Advice needed, Purchasing this car long distance?

[vick79]

So I have found a '70 Charger that I like, and the current owner is great. The car is in WI, and I am in Los Angeles. I dont see myself being able to drive there to pickup the car thats too far, and im a bit too busy to fly out there for at least another month. I trust the seller, but im a little nervous sending large amount of money before I know the car is picked up by the transporter. How does one pay and pickup a car at the same time?

Im clueless how to finish the transaction, never purchased a car so far away before. any suggestions?

Also Ive posted pictures of the charger a few posts down, any comments are appreciated, in case I missed something.

[Chryco Psycho]

My advice is simple if you cannot see the car in person or have someone you know & trust see the car walk away from the deal . How many people have been burned this way ?? There seems to be a new thread every other week about disappointed buyers .

[Dans 68]

I read your question as to how to complete the transaction, versus how to buy a car sight unseen. Unless the seller is someone you know well I wouldn't buy it sight unseen. Either bite the bullet and take a trip to look over the car, or get someone else to do it. Lots of members here would do that for you.

Before the car is loaded on the transport the owner is going to want payment. Once you pay him it is yours, for better or worse. When I bought my '68, I visited with the seller for the better part of a day. I paid him via a check, and he graciously helped with getting the Charger ready for pick-up (washing, extra goodies securely stored in the trunk, photos of the actual pick-up, etc.). The seller signed a bill of sale to state what each party had to perform (redacted copy attached), and I sent him the check. No issues. But it is healthy to have a solid relationship with the seller before handing over a large chunk of cash.

But I would really have someone check out the car first. Really.  

Dan

P.S. Please excuse the pre-cold war looking redacted bill of sale. I wanted to protect the previous owners privacy.

[vick79]

I read your question as to how to complete the transaction, versus how to buy a car sight unseen. Unless the seller is someone you know well I wouldn't buy it sight unseen. Either bite the bullet and take a trip to look over the car, or get someone else to do it. Lots of members here would do that for you.

Before the car is loaded on the transport the owner is going to want payment. Once you pay him it is yours, for better or worse. When I bought my '68, I visited with the seller for the better part of a day. I paid him via a check, and he graciously helped with getting the Charger ready for pick-up (washing, extra goodies securely stored in the trunk, photos of the actual pick-up, etc.). The seller signed a bill of sale to state what each party had to perform (redacted copy attached), and I sent him the check. No issues. But it is healthy to have a solid relationship with the seller before handing over a large chunk of cash.

But I would really have someone check out the car first. Really. 

Dan

P.S. Please excuse the pre-cold war looking redacted bill of sale. I wanted to protect the previous owners privacy.

That info helps a lot! I am going to word my contract similarly. I want to elaborate on some details about this car. The seller is a mopar guy and a retired police officer, and Ive spoken to him a couple times about the car. He says the car came from Indianna the PO had done the body work, and he's been restoring it for the last 5yrs to factory new. Still has some work needed. The engine is a non matching 69 440 block and was balanced and rebuilt about 2000miles ago, says it runs well but could use a better tune. I agree it would be comforting if I could find someone in the sellers area who knows chargers/classics to look it over in person, but im not sure if thats going to happen since Im pretty new on this forum. Here are some photos the seller had sent over, maybe someone can see something I missed? He's already mentioned a couple items like needing the correct steering column, fixing the tictactoc etc.   

Correction the seller is in Wisconsin, got my chargers mixed up. Still too far from LA.

Appreciate any input. This is my first charger.

[charger Downunder]

Looks like a nice car i would go and inspect it. Loaded with heaps of attractive options. I would say the seller tried to add se options pedal dress up and wood grain wheel and didn't want to fork out the big bucks for the spacer which is a 70 one year only part for that steering column.
I would get rid of the black tail panel and paint it body color and drive it with a big smile from ear to ear. 

[Bob T]

Nice looking car with a lot of options.
Seriously, retired cop or judge or garbage collector, Get it checked out or fly there and check it yourself, its not worth risking your hard earned dough if it turned out to be a lemon when you unloaded the trailer  

Or pay someone unbiased with knowlege on what to look for to check it for you

Good luck 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Not to rain on your parade, but a few things I see are:

1. The seams of the rear valance are not there.
2. It may be the lighting, but the horizontal body line on the left rear quarter looks off between the wheelwell and door.
3. In the engine compartment: The shock nuts and heater nuts are painted over and it looks like the voltage regulator was cleaned up with a wire brush wheel. The air cleaner is gloss black instead of wrinkle paint. The heater hoses are glazed up with Armorall. In essence, the engine compartment just screams quickie paint job

Everything always looks good in pictures. Better have someone who knows cars check to be sure it's not a bondo-bucket.

