How to bribe a crusty old f*cker into selling his ride?

THIS is a good tech question ( :

I know where a 57' 2 door Nomad wagon is, built in the early 60's here in Canada- econoline axle, sbc recessed 12", rootbeer flake with a huge mural on both sides pinstriped 'Just 4 Fun'.

I've talked with some older guys in my club here that remember the car cruising around launching the wheels off the ground around the strip wayyyy back. The car hasn't been on the road in at least 30 years. I found out where it is, covered in 3" of dust, boxes, old carpets and other crap. a guy i know who also wants the car says he's been going to the guys house at least twice a year asking him if he wants to sell it, with the same reply: "Like i told you 8 months ago, NO I won't sell it and fuck off" The guy is a crusty fucker, and the car is just sitting in there all dirty and 4 flat tires probally with a seized motor, and I'll bet $500 that it will be there the day he dies. My friend even tried to get in with his teenage sons, asking them if he would ever sell it etc... The kid replied that even they have tried to convince their old man to at least pull it out and get it running. NO WAY.

What to do besides steal it? What a waste. why let something just rot when you know your not going to do anything with it? Why not let a new generation keep it on the road? If I had that car i wouldn't touch it besides brakes, gaskets etc.. just to get it road worthy.

Shit like this pisses me off

Guys have went to his house cash in hand and get the door slammed on them.

 

All you can do is to out live the old guy and buy the car at the estate auction. At least it is in a garage, so it will remain in pretty good condition.

 

Guys have went to his house cash in hand and get the door slammed on them.[/QUOTE]
They haven't showed up with enough cash yet.

 

They haven't showed up with enough cash yet.[/QUOTE]

Here is your real answer:
It probably aint about a dollar figure at all-
You live till you are old then you understand why he wants to hang on to the dream........

 

They haven't showed up with enough cash yet.[/QUOTE]


After 30 years? Maybe he thinks the car is an investment

 

....Or maybe he just likes his car and doesn't want to sell it. You don't have to drive one to love it to death - which it sounds like he will.

Become a real friend to his sons and out live him.

JH

 

Ya know guys I agree that sometimes a guy is holding on to a dream. Usually when someone does try and buy your dream they are also trying to steal it.I had a friend back home that had a lot of old iron. He actually lived in a wrecking yard. People would show up and offer him decent money for a car and he'd say it's not for sale. He would give it to me if I wanted it. You can't tell what's going on with him. Somebody can get to him though. Always be friendly and keep coming back,but be prepared to pay if he puts it up for sale.

 

Some things are more important than money. A lot of people don't understand that. Leave the man alone with his memories.

 

Here's what ya do.... first ,when you see the crusty dude, say I'm sorry to bother you but... give him your phone number and tell him in a nice way that if he ever wants to sell it.... make sure you give him your number every time you see him. take some pics of mint 57 Nomads. Bring em to the guy and ask him if it brings back memories? Sounds to me like if your gonna get this car, this guy has to be smilin to do it. Ask him if he would like the idea of seeing the car ALIVE again? Running....heart beating....stompin the same roads again....raisin' hell! That kinda thing....then tell him that's what you do...a sort of resurrection. Tell him you want him to be happy and for him to see it alive again. Tell him that's what you do and that you can do it! Be confident. Tell him you had THE SAME CAR.

 

"The guy is a crusty fucker" maybe he figures you'll respect the car as much as you respect him.

 

Exactly! In every car group I've ever belonged to there has been bitchin' about this very subject. There'll be a guy/neighbor/whoever who owns a cool old car, doesn't drive it but will tell anyone who asks about buying it to fuck off. Perhaps the fact that he or she can see it every day, can tie it to a special time in their life or another reason that we'll never know is enough.

Instead of hassling the guy with the Nomad to sell, why not befriend him instead? If you're lucky he'll tell you why the '57 is special to him. I've found that most folks enjoy telling the tale of their 'baby'. At the least you'll likely get to hear some cool stories and make a new friend. If he ever does decide to allow the Nomad go to a new home, it's a possibility that he'll think of you, the interest you've shown him and you'll become the lucky new owner.

Jan

 

I'm workin' on a guy right now who has a Model A coupe just rotting away in front of his house. 50s Olds motor on some way too big chassis. Its patch panel rotted but its all there. Hes also got a 69 427 conv vette, a 52 Plymouth cranbrook. Wont sell nothin. Hes gonna finish them soon....yeah right! I gave this guy my number at least a dozen times in the past year. Sometimes I just stop by and say Hi. I wont even ask about the car. Then I hit em next time. wanna sell it? wanna sell it? He knows my number..... patience my friends!

