1971t on eBay euro bidders

[periodr3]

1971 t on eBay need to make room for other project, not a plug for the car but more of a question bidders are from Germany and nietherlands how do I put deal together after the Ned of the auction. Or, how do I not get scammed or even better how do I lower the chances?

[Matt Monson]

Have them pay by direct bank wire. A lot of these Europeans are restoration shops and will send out their own driver to pick up the car. It can be very smooth and professional. Just secure the payment as a transfer before you release the car. No pay pal and no cashier check from the driver of the rig that picks it up.

Is this one of the bidders?
http://www.seeland-klassische-porsche.de/
If so, I sold them a car. Really easy transaction.

[Unobtanium-inc]

We sell more than half of our cars to European customers and have never had a problem. They always pay by International Bank Wire (which will cost you $25 to receive). There will sometimes be some weird requests for paperwork, copies of the title, etc, and we provide what they ask for in most cases. The only way you could be scammed would be by letting the car leave before you have the money, so don't do it! A bank wire cannot be cancelled or any kind of stop payment put on it. Once it clears your account it's yours.

My advice is to NEVER handle any of the transport. If the buyer asks you to transport the car, or even to arrange it on your end, tell them no. The hassle is huge, and then it becomes your problem if the car is sitting at the port, or jammed up somewhere along the line. Feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions. Like I said, we sell to European (and Asian and Australian) buyers regularly. -- Matt

[techweenie]

I never understand the 'will I get scammed' concern. You have the car, you wait for the money; you have the money and the car, then you let the car go. Virtually all the risk is on the buyer.

[Arne2]

The 240Z I had just prior to the Porsche sold to a buyer in Norway. Simple, clean easy sale. Most of these people know what they are doing and make all the arrangements, you just sit back and wait for the money and then their transport pickup. Really doesn't get much easier.

[CountD]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I never understand the 'will I get scammed' concern. You have the car, you wait for the money; you have the money and the car, then you let the car go. Virtually all the risk is on the buyer.

This is right on. Words of wisdom.

[black_falcon]

Am I the only one who hates the fact that we're losing a lot of nice cars to European buyers?

[techweenie]

I just 'saved' one yesterday from a German broker.
Had to be prepared with cash in 24 hours. Would have lost it otherwise.
For a seller it's hard to keep a car local of US buyers dither and waffle and 'have to clear it with the wife.'

[Matt Monson]

I've never seen the problem there. We got what, 80% of them when new? Why not let the Germans appreciate the wonderful German engineering that is Porsche.

My old '70 T ended up back in Berlin after an immaculate restoration. The new owner contacted me and loved his car just as much as any of us love our cars. People are people.

[johnvan8]

We can always buy them back. Question is, are we prepared to pay a premium, shipping, and buy sight unseen? The wife will have a fit over that one! :-)

[CountD]

Originally Posted by black_falcon

Am I the only one who hates the fact that we're losing a lot of nice cars to European buyers?

Cars almost always return. The good ones always have a knack for coming back. I remember when I was working at a Ferrari dealer in high school during the huge boom (the late 1980's) and many cars were going to Japan. We had so many cars heading out that there was a certain air of loss and loathing. The Germans were in on it hardcore - this was the time when 288 GTOS were going for $1.1 million no problem. Not bad for a twin turbo 308....

Fast forward into the '90s and and they began to return. That same 288 GTO came back 10 years later from Germany to some guy who bought it in Greenwich for $350K. Same with a lot of others.

I would not worry about losing the good ones. If you want one of the good 911s keep $30K in cash under your mattress and be prepared to jump on it when it comes with no hesitation. They are there if you aren't a game player.

The world is a much smaller place now and just because a car goes 6,000 miles away it only takes a boat or plane to get them back.

[techweenie]

I sent a Tangerine coupe to Stuttgart a couple years ago. Everybody in the US seemed to want to buy it far far under market value.

A listed car gets a fair chance. Europeans are looking at Pelican and all the other sites and they are ready to buy. A fair number of cars stay here only because sellers are wary about "difficulties" in selling and shipping to an overseas buyer.

But if you go to the big overseas shippers on any given day, you'll see 15-20 911s waiting to leave on the next ship. And some of those cars I've seen have been for sale here for a very very long time... Europeans are buying a lot of the cars we don't want. They were first to jump on the '74-77 cars sitting here, unloved. Then Targas. Now, 964s...

[alwaysflat6s]

This should be a "stickie". Some very good and enduring words of wisdom.

[blau911]

The german era of buying back early 911 cars will end in the next year or two. Why? Because there are only so many germans willing and able to buy an old 911 and pay big money to restore it properly or pay big money to buy one from someone else in germany that has paid big to have it restored. There are 83million germans and 340million americans. The german market just by sheer population is smaller.
BTW, the last two oldtimer car shows I was at here in Munich schocked me a bit. There were a large number of big 50/60's American muscle cars and cruisers (T-Birds, Chevy Belaires, Mustangs, vettes, etc...) all of which people hovered around and worshipped - while the dozen or so early 911's and 356's were only casually glanced at and quickly disregarded.
It's a phase like everything else. It too will pass.

[wgwollet]

Good comments Blue911, but let me punch a flaw in your theory. First yes we have 320 million but most of the 320 do not care or could afford a German sports cars. Unlike Germany with less people but a higher per cent of residents like the car.
Second, supply and demand, check the volume...much less then American muscle or chrome cars, much cheaper to operate too.
Third, you forgot about the rest of the world or Europe for that matter, you need to count the whole population of Europe now we have 300 million people, I shipped oneto Holland, England and Austria.
Forth, I am being tools by people on hear that they are buying everything, SC too, because in Eastern Europe there are good cheap body shops restoring these cars. If you restore a car here in the So Ca world you will pay 5 fold. I wouldn't be surprised that the cars could come back restored for much less.
Last, take a 1966 911, there is just not many, here is a car that is a 50 year icon, no car in the world can claim that...rear engine, rear drive, light, fun, I am not even talking how many are just track cars in the mix....

[KNS]

blau,

I sort of hope you're right, I hate seeing all these cars leave the country. However, there will continually be Germans (or Europeans in general) reaching retirement age, or an age old enough that they have enough disposable income to pick up a car from overseas.

I saw a program recently about a car show in Sweden, the whole show was old American cars, '50-'60s. They were nuts about them!

[Raceboy]

Europeans buy Porsches from US because there are far less to choose from and they are expensive! It is possible to buy Porsches for a reasonable price from UK but they have a steering wheel on the wrong side and most EU countries do not allow RHD car into traffic, only on some very rare occasions (like person moving from one country to another).

There is a considerable following of US cars and other older classics in Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Denmark) though many Eastern European countries have a "rice culture" blossoming which means fag-tuning Japanese cars and living by Fast and Furious style, even grown men.
This is of course a generalization but that is how it looks here

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by blau911

The german era of buying back early 911 cars will end in the next year or two.

The "hard asset" investment community disagrees with that assessment. With the upcoming depreciation of our dollar - and it's going to be huge - the smart money is betting on more cars than ever going overseas over the next 5 years.

[techweenie]

If the "smart money" is right this time, it will be the first time.

[periodr3]

Car is going to a good home in Holland nice guy paid 31.5, could not gat an offer over 20 for a car with full mechanical rebuild, engine, trans, brakes, brake lines, rubber, gas lines etc... All done by auto associates of CT a total shame. Had it advertised on CL, local ad and with consigner, to no avail. I had over 19 k in receipts. So I am not so sure how many cars sell for advertised price.