[NHCharger]

Doesn't hurt to post a thread to see if there are any members nearby that could look at it. I spent a morning last month with fellow board member NH MOPAR FAN looking at a car for another board member, and it wasn't even a Mopar. There are several members here that have burned bad by buying cars sight unseen. One member never even received the car, it was a total scam. Even thou the seller is a retired PO I have known a couple of PO's I wouldn't trust with a dollar bill.

If no board member can look at it find an appraiser that can look at it. The several hundred you will pay the appraiser will be money well spent. And if the seller won't hold the car until someone can look at it for you that should be a red flag right there.

That is a beautiful car. Hope everything works out for you.

[BananaDan]

   Great idea, if you can't find someone to help out, hire an expert to do it for you.  They'll represent your interests.  Isn't GG from up around those parts?   

[vick79]

I think thats what ill do, ill post a new thread about it. I noticed the body line, thought it was just me.

I know it needs some work and far from a 100 point car, but he's also not asking $40k+ like most chargers in this shape or worse for sale.

[ACUDANUT]

Dang nice looking car.  Who cares about everything being correct. ? The owner already said it was not a numbers matching car.  I am glad some of you have never picked apart my car. Jeez

[Paul G]

I would not believe anyone over the internent or telephone. He might be 100% honest, but you just dont know. Who would you trust with your cash in a paper bag?

Is the car capable of the drive home? Are you ready for a road trip? Even a fly in, see, buy, set up shipping, fly home. I bought a car that was 900 miles away one time. It was a great time for my wife and I. We flew in and picked up the car, drove it home.

[stripedelete]

As a percentage of what you are going to pay for the car, a plane ticket isn't that much.   Pictures are very foregiving.  Find the time.

[vick79]

It makes more sense when someone else says it... 

[1969chargerrtse]

If he was able to posts a wavy rear quarter picture as being perfect, nice guy or not what else is not to your paying standards?  If I had someone look at mine I wouldn't of payed what I payed.

[vick79]

If he was able to posts a wavy rear quarter picture as being perfect, nice guy or not what else is not to your paying standards?  If I had someone look at mine I wouldn't of payed what I payed.

from my conversation he mentioned the body was not perfect it had some dents, chips... but that looks like a depression in the quarter now that im staring at it.

[Paul G]

Let me just say, quite a few years ago I went to see a 1973 Corvette, big block, A/C. The owner described the car like it was a gem that just needed a little bit. Took the drive, about 1 1/2 hrs to go see it. When the owner got me in to the garage where he kept it you could just see on his face how proud he was of it. He was looking/seeing that car, the same as it was 20 years earlier. He was an older guy. The car needed total resto. That is just an example of what one person describes, and what another sees.

This car is in Wisconsin. That says a lot. It is in the rust belt. You absolutely have to run your hands over the car, check for bondo'd quarters and more, underside looks good in the pics, poke at it to make sure. If the rust has all been cut out, was it done properly? Or just filled and sprayed. A camera wont show that easily.

With cars traveling across the country, and world, today you have to make sure it is correct. Used to be a California or Arizona car was a sure bet. Not today.

[NHCharger]

 Isn't GG from up around those parts?  

I don't think the seller is willing to wait three years.

Hard to tell if the quarter line is off or just the way the reflection of the backround plays with the body lines. That's why someone needs to eyeball the car in person.

[NHCharger]

.

[vick79]

Another angle of the quarter. Really hard to tell if theres a wave

[Scaregrabber]

It's a decent looking car. Honestly I would buy a project car long distance but not a painted car. Fly over with the money, inspect it and then arrange transportation.  The internet has done nothing but contribute to people getting ripped off on deals like this.

Sheldon

[1969chargerrtse]

Another angle of the quarter. Really hard to tell if theres a wave

Hard call when they are far away.
If it was a great price I'd be dumb enough to buy site unseen.  Many have been as listed and some not.  Good pictures.  I would ask for close up underside pics of metal seams etc....

[vick79]

Another forum member has graciously offered to go look at the car, and ive set it up with the seller!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Another angle of the quarter. Really hard to tell if theres a wave

I was referring to this angle..............

[vick79]

i believe both photos were taken the same day... should soon find out whats really up the next couple days

[A383Wing]

when were those pics taken? A few days ago or 15 years ago?

