Trying to sell a classic car

johnos1984

Right I want people to please be critical but helpful on this one.

I've had the Rover up for sale for 2 months now. I have one guy interested but if that falls through I want to improve the ad and also to know where the best place to place it in an attempt to sell it.

I've had a number of timewasters (people arranging to come then not showing up or else they off €500). I wouldn't mind if it wasn't for them after looking or they just wished to look at it but I don't like being brought from Dublin to take the car out and then not have someone show up.

Anyway here is the ad in its current form:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/1324296

Any advice would be welcome. I'm not desperate to sell but the money would be useful and I'd like to let someone else enjoy it for a while

gn3dr

Hi
I like your car.

As regards the ad I did see you mention on here that you put a high price on it to get rid of timewasters. However I believe you put too a high a price on it. There are a lot of guys advertising classics out there for stupid money - i.e. they still think the celtic tiger is alive and well so I would say that is why you might not be getting a smuch interest as you thought you would.

An SD1 is on my list of cars to own someday but I wouldn't have even bothered calling you because of the high price - anyone who is into classic cars knows the prices stuff can be got for in the UK and many are willing to travel. The problem I think is that there are many people in Ireland who are unrealistic about prices and most of the time it's a waste of time calling them because they are generally too stubborn to drop prices to a realistic level. I guess on the counter side to this though is that sellers here probably think many buyers have an unrealistically low target price.

My advice would be to advertise at a few hunderd higher than you are willing to take for it and see what happens. I bet you will get more calls (assuming your real asking price is reasonable).

Alternatively ask on here what you think the market value is and see if that matches up with your expectations.

Final suggestion - maybe stick it on ebay.co.uk - the sterling v euro may make it more attractive to them.

Hopefully you'll take this as constructive.;)

johnos1984 wrote: »

Right I want people to please be critical but helpful on this one.

I've had the Rover up for sale for 2 months now. I have one guy interested but if that falls through I want to improve the ad and also to know where the best place to place it in an attempt to sell it.

I've had a number of timewasters (people arranging to come then not showing up or else they off €500). I wouldn't mind if it wasn't for them after looking or they just wished to look at it but I don't like being brought from Dublin to take the car out and then not have someone show up.

Anyway here is the ad in its current form:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/1324296

Any advice would be welcome. I'm not desperate to sell but the money would be useful and I'd like to let someone else enjoy it for a while

johnos1984

Great advice thank you.

Yes I had the price high for that reason but I'm starting to think its time to readjust it downward. Then that starts the ball rolling in that people will think it shall keep dropping. I'm happy to bargain both ways on a price as long as everyone is happy.

Right folks what is a good price for it?

I have a value from the owners club and other enthusiasts based on its rarity and condition so don't tell me its worth €100 :P

gn3dr

Forgot to say one other thing - SD1's , well most classic stuff as we all know, have a massive appetite for rust. If the car is good include pictures of the usual rust spots showing the condition of your car in these areas - this will help to build up any prospective buyers confidence in the car.
And make sure they are good clear pictures - blurry pictures always make me think the seller is trying to hide something.
Perhaps also mention it's condition relative to any known issues with this model (so maybe the condition of the camshaft on this car - I think they had a rep for seizing?)

ep71

in fairness its a really nice car but being only a 2600 would throw off a lot of buyers in my opinion however accuarte that may be. id say a realistic price for that car would be around €2200 or so and emphasise the condition and that offers will not be entertained. thats what id be prepared to pay for it if i was looking for one, sorry if that offends anyone!

johnos1984

gn3dr wrote: »

Perhaps also mention it's condition relative to any known issues with this model (so maybe the condition of the camshaft on this car - I think they had a rep for seizing?)

Indeed they do but everything seems fine on this one with no issues thanks God!

New set of pictures can be sorted easily. There are a few bubbles etc but they are all in the usual areas so nothing of concern. I also thankfully got a dvd of the work carried out on the wing

johnos1984

ep71 wrote: »

in fairness its a really nice car but being only a 2600 would throw off a lot of buyers in my opinion however accuarte that may be. id say a realistic price for that car would be around €2200 or so and emphasise the condition and that offers will not be entertained. thats what id be prepared to pay for it if i was looking for one, sorry if that offends anyone!

No offence. Thats below the value that was put on it though. Being honest it was £2500 including all its faults. They know of no other 2600 with a leather interior. Its rare on 3500's as well. In fact any of the Series 1's.

si_guru

A couple of the pics are quite nice... the one next to the wall makes the car look smart. Ditch the one next to the Cortina in the industrial park.. makes you look like a trader.

kasper

if for instance the car is worth 2500 advertise it at that price if someone makes you an offer over the phone just tell them they are silly to make an offer on something they havent seen , if someone views the car and makes an offer tell them if they give you 2499 you will consider it a deposit . agree about the photo beside the cortina being making you look like a dealer

johnos1984

Thanks Si and Kasper.

