ok, I know where some vintage tin is lying around, and am wondering the best way to confront the owners to see if they would be willing to sell it. anybody got some ideas or experance? Jordan
You might want to "approach" them rather than "confront" them. They'll be much easier to talk to.....
Be nice and don't look scary or bring friends. Above all else, be prepared to hand over cash and haul em out ASAP. Don't be that guy who wants em for next to nothing, on payments.
Don't show up with a mohawk haircut, no shirt, tattoos that say "F ur Mother" etc., no shoes and a bad attitude. Not that there's anything wrong with that! If you do have all those things and know somebody who doesn't, get them to inquire for you.
Be upfront, polite, and ready to buy or say thanks for your time. I've had several experiances trying to buy old cars and motorcycles. Extend the hand and introduce yourself.
Write them a letter, tell them what on your mind. Be polite. Give them an address and a phone number. Tell them that you would like to meet with them to discuss a possible purchase. A letter is non-threatening. The only strangers that show up at my front door only bring me something I don't want, such as a magazine subsciption or they want to pound into me their view of religion.
Confrotation was what I had with my idiot neighbor about my yard art! he came close to getting his eye dotted! Be polite an inquire and ask,,,,DO NOT POKE AROUND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY! HRP
Being a Gray Beard, a Land Owner and having had Old Tin laying around all my Life, I think I've heard nearly every angle possible. I'm not un-approchable but generaly start out pretty Salty, not alwayse though. Blue hair and a nose ring don't Offend me at all. Tattoos are grate also though I have none. Be yourself we can all Smell a Counterfitt. It's all about where we're at. I personally love having my Iron, the good stuff and the Junk. It's like Art, or Tattoos, or Blue Hair. It's who I am weather you like it or not. Most people that have Old Iron know we can sell it any day of the Week, (E-Bay seen to that)We just Don't Need The Money. Money Aint Worth Shit! Have you ever been Impressed by a roll of Hundred Dollar Bills? Now pull out a Pair of Kong heads or a Harmon n Collins Mag. See the differance? Here, let me pull the cover off my 50 Merc, now let me show you 20,000 in cash. What's got your attention? You want to talk to me, then come in my Driveway in something you did with your own 2 hands. Be yourself and take your chances. Chances are I'm going to be Decient to you and we'll probably talk Cars. Now that's not saying it will work everywhere but Bull Shit is Bull Shit and every Farmer I know already has plent of that. If you can see it from any road the Owner has already been asked about it, just not in the right way or at the right time. Good Luck, The Wizzard
use a bullhorn. " Come out of the house with your hands out. I have money and want to buy your junk." On second thought, it never hurts (very bad) to ask. aside from shooting you , the worst they can do is say no...or show you where they're gonna hide your body.
Be polite. If it's an old codger (OR HIS WIFE...especially his wife) remove your damn hat. Be sincere. Introduce yourself and tell him you were driving by and saw the cars (He's heard this a million times already). Talk to him about the cars, about your intrest in them, and ASK if it's for sale. If it is, be prepared to hand cash within a few hours, before he has a chance to think it over or talk to his son, "who wants to fix it up some day." If it isn't for sale, hand him a business card and tell him if he ever changes his mind, you'd appreciate a call. then stop in every six or eight months just to check on it. -Brad
I'd stake out their house and wait till they leave, then back the tow truck up and go. I've asked plenty of people about their stuff and I have gotten everything from "oh you don't want that it's just garbage" to "sure what ever you wanna offer is fine".
I had people coming to my house all the time wanting to buy my cars. I have sold a few of them that way. My friends are amazed that people do that. They actually joke that if you want to sell a car, just leave it front of my house without a for sale sign and someone will ask about buying it. I got tired of people inquiring about an old OT VW van beside my house, so I put a for sale sign in the window with an actual price. Nobody has bothered me about any of my cars since . If you really want to buy one of my cars, be honest about what you want it for. I can tell a hot rodder from a restorer at the end of the driveway. A friendly conversation about the car will go a long way. Dont just walk up and ask "what do you want for that.....". I dont care as much about the $$$ as that its going to a good home. I'm also really sick of people making an offer on a car, gonna be back tomorrow with the cash, and then never showing up. That kind of BS is what makes me ignore guys wanting to buy my cars. Bring cash and have a tow vehicle or AAA ready to go. Tom
The last place I went door knocking was a treat . I took my 6yo daughter with me, pretty non threatening with a kid. Turned out the guy was REAL old and only visiting my reality in fits and starts. I gave up after he told me he had the parts I wanted then told me "they never made those, you're not going to find them anywhere" Kept looking at me like I had three heads.... Creepy I made a hasty retreat after apologizing for bothering him. Too bad, his yard had tons of old trucks and parts. Flatman
Never hurts to ask, unless you know about it from less than legit means. I once had a guy tell me to screw off when I asked about some cars along a snowmobile trail.. a guy had ridden it on a mountain bike and spotted them. He told me to tell the guy with the bike the trail's for the snowmobilers and to stay the hell off it, even. Oh well. I would have liked the '51 Merc coupe.
I lost a kustom-able 58 Pontiac by the "you dont want that old junk" mentallity. Killed me. Needed a bunch of work, but also a motor/trans as well. I had a Pontiac 400 and he wouldnt sell it because he thought I couldnt grasp the fact that the Pontiac was a front mount, and the all block wasnt. I even went there with my exs 61 Ford then later my 50 Merc to show him that even though I was young, I could do it. What a shame. Heard it got parted out and shredded.
Pull up speeding and into his driveway with loud music blaring, bring lots of friends, the annoying ones if possible. Drink before you go so alcohol will be on your breath and ring his doorbell repeatedly. Be sure to wear a Slayer shirt or something. Then say "hey I wanna buy that ____ from you cause I got to have a bad ass rat rod!"... "your old and gonna die soon so you dont need it"... "stocks are ugly Im going to chop that #@%! up!! ....Works every time
have a card with your name and number in hand before you get there. it'll let them know youre serious when they say no, which is nearly everytime i've asked someone about something being for sale.
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