best way of selling a car

[kasearch@ix.netcom.com]

Need opinions on where to sell, or NOT sell a vehicle.  I am getting too old to drive my kit cobra. It is done up extremely nicely in reproducing it the original 65 427 I had. Auctions take 10% PLUS. Dealers (Streetside, Gateway) really don't know the cars. Hemmings, Bring a trailer are ?  Those of you who have had experiences, would you share your thoughts please.

[Vernon Estes]

There are so many ways to answer this question.. and the right answer for you depends on what you are trying to accomplish. When people are selling cars, what they are trying to accomplish through that sale can be wildly different on a case by case basis depending on what is most important to them. It isn't as simple as "whats the best way to sell a car?"... there are a million ways to skin a cat, same goes for selling a car.  


Some examples of factors which tend to influence the "right" route are:

Timing- how is it particularly important that you sell it quickly and get paid quickly? If timing matters (which is usually does) do you want it to sell in the next 2 years, 2 months, 2 days, or 2 hours? Do you want the money 2 months from now or do you want it 2 hours from now?

Money- do you feel motivated to get every last nickel out of the car or do you want someone else to spend the time and effort (and deal with the BS associated with selling cars/dealing with tire kickers, etc) to get that last bit out of it?

Next owner- are you sentimental about the car? Do you want to make sure it goes to someone you care about who you know will truly care about the car and enjoy it the way you have enjoyed it? This might come as a major shock to the system of some people reading this... but it isn't all about the money to many people who own these cars

Personal circumstance---this is a big one---do you like trying to sell cars? Some people actually enjoy it. I do it for a living but frankly I dont love selling.... I do what I do because I love to buy. Selling is the necessary evil of keeping the business afloat...it sucks most of the time and the only thing that makes it tolerable is knowing that I am making dedicated owners happy and helping them find cars that they have always dreamed of owning.  Do you have something else going on in y our life to where you simply don't have the time to sell your own car regardless of whether you like doing it nor not?  If you like selling,... you can use the sale of the car as a way to have what you consider to be a fun experience.

Ability- Even if you think you'd like to sell it yourself...CAN you sell the car? There is no magic formula to doing it... 90% of the process of marketing or "selling" these cars is being able to enjoy speaking with people and conveying the passion we all have for these cars. It sounds easy.. for some people it is easy... but it is very hard for others.  Depends on  who you are and what you are capable of.  Can you take nice pictures? Can you write a good description? Can you provide videos?

There are many other factors. Maybe if you tell us what factors are most important for you..we can make some suggestions.

The question reminds me of a saying that I've heard many oldschool car dealers say in regards to buying a classic car... "Do you want it good, cheap, or fast? You can generally pick 2.". Same sort of logic applies to selling.

Kind regards,
Vern

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Vern has great advice.
I'd start by placing an ad here. Accurate description and some good photos. It's free and this is your focus group. I always set my price a little high. That way I can let the guy chisel me down to my sale price. He feels good and I got what I wanted.
If that doesn't do the trick you can move to another platform. The problem you will find with all of them is the keyboard warriors who want to nit pick, low ball you and promote themselves as being more knowledgeable than you the owner.
There are also the internet fraudsters who will want to help you sell it and may even go so far as to list it on their own sites with your car pics and their contact info. There are also many newer money transfer traps you can fall into.
BAT seems to bring good money and they will for a fee send someone to photograph your car and write the ad. They don't take every car. Hemmings has a large audience and also an auction feature. I haven't seen any numbers on how effective they are.

[Bob Gaines]

There are so many ways to answer this question.. and the right answer for you depends on what you are trying to accomplish. When people are selling cars, what they are trying to accomplish through that sale can be wildly different on a case by case basis depending on what is most important to them. It isn't as simple as "whats the best way to sell a car?"... there are a million ways to skin a cat, same goes for selling a car.   


Some examples of factors which tend to influence the "right" route are:

Timing- how is it particularly important that you sell it quickly and get paid quickly? If timing matters (which is usually does) do you want it to sell in the next 2 years, 2 months, 2 days, or 2 hours? Do you want the money 2 months from now or do you want it 2 hours from now?

