Services

I am considering purchasing a wagon from a distance. I've done it before, but the cars were for a lot less money so the risk was lower.

Have any of you used an inspection service or appraiser?

 

I have!

More than twice, actually. The International Vehicle Appraisers network offers access to appraisers located around the country who offer varying levels of services, including test drives and other "inspection" services as well as (for a higher fee) a full-on appraisal of whatever car you're considering. They will also send you a formal written report with photos THEY take of the car. In each of the cases I hired, I opted for the inspection services (not a formal appraisal) and was very glad I did. I dodged a couple of bullets as a result. The money was well spent (~$200 if I recall correctly). Here's their website address:

http://www.i-van.org/IVANAppraisers.html

Good luck!

 

You may also get lucky having a member of the Station Wagon Forums look at it for you. I've done a couple for members here, and another member did an inspection for me in Wisconsin back in 2012, allowing me to purchase my '81 Bonneville Safari with confidence.

 

thanks! How did you handle the purchase? I am very far away and flying is an option but its expensive

 

thanks! How did you handle the purchase? I am very far away and flying is an option but its expensive

 

Where is the car located?

 

Initially, I spoke to the seller by phone, and arranged for my friend Mike (from this forum) to inspect the wagon. After getting a positive reaction from Mike, I thought about it for a day or two then decided to negotiate a purchase. This was all started with a local Craig's List ad (in Wisconsin, I'm in Oregon). Used a CL search engine to stumble on it a year earlier when it was more money. Anyway, with Mike's insight into what kind of person the seller was, i just decided to trust him, and he trusted me. He had the title, e-mailed me a copy of it so I could be sure he was the owner. Then, after negotiating a price, I send him a cashiers check from my credit union. I agreed that the wagon wouldn't move until he verified he had the funds, which is what I did. Once he had the money, I arranged shipping, which was the most problematic part of the whole deal. I would have flown in, driven it home, except it was the dead of winter.

When push comes to shove, if you can't do the deal IN PERSON, you are going to have to take some risk. I just tried to minimize the risk as much as possible.

Marshall

 

Texas and I am in PA

 

I did the same things years ago. The amount was a lot less, so the risk was manageable. Now I am looking at 7 grand for the car, plus another thousand to transport it. Nothing like mailing a huge sum of money to a total stranger LOL.

 

Maybe narrowing down your shipping and receiving locations may help a member decide if close by. Just an idea of what cities you are in and shipping from. There are good members in both of those areas.

Or send cash to me and I'll help!

 

In two cases, I passed. Details not offered by the sellers were revealed through the inspections that helped me determine that neither fit was not right for me. For long distance purchases that I have made, bank checks (no wire/electronic transfers) were used. I sent the first half of the purchase price via overnight US Mail once I knew the transport truck was on its way to pick up the car. I sent the second half after the car arrived on my door step. Each time I put the checks in the mail, I emailed a photo of said check and the tracking number provided by USPS to the seller. Everything worked out fine in both cases. Keeping in mind, some negotiating was necessary to agree upon these arrangements; not every seller/buyer is the same of course.

There was one exception. My very first long distance purchase was my clamshell wagon. It was located in Chicago and I was living at the time in Los Angeles. I happened to be flying back to NYS to visit family when I found that car and started dialogue with the seller. Long story short, when I arrived in NYS, I drove to Chicago with my dad to see the wagon. Fell in love with it and drove it back to my parents' house (dad followed me in the other car). Parents stored the car for almost a month until such time as I could arrange for a truck to transport it to CA.

 

well, its a moot point now, the car sold. too bad. i've been looking for one for decades. its was as close to my dream car as i could get

 

Don't give up. Sometimes wagons reappear on the market soon after they've been sold. This one is a beauty...really like the color!

 

Is that a Rambler? The body lines look it, but I've never seen that front end.

 

it's a 64 Rambler Classic. The 63 was all new, and facelifted for 64