I hate when they want to make an offer before seeing the car, its the point where I know they aren't interested.

The pic with the Cortina was one I just threw in. Spotted the car locally and liked it for comparison so just put it in.

It shall be removed also when I redo the ad after the weekend.

The owner of that Cortina is convinced its a 1600E as its registered as one and has the badge.........

si_guru

Ford owners... pah, numpties.

johnos1984

si_guru wrote: »

Ford owners... pah, numpties.

I'm saying nothing!

ikb

si_guru wrote: »

Ford owners... pah, numpties.

Hoi!!!.... Any more of that, and its the bold step for you:)

oflynno

si_guru wrote: »

Ditch the one next to the Cortina .

sorry for hijacking the thread
what is the story with the cortina,is it for sale?

mustang68

I would also say that the photos look a bit flat, try and get the car from the side and the front in the same shot, have a bit of a google for how to photograph cars. Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

L-M

I don't like any of the pics to be honest, there are shadows covering it in most of the pics!

And I wouldn't go dropping your price massively in one go, people who have been watching it will think something is wrong,or you need the money and start making even worse offers.

I'd hold out, get a better add with better pictures up, advertise it everywhere.

Then just wait for the right buyer. Not everyone would buy that car, but there is someone there for it!

BeardyGit

John,

You need to take some better pictures to start with. If the interior is good, it should be photographed and used as a selling point. Photos of the engine bay and boot to be included also. The current photos are poorly situated, and don't flatter the car or reinforce the value. Also - The paint looks flat and could probably do with an Autoglym type wipe on gloss, and the tyres and wheels look like they need to be cleaned and the tyres dressed. It won't take you more than a couple of hours, but it'll 'polish' some money into it if you spend the time and €20 to do it.

Mentioning that it's a 'collectors item' and 'enthusiasts only', along with that high price tag (and being honest, it's at least €1k too high, no matter what condition it's in) is only going to put off folks who might want it as their first classic or whatever.

Another thing to note is that not everyone who calls and makes an offer is a timewaster or tyre kicker. If I was interested in your car (which I'm not, I don't like SD1's) I'd call you first and discuss my ballpark offer before going to the time and expense of travelling, or wasting your time too. It would be based on my own valuation of what you're advertising and would be subject to inspection.

So if I were to call you and offer €2750 for example, that would probably be below what I'd actually pay for it if it's as described, and leave me room within budget to come up and meet you on price. If you gave me the impression that you're not budging on price, that you're not interested in 'tyre kickers' and whatnot, you'd lose me as a possible buyer straight away. I wouldn't bother going to see it if I thought you'd see me as a tyre kicker just because I might decide it's not for me. You have a car that not many have now. It's not like someone going out to buy a focus or a passat. Most people know what they are, what they're like and so on. An SD1 if a pretty much forgotten car for most older drivers, and one that younger classic fans may never have had the opportunity to sit in, drive and ultimately want. Don't underestimate first impressions here for a buyer. Right now, yours isn't so good, even if I understand fully where you're coming from.

I guess you either want to sell it or you don't. If you want to sell it, you have to expect folks will want to verify it's actually going to be within their nominal budget, and that you'll be pleasant and easy to deal with. If you can't or don't want to do those things, get someone to sell it for you. If you're 'not in a hurry', you need to decide whether you're going to pull it from sale now or leave it there for months and months, which will only build the impression on folks that there's something wrong with it, and that that's why it won't have sold in the meantime.

Hope you don't fall out with me over that. It's just the way I'm seeing things right now as a regular Joe Republic, which I guess is what you might actually want, eh?

SilverBell

Hi John
All those photos seem like they were taken in strong mid day sunlight. This gives a lot of shadows. Try to take a few more photos (as suggested by previous posters) in the evening light, or on a slightly more overcast (not dull!!!!) day. Also, photo in a neutral background, a big green park.
Crop the photos afterwards on a computer to clip out distractions such as houses, Ford escorts, friends legs and arms, people in the distance.....etc!!!
A couple of nice interior shots would be great too as previously sugggested.

Have a look at a few online dealers websites, where you think all the cars look f**king fantastic.
Copy their angles and shots!!!!

L-M

I always say, you're selling the car, not the scenery. I'm a big fan of taking pictures up against a plane wall, and turning the car where required.

Henry Ford III

The car exterior looks a bit dirty in the main pic.

Bigus

johnos1984 wrote: »

No offence. Thats below the value that was put on it though. Being honest it was £2500 including all its faults. They know of no other 2600 with a leather interior. Its rare on 3500's as well. In fact any of the Series 1's.

