Selling a ‘classic’ Beetle long distance

[coldstart]

I am having some difficulty selling my new-to-me 1971 VW Beetle. I bought the car mainly for the early Porsche sport seats that were in the car as I wanted a second sport seat for my car. While I do really enjoy driving the Beetle, I prefer driving my 1972 911T.

I have had several people interested in the car from southern US. All of which presented half-decent offers (given the great USD-CAD exchange rate). However, none of them wanted a PPI or requested further details on the car. While a good driver, this car has many issues as do most $5K cars. These include: no reverse lights (not the bulbs but maybe the fuse), hole cut in the lower dash, aftermarket pedals, radio, power windows, wheels, etc.). I drove this car 8 hours after buying it without an issue and it’s structurally solid but it’s a driver not anywhere near a show car.

I have the original wheels (with tires and hubcaps), steering wheel but no original radio. I think I might get a better response with the original wheels reinstalled.

There are also VIN issues but I have records going back to the early 1980s and the car was registered and insured without any problem or questions.

One potential buyer request my home address and a copy of the title which was a red flag for me. The same guy gave me hell for not responding to his offer on the same day. Another guy wired me a deposit based on his low bid— I returned it as we did not have a deal in place.

I have listed the car for sale locally and on Damba. The local offers have been very low. The long distance offers are much better but no one has bothered with a PPI or is willing to fly in, buy and drive home from Toronto. Any advice?

[1990C4S]

Sell the car to someone who shows up with cash and a means to remove the car same day.

Do not 'hold' the car for anyone who will 'be there soon' unless you have a nonrefundable deposit of at least $1,000. Give the buyer seven days to complete the transaction, or you keep the deposit.

Do not do a PPI unless payment to the shop has been mad in advance, or the shop has a valid CC from the prospective buyer to cover the costs.

Sell the car with a bill of sale that documents the sale 'as is, where is'. They leave with the car, you have your cash, and they never contact you again.

http://www.truehelpinternetwork.com/members/legalforms/pdf_docs/Automobile-Bill-Of-Sale.pdf

And have the UVIP in hand if it's required in your province.

It's not a $2,000,000 Ferrari, keep it simple.

[coldstart]

I agree with that in an ideal world. Unfortunately, most people today don’t deal in cash and the local offers are almost half of those from the U.S. I even had one offer from Germany which may be a good option.

[1990C4S]

It is not difficult to get $5k cash. They are making excuses. You cannot take a certified cheque, and you cannot take bank note.

Alternatives: They send you an Interac transfer for $5k, but not the password. A valid Interac email means the funds have been allocated.

They come to collect the car, they give you the password, and you complete the transaction and see the funds in your account before you sign the title over.

Or you meet at a local bank branch and have a verified transaction done on the spot.

Anything other than cash and you have to have a picture of their driver's license.

For a $50,000 sale you could use escrow, that's overkill for your car.

Don't compare a local offer of $3,000 to a remote offer of $5k. The second one is likely a scam. Your only real offers a re people who will show up and pay you in a verifiable manner. In the end, the car is worth what someone will show up and pay....

[Sooner or later]

Gotta get new pics with correct wheels.

You trying to make some money or break even.

[coldstart]

I am selling the car for less than I paid but I will make money after I sell the second sport seat. Plus, I got to have an adventure going long distance to buy the car and drive home. And I get to own a classic Beetle even if it’s for a short while. I now see why they are so popular.

The original plan was that my wife was going to drive the Beetle occasionally but that isn’t happening so far. She rarely drives her daily driver much less an occasional car.

I am going to sand and respray the original wheels and then put them on the car. I would have to do it anyways if I were keeping the Beetle. I just prefer an easy sale at a lower amount without so much work.

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Gotta get new pics with correct wheels.

You trying to make some money or break even.

[Don Ro]

Looks like an Empi exhaust.
Yeah, I'd get those wheels off.

[pwd72s]

Like said earlier, we're hardly talking a high dollar car here. I'd probably pocket the cash from one of the local low offers...get it outathere.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Looks like an Empi exhaust.
Yeah, I'd get those wheels off.

Those Super Beetles are worth less... that's also an aftermarket (Bugspray?) carb... less.
Wheels are awful.

Rust?

[coldstart]

Surprisingly, the Beetle is not rusty. The heater tubes, floors, shock towers, door bottoms and all panels are super solid. It has shallow surface rust on the outside due to a poor repaint and then some took an angle grinder to flaking paint.

The interior is not great either. But she runs well.

I likely will end up keeping her as she is cheap to run and insure and I’m not going to give the car away.

[Tobra]

I would keep it.

Krylon aluminum paint is pretty close match for the OEM color.

Superbeetles.com has a LOT of info, looks like superbeetlesonly.com is no more, too bad. I think there are a fair number of one year only parts on that particular car.

[Dixie]

Devil's advocate here..
I live in the south. Why the he!! would I fly to Toronto to buy this VW dredged through salt and snow for $5,000? Only reason I can think of is of I'm scamming you. Otherwise, I'd add in the price of the plane ticket, or transport, and buy a local VW in better condition. It's not like it's a rare car.

[sammyg2]

Put the stock wheels back on, try to make it look as stock as possible.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by tcar

Those Super Beetles are worth less... that's also an aftermarket (Bugspray?) carb... less.
Wheels are awful.

Rust?

Not a bugspray, they have two bbarrels.

I believe that is a stock superbeetle carb pictured, prolly a 1973.

[porsche930dude]

I find ebay is the easiest place to sell cars like this that arnt normal. You get alot less stupid questions and tire kickers. Usually the people that ask questions dont even bid. 5k is alot for a newer beetle that needs work I think you will be lucky to get 4k. I can tell you that stance isnt helping it one bit.

[widebody911]

I honestly doubt anyone is going to bother with a PPI on a car like that.

I sold my '52 split to a guy in Texas. He hounded me with questions about this and that, wanted pictures up the wazoo. He ended up having a shop patch up the metalwork, slap some paint on it, and he's flipping it, so it probably wasn't worth all the hassle in the first place, but oh well.

I sold my '56 Karmann Ghia to a guy in Germany. Again, he wanted a lot of pix and asked a lot of questions, but now the car is in a climate-controlled man-cave showroom.

[911boost]

Just patch the metal on your 23 window and slap some paint on it and I will buy it for cheap without asking for any pictures Thom, just to get it off your hands.

[herr_oberst]

Doctor, my eyes!

Those wheels are craptacular.

(Is that a Canadian only front bumper? I don't remember those lights..)

[sand_man]

Flame Suit, 'ON'

I know that with "classic beetle" many are referring to any rear-engine (air/oil cooled) car that pre-dates the "new beetle", which went into production some time around '98. However, from someone who cut their teeth on vintage VW, "classic" would refer to something up to maybe '67 for beetles...possibly up to '69 for other cars (Ghia, Type 3, etc), but usually the older the better...definitely would not be a super beetle. Often exceptions are made for rag-tops. I clicked thinking I'd see something older.

EDIT: I think ebay might have a separate designation for "classic beetle" in their listing service, to handle the separation with the liquid cooled beetles

[recycled sixtie]

Having owned a 1958, a 1961 and a 1973 old style Beetle I agree that the older the better. Having said that the latter ones have a bigger engine and can keep up with traffic better. I still think there are buyers out there but it has to be priced right.

Yes I agree I like the original wheels better and like the stock exhaust better. The more stock likely it is easier to sell. Yes ebay is the way to go. Hopefully no rust on it.
Cheers, Guy