Selling dilema..my L78 Chevelle
 

I'm kind of stuck here in my thinking process. A guy has made me a real good offer on my Chevelle. I don't drive it much at all. It is, in my opinion, too nice to just drive it like I drive the cars that I've built. Seems like every time I take it to a show or a cruise, some asshole leaves his mark on it. I've had to spend 800 bucks to get the rocker repainted from some fool with a baby carriage, had to polish the front fender due to some idiot with one of those chain wallets or dangling keys, had chocolate ice cream all over the top of a fender.

I'm going to need something with air conditioning for Florida, this car isn't going to get it. I bought a new Kubota tractor today for Florida. The sale of the Chevelle would much more than pay for that. The dough would go a long ways toward a bigger building down there too.

Problem is, I don't think I can ever find another L78 in this condition. So what the hell. Do I sell it, keep storing it, driving it a couple of times a year? I'm sure I can find something to build the way I want. I gotta think on this one tonight. Give me some opinions in the mean time. I have three other pretty nice cars that I've built to drive, so I wouldn't be walking.

Emotional attachment, do you have any of that for this car? That is the big thing for me when selling a car. If I have none, I am OK to let it drive away without a second thought.

I'm not familiar with any of your vehicles, so it is hard to gauge some factors. I am down to three vehicles right now, two that I have attachment to. (One more so than the other) It took me close to a year to decide to sell one of them. I have a friend chasing my daily driver currently, he was interested in it before I ended up with it. I am not attached to it at all, therefore... I would have no issue taking his money. I only have one car right now that I refuse to ever sell for any amount of money. If you have other cool stuff to drive, and no emotional attachment to your L78 - I say let it go down the road. It will be one less thing to haul down to Florida. But, it sounds like you truly have a love for the car. Go with your gut instinct.

Just my $0.10 on the subject.

Show us a pic and maybe we can help you decide .

It's always a hard to decide. Sounds like the sale could help you out in Florida project. There's always another car out there some where if you do sell it.

Thanks for the replies. I don't really have an emotional attachment to it. It is the nicest car that I've had so far as original ones go. That's the real problem. I like things that I build more than the originals now. I have a 70 Nova that I did a BB conversion on. Very clean, 29,000 mile car that is now a 427 , 4 speed . I could install AC on this one pretty easily. I have a 55 Nomad that I made into a straight axle car. 427, M22, that I could also put AC in. Last one is a 34 Ford, 2dr sedan. 392 Hemi, 5 speed manual, all steel car. I built this one from the frame rails up. No AC for this one. It's a hot-rod. The wife also thinks I like the home-built ones more than stockers. She thinks things through more than I do. She thinks that I would enjoy a different car more, one that I make my own.
The guy that wants it talked to me a couple of years ago about it. He offered me more than he did back then, so maybe it's a good time to sell it.
I have some pictures that I took Sunday, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get them on photo bucket. If I get that figured out, I'll post them.
Brian, did the new Camaro go back to Nickey yet? I showed the pictures of it to Kathy. She loves it. Said it looks mean.

I was talking to a friend, Dennis, at Baker's a few weeks ago. He just sold his 15,000 mile all original Nova. Said he was willing to sell his 18,000 mile all original LS6 for the right price. He owned both since the 70's. He also has a 69 post SS and a few other cars.

Kind of like you Tony, his cars just sit in his pole barn. You don't go cruising around or beat the daylights out of an all original LS6. He can't really enjoy his cars so he's willing to let them go. Your Chevelle is super nice and I'm sure it would be hard to part with but if you can't take it out and enjoy it, what's the point. Kind of like collecting rare coins then keeping them locked in a safe. Other than as an investment what good are they?

Like Dennis, maybe it's time to move on.

Thanks Tony, You have some really killer rides. I think I'm like you, I like the original cars, but I love the modified ones even more. I think that's why it was easy to let the Chevelle go with no regrets. My Nickey is going back to Chicago Thursday June 13 to have the Super Charger installed.:cool:

Tony, your heart will tell you what to do but I think you have already made your decision to sell it. I know you will build something that you will drive the hell out of and enjoy more than the Chevelle. The only reason I'm keeping the Chevelle is because my oldest Son really wants it and it is something I can pass on to him and I'll know he will enjoy.

Also, you said the same thing about the Camaro before you sold it to me and I understand why you would not want to sell the Chevelle as I'm saying the same thing about the Camaro now.


If not having A/C in the Chevelle is the only reason you may not keep it I have attached a solution that I think will work.

Attachment 2701

Sell the sum a bitch:)I sold all 3 of my cars and every weekend I tell my wife how great it is not to have 3 old black cars to be a slave to.I am really enjoying having a toy I don't have to worry about and just enjoy.I am really happy to be rid of them,but the one I miss most is the Nova.

I'm making the necessary mods to my Chevelle right now for that solution. If you need any help Tony just let me know.

