Hot Rods Leaving a Note on a Car That’s Not for Sale

Yup. Left a note on an OT Mach1 sitting and slowly rotting in a driveway. Guy called me and said it wasn't for sale. About 3 years later I got another call asking if I was still interested. Life had happened and I wasn't in the market anymore, but hell, you never know when someone will call you back.

 

While I’ve never received an offer via windshield wiper, years ago I went to lunch with my bosses son in his Pantera. When we came out of the restaurant there was a note on it that said, “ I love your car, call me anytime, Debbie” with a phone number and a lipstick smooch. That’s my kinda note.....


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I got a note about buying my Potomac River property in WV. They had just bought the piece next to me. I thought it was nice to know because I plan to sell it next year.
Went up there recently and saw that they had cut ATV trails through my land. The price just doubled! The note did give me an opportunity to contact them and give them hell.
Cars? I bought a Charger cheap after leaving a note. Came with a 440 automatic, an extra 440 and a 4speed.

 

I got an OT Chrysler Imperial by leaving a note under the wiper. Saw it parked at the curb in a residential neighborhood with a bunch of leaves and crap built up on it. Guy was the typical story....bought it with good intentions, but life got in the way. He was just happy someone would offer him cash for it.

 

I have left a polite note on a couple of cars in the past, I never got a return call from the owner, I did however get a call from the heir of the owner of a 40 Ford coupe, he had found my note in the glove compartment and my card was attached to it.

After 14 years I was finally able to buy one of the cars.

You never know if the owner wads up the paper and throws it away or sticks it in the glove compartment.

I did buy my visible gas pump by leaving a not under a windshield wipe of a car sitting in the driveway. HRP

 

I've personally never done it but I have seen it happen. I was at the Detroit Autorama a number of years ago when a well known, wealthy auto enthusiast walked over to the owner of the car I was standing next to. They struck up a conversation and he asked how much he wanted for the car, which was not displayed or held out as being for sale. The owner coyly said the car wasn't for sale, as most of us would answer when we get tire kickers. However, the gentleman, firmly asked, "No, seriously. How much do you want for it?". This changed the tone of the conversation, and deal was struck.

The story also highlights a point. While many us say our cars aren't for sale, and for many reasons some really aren't, in reality for the rest of us, there really is a number for which we would let it go. For the people looking to purchase for a bargain price, I guess it never hurts to ask. I know I', not shy when it comes to that kind of stuff. But for the people who are blessed enough to have the means and are serious, maybe they're OK paying above market value. There is something to be said for getting exactly what you want.

 

I’d rather have a note on the windshield (happened a few times) then someone waiting for me at the car when I’m leaving the store. My youngest wasn’t impressed and thought it was kinda dangerous in this day and age. The guy was polite and we talked for a few minutes and then left. If my driver was nice I think less people would ask really. People yell thru the windows when we pull up at a stoplight. I have bought one by leaving a note once but never sold one. Randy


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that's one possibility.

 

my nephew in law has some later model SS Chevrolet pickup with 200,000 miles on it there was a note there last time I went, he says he gets them all the time. once a month.

 

I've had both, offers to sell my pickup, and I have offered to buy. The first time was when my 36 was fresh, a guy pulled up in front of my house and offered me $40,000 for my 36, I knew I could have horsed him up, but my friend said it best, he said" Its only money, you can go to the bank and get it like everyone else" " you'll never see the truck again"
I politely declined, never regretted it, its now twenty years later, still got the truck.

 

Took the '37 to Lowe's a few months back. Came out to a note on the wiper, wanting to talk; said he had a '39 coupe he was building. I recognized the name as one of my customers. (I'm not in a business directly related to the hobby). So, I called him, and told him who I was - as in a business call - and said I got a note to call him. I could hear the confusion in his voice; then I said "the '37...". I swear I heard his jaw drop.

 

In the late 80s my 18 year old Son was flush with cash from working long days at a gas station. He was buying vehicles as fast as possible. We were driving a few blocks behind his work and he hollered for me to stop. He wrote out a nice "call me if for sale" note and walked back to put under the wipers. He came back pretty sheepish. His gas station jacket with his name was on the front seat. He had previously bought it and stashed in neighborhood behind the station AND FORGOTTEN !

