Barn finds - SHOTGUN IN THE FACE? Worth the risk?

Here's a topic we're sure to have 30 opinions about, but I need to ask you guys what I should do. I have seen a '32 Sedan sitting in the same yard for the last 25 years...literally. Sometimes it's covered, but mostly it's not. It's off the main road a bit (by about 50 feet) and it sits elevated UP off the road (about 12 feet vertical) because of the way the yards slopes up. There are weeds somewhat covering the lower half of the car, but from what I remember about 10 years ago it was up on blocks, so the floor isn't sitting in the dirt.

EVERYONE in the world can see it, so I know other guys must have asked about it a million times, and there it sits. The owner is likely in his late 60's now and it's obviously not getting restored. How would you approach this guy, or would you? How have you approached cars in yard or fields before? I know this is a touchy topic because many of the guys here would HATE to be bothered...I might get irritated too but I keep my cars out of sight from p***erbys. And if NONE of us ever asked about the cars we saw, there would likely be MANY that never got rescued..it's kind of a necessary evil. So, any ideas?

 

32 A Sedan??

 

be polite, have a note premade with your contact info on it and just try.

Good manners and a firm handshake goes far with most folks.

Be prepared to be let down, and leave it at that.

 

Knock on the door. Show up with beer and Pepsi, incase he doesn't drink. ******** the guy for a while. Ask about the old car, show up in yours. If he won't sell it leave your number incase he changes his mind. If he doesn't its not the last one in the world.

 

A 32 Sedan...doh! I can't type for ****...

 

That's a RARE mofo right there!! Do everything you can to get it!

Seriously though... Smile, eye contact, firm handshake. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

 

LOL..you guys are killing me. I can take the razzing...what would this place be without it? LOL

 

32 A sedan??..well I would first find out what it is you think your looking at..
because the guy might get insulted if you call it that. I see you got corrected already..lol

next..drive up in your oldy(insert type of traditional hot rod or custom you own), and see if hes receptive to you or not..
take it from there.

 

I wouldn't drive your Hot Rod there, he might be a die hard restorer and would rather s**** it than sell it to a hot rodder. I would just knock on his door and say "sorry to bother you but I noticed the old ford" don't be to detailed let him talk about what you Probably already know about it, let him talk about it and tell him you are looking for a father/son project. I have stopped a lot of times to look at cars and I always try to remain humble and polite but interested and I even let the owners spout off incorrect information and facts and I never correct them and so far it has worked out for me very well.

 

I second the prepared comments. Take a note with your name, address etc and driving your own old car always helps. I've had people stop me to tell me about their old cars that they want to sell. Usually the worst that can happen is a "no" - but often it's a matter of being there at the right time.

 

I usually approach with a camera in hand and have some story about being a photography student on a picture project mission. I usually tell them I am doing a picture project where I have to find old objects that have a story behind them. Knock on the door and ask if you could take some photos and ask if there is a story behind it sitting there. Most folks will open tha door and talk with you for a while. Take the oppurtunity to take some pics of the owner and the car together. Make sure you take some artsy type pictures of the car. take some more general detailsfor your records and referances. After you have spent some time with the owner talk about the car and ask if he/she gets alot of interest in it. Usually at this point they will tell you about the hundreds of people coming around trying to steal the car, cheap SOB's.
From there you just have to play it by ear. Thank them for their time and leave your contact information.

Make sure you get their contact information so that you can come back another time to give them a copy of the pictures taken. Talk some more about the car and eventually come to the subject if it was for sale, ask politly.

 

I also wouldn't bother unless you have the means to buy it on the spot. All the politeness in the world won't help if he shoots a fair number and that's too much. That's the real reason so many owners are grumpy.

The other is to look the part. Don't drive an expensive looking car or truck and dress like a timeclock puncher. You just wanna be mister middle of the road family guy so you don't threaten or insult the owner with your appearance. Lotta these guys are real touchy about rich yuppies and young punks. If you feel safe enough to bring a kid along, that's a huge icebreaker for lotsa folks.

 

ask about its history, and its plans, ask him if he needs anything, tell him you like the car, after you find out all those things then if it feels right, then ask him to buy it.

 

be HONEST

I just scored a sweet complete 32 front end from a 90 year A and T restorer

he said he had no use for 32 stuff, and his buddy that bought it p***ed away

told him I was building my 32 and always looking nicer parts

he wanted to give it to me....but I paid him for it

met a cool guy thats lived it man...

 

Saltcitycustoms is dead on. Respectful and no hot rod. The guy I bought mine from wouldn't have sold it if I would have spouted off about hot rods, he was a restorer and about 76 years old. Good luck

 

Don't ask if it's for sale. ask him "are you going to restore the 32 Ford sedan in your yard ?" (or something along that line, if you can Identify it from the road you might earn some creditability with him),..... he is probably going to say yes, then tell him, your into old cars too,..... start up a conversation ask him what his plans are for it and let him talk. you may never know, if he can see your sincere you may end up with it, or you might make a new friend,..... (IMHO)

Don't lie or make up a story!, this could bite you right in the ****. honesty is the best policy

 

Not sure if this works when asking about cars, but I can tell you how we get permission to hunt spots nobody else can. I hunt birds in North Dakota, and we need to get permission from landowners most of the time. When you show up at the door with a 12 year old in camo it gets us a hunt 90+% of the time. Often enough we will get guided by the old farmer too. So bring a kid and tell the person the kid has been asking about it for years and you would like to help the kid put it back on the road. If you don't have a kid, borrow one who will sell the story. Throw a $50 to the kid if works out, a $20 if it does'nt.

