I should almost tag this as "Parking Masters" as well, for that epic parking job.
We spotted this lovely Galaxie 500 for sale recently, and it’s a perfect case of an unmotivated seller. From the description, to the price, to the simple fact that reality doesn’t quite seem to tie in with the seller’s description, one can safely assume you’re not going to get a great deal on this car.
This car is, if memory serves me since the photo didn’t turn out, for sale for $12,000. That seems like a decent price until you start reading the description. The seller says that it is in “Perfect, Mint Condition” with the exception of a few little details. Well hang on there, Sparky. It’s one or the other. He also claims that there is “no rust”. A quick, cursory visual inspection (meaning I looked at the car) showed spots of rust around the rocker panels and around all the wheel-wells. The seller said that the chrome was perfect, but it was pitted and cracked in spots. Oh, and the entire trunk is showing a delightful patina that appears to have been spray-bombed over with red primer.
It may be one of the best examples of a seller viewing the car through rose-coloured glasses I’ve stumbled across. What say you, Hoons? What’s the best example of Current Owner Optimism you’ve ever stumbled across?
I've seen a few Mustangs over the years which were little more than shells with a VIN tag priced in the five digits, just because they were Mustangs.
Great lines, Crack price.
Some assembly required…
<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_fVEg3I8ek1A/S54zBXoKYWI/AAAAAAAAAFU/9ZdSmQaaibc/s640/2010-03-15%2007.36.07.jpg">
Probably this: http://www.beforeblack.net/CantTouch.htm
It can't be that bad! In the words of Reverend Horton Heat:
You take the dog
I'll take the Galaxie 500
You get the cat
I get the couch you don't want anymore
You take the fish
I'll take the bowl
You take the dishes
While you're at it take my soul
But things ain't so bad
Cause i got a Galaxie 500
[youtube Yb_juTPQJUc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb_juTPQJUc youtube]
Thanks, I needed my daily dose of the Rev
Dude, that's awesome, and you never cease to amaze me Scroggs! Thanks buddy!Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
thanks for that. haven't seen those guys live since last summer… (it's time for me to big out the dootlegs…..)
thanks for that. haven't seen those guys live since last summer… (it's time for me to big out the dootlegs…..)
Almost mint, eh? Hows about I almost give you what your asking, Sparky.
It shalt be known henceforth that all Internet Sellers will go by Sparky (if they were not already).
Mint flavored crack pipe.
Mmmm…. someone's smoking some menthols. I hope the ashtrays work.
Things ain't so bad.
A year ago, a local dealer was trying to sell a 1983 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham for $7,500. It admittedly did have pristine paint — and just seeing an ‘83 Olds that hasn’t either oxidized or faded beyond recognition is novel — but $7,500 for a Malaise-era Toronado? Wow.
Someone across the street from me had a ‘64 Galaxie 500 hardtop for sale about two years ago, wanting $11,000 for it. It was in slightly better condition than the car in this ad (no visible rust, but pitted chrome and various bits of missing trim), with hideous 20-inch alloys. I gathered they were applying the Dumb Car Seller’s rule of adding the price of the mods ($3,500 worth of overwrought wheels and modern tires) to the most optimistic price guide listing for the car. If it was in good mechanical shape, $7,500 wouldn’t be outlandish for a 390/C6 Galaxie hardtop (although the missing trim is a problem; where are you going to find more?), but $11,000 was just silly.
Hemmings Classic Car this month has an article on someone that RESTORED the Toronado's twin, an 1980s Buick Riviera.
Early Toronado – cool car! Eldosaurus – cool car! Boattail Riviera – cool car! Fast forward to the end of the decade and they're all sitting on the same platform competing for the "biggest pile o' sh*t GM ever made" award.
Two things I have learned watching the collector car hobby.
1) Unloved cars become extremely rare cars.
2) Taste changes.
If that was my car I wouldn't be very motivated to sell it, either.
This is what I would do if I had a significant other who wanted me to part with a car before I wanted to. "I'm trying honey, but no one wants to pay what this car is worth!"
You know, that was the same thing I thought when I read the above. Good call.
I didn't realize the term "Mint Condition" was open to such liberal interpretation. Also, even if the car actually was mint, $12k is still too high. A hardtop, especially if it's an XL, sure, but not a plain old sedan.
However, I should note that "Galaxie 500" has got to be one of the top ten greatest car names ever.
Another Galaxie 500 referenced song. Bonus Dart swinger reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTuo1sSxCM4&fe...
Honestly? My own. I have the Camaro listed for $18,500 and doubt I would take much less. It is a honest 12-14K car but it isn't going to be sold for that. I'll keep. Only priced high if someone decides to smoke some crack and buy it, if it sells I start on other projects I need to do.
Well, ya know, Sparky, if you have a Certs your breath is in "mint condition." Someone needs to open one of the doors and take a sniff.
I'm sparky too
Crack pipe.
What? Oh, sorry, wrong site.
didn't see the pics until just now… but when i first saw this pop up on my phone in text… i really, really hoped the quotation marks referred to colour……that kinda sucks…. though i'd still buy it.
I'd buy it too…Not for $12k mind you, but I would buy it.
If it was truly in mint condition, I'd take it. A late aunt of mine had a lowly '65 Custom 500 4-door (289 2-bbl, Cruise-O-Matic, PS, PB, A/C) with the rubber floor covering and no radio. I can remember riding in it when it was brand new, and the thing was so quiet inside (this was when Ford first started touting their quiet cars), it was a revelation. Especially when compared to our then brand new '66 Rambler American, which had tons of wind noise, and a terrible harmonic vibration at 70mph.
The car pictured probably has a 289, since there's no 352 emblem on the front fender. As for the trunk lid, it looks like it came off of a burgundy car (note the vestiges of a dealer decal on the driver's side. Too bad it's so rusty.
"No rust" ranks up there high on the list of the greatest lies of all time, right below "the check is in the mail" and "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." I tend to pick fights with those sellers on eBay by asking things like "Describe all of the rust you thought was too insignificant to mention" and the more PO'ed they get, the more likely I am to conclude they are lying about every other aspect of the car.
Nice web page! Thank you!