1 more car I promise, Rex Winter
Dry n windy Lubbock TX

 

Wayne Carine of TV fame has a really nice 3 liter Bentley, always liked the car, detailed & prepped the body for paint years ago. At some time Wayne had done service work on the car, and left his business card in the door pocket. After the owner passed away the family found the card and made the call. Smart business practice. Bob

 

Same type of deal and with limited garage space, I have to move the '31 out to work on the '32. People drive by and ask how much for it and the answer is always the same.... "you don't have enough money to buy it". Same deal with my old OT GT big block fastback. Someone DID have enough a few years ago.....

 

A woman that was in my life for a while, years ago, told me about her second aunt who was the widow of the heir of the Allis Chalmers outfit. To make the story short; old-time upscale car, chauffer driven and maintained; got notes slipped under the wipers all the time. She got a kick out of it; called them "love letters".

 

My dad is a great networker, he wouldn’t leave a note, he’d figure out who he knows that you know and make contact through a friend. He’s also a great judge of people.

Years ago he decided he needed one of those little fibreglass egg trailers like a Boler that he could tow with one of his old cars.
Shortly after his search began he was at a buddy’s talking cars and mentioned his desire for a trailer. Buddy says look over my back fence the neighbor has one in his back yard. Sure enough neighbor had a pristine Trillium trailer sitting in his yard.
Dad walks around the block and introduces himself as the buddy of the back neighbor and learns that the trailer belongs to neighbor’s brother in law. Dad let’s neighbor know he’s interested in buying and has cash ready. Later that day dad was the owner of that little trailer.

He and mom had lots of fun but you couldn’t stop for gas or a bite without getting offers to buy it.
After a few years mom and dad got tired of their little trailer and let me and my new wife camp in it and store it at our house. I live on a busy country toad so the offers only increased.

One day Dad and I were just about to pull out of my driveway headed to the Barrie Swap Meet when this dude pulls up, blocks my driveway and tells us he’s here to buy the trailer. We politely tell our new friend it’s not for sale and we’re on our way to our favourite place but he wouldn’t take that. New friend kept us for like a half hour and lord only knows what car parts I didn’t need that I may have missed out on. Eventually friend leaves us his card and let’s us go on our way to drink beer, tell tell tails and shop for car parts.

A few years later I bought my airstream and dad decided it was time to turn loose of his 13 feet of fibreglass paradise. So I ask do you still have friend’s card who was so insistent he was buying your trailer? Dad replied hell no, that guy was full of it, he wasn’t buying anything, he was selling us a line!
So I shine up the little trailer and set it at the end of my driveway with a for sale sign and sure enough our new friend pulls up in front of my house, same guy who wanted to buy the trailer years earlier!

Why didn’t you call me? Asks new friend
I lost your number, says I
Is it really for sale? He asks
It’s your lucky day. says I

Then he explains how he’s out of work and has no money but really really wants to buy this trailer.
I replied that he’d have a hard time buying anything without any money especially from my dad.
Guess dad was right not to waste his time calling our new friend back!


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I have done it twice. Once on a car and the second time on a motorcycle. Was on a trip both times. Both times they called back before I got home. On the bike, I got home about 9 PM and went back the next day and brought it home.

 

Years ago I left a note for a '65 Chev P/U, owner called me the same day, and I bought it.
Owned it awhile, then sold it to a friend of mine, and then bought it back from him.
It had a few engine/trans/wheel changes, and it was my daily driver for years..good truck.

 

Every car I have is for sale....I'm a whore that way. Now will they be willing to pay what I would let it go for? Hasn't happened yet. My collection grows

 

The only note I ever got was one saying "Sorry I ran into your car while it was parked." Left his name and address.
I got back out of my 64 corvette and found a hole punched in the front fender. Next morning I call and the 16 year old's mom told me she was insured and her insurance not only paid for the damage, but I kicked in some money and got the paint changed from red [yuck!] to black.
Not far from me is a survivor 48 Chrysler 5 window coupe...all windows rolled up but 4 flat tires..no for sale sign. It's sitting in a driveway with 2 O/T shit boxes. I still need to do a little more on my 34 but man! I've always wanted one of those overgrown bumper cars. I think I'll leave a note.