 

wtf

 

Yeah, then throw him another hundy if he'll bean the retarded kid with a fastball so he quits dragging the team down

 

now thats teaching a kid right

 

Just talk tot the guy, when I bought my 51 off of a farmer in Westcliffe, CO he said lots of people asked about it, and he did not even need the money...after talking with him for about two hours over coffee (not even about the truck, but just talking) and taking me for a ride, off-roading, (he wanted me to see it was a good truck,) he sold it to me for $2000. He said he knew it would have a good home. I even got all of the history on the truck. I just had to promise I'd tow it back to town because it had no brake lights or turn signals and he didn't want me to wreck. In the end he even gave me back an extra $100 so I could take the wife to dinner that night. That dude was awesome. He was a hill climb racer back in the day, he even had a collection of old Hodaka motorcycles.

 

Yeah,..... that will make you feel really good to ****er someone into selling to you cause your a good con man,..... The true measure of a man's integrity is what he does when no one else is there to see it,....... he knows what and who he truly is,.... if he can live with it

 

WTF is wrong with you? Exploit a kid while teaching him it's OK to exploit people?

Just be genuine to the guy, if he hates you before you open your mouth, you are f'ed from the get go.

 

Take 5k cash and be prepared for a letdown.

 

I'm pretty sure that guy was just joking about the $50 kid and only giving him $20 if it doesn't work out. Everybody knows that policy only applies to pros***utes. My neighbor just called me with a stash of cars and he stopped and knocked on the door of the farm and the guy was totally cool and just wanted to talk about them. After that he was open to offers and wouldn't give any prices. I think he was checking to see if my buddy was going to be fair to him or try to rip him off. The result was buying a running Dodge Dart GT with a 4 speed for $700 and taking me back to look at the "old stuff". Treat people like you want to be treated...even if they are pros***utes or rented children.

 

K.I.S.S. it
( ^^hope I dont have to explain that^^)
Dont ******** the guy, be honest. You dont have to tell him the plans for the car. Pretty sure he'll know excatly why your there as soon as you start talking cars. First impressions and how you carry your self will determine the outcome. Always ask the history first, theres always a story. If it holds setimental value dont ask, just leave your information, and be polite and walk away, if its meant to be, itll happen.

Dont be afraid to drop by every once in awhile just to shoot the **** .

 

If he told you it was going to the crusher and this was the only way to get it I bet you 'd change your tune. You think it has been sitting in plain sight for 25+ years for no reason? Hypocrites.

 

I know that when a strange car pulls up in my yard I feel the hackles on the back of my neck stand up right away. Instantly I always think, what do they want, what are they selling or what Jesus book are they preaching from.

Rule number one: DONT BE AN ***HOLE and try bull ****ting him, the door will slam shut before you can grab your information you have in your pocket.

I try to let the person know I respect their time and I know I'm infringing on their privacy. I usually try to open a conversaion with something like :
"Hi, I'm really sorry to bother you... and I know you've probably been asked a thousand times and I wont take up a lot of your time... but I've p***ed by daily for the last 5 years and I just wanted to stop by and ask you about your old car there... Is it a 32 Ford Sedan?"

The art of opening a dialog with someone who may not want to sell something is to find if you have a common ground. The best way to do that is talk story. Remember, your infringing on his privacy and time so show him some respect.

You'll get a good idea of how open the person is after the doors been open for a minute and you've both stood there talking. Then you can ask the biggy...." I know this might be rude to ask but if someone was to offer you the right price... what would it be?"

Thats when he'll tell you a million bucks or a realistic number or tell you right out, there aint no right price. After all he's been sitting on it for a long time. He's most likely had it longer than his wife (wives) and there could be a bigger reason behind why its sitting there besides, " I'm gonna restore it one day."

Could be a family treasure, his first car or maybe his 1st wife is under the hood.

 

good point Lono
think about it..dont most of us have some senimental attachment to our cars?
who knows what this cars history is to this guy..might be nice to know it, and it might be time for him to tell it to someone..you could be that someone..I liked Salt City Customs approach too..
and if he says no im not selling it..you can always make a friend..right?
maybe he needs a friend to help him get it back togeather...?

 

First of all, if you offered him what it was worth opposed to what he would get from the crusher, I think you would get it anyway, second the reason it has sat in plain sight for 25 years is nobody's business but his own,... Third, if you have to lie, cheat or steal to get something, (IMHO) the cost is already to high. finally I only have to deal with myself and my own integrity, as you do yours. Would you want your father or grandfather played like that ?