 

As against rat holing old cars as I am, I have to agree with this. This is all this man has to remember "the good ol days". for all we know the best times of his life were right there in that car. First lay, first joint, first 10 sec. pass, whatever the case may be. At the end of your days would you be willing to let go of all that to some guy that for all you know is gonna put it up on ebay as an"original hot rod" with a "history". I don't think I could. I'll tell you right now, there is no reasonable dollar amount that would get my dads hot rod 34 ford away from me. Hell I learned to drive in that car. Oh well, outlive him and hope his kids aren't as attached to their fathers hot rod as I am to mine.
On some level though I hope you get the car and put it back on the road. You know I love the Gassers
Drew

 

Also offer him first right of refusal if you ever sell it... And mean it.

Also bring an honest offer to the dude in cash after you let him know that you plan to bring it back from the dead, not fuck it up.

I think it was DRD that once said to bring a low cash offer to the guy the first time. Next year, bring him a grand more, another grand the next year and keep it up a few years running. If he doesn't take it and you get to your absolute max, go back the next year with 1000 less, and a grand less the next year untill he takes it.

If he won't budge, outlive him...

 

Keep tabs on the car too! See if there is any activity surrounding it. Stuff being moved etc etc. Drive by and check. I watch the Model A. I do a drive by at least once a week.

 

this works for me ,befriend the old bastard.get to know him if you have an old car drive it by and show it to him.small talk gos along way,ive benn told about other cars as well sometimes they are just hanging on to the last dream or the last thing they can control .i was turned onto some really cool olsd salvages this way.

 

Hey Gasser, I think I have that car on a mag cover in full color! I'll go see...........

 

That would be awsome to here the story on that car, its one of my favorite pictures. I've got discs full of old gasser pictures that I've stole off various places on the web over time. I think that one came from gassermadness.com
Drew

 

That was my feeling as well. Why don't you just become his friend, let him enjoy your car along with you, and maybe he'll get the bug to start restoring his. I'd look at it as saving an old hot rodder, not just saving an old hot rod.

 

Yeah, obviously hes one of us just , well crustier. Hes a hot rodder at heart. Get in tune with the guy a little. Be a friend. Take in his garbage pails when you see them out. Beep and wave. Just keep shoving YOUR number in his hand. His taxes will come due and all he'll have is your number. Not to be cruel or anything but we have to save these old cars.

 

Sometimes.....in your life.. you get to a point where the money does not count..........

You would rather have the car........and do not need the money. The Nomad owner may be at that point in life. My younger brother has his first car....a 1966 GTO. Dad got it for him in 1972. SO..he has had it 33 years. Will it ever run again? I doubt it

But I have bought cars that could not be bought........



This ine to be exact............

Stack up the ca$h........ and quit trying to get the Nomad for the cheap....

.

 

I've seen many posts like this. Heck, I've even been the one asking the questions. However, I am ROLLING laughing at this. I visualize some guy driving by and blowing his horn at this guy every day, cutting his grass, getting his groceries, putting his arm around him when he talks to the ole' fella. I mean it, I'm ROLLING!!!!! I'm actually crying I'm laughing so hard.



Let me compose myself!

Here's a couple of techniques that I've had work. Tell him, "I know you don't want to sell it, but if you WERE going to sell it, how much would you have to have?" Sometimes, not always, it prompts a guy to just, "I'll show him! If he wants it bad enough he'll have to pay ?? to get it!" I just used this on a Jeep that a guy brought back from CA 20+ years ago. Super solid and sitting in a barn for 15+ years." I went to look at all of his old Ford stuff. As I was pulling down the driveway, I told my wife, "Look at that old Jeep! It looks more solid than any I have ever looked at." In the excitement, I jumped out of the car and inquired about it. First thing out of his mouth was, "It's not for sale." So I went about my business looking at all of his Ford stuff. A few weeks later, I called him to ask him about his "other stuff." After I went through all the other stuff, I said, "That's a really nice Jeep you have up there. I know you don't want to sell it but IF (emphasize if) you WERE going to sell it. How much would you have to have?" His response was, "That's a nice ole' Jeep and if somebody wanted that thing I'd have to have $$ out of it. I won't take any less!!!!" I can now buy that Jeep. But, no money if I buy that roadster I'm working on.

This technique really only works if you haven't made any offers yet. It has worked a few times for me. But, like anthing else, it doesn't always work. I tried this one on a Model A I tried to get. I knew the guy had one for $5k. So, when I called I said, "I see you have a Model A for $5k. I only have around $3k to spend. Do you know of any others or do you have another one for around that price?" Usually, if a guy is WANTING to sell, he'll say, "Well, I could take around $4500 for that one." Then I throw the ole' "I'll split the difference with you" on the deal. I got the guy to budge on his price without twisting his arm. But, in my deal on this one, the guy did have one for less. So I "ate crow" on it!