Sell it....

Tony, you and your wife are the only ones who know deep down in your heart, whether you should sell it or not. The hardest part of the whole decision thing is knowing that you will have to watch the car be taken away by someone else. Hind sight is 20/20 when it comes to cars. There have been times when I regretted it before it had ever left the driveway. Other times I was glad to see it go because, like you said, it would pay for something else. Hard decision....but if the price is right....

Well, I had made up my mind to sell it. The guy that wanted it was supposed to call me back on Tuesday. I haven't heard from him. He emailed, called, asked for more pictures, left me a phone message that he wanted it. I just don't get some people.

It's a beautiful car, no sense letting it sit in your garage any longer. He'll get back to you, never know what other things people may have going on.

He is probably too busy telling all his friends what a cool car he is going to buy. He will call.

You two are correct. Heard from him last night. I was unaware that "negotiations" were involved in selling a car to a "rather wealthy gentleman". I thought it went like this:

My car is for sale for x amount. You want it, you pay that amount. I'm learning that most people want to think they are "getting a deal", or "gotta talk him down, at least a little",no matter what. Human nature, I guess. When I sold both of my Z28 cars, that's how it went. Heres' the price, take it or leave it. They took them.I sold my 1937 Harley last Monday. Guy asked what I wanted, I told him, he brought the cash and left with the motorcycle. No talk of " market value, seen one for 3 grand less, my cousins friend says that's too much, value of collector cars are down, and so on". I still hate most people.

So did you sell it or is he still trying to negotiate?

Not sold yet. He wants the repop tires, the rebuilt Muncie shifter, and the rebuilt water pump thrown in with the car. Not gonna happen. I want my money back on the parts, or no deal.

Hope it sells for you without to much hassle

Stand your ground Tony. If he wants it he will pay. You don't have to sell it, but it sounds like he really wants it. Tell him you will throw in a wash and wax. :)

If he doesn't want to pay up ,someone else will.

If you know Tony I don't think you have to worry about that Nancy. Tony will get his asking price or no deal.

I got an email from him this morning. He needs a few more days to decide if the car is "the correct fit for his needs". WTF does that mean?

Damn good question. Actually I think he's making you wait, see if you'll throw in those extras to make the deal. Don't respond or if you do tell him that's okay, you have another buyer interested in the car. You been holding him off because of this deal but now it's time to get serious with the other buyer. Either that or just tell him FU, this ain't no damn garage sale.

I don't think I'll hear from him again. He made me angry, I told him so, then told him what I thought about the way he was trying to rob me. It may not seem like robbery to some, but when I make a deal, there is no such thing as "throwing in" around a grand worth of extras. I'm pretty sure he was under the impression that I need to sell it. Not so.

And you are right again Hank....THIS AINT NO STINKIN GARAGE SALE!!!!!

Good for you Tony. I know it would have been nice to sell it and use the money elsewhere. But this situation made you think about whether or not you are ready to sell it. Things happen for a reason.

I'm sure you can find another buyer if you try. May take awhile but someone out there will want that car for the price you're asking.

Does the clock work?

Doesn't the price go up Hank if the clock doesn't work ?

F-ing people. This is why I hate selling anything. I'm the same way. usually I have the price way below what its worth and I still get someone trying to bust my b***s. I remember when I sold my red on red 69. It was a really nice car. numbers matching...mostly original aside for a few engine pieces. The guy came out looked at it was interested. He takes it for a ride and when we get back the damn thing started smoking out of the right side exhaust (the Ray factor strike again). It never did that before I was selling it. Well here comes the questions on why its smoking. I had no idea...it just started. So I decided to drop the price to make up for the smoking engine ($2k). I told him that I also had some additional parts that I had been collecting to make the car more original ( dated water, pump, brake booster, altenator) all had been rebuilt. Asked if he would be interested in buying those too. Same thing now he wanted those thrown in. I had already took a hit and he wanted them thrown in. It really pissed me off so . I told him that the whole deal was off and I'll just keep the car. A few days later he calls and apologized for being so pushy and wanted the car. He still didnt take the dated parts.

When your dealing with a car like you have and the money involved the guy should know what he's getting into. Not like your dealing with a 83 Chevette and the guy wants the original hub caps thrown in.

Only if he sells to me

Not true Ric. Here at "Dewey, Cheetam, and Howe Fine Used Cars", we treat everyone the same.

Now sir, can I interest you in a couple of very fine, 1940's model Goulding side-cars for a Harley davidson motorcycle. I'll throw in a nice used CB radio.

Now that you mention it, yes. My car should bring a real premium on the market, it has the rare '1970 clock delete' option. Not as rare as the the 1970 big block, power steering, power front disk brakes, F41 suspension, cowl hood delete option but still pretty rare.

No clock ???? No deal !!

See..it is more valuable than you thought. :)