Money- do you feel motivated to get every last nickel out of the car or do you want someone else to spend the time and effort (and deal with the BS associated with selling cars/dealing with tire kickers, etc) to get that last bit out of it?

Next owner- are you sentimental about the car? Do you want to make sure it goes to someone you care about who you know will truly care about the car and enjoy it the way you have enjoyed it? This might come as a major shock to the system of some people reading this... but it isn't all about the money to many people who own these cars

Personal circumstance---this is a big one---do you like trying to sell cars? Some people actually enjoy it. I do it for a living but frankly I dont love selling.... I do what I do because I love to buy. Selling is the necessary evil of keeping the business afloat...it sucks most of the time and the only thing that makes it tolerable is knowing that I am making dedicated owners happy and helping them find cars that they have always dreamed of owning.  Do you have something else going on in y our life to where you simply don't have the time to sell your own car regardless of whether you like doing it nor not?  If you like selling,... you can use the sale of the car as a way to have what you consider to be a fun experience.

Ability- Even if you think you'd like to sell it yourself...CAN you sell the car? There is no magic formula to doing it... 90% of the process of marketing or "selling" these cars is being able to enjoy speaking with people and conveying the passion we all have for these cars. It sounds easy.. for some people it is easy... but it is very hard for others.  Depends on  who you are and what you are capable of.  Can you take nice pictures? Can you write a good description? Can you provide videos?

There are many other factors. Maybe if you tell us what factors are most important for you..we can make some suggestions.

The question reminds me of a saying that I've heard many oldschool car dealers say in regards to buying a classic car... "Do you want it good, cheap, or fast? You can generally pick 2.". Same sort of logic applies to selling.

Kind regards,
Vern

I think that advice covers all of the bases . I don't think I have heard it put better . I am amazed at the knowledge,expertise,and good moral compass Vern has learned and shown since I first meet him when he was 15 a couple of decades or so ago. I know I am leaving myself wide open but I have to say, you have done well pilgrim.  

[Bill]

Need opinions on where to sell, or NOT sell a vehicle.  I am getting too old to drive my kit cobra. It is done up extremely nicely in reproducing it the original 65 427 I had. Auctions take 10% PLUS. Dealers (Streetside, Gateway) really don't know the cars. Hemmings, Bring a trailer are ?  Those of you who have had experiences, would you share your thoughts please.

Disclaimer: I am not a buyer, my garage is full of mostly Ford powered 2rd convertibles, including a cobra replica of my choosing. Beware of those who will send private messages offering to either buy the car, or take it on consignment, they do not have your best interest in mind.


With that said, when it comes to cobra replicas there are a few additional factors that will come in to play:

Fiberglass or aluminum body
Manufacturer of the kit
How the car is titled
How close to original was the car built?
Bolt on wheels vs knock off wheels
15" vs 17",18",19" wheel/tire combination
4 wheel disk brakes vs disk and drum setup
Quality of parts used
Front and rear suspension setup
coil overs up front vs mustang II style suspension
straight axle rear, 3 link, or full independent rear suspension
Dash layout and set up
Gauges used (SW or Smiths are the top of the market)
Interior/exterior color combination (no, lime green with bright orange stripes is not the most desirable, nor is an all white leather interior)

Not all kits are the same, no matter what the manufacturers advertising will tell you about how theirs is the best in the industry. Don't get caught up in this type of hyperbole.
Regardless of what others will tell you, it will indeed boil down to the above (and a bit more) when it is actually time for the OP to sell.

Bill

[Kent]

in my opinion Hemmings is a good place to start for the beginning. I still like it as there are more older car guys and these are really nice people to do business with. But you maybe need some more time with Hemmings. Bringatrailer is good, achieves higher prices the most of the time, but you always have to pay them and the buyer also has a 5% fee.

One of the best sale opportunities is also old school go to car meets, have fun and maybe find some interested buyers.