So where's the pic of the leather.

any way 2600 were not loved from the day the escaped the factory ... head gaskets like later rovers.

aravan2010

I saw this car in the flesh at Thurles this year. Every time i went to talk to you there was somebody else there also. I did notice how exceptionally clean and dry it looked under the bonnet. I think you could add in a photo of this also.
You metioned in the add that you did a wedding in Spanish point and this is what got my interest going as i saw the car at the wedding because i was at it as i'm a cousin of the bride.

oceanman

another problem is......and please dont take this wrong, but SDIs were never really sought after as a collectors item!

quattro777

oceanman wrote: »

another problem is......and please dont take this wrong, but SDIs were never really sought after as a collectors item!

Its SD1 not SDI

And your not as funny as you think you are.

johnos1984

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I'm not offended by anything that was said and I'm taking everything on board. If I was going to be offended I wouldn't of put the thread up

New pictures of the car shall be taken after it is cleaned in the coming days and I'm going to reword the ad also. Not sure what to do about the price though. As some say its too high and others say not to lower it too much either. Anyone care to suggest a good balance?

Thanks for everything so far

oceanman

quattro777 wrote: »

Its SD1 not SDI

And your not as funny as you think you are.

i was not trying to offend or to be funny....just making a point.
and you are correct it is SD1...my mistake.

superfly35

Hi John,

I think your picture are not showing the condition of the car.
You need to do a proper set of picture including interior, basically you need to give to someone the interest of seeing it.

Regardless of the price, I don't know anything about the model so maybe just ignore the following
I would consider the car to be a bit pricy if there is any kind of rust (even buble as often you will end up to have to weld and the spray to get rid off it).

I would say mention in the ad that you consider offer.

I would also say that if somebody what to see the car I would let him come and see it and no bringing the car anywhere.
To me if the buyer can't come and see it, then it is not a good sign.

Hope it help.

rrv8

Being a 2600 you gotta sell it , if it was a V8 it would sell its self
The 2600 is not the most sort after even though it is a clean looking car , the price has to be right to sell it , gotta put up with the time wasters , gonna get a few off them myself soon as gonna be putting up a SD1 tuned 4 litre V8 for sale soon and am gonna be plagued by test pilots , but would rather have it that way than no calls at all if its priced right it will sell

Bigus

rrv8 wrote: »

Being a 2600 you gotta sell it , if it was a V8 it would sell its self
The 2600 is not the most sort after even though it is a clean looking car , the price has to be right to sell it , gotta put up with the time wasters , gonna get a few off them myself soon as gonna be putting up a SD1 tuned 4 litre V8 for sale soon and am gonna be plagued by test pilots , but would rather have it that way than no calls at all if its priced right it will sell

How much you looking for the 4litre ?

Ford4000

RoverCraft wrote: »

John,

You need to take some better pictures to start with. If the interior is good, it should be photographed and used as a selling point. Photos of the engine bay and boot to be included also. The current photos are poorly situated, and don't flatter the car or reinforce the value. Also - The paint looks flat and could probably do with an Autoglym type wipe on gloss, and the tyres and wheels look like they need to be cleaned and the tyres dressed. It won't take you more than a couple of hours, but it'll 'polish' some money into it if you spend the time and €20 to do it.

Mentioning that it's a 'collectors item' and 'enthusiasts only', along with that high price tag (and being honest, it's at least €1k too high, no matter what condition it's in) is only going to put off folks who might want it as their first classic or whatever.

Another thing to note is that not everyone who calls and makes an offer is a timewaster or tyre kicker. If I was interested in your car (which I'm not, I don't like SD1's) I'd call you first and discuss my ballpark offer before going to the time and expense of travelling, or wasting your time too. It would be based on my own valuation of what you're advertising and would be subject to inspection.

So if I were to call you and offer €2750 for example, that would probably be below what I'd actually pay for it if it's as described, and leave me room within budget to come up and meet you on price. If you gave me the impression that you're not budging on price, that you're not interested in 'tyre kickers' and whatnot, you'd lose me as a possible buyer straight away. I wouldn't bother going to see it if I thought you'd see me as a tyre kicker just because I might decide it's not for me. You have a car that not many have now. It's not like someone going out to buy a focus or a passat. Most people know what they are, what they're like and so on. An SD1 if a pretty much forgotten car for most older drivers, and one that younger classic fans may never have had the opportunity to sit in, drive and ultimately want. Don't underestimate first impressions here for a buyer. Right now, yours isn't so good, even if I understand fully where you're coming from.

I guess you either want to sell it or you don't. If you want to sell it, you have to expect folks will want to verify it's actually going to be within their nominal budget, and that you'll be pleasant and easy to deal with. If you can't or don't want to do those things, get someone to sell it for you. If you're 'not in a hurry', you need to decide whether you're going to pull it from sale now or leave it there for months and months, which will only build the impression on folks that there's something wrong with it, and that that's why it won't have sold in the meantime.