 

about 30 years ago I spotted a 46 Chevy flatbed sitting in a pasture on a farm ,drove into the farm yard, talked to the owner, said he'd fix it up someday;...left him a note written with a pencil with my name & number in case he ever changed his mind, stuck it on a nail in the barn.
...10 years later I get a call from the guy, said he couldn't read my name anymore but thot this was the number;...ended up getting the truck,...so it never hurts to ask or leave a number...

 

Never bought one that way, but did sell 2 from notes left on the windshield

 

I have had several notes left either on my truck or left with my tenant when I had it on my rental. Problem is they would take off the tarp I had carefully tied down to cover it, and leave the tarp loose.
I figured anyone who would do that did not deserve a call back to say not for sale.

 

I bought many, many cars that way when I was a kid in good ole rust free socal. Knocked on lot of doors too. I drove through all the alleys in the "best" neighborhoods looking for dusty vehicles that I could clean up and resell. Pound out the dents, fix the incidentals and squirt on a paint job.

One of my favorites was a 48 Chevy sedan delivery. It was owned by two little old ladies, yes I swear, who retired from their florist business, still had the business name on the side. Another great was a 63 Caddy convertible for 50 bucks with a brand new trans and tires, just needed a water pump. Loved that beast!

 

aldeanfan. I had a trillium. Wish I had never sold it. It was sold thru rolled down windows.

 

I put notes on every Cord I saw in the 60's for probably 5 years, also went and sat on their front porch til they woke up and said "Can I see your Cord?". I finally got 1, then 2 then 3 of the Cords and people started to sit on my front porch.

 

I’ve never bought or sold anything from a note under the windshield wiper - in fact I used to get more than a little irritated by it when I was younger - just didn’t like someone fiddling with my car. About a decade ago, shortly after I’d gotten my ‘41 pickup together enough to drive, I decided that a lunch with my wife and parents would be a great opportunity to take it for a short drive. Dad and I rode in the pickup and mom rode with my wife to the restaurant. Upon coming out after eating, I find a note laying on the seat (windows down) that says, in girl’s handwriting, “You forgot your hood.” Yeah, ok, haha. Chalked it up to kids being silly and figured no harm done. Until I tried to start the truck. Apparently, while reaching in the window to place the note on the seat, the person had bumped the lever on my turn signal switch and hadn’t noticed or hadn’t cared enough to shut it back off. My mom and wife had already left in the other car. There was enough battery left to run all the incidentals, but it didn’t want to roll over the 12:1 301 Chevy. Was finally able to get it ‘rolled over the hump’ on compression stoke and fire it up. Was sweating bullets on the way home that I wouldn’t kill it in traffic .

 

I own an OT '69 Suburban, and it's my daily driver. About once every week or two I get in it and some dork has put a note under the wiper saying they want to buy it, or want me to call them to talk about selling it. I am retired and it sits right in front of my house, so anyone interested could knock on my damn door, but they don't.
My opinion is they're wanting to make me a low buck offer, and would rather not say it face to face, so they leave these notes to get me to call and talk to them. I'm really not interested in selling it, but would consider a good offer, and might change my mind. But I wont waste my time calling them if all they can do is leave notes.

 

Val
I can honestly say I've never left a note on a car in my 50 year involvement in hot rods.
And as far as recieving a note only one time that I recall.
I bought our 67 Nova in 1983, we still have it, got it from a kid in Gresham for $1,000, it was a really clean, one repaint 2 door hardtop, the odometer clicked 100,000 miles while driving across the Ross Island bridge on the way home.
Also got a new grill from him for an additional fifty bucks so out of curiosity I stopped at our local Chevy dealer to see what they were going for, I don't recall the price but they were nearing NOS status.
As I came out of the service department door I saw one of the mechanics lift up a wiper and put a note under the blade but as I walked up he removed it so I don't know what it said, he offered me $500 more than what I paid, said he had been looking for one like it for awhile.
I should have taken it because due to the crazy money I've spent on it (still a project) I'd be lucky if I got half what I've spent if I was ever to sell it.

 

I've had a few notes left over the years, on different cars, but the COE holds the record forgetting the most "interested in buying your truck", "if it's for sale, please call me".
I left a note one time. A good friend of mine left his 34 sedan parked outside a restaurant and I left a note offering him twice as much as the car was worth, with a telephone number ( not written very clearly) to a credit card authorization call center (that I had memorized from my shop). He must have called that number 10 times, then tried every other combination possible. I finally did tell him a couple months later. All in good fun.