Hot Rods People not showing up.

Been there too. Built a truck, found out I didn't fit in it so well and decided to sell it to see if I could get most of my money out of it. I had a write up with everything that I did and the price posted in the windows.
I parked it at my son's place, nice state highway exposure. Had my son's number and my number listed. Had lots of tire kickers, had lots stop by and look. This was during the pandemic, my son was working from home. Unless someone called him or me, he just let them look.
I had one guy that stopped by several times over a few days. Even brought a couple different guys with him, they looked it over real good, climbed under it and everything, but never called. One weekend we took it to a car show, so it was gone from my son's place about 4 or 5 days before I brought it back. The next day the guy drove by, and stopped. This time he called my son. They talked a long time, my son started it up for him, he seemed interested, but left again without saying anything.
A coupe days later he called me, and I met him there. We talked a long time, it was good discussion. I told him the reason I was selling it, then got in and showed him why. I'm not sure he was buying my story until then. Then he left, telling me he had to think about it some more. The next week, he called and I met him there again. This time we talked price, he offered me 1/2 my asking price. "Not a chance, we are done talking!" was my response, I was ready to leave. His quick response stopped me, he bumped his offer up to much closer to my asking price. From there we came to a price agreement. Then he told me there was one little problem. Here it comes I thought.

He had money in an investment he couldn't get for a week, he insisted he wanted it bad, offered money down to hold it. I told him I wouldn't do that, but I would give him first chance if someone came along. He was OK with that. True to his word, he was back the next week with the cash, then he wanted to know if he could leave it there until he could get plates and insurance on it (it was a Friday evening). Monday morning he came by and picked up his truck and drove it home. I got most of the money I spent to build it, and with that money I was able to build my 49, so I guess I came out OK.

I've seen the truck several times since then. He changed the wheels & tires and a few other things, the truck was at a good home. I have heard roomers the truck was hard on rear tires for him, some say 3 sets in 2 years. It was a fun truck to drive... Last year he called me up and told me he was going to sell the truck but wanted to see if I wanted it back before he sold it to someone else. I gave him permission to sell his truck. The last time I saw it, someone else was driving it. He is going to have a hard time with rear tires too, I believe.

Yea, sometimes selling stuff is a challenge.

 

Happened to me buying an LSR roadster in 1980. A 29 steel body on 32 rails.. We made the deal on the phone as it was 100 miles from where lived. I called again in the morning of the Saturday I was going to go get it; said the deal again.. Got there with cash in hand for car and trailer and I knew it needed work. Suddenly no trailer and oh the tires didn’t go with it. A year later he let a big time LSR guy “use” it. He fixed everything and raced it with a KB for power. The original owner wanted it back. The “borrower” wanted $3000 for all he fixed. The owner didn’t have the cash and lost the car…I heard from more than one guy the original owner said “ I should have sold it to the guy who going to put a Jimmy in it”
The I bought another one and still have it.

 

Was 18 or 19 and purchased a 1939 Chev Pickup (1977). Didn’t have much technical skills at the time just a love for old cars. Cleaned up the truck, to make it presentable but had trouble getting it to run. A mechanic I knew stopped to look at truck (sitting in front yard of parents house with for sale sign) and he walked around. Showed interest. Asked if it ran. I said no but turned over. He took one look, asked for a screw driver and wrench, rotated distributor 180 and told me to try it. Ran like a top! He asked what was the price - I said to him what I had on the sign - to anyone else now that it’s running add $1000! Sold two days later for full +$1000 price. Best experience ever selling! Wish they were that easy today!

 

Ok… my two cents. But from buyers point of view this time.
My son calls me at work. Im a fireman and we work 48 hour shifts. He has found a pair of front seat frames for a 1946 Willy’s Jeep I am fixing up. These are very hard to find around here. I make contact with the seller and agree to pay asking price. I tell him where I work and that it will be two days before I get off work. He says no problem he will bring them to me. That was great. He calls about supper time and say he is on his way. About 11pm I finally go to bed. At 3:45 am. There is someone at the door of the firehouse. It is the seller. Long story is I got the seat frames and am very happy. But I caught a lot of **** when everyone else in the fire house got woke up too. I thanked the man profusely for bringing them to me and he didn’t seem to think anything about the early morning delivery.