Here's a link to the thread I started about it. Really, I enjoy the "trader talk" as much as anything. Sometime it's a game of wits.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44966

 

That's true. To a lot of people, a car is more of a memory than a "thing". How many times have we heard those stories that involved a car that they "wish they never got rid of". This guy didn't get rid of it, and he's holding on to that. He's probably insulted that you want to buy his "memory". I, on the other hand would be honored, especially if the buyer appreciated the car as much as I. Some people you just can't figure out.

You can't tell with the weird old guys...some would rather not sell, keep them, and then die knowing they never let it go.

My advice would be to keep tabs on him and the estate, show up at the "opportune" time, and THEN offer cash. It's sad, but after all, it is HIS.

If I had a nice 'thing' that had good memories for me, I'd be hesitant to part with it as well...call me sentimental, but hey...

 

One more thing..

Deuce is right. Sometimes it's not about the money.

My grandpa has an original 35 coupe. I mean it's nice. Guys stop in about once a week trying to buy his car. I'm sure this is one "that can't be bought", too. He has been offered crazy money. Like $500 and as much as $26k. The last couple of guys have brought cash and roll-backs with them. This one fella was sitting in the car talking to my grandpa (trying to get to know him like people here suggested). He then layed down $26k dollars in the seat of his 35 and said "This is a lot of money." Grandpa just said, "Yeah, it sure is. But, I already have $26k and I don't have another 35 Ford."

 

There was a man that lived here in our town that had alot of old cars, he would not sell anything. He had a '32 ford in a building that the roof was falling in on it, I offered to get the car out and store it for free to keep it from getting damaged. He would not even think of trying to protect it. The roof finally fell in, and when it rained, the water would dump off the roof and directly into the top of the '32. DAMN SHAME. He also had a '32 or '34 Plymoth coupe setting out in a field for many years. He would not sell it either, he caught some guys loading it on a trailer once and just told them to unload it and leave. Its still setting there. He had a few other good cars. He was a really nice guy with a butt load of old car knowledge. As mentioned above I think he was just holding on to his memories, can't blame him, all of us will do the same some day. My advice is to just try to be a friend to him and you might come away from the frindship with some knowledge, a friend, and maybe the car in the end.

 

Hey guys,
Do you really think you can come up with something that the COF hasn't heard about a 100 times before? And even if he's not into cars (why has he got it in the first place?) after he's talked to the first 25 potential buyers he KNOWS what the car is worth. If he doesn't want to sell it then he's not gonna sell it. Maybe it's memories or maybe it took him 25 years to get the car and it makes him smile just to know he finally got it. The best thing you can do is politely check on the car once in a while and let him know you would like to have it if he ever turns it loose. If he dies owning the car then you might have your chance to buy it at his estate auction. But you'll probably be bidding against the other 100 people who tried to buy it.
Larry T--COF

 

Another story. FLAT-TOP and myself once asked a car collector how he came up with so many good cars. This guy had a great collection of cars and car related items. His advice to us was never go car looking in a late model vehicle always drive up in a beatup shop truck. He told us to never ask first thing if they want to sell thier car, ask them "What are you going to do with it". After the communication is opened then start trying to talk them out of it. If after all negotioations have failed and you can't get the car, come back later and steal it. This is a true story and I DO NOT CONDONE THIS METHOD OF GETTING CARS neither does FLAT-TOP. Just a related story.

 

hahaha that is awesome! old guys kick ass

 

What a Fucking Lowlife!!
He doesn't deserve the cars he bought, let alone the ones he stole.
The " Crusty Old Fucker " doesn't have to keep his old car clean to justify owning it.
The person that will own that car might not even be born yet, and for now he is guarding it, whats wrong with that?

A good friend who is in his 80s has a old Race Car that I only have heard about.
It won't see the light of day for as long as he lives.
That is OK... He has his reasons...
I hope I dont get to see that Car for a long time...

 

Try taking a hot babe with you. Have her tell him she wants him to sell you the car so you can take naked pictures of her spread-eagle on the hood and she will send him autographed copies.
Seriously, don't get fixated on this car, go find something else, build it, keep an eye on this one, stop by once a year try to get him to take your #. I can understand him not wanting to sell it, I know of several rotting away same deal. But peoples life situations change, the get sick, lose their jobs, kids get arrested need lawyer money, etc etc etc so the importance of things change. I just bought a roadster I tried to buy 2 1/2 yrs ago, kept after it for a year, fixated on THAT car, gave up, bought my 32, Jan 17 of this year got word it was mine for the offer I made 1 1/2 yr ago if I still wanted it, it is in my garage and I am building it now.
Good luck!