Bryan

[bakerhillpins]

As a percentage of what you are going to pay for the car, a plane ticket isn't that much.   Pictures are very foregiving.  Find the time.

Yes, find the time. Everything these guys are saying is spot on!  

[vick79]

when were those pics taken? A few days ago or 15 years ago?

Bryan

Earlier this year I believe. Seller says car is *exactly* same condition as those pictures. he also offered to retake with a date stamped camera.

[bakerhillpins]

when were those pics taken? A few days ago or 15 years ago?

Bryan

Earlier this year I believe. Seller says car is *exactly* same condition as those pictures. he also offered to retake with a date stamped camera.

That means nothing. He can just set the date to anything he wanted. Maybe have to use the old ransom deal of putting today's paper in the pic.   

You have someone to go check it out in person. However I still suggest you fly out to pay for it while it it sitting in front of you.

[charger_fan_4ever]

I actually am liking the blacked out tail panel on the 70. its got me thinking. Looks like a decent car and 4 speed
Looks like a 35k car to me.

[Homerr]

Does the seller have any photos of it stripped, i.e. in a body shop?

[vick79]

Does the seller have any photos of it stripped, i.e. in a body shop?

No 

Was done before him.

[Dino]

That rear valance and ds quarter are a bit of a worry here.  You want to check this one out yourself and if you don't know what to look for make sure you have someone with you who does.  It's too much money to take a chance, you wouldn't be the first to end up with a polished turd.

And once more the gauges are not redone.  For the life of me I cannot understand why people skip this step, it's the one thing you look at all the time!  It's $50 to get brand new decals and it takes a lay person no more than a Saturday afternoon to install.

[66FBCharger]

Just my two cents worth.
When I bought my '69 in Detroit  last fall, I spent the money (it was about $400 Hartford to Detroit) to fly out for the day. I wanted to check the car out to make sure it was what the pictures showed and what the seller said it was.
I pre arranged with my credit union to wire the money to the seller's account when I called them. I didn't want to carry a lot of cash with me in case it was a scam and someone was looking to rob me. The seller said he had gotten burned before so he didn't want a check (including bank check since they can be faked). He wanted cash or to have the money wired to his account. I got to the house and checked the car out. It was as the seller described. I called the credit union and the money was in the sellers account within about an hour. I had already called a guy (who happened to live in Detroit) who has transported a few cars for me for a quote. I called him and made arrangements to pick the car up as soon as he could. I left with a bill of sale, title and broadcast sheet. Everything worked out great. The seller was great and honest.
The car arrived about a week later.
Like everyone said, it is better to spend the money on a plane ticket to insure you aren't losing a lot of money on a rustbucket.
I hope things work out for you.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Does the seller have any photos of it stripped, i.e. in a body shop?

No  

Was done before him.

Oh this changes things. Sounds like a lot of unknowns. Seeing the valance caps with no seam is a little worrysome along with the wow in the drivers 1/4.

Whats the trunk floor look like ? and do the body #'s match ?

Guess it all boils down to price. I'd say a spotless non #'s match r/t 68-70 is still worth 40k. Since the body isn't spotless start deducting and keep in mind if you dug into it to fix it it could be a whole different ball game and at the end of the day will be well over 40k invested. Not a big blue fan on 2nd gens, but it looks sweet and 4 speeeeeeddd

[Indygenerallee]

The top of that driver door looks too high to myself and I see the bodyline on the quarter to door looks funny. I would bet money it has plenty of filler in it especially with the valance to corners filled like that.

[Dino]

By the way, the tail stripe is crooked as with most of these 'high end restos' and it's hard to tell but it really looks like the quarter wheel lips are a bit too smooth, ie they may have been filled.

The more I look at it, the more problems I see. 

Is this the car you really want?  I recall you mentioned a 68 was your dream in which case I would simply forget about this one.  Your money will fly out the door with one of these so do not settle for anything but what you want.  Don't fall for the ebay and cl sellers' bs that these cars are more rare than red meat, they're not.  There's still plenty out there.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Don't fall for the ebay and cl sellers' bs that these cars are more rare than red meat, they're not.  There's still plenty out there.

Ain't that the truth. When I had my old mustang I was amazed to find they made less 91 mustang 5L lx notch backs than 70 charger r/t's and that was the lowest r/t year.

Didn't seem to help the mustang much on resale value though lol.

[jessejames]

Where in Wis?? I will go look at it for you. Let me know
Jesse