Hope you don't fall out with me over that. It's just the way I'm seeing things right now as a regular Joe Republic, which I guess is what you might actually want, eh?

Spot on in my opinion !!!!

Ford4000

si_guru wrote: »

Ford owners... pah, numpties.

Numpty eh!!!
You must drive a very special classic so !

si_guru

Ford4000 wrote: »

Numpty eh!!!
You must drive a very special classic so !

..Ford Tractors excepted from my previous statement.

btw... also looking for Ford 3000.

johnos1984

Hi all again,

taking everyones views and comments into account here I've just posted a new ad for the car.

Some said drop the price a lot others said don't for various reasons so I've put in a bit of a message in the ad thats fairly obvious. The 'price' is €3500 but can be discussed upon viewing the car.

Regarding the rust its very minor and for a series 1 its remarkably clean from it as they were very poor compared with the series 2 models.

As for a V8 being more sought after, I'll agree I wanted a V8 to start with but this one popped up locally. It sounds good and goes when it needs to but getting 34mpg out of a V8 on a long run wouldn't be possible I brought it down to Cork and back at the weekend and it was reasonable enough and kept up with motorway traffic the whole way!

Anyway here is the link to the ad:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/1420240

ep71

much better

NEVCC

far better, looks well. I drove one for years love another

Ford4000

si_guru wrote: »

..Ford Tractors excepted from my previous statement.

btw... also looking for Ford 3000.

I also have old Ford cars:rolleyes:

Get yourself a 4000, much better!!!!

johnos1984

Ford4000 wrote: »

Get yourself a 4000, much better!!!!

Lovely tractor although I still preferred our David Brown 885

245

That ad is much better.

BTW, from what I remember, the only Series 1 model that had front driving lamps as standard was the V8 so I reckon that that's another option that was ticked.

The interior looks very good - much better condition than the leather in many younger cars. Its Connolly isn't it?

Ford4000

Id like a wee 885 myself im not stuck to any marqee if i like it il buy it

I have a
Ford Fiesta 82
Ford Cortina 81
Ferguson TVO 47
Ford 4000 72
Zetor 8011 79
VW LT35 90
Mitsubishi L200 03
Corolla 97

Pretty varied round my place, next buy......................Hillman Avenger !!!

johnos1984

We let all of our old farm machinery go to a collector near Ardcroney who has done a great job of restoring it all.

I never had much of an interest but I did spend hours driving the DB and Ford and loved them for being so simple and reliable.

johnos1984

245 wrote: »

That ad is much better.

BTW, from what I remember, the only Series 1 model that had front driving lamps as standard was the V8 so I reckon that that's another option that was ticked.

The interior looks very good - much better condition than the leather in many younger cars. Its Connolly isn't it?

If I hold onto it I'll get a heritage certificate to confirm everything. All I know at the minute was that it was a special order done to bring it to a higher spec than a V8 without the running costs.

Leather is particularly rare on any SD1 as they were trying to move away from their image of wood and leather with the SD1. The series 1's had no wood at all and leather was on the options list. As far as I know it is Connolly leather, the carpets are pure wool from what I can find out but I'm not 100%. I have to say the seats are great on a long journey but the quadratic steering wheel is a pain as I have no where to rest my hand

L-M

I must say the add is leap and bounds ahead of what it used to be. Fair play!

johnos1984

Limerick man wrote: »

I must say the add is leap and bounds ahead of what it used to be. Fair play!

It had to be redone really.

Mind you it gave me a couple of hours with the car yesterday cleaning it and checking everything which is always enjoyable.

I drove it to Cork last Friday and back again on Saturday (stopping off in Thurles for the Tipp match) and it didn't miss a beat.

Again Thanks for everyones advice here and as said by others the ad is now a great deal better because of it

johnos1984

Well I sort my ad out and then this comes along

Makes mine seem like a bit of a bargain

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/1420893

kasper

sure isnt competition healthy and isnt your priced keener ?

johnos1984

kasper wrote: »

sure isnt competition healthy and isnt your priced keener ?

Thats what I was thinking

BeardyGit

Well done John - Much, much better.

If you were to edit your advert again, you could offer a free bag of chips as opposed to just one on the shoulder to up your game with yer man

Good job,

Gil

johnos1984

RoverCraft wrote: »

Well done John - Much, much better.

If you were to edit your advert again, you could offer a free bag of chips as opposed to just one on the shoulder to up your game with yer man

Good job,

Gil

Cheeky bugger

SilverBell

Anyone on the lookout for one of those cars, has now two good internet choices...............and one far ahead of the other ($$$$ kerching...$$$). First impressions last....
Well done.

johnos1984 wrote: »

Well I sort my ad out and then this comes along

Makes mine seem like a bit of a bargain

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/1420893