[shelbymann1970]

in my opinion Hemmings is a good place to start for the beginning. I still like it as there are more older car guys and these are really nice people to do business with. But you maybe need some more time with Hemmings. Bringatrailer is good, achieves higher prices the most of the time, but you always have to pay them and the buyer also has a 5% fee.

One of the best sale opportunities is also old school go to car meets, have fun and maybe find some interested buyers.

You pay them 99 bucks which to me is pretty cheap and worth it(buyer is capped at 5 percent up to 7500). The only problem is that sometimes for their non "preferred" sellers they want low reserves.
 Vern, Well said. Very well said. Like Bob said you have come a long way in the hobby. We appreciate having younger people like you promoting the Marque.

[pchmotoho]

Last car I sold near the end of 2024 was thru WOB on BAT.  They charged 7 percent but I could not have been happier with the outcome. It ended up selling for way more than I expected. The question wasn't asked but as far as buying I just got a very nice car on the Vette forum, just like I picked up 6S1117 on this forum almost 13 years ago.  Now a days I would like to find a car before it hits BAT.

If I had a vintage Shelby American product I would consider Vern selling it for me. His presentations are as good as any and of course his knowledge of the product is awesome as well. 

[QuickSilverShelby]

Last car I sold near the end of 2024 was thru WOB on BAT. 

Is WOB a company?

QSS

[mark p]

Vern looks like he hit the nail on the head - lots of considerations involved. Good luck with the sale.

I sold my Black car thru Gateway last year... decided to take it there due to my personal situation. At that time, garage space was also an issue for me.
In my case, Gateway was also very conveniently located.
I found the staff to be genuine and straightforward. Maybe they were not "experts" at every model of car, but they have a large reach in marketing. When I suggested wording changes to the Ad, they did it.
FWIW, I don't regret that path. I got what I think was a reasonble price, and did not deal with lowballing buyers or much other B.S.
There was some anguish on my part dealing with this "Phila Showroom" moving to a building that was not 100% complete... but that was certainly a rare occurance.

[Vernon Estes]

I think that advice covers all of the bases . I don't think I have heard it put better . I am amazed at the knowledge,expertise,and good moral compass Vern has learned and shown since I first meet him when he was 15 a couple of decades or so ago. I know I am leaving myself wide open but I have to say, you have done well pilgrim.  

Ah shucks... thanks DAD 

[pchmotoho]

Last car I sold near the end of 2024 was thru WOB on BAT. 

Is WOB a company?

A broker who I believe deals exclusively with BAT. 

QSS

[Coralsnake]

Listen to Mr Gaines he knows stuff

[Vernon Estes]

in my opinion Hemmings is a good place to start for the beginning. I still like it as there are more older car guys and these are really nice people to do business with. But you maybe need some more time with Hemmings. Bringatrailer is good, achieves higher prices the most of the time, but you always have to pay them and the buyer also has a 5% fee.

One of the best sale opportunities is also old school go to car meets, have fun and maybe find some interested buyers.

You pay them 99 bucks which to me is pretty cheap and worth it(buyer is capped at 5 percent up to 7500). The only problem is that sometimes for their non "preferred" sellers they want low reserves.
 Vern, Well said. Very well said. Like Bob said you have come a long way in the hobby. We appreciate having younger people like you promoting the Marque.

BAT is a great platform on which to sell a car... I do it fairly often and I enjoy that particular way of selling.

I would direct readers back to my first post to the paragraph labeled "ability", though.

BaT is inexpensive to utilize as a seller... but if you dont have the ability to sell your own stuff properly on BaT..you're more than likely going to end up spending a massive amount of time to end up no-sale-ing your car.

BaT above any other avenue of selling requires an understanding of how to most effectively market a car on that specific platform.  It isnt "hard" when you understand the proper way to go about it... but it is time consuming to do it correctly... as most things are.

Kind regards,
Vern

[67 GT350]

I like to say:
When you are buying a car it is the greatest bestest car on the market.....but the second you pay and years later you want to sell, it somehow turns into junk and its really not that great. even if you fixed many things on it, for some reason it just is not that good anymore.

Hahaha, thats what my friends and I would laugh about....

Private sale is the best with cash, I would sell for less to a person with cash....