Car Collector Chronicles 09-09

®

A GDYNETS PUBLICATION © 2009, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Car Collector Chronicles ®

Volume II, Issue 9

Car Collector Chronicles

September 2009

Exploring:

LONG-DISTANCE BUYING

• Car collecting today • Classic rides

As I write (in January), I am “hot on the trail” of a 1956 Cadillac Coupé de Ville. For those that know me, it probably seems like my elusive quest for a ‘56 de Ville has gone on forever. That is because it has. At times I feel like Sancho Panza of Don Quixote fame; always tilting at windmills. Perhaps I would be better off never finding/ getting this car? My father undertook a similar quest. Unlike me, he succeeded. However, the car was nothing but trouble; he wrecked it, blew the engine and died a few short years after purchasing his 1955 Fleetwood!

• Reports from the field • Oldsmobile • Cadillac • Corvair

IN THIS ISSUE:

Long Distance Buying

1

GDYNets® On the Web

1

Classic Car Pics

4

Coming Next Issue

4

At any rate, the seller and I have exchanged numerous emails on the ride. He has also sent a few pictures. The biggest problem in connection with this possible purchase is that I am in SE WI, and the car is in SE WA. Per MapQuest®, that is a mere 28 hour drive, of over 1,900 miles! Alternatively, I could fly

WHERE YOU WILL FIND GDYNets (me) on the WWW: http://GDYNets.WEBNG.com Saved 62 http://www.freewebs.com/ jeandaveyaros The Gray Lady- 55 Cad de Ville

[email protected]

The logical thing is to find someone to take a look at the car and report back to you. Where does one find such a creature? My first effort was to see if I could find a fellow collector to undertake the task. To that end I contacted several folks, in both Olds and Caddy car clubs. This effort yielded no results. Oh, one guy offered to give his opinion; based on pics and info I would send to him. I was grateful for his willingness to help. I did send him all I had. In return, I got exactly what I paid for, nothing I did not already know! The next alternative is to resort to a commercial service. They are not at all difficult to find, via the WWW. But, just

what do you get, and at what cost? Some disqualified themselves out of the box, because they did not service the current locale of the car. Others were ruled out because they would not put the car up in the air, and get CONTINUED ON P. 2.

GDYNets® on the Web

Dave’s Den -

EMAIL:

out there at a total trip cost of around 600 bucks. Neither option seems to be viable to me. So, what is a poor schmuck to do?

Car Collector Chronicles-pdfcoke

DAVE’S DEN: A website devoted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive information on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmobile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. Geo. Yaros.

SAVED 62: A website devoted to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobiles and its founder, Ransom Eli Olds. THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and Caddy information.

Car Collector Chronicles

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LONG DISTANCE BUYING—Continued underneath it for a closer look. When one is paying for a service, they should expect, and get, far more than the impressions obtained from a cursory glance of the ride by the inspector. Interestingly, I found one service that looked like a possibility. The web presentation seemed to address most of my concerns, in terms of substance. However, its sample report was replete with spelling and grammar errors. That it was, made me wonder. Just who is it that is gathering the info and writing the report? If they could not detect their own writing errors, why should I trust their claimed classic car expertise?

“By written report I do not mean a form which has checked boxes. You want and need info you can use. That means a report with actual paragraphs detailing findings.”

I did find one “Have jack stands. Will travel.” concern. No, it was not named Palladin, but maybe it should be? It promised 150 + photos of the car, and a detailed report. The cost for all this, a mere $675. Well, that ruled them out in my book! In its defense, the cost for the inspection was only $350, which I do feel is reasonable. It was the additional $325 for travel, that rubbed the wrong way. Since we have broached the subject of cost, what is a fair price to pay? The answer to this question is, it depends. It depends on what you expect in terms of the inspection and report. At a minimum, any serious purchaser would expect receipt of both photos and a written report. NOTE: By written report I do not mean a form which has checked boxes. You want and need information you can use. That means a report with actual paragraphs detailing findings. Additionally, you may want the opportunity to confer with the inspector before and after preparing the report. One provider touted conferring with you on “your grocery list.” I certainly do not feel it is unreasonable to specify in advance what information you expect to get from the report, rather than just leaving it to chance. After all, the service is inspecting for you, and you are the one paying their bill. My internet search for inspection services found prices starting at $99, and going up to whatever you are foolish enough to pay. I have to suspect and assume the amount a buyer is in fact willing to pay for inspection services is directly proportional to the sum the prospective buyer is willing to spend to acquire the ride being inspected. My searches seem to indicate that getting a meaningful inspection and report is going to require shelling out in the neighborhood of $400. As of this writing, the service I am looking at very closely (http:// www.automobileinspections.com/), is going to cost $404. $25 of that

Car Collector Chronicles

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LONG DISTANCE BUYING – Cont’d. from p. 2 sum is for an extra; being a written “Opinion of Value.” Current market value of the car is the precise type of information one wants, isn’t it? Is the car worth what the seller is asking, or what I am willing to pay? Isn’t that the whole reason for having the car inspected? I know that is precisely the determination I would be making myself, after having laid my eyes and hands on the prospective purchase. What I do know right know is that this car is in WA state. It is in winter storage. The odometer reads 73,000 miles. It has had a repaint, at least from the beltline on down. She is sporting plastic seat covers. That it is tells me someone cares enough about the car to take care of it. Neither the power antenna, nor the clock, are working. What I want, and need, to know before I open my check book is, are the miles on the odometer correct? Was there extensive body repair performed on the car when it got the partial respray, or at any other time? In what condition are the seats under those plastic covers? Do the engine or tranny exhibit problems? What is the condition of the frame and under carriage? Are the floors and trunk solid, or rusted through? Are all the factory parts there in terms of trim, etc.? If and when all these questions are answered to my satisfaction, and only then, will I start to “wheel and deal.” There is always the haunting prospect, once one does decide to go for it, that someone else may beat you to the punch. Such a fear is always greater, whether it has any basis or not, when the ride is thousands of miles away. Take steps to minimize this anxiety. Offer the seller a non-refundable token sum to hold the car until your report is received. Make sure your inspection service is going to get its job done in a timely fashion. Ask for, and get, a time commitment from the service before hire. There is but one reason for jumping through all these hoops. It is to not put yourself in a position where what you get from the transaction is buyer’s remorse. Know what you are getting into. Then, take the plunge with confidence! Ok, I have had my say for this month. Now it is your turn! I invite and encourage submission of your comments, opinions and contributions. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to: [email protected] _______________________________________

-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM!

“Current market value is the precise information one wants. It is precisely the determination I would make myself, after having laid eyes and hands on the prospective purchase.”

Car Collector Chronicles

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This is the Caddy I am considering. What makes it desirable? Well, it is a Cadillac. It is a Coupé de Ville. It is a 1956. Need I say more? Those 3 factors alone are more than enough in my book. How can one deny the beauty of those lines? However, there is more. She is Persian Green (34) with an Alpine White (90) top. The colors are particularly appealing because it is not “Resale Red.” Nor is it black. I already own one black car, my ‘62 Olds convert. While black looks great on my Olds, the color does nothing for a Cadillac, in my opinion. When I think black Caddy, I think of a funeral car, and that is not the image I want to project. I want a machine that will be a pleasure to get behind the wheel and drive. This ride will do that, and, I think, turn more than a few heads as it cruises down the boulevard in style.

COMING NEXT ISSUE: • • •

Classic Car Inspection Services To Do Projects Oldsmobile Firsts