to ask your questions, you don’t want to be waiting for an answer to a critical question as the bidding comes to an end.

There are some “red flags” to look for in certain listings that should alert you to investigate the seller and the vehicle carefully. While buying a vehicle through online auction sites is a great way to find what you’re looking for, buyers should exercise the same cautions as when they buy anything else on the Internet. Unfortunately, there are scam artists that use the online auction medium to take your money. However, it could also be an experienced eBay seller that has little knowledge of classic cars that could end up harming you financially. This is what you should look for:

• Ask the seller if you can see the vehicle in person. Someone who doesn’t actually have the vehicle in his or her possession will almost certainly refuse. Even if you have no intention of paying a visit, just asking to see it could tell you a lot about the seller and their intentions.
• Watch out for auctions that feature what looks like stock photos or photos from brochures. Anyone with a real car to sell should be able to take a picture of it. This tactic is often used to represent a car that is in sub-par condition and the seller knows won’t bring much of a price if it is seen.
• Beware of any seller who will only accept a wire transfer for payment. It can be a seller who will offer a vehicle for sale that they don’t really have; they often just post a photo they found somewhere. The sellers often indicate that they are located in Europe and insist on a wire transfer, such as Western Union, for payment. Once the buyer sends the money, the seller vanishes, never to be heard from again. If at all possible, use PayPal or your credit card. Both of these services provide some amount of fraud protection for your purchases.
• Beware of a seller who says the vehicle is in another country but offers to pay the shipping to the United States. While this can an appealing offer, especially for a car purchase since it can get expensive to have a car shipped to your location, it is another tactic often used by scam artists in other countries.
• Watch out for a vehicle that is offered at a price that seems much too inexpensive for the make, model, and condition of the represented car. Statistically, cars sold over Internet auctions will go for about 10% less than through a dealership, but a $20,000 that car is offered for $10,000 should set off alarms to beware immediately. Like the old saying goes, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!”
• Check the seller’s transaction history to see if they have a positive feedback record of actually selling classic cars. If the seller is listing a 1968 Camaro Super Sport but has a history of only buying or selling crocheted sweaters, you may want to look elsewhere for your dream car.

Below are some strict rules to follow once you determine you are ready to start bidding on a vintage classic car:

1. Determine what you are willing to pay and how much you can afford.

All bids you make on eBay are binding; therefore, you should make sure that you know how much you can afford. You will want to determine if the seller’s price meets or exceeds the car’s market value. A great way to determine a realistic price is to look at final sale prices for similar cars sold on eBay. You can check market values in publications such as the Old Car Buyers Guide or NADA’s Classic, Collectible, and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide & Directory. These price guides typically rate a cars value using 6 categories according to conditions that range from pristine to a rust bucket.

2. Know your total costs and how you’ll cover them.

When bidding for or buying a classic car consider other potential costs such as title, registration, state taxes, and any shipping costs. Refer to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles Web site for guidelines on taxes, title transfer, and registration. If the seller isn’t local, make sure you know how you will pick up the vehicle or arrange shipping if you are the successful buyer. Sellers can help arrange shipping, but buyers usually pay for it. eBay will require you to have a credit card on file if you are bidding over $15,000 for the automobile. Don’t wait until the last minute to provide this information. If you bid on a car that exceeds this limit, you will be notified at the time of your bid and will not be able to proceed. This could cost you the opportunity to grab your dream boat. eBay doesn’t use your card information to charge you for the item, they use it to confirm your identity; a safety measure to help protect both buyers and sellers from potential high-bidding fraud and bid rigging.

3. Review the sellers required payment methods and terms.

You can expect to pay an installment payment at the close of the auction and the remainder of the full payment within 7 days. If you want to make monthly payments, you will want to have financing in place before hand. eBay is equipped to help you get the financing that you need which you can research in the eBay Financing Center. With this tool, you can arrange financing before you bid or calculate monthly payments for what you estimate will be the total loan amount.

4. When you are ready to bid, click the bid button on the car’s auction page.

You can open your bidding with a “scouting” bid to see what the competition does or simply enter the maximum amount you’d be willing to pay for the car. Your maximum amount is kept confidential from other bidders and the seller while the eBay system bids on your behalf, using only as much of your bid as is necessary to maintain your high bid position. The system will bid for you up to your maximum amount while other bidders make their bids and it never exceeds your maximum. If another bidder has a higher maximum, you’ll be outbid and eBay will send you an automatic notification via email.

5. Closely monitor the bidding process.

If the competing bids exceed your maximum amount early on, you may want to consider if this make or model, in the condition as advertised, is really in your budget. This is where the discipline to stick to your maximum amount that you are willing to pay comes in. But, if the bidding looks favorable to you, allocate time to be near your computer during the close end of the auction. Often times, bidders come out of the woodwork towards the end of an auction. We call these bidders “snipers” because they often try to snipe the auction at the last minute. If, at 10 minutes before the auction is scheduled to end, you are out bid by $50.00, you can then decide to increase your maximum bid. Again, you should keep your emotions in check and only increase your new maximum by a comfortable amount. We would hate to see you lose a great car for $50.00 but will not recommend bidding over the fair market value of a car or bust your budget.

Should you be so lucky to win an auction and you have been notified that you are the winning bidder, contact the seller to inform them of how you plan to execute payment and clarify the delivery details. If you haven’t seen the car personally, schedule a date to inspect the vehicle yourself or through a broker prior to the date payment in full is due. You may find that a plane ticket or broker’s fee are less expensive that the return shipping costs of a vehicle that doesn’t live up to what the seller represented. If the car is as advertised, you now have the opportunity to take your first road trip in your new acquisition.

When picking up or taking delivery of the car, have in hand, print outs of all the pictures from the auction, any email correspondence, and the description of the car’s condition provided to you by the seller or from the auction page. Personally inspect that everything is as advertised with the car. If you are picking up the car from the seller and find a problem that was not disclosed or misrepresented, you can refer to the documentation that was provided by the seller and either negotiate the price or ask for the deposit to be returned.

If the car has been shipped to you, inspect it before it is unloaded from the transport. Damage can occur as it comes off the transport truck and any repairs required would be the responsibility of the shipper. You and the shipment company’s driver should inspect the car together and note any damage that wasn’t disclosed in the auction documents. If you do find problems with the car, take pictures and document everything. We recommend using a digital recorder during this process in order to capture all your thoughts without having to worry about writing it all down expeditiously. If, after you have accepted the car from the shipper, the vehicle has issues during a road test, take it to a qualified mechanic and have them document their findings. If then you should decide that the car is not as advertised, you need to put together a factual and non-emotional accounting of why it is so by referring to all your recorded notes and pictures. You should then email the seller and negotiate what actions should be taken.

One of the best features of buying on eBay is that a seller’s reputation is displayed for all to see. Like in any business, having an unhappy customer is not desirable. Having an unhappy buyer that can post his opinion in your feedback for everyone else to see is even less desirable. Subsequently, you will find that most sellers will work with you to make the transaction acceptable for both parties. Again, keep your emotions in check and if you find that you just can’t come to an agreement with the seller on how to rectify any problems, utilize the resources provided to you by eBay, PayPal, or your credit card company.

All-in-all, the majority of eBay transactions go off without a hitch. You should always exercise caution when it comes to any purchase that involves large sums of money and if you follow the rules we have outlined above, you should have little if any problems finding and buying a vintage classic car on eBay.

Next Page »