holding a car until spring

T

Topher5150

Senior Member
So I got in touch with an old timer about buying a car off him. As of right now it's sitting behind his building in the snow on some cinder blocks. He said it would be fine if sent him some money to hold it until everything thaws out a little bit. I planned on going down there next week to look at it and give him a down payment. Would something like a hand written bill of sale be sufficient enough. I never bought anything this way before and I like to make sure all my bases are covered.
 
A word of Advice from a close friend "Seal the Deal"! Absolutely NO do not give a deposit and walk away......two months from now you'll get you're deposit back and a "sorry but someone gave me more money"! on the lucky side. On the bad side, you may return to "nothing". If you go, take a trailer and money and load the car and go!!!!
 
We had a friend here in town, many years ago, do the same thing with a 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, he was on his way out of town, left the deposit on the car and agreed he would pick the car up three days later, he came back to "sorry, here is you're deposit back!". We have this 35 sedan delivery because of my friend advice......"SEAL THE DEAL!!!!" "THEN load your stuff and GO!!!"
 

Attachments

  • 35SedanDelv2.jpg
    35SedanDelv2.jpg
    53.3 KB · Views: 114
I think you should get something legally binding, like the title or certified and notarized bill of sale so you can pursue actions if you get cheated.
 
A fool and his money are soon parted. Time is not your friend, especially if others know about the car or seller changes his mind after watching a Mecum Auction.
When you go there next week, bring a helper, a shovel, a trailer and the means to get the vehicle out in the open where you can really see it.
Then, if you like what you see, pay the man, have him sign the title over to you (after you verify the VIN). Load it on your trailer and off you go.
Be polite and explain that you can't wait and all will be fine.

BE SURE TO READ THE INFO. ON THIS SITE ABOUT BUYING A CAR IN MI.
https://www.google.com/search?q=do+...ome..69i57.15599j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 
Last edited:
That sedan delivery is beautiful.
If someone makes a deal they need to stand by it.
One day, one week, one month, whatever.
I have purchased several cars but was unable to get them hauled before the snow hit,in each case the seller was more than happy to work with me and my haulers to get the best outcome.
I did pay for the cars in full but the sellers could easily have sold the cars for more money in the interim.
They abided by our agreement and all went well.
Getting a bill of sale or a receipt before actual possession might be a good idea in my opinion but if you have to worry about that you have other issues to deal with.
Suing someone a long distance away is expensive and hardly wirth the effort.
Buy something you can see, purchase , and take home with you if that is a problem.
 
Last edited:
95476 said:
That sedan delivery is beautiful.
If someone makes a deal they need to stand by it.
One day, one week, one month, whatever.
Click to expand...


In a "perfect" world. Unfortunately there are "some" unscrupulous B@$T@&D's that have ruined that whole concept. BOTTOM line, IF you are making a drive to go see the car, its one you are interested in to start......make the moves to "SEAL THE DEAL" and get you're car loaded and GO!!!! Only way to conduct business!!!
 
I do agree that there are some real bad actors out there.
I was looking for '34 sedan delivery and got quite a few responses.
On inquiring I got one guy who would not give a price for his car until I went to see it, 6 hours away. $38,000 for a car that at best was worth $12,000.
2 others said they had the cars but did not supply photo's or return e-mails or phone calls..
One guy called me almost every day for over a month about the car but no photo's no price, and unwilling to schedule an appointment to look at the car. (600 miles away)
These were not scammers, their identies were verified.
 
I had a friend who sold the same car 3 times!! He was not a scammer, the first two buyers gave him 4 or 500 dollars and never came back to pick up the car. I realize this is the reverse of your deal, but things happen. You also stated that the seller is an old timer. He could pass on and his heirs sold that junk for scrap not knowing of any deals. A bird in the hand ...
 
The only time I had to leave a vehicle with a previous owner was on a weekend waiting for a check to clear since it was on short notice (Sunday) and I didn't have cash in hand. The previous owner retained the vehicle but surrendered the title, a signed title application (It's a Texas thing), and with a completed bill of sale just to keep things on the up & up. Went back the next day and secured the vehicle with no problems.

If a car didn't have wheels & tires on it, I'd find some pretty quick for a vehicle I really wanted. I wouldn't care if they were doughnuts or crusty as long as they fit the wheel pattern and roll. I always keep some usable 5 on 5.5" wheels around just in case.
 
A car on cinder blocks, outdoors in Michigan this winter? You can count on cracks in the pan rails, and with a heavy load of snow on top, a car in the Rustbelt might be rust-channelled down to the frame.
 
If you are really that hot for this car, I would get an attorney to draw up a legally binding contract and put down $100. Just remember, when you do get a good look at the car, the contract works both ways so there is no backing out. In many states, a hand written bill of sale is worthless. Might not be worth the drama.
 
When I bought my 36 I made a deal and put a deposit down and picked it up a week later, 600 miles away. When I got there the gentlemen told me he received calls (even guys cussing him out for not selling to them, out from under me... for more money).



He didn't however, guess he felt a deal was a deal and honored it, he chuckled about the rude guys calls when telling me.



Granted that I didn't offered him chicken feed for it. Never know though.




.
 
Last edited:
Give him 100 bucks and a firm handshake, you should be good. Get a receipt with balance due just to make it legally binding.
 
Just remember a down payment doesn't mean anything as far as ownership goes. Your not going to get a title or bill of sale with a down payment, just a receipt if you insist. As far as down payment, don't give any more than what you can take a hit for
 
Leave it up to the fickle car gods. Make the deal and if the car is still there after the thaw then it was meant to be. If not, move on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top