Thoughts on starting into the Wagon business...?

Well, it's talk. But being the year 2014, what do you think? Wagons are a bit scarce now, in this part of Pennsylvania at least. I've seen some Clamshells go for around $10k lately in good shape, (The 1973 Oldsmobile that Hullinger had and another Olds) so if I could restore one well enough I could sell it. There's someone near me who derbies Clamshell Wagons too, so perhaps I could buy parts from him.

Clamshells do grow on "trees", but those trees aren't G.M. at this time.

 

A Wagon business? Or Flipping a wagon here and there to make a few extra bucks? Big difference.

 

It was moreso on the flipping side. Though I can dream and imagine (out of what little I know yet) of starting a business up too, that's specifically for Wagons. Yes, really.

 

YOU asked a question, I asked for clarity on what YOU were asking. If we don't have dreams we have nothing to look forward to. They have a wealth of information here and lot of guys here that own or have owned shops including myself. If you are going to ask a question in a thread and go on the defensive, you shouldn't ask. PM who you want to ask or don't ask if you already know what you want to hear. I didn't mock or criticize your question, simply asked for clarity and didn't question if you were serious or not so the "Yes, really" comment sounds to me like you are on the defense. Instead of a thought on it, I will just say, Good Luck.

 

Good luck 101Volts on your wagon business. :confused: Wagons have been a big business since the Connestoga and Studebaker co. built them for our forefathers. And later on RadioFlyer made millions of wagons.
Yes you can dream. But don't let your dreams become a nightmare. The little I know about you leaves many questions on your ability to restore a wagon well enough to flip it. Or even be able to get them running well enough for derby cars.
I know, my son says I degrade him and his dreams. But some of us speak from experience and bad dreams of our own.
Plan this out and try it. That's the only way you will make your dreams come true. Just remember this ain't Kansas and your name is not Annie.

 

Being a flipper of all sorts of crap over the years rite up to this day cars included (but now not so much cars if any at all) you first need space, at least a 1 car garage of your own weather it's parts, a car, or both. You need to have a realistic cash flow on hand all the time, you need to have tools witch is a expense all on it's own and you have to expect to hang onto things for a long time because not everything sells over night. Cars and I've flipped a lot over the years, I honestly drove one in front of my house 14 years ago, put a 4-sale sign on it and 45 minutes later it sold, still blows my mind to this day and that has NEVER happened again with anything I've flipped. Also the longest time I've had a car 4-sale is 4 months and I dropped the price to the point of only making $60 profit witch is a horrible turn around and my worst to date, so that is dead $ you are sitting on while you wait......And then if some one calls you better be prepared to cancel your plans for the potential buyer to come and view, One seller years back I remember calling in the morning and seller said to me "I'm going to the beach today call me back tonight", I never called again. And you have to wait for the no shows, deal with the tire kickers/lookey loo's and low ballers. And happened to me once, haggled with a guy over a truck figuring in my head "Yeah $800 off my price only leaves me with $400 profit, it's been for sale for a couple weeks but it will be gone" so I said sure, sold for $$$$ and we shook hands. I then asked for the $, when and where?, and then the turd sack then says he only has 1/2 the cash and will pay me next payday the rest.... But he wanted the truck rite now because he needs it for work and tried the "feel sorry for me story". I didn't say a thing, just locked the truck turned around and went inside!..........cars and parts for $ is

The cash flow is the main thing, you need to spend $ to make $ no matter what you flip and be able to let your $ sit for some times a long time. Since semi retirement between my chump change pension and renting our suite that pays my mortgage and the bills but left me with F-All $ for myself, so I became a flipper again but for the most part stay away from car parts and unless it's gona be a deal of a life time not interested in the car flip thing because a car may sit forever before it sells. For the most part IMO.... flipping cars and parts just ain't what it used to be so I don't even want to bother with then to make $..... takes tooooo long

You got a wagon and as much as I hate to say it, use it as a work mule to make some $ to pick up buy and sell...''crap" like I do ( but I use a car trailer for big crap)

Start small and learn the flipping game before you dive into cars and parts witch don't take offence because it's nice to have dreams but you need a lot more experience in cars before you think you can make $ on them

I flip small crap to this day, keeps a cold beer in the fridge and the gas tank full amongst other things, I constantly hover the free sections of Craigslist and other local online sites, I also watch the tools section to buy and then flip again, and both have made me my more than ample spending $.

Some examples of my "crap" that made me $ this summer.....

FREE, older non working table saw.......... needed a new cord, took one off a dead drill, 2 weeks later sold $50. My time for picking it up, driving home, testing the motor, relacing the cord was a hour maybe but I had to sit on it for 2 weeks....... YET there was a chance that all I was doing WAS picking up some one elses garbage and that has happened a couple times.... it a ...... BUT you have no idea how much free crap is out there that you can make $ on and learn from the experience...."moving, can't take it, No room for it any more, etc, etc" And I'm talking about everything from a lawn mower to patio sets, everything in a house basically. BUT you NEED a garage of your own.

Costco, this spring they had those 1 car canvas car ports for sale... $100, normally $250 + taxes, I bout the last 5 they had, stuck them in the garage and forgot about then.
Summer rolled around a couple/three months long after that sale I put on craigslist/Used Victoria after making sure there was no sales on..... " new in box never opened bout from Costco $250 + taxes ( and included a link from Costco ) My loss your gain, $200 firm. First week sold 3, next week the last 2 sold. But that is $ you have to have and be able to sit on to make $ down the road

I do the above a lot, never include in the ad you have 5 or how many you have, but that's just the way I do it.

Now this place, I love and has made me $ AND free tools big time as every now and then they have unreal sales on certain but they are normally a 1 day no rain checks deal be there as soon as the door opens.......
Last month a one day only, I was waiting at the door for the joint to open that Sunday and had made up my mind I'll buy ALL they have....

$699 regular, on sale for 75% off = 174.75 and just under $200 after taxes
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/m...0-piece-socket-set-0589295p.html#.VHIkl0uPJ9A

I bout 6, everyone they had...... Come December watch Graigslist/Used Victoria for my ad..... "My loss your gain, I paid $699 + taxes at Canadian Tire ( link included ) But plans changed, $550 OBO, new in box, never opened, I need $ for X-Mas, This would make a perfect X-Mas present, no decent offer refused"........ Hech, if who ever shows up and waves $350 in face I'll take it, let them think they low ball beat me up............

 

Those are some great ideas Tedy. Maybe I can try that after I move. If I don't fill the two car garage with crap I can stock up on some sale items.
Right now I'm like those others, MOVING MUST SELL.

 

Do two or three and see how you like it. Maybe do a selection of different types, to see what might be the most profitable.

On a small scale, your best opportunity is probably to find something on CL that seems to be a solid car, but not running. If you get lucky, it will be an easy fix.

Also don't get emotionally involved by buying only what you like. Buy what SELLS.

 

Great tips, KK...well about Buy what SELLS. BUT and again I don't want this to come across as insulting and don't like opening a old wound but you have to know what you are doing if you are going to buy to flip cars especially if they don't run to begin with.... 1st and only repair witch was not really needed turned into a expensive repair on 101's Colony, I strongly suggest if cars are what 101 wants to flip is DON"T buy anything if it's not running due to the lack of mechanical ability's. If flipping cars is what 101 wants to do GREAT, DO IT! But maybe look for ones that run and drive, don't need a repair but only a good spit and polish detail/clean up and work on the other skills in time and grow from there. I'm by far a mechanic and in my early days when I flipped cars all the time for extra cash I already had basic training on working on cars from high school and my older cousins who.... flipped cars. So I was able to figure out yes I can buy this and make a buck or just walk away but to this day I have never bout a car to flip that didn't run to begin with. Main reason today I don't want to flip cars is...everything is so computer this and that, code XYZ911..... I honestly would not have a freeken clue and most likely loose my shirt...... and you don't want to see me with out a shirt let me tell you!

 

I wasn't being defensive against you nor did I take that as a mockery; I intended the "Yes, really" is just a "I realize I can" comment. And thanks!

Why, thank you. I do understand it's not a particularly large market at this time, but Wagons aren't very common now and there are some people around who would like to get Wagons in nice shape.

I hear you on the nightmares bit, having seen my share of vivid ones (and more to come yet? Though I learned from them and still can, even as unpleasant as they were).

Yeah, it's all talk but I really can go and search out information. There's the Wagon Forum here, Google and many books on the subject. I could also talk to my Grandfather about it, and he drove trucks for a long time starting in the 1940s so he's pretty experienced.

What do you mean by the Kansas & Annie bit? I know of Dorothy and company but who's Annie?

Quite a lengthy post here, Thank you Tedy. (I'm not about to go with the fib part though.) I already have access to a garage with not only the Chevy and Wagon in it, but also two trucks my Grandfather has. So, I do have room to work.

Thanks. If it goes to good use, it's worthwhile in my mind.

I did see a Caravan on Craigslist with what I think was a broken fuel injector; $1,900. Dodge Caravans and Pickup Trucks are pretty popular where I am at the moment, so I think that fixing those up could work pretty well. Thanks.

Thanks again. I think if I could get a Clamshell wagon and restore it well enough, it could sell for anywhere between $5k and $15k.

 

Maybe I got mixed up on my Dorothy's and Annie's. The point is there have been several nice suggestions here. Good luck whatever you do. If you don't try you may never know. Just start out with the best station wagons you can get for the money and don't put more time and money into them than you can get back.

 

Well you have dreams Jr. and that's OK, I'm going to leave this thread with good luck

 

Can't imagine trying to flip them, I have been looking for a while and can't find a nice clamshell for a decent price yet and I am looking everywhere. They all either need lots of work (which I can't do) or they are not affordable.

 

There ya go. 101Volts is the man who can fix you up with a good running clamshell at a fair price.

 

Again; Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thanks.

Thanks.

Well, Hullinger did find that 1973 that he later sold. Searching does result in finding, eventually.

That's the idea. I can't go selling without giving value to whoever is buying.