Today’s Craigslist Bargain

[Dangermouse]

These ads make my day.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/2671918747.html

"1982 delorean coupe #5216, in original unrestored condition,car has been in storage for twenty two years in a temp controled building, 10,210 original miles. Needs no restoration and can be started, left cad coverter is bad and needs to be replaced and detailing. $ 21,000.00 Firm...Low ballers don't bother I turned down a $19,000.00 cash offer two weeks ago......"

Now don’t low-ball me – I know this car is worth a fortune – it’s been accumulating value for the past 22 years. Don’t try an stiff me now.

Now, don’t everyone jump on a plane to the Windy City to snap up this bargain

[sean]

Is it just me or is that mold?

[Dracula]

....eft cad coverter is bad and needs to be replaced...

It's the right one that's important, after all. It's not like the DeLorean only has one...

[Chris Burns]

No work needed. lol Yeah right, after sitting for that long and judging by the ratty interior I'm sure it probably needs more than the seller thinks. Probably a diamond in the rough.

[DMCMW Dave]

Is it just me or is that mold?

Yeah apparently the building was temperature controlled, but not humidity controlled.

[sdg3205]

Why is it I see so many automatics stored in drive? Am I missing something?

[BigBenb84]

Why is it I see so many automatics stored in drive? Am I missing something?

Maybe its Neutral (or anything other than park) so they can roll it. Even though he says "it runs"...

I like how it seems he put tire shine on it so it "pops".

[stevedmc]

It looks like there is some cocaine left on the steering wheel. It certainly is original.

[Dangermouse]

Maybe its Neutral (or anything other than park) so they can roll it. Even though he says "it runs"...
"pops".

Now I'm not saying that Craigslist advertisers are misleading, but he doesn't actually say that it runs. He says it "can be started" but the sceptic in me asks "yes it can be, but has it been"

[Mark D]

Too bad the seller is off his rocker on what the car is worth. He's gotta be lying about the 19K cash offer he turned down.

Unless that IS cocaine, and not mold. The street value for that much nose candy is probably close to his asking price.

...also, an interesting note that the VIN on the car is 5216, and the VIN of the screen used BTTF A-car at Universal is 5261. Both October 81 builds. Why would he state the car is an 82?

[DeLorean]

If that 19K was a real offer, he really should have taken it, likely he won't be seeing a higher one than that from anyone who knows jack about these cars.

[dvonk]

curious, as DMCFL actually has VIN 5216 for sale right now (http://delorean.com/delorean/05216/) for $39.9k. his price is a... steal. :umm:

http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010102_e616f2/720.jpg http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_005545_45b337/720.jpg

http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010058_6ce003/720.jpg http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010105_73a974/720.jpg

[Dangermouse]

...also, an interesting note that the VIN on the car is 5216, and the VIN of the screen used BTTF A-car at Universal is 5261. Both October 81 builds. Why would he state the car is an 82?

I first thought he meant to say that it was 15216. But that VIN doesn't exist (10216 used to be in AL, maybe still is)


curious, as DMCFL actually has VIN 5216 for sale right now (http://delorean.com/delorean/05216/) for $39.9k. his price is a... steal. :umm:

http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010102_e616f2/720.jpg http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_005545_45b337/720.jpg

http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010058_6ce003/720.jpg http://delorean.com/content/db/05216/images/20111017_010105_73a974/720.jpg

Good find, dvonk, though don't know whats up with DMCH prohibiting linking to their pictures, maybe to prevent scammers

[Dracula]

I know a few people will subtract 500 from the VIN of their cars to get what they call the production number because they think it makes the car "more valuable" if its an early car. The only way I've ever seen an early car worth more is when its parted out.

If he did subtract 500, that would make that car 5716; which has no additional data. Someone should email him and request a picture of the vin plaque.

[Dangermouse]

I know a few people will subtract 500 from the VIN of their cars to get what they call the production number because they think it makes the car "more valuable" if its an early car. The only way I've ever seen an early car worth more is when its parted out.

If he did subtract 500, that would make that car 5716; which has no additional data. Someone should email him and request a picture of the vin plaque.

VIN list has 5716 in Chelsea MA, at some point.

[Dracula]

VIN list has 5716 in Chelsea MA, at some point.

I consider that nothing additional so long as it doesn't have interior color or transmission type listed.

[dvonk]

Good find, dvonk, though don't know whats up with DMCH prohibiting linking to their pictures, maybe to prevent scammers

hm, perhaps. it looked fine when i hit "Preview Post" before actually submitting... oh well, you guys get the idea.

Chad might be right with the subtract 500 thing. though anyone active in the DeLorean community knows thats not how we(you) identify (y)our vehicle(s)... this guy is either a noob or a phony.

[guss23]

I just love the "because I have owned it, its worth a premium" attitude. Some people are idiots!!


Jason:race:

[Mark D]

I sent the guy an email yesterday and surprisingly he responded back:

My email:

The DeLorean owners community is publicly mocking you on the internet for your craigslist ad...

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?2095-Today%E2%80%99s-Craigslist-Bargain

You might want to consider updating your ad with more truth and less bullshit.

-Mark


His Response:

Sorry to insult the delorean owners, I placed the ad for the 82 year old owner who is not all there,I own a storage building and have several of his cars. At this time his storage bill over $8000.00 and he can't pay me. I know nothing about these cars or the values other than what he told me, the cars were in a heated building for years but after years went by they were moved to a older dusty warehouse building.It seems you might know somthing about these cars if you can help me or point me in the right direction please do. I'm just trying to help him and maybe recoupe some of the storage bill. Thank You Jim

And my response back:

Hi Jim,
If you sign up for the message board over on www.dmctalk.org there is a whole community of hundreds of DeLorean owners that can help you with getting more info on the car and giving you a better idea of what it is actually worth. There appears to be mold growing on the leather parts of the interior which is killing your chance of making a sale at the price you are asking. A car that has been sitting that long will almost always require new fuel system components. (Pump, accumulator, etc). I would recommend NOT attempting to start it if there is any bad gas in it that could potentially clog up injectors and the fuel distributor.

Craigslist is notorious for Delorean related scams and people thinking their fixer-upper is worth a small fortune, so I apologuze for being so blunt in my email. If you are serious about getting good advice for getting max dollar out of your sale then the people over on dmctalk.org can help you. Just go to the website and sign up for an account so you have the ability to post messages and respond back in the thread I sent a link to in my original email.

You are also lucky that you are in chicago and near DMC Midwest in crystal lake. This shop owned by Dave Swingle is one of the best shops in the country that specializes in DMC repair. The phone number for the shop is 815-459-6439. He may be able to give you an accurate appraisal as well as help with info on what repairs may be necessary.
Mark

EDIT:

And his response back:


Thank you for the advise and the web site..Jim (yes I corrected the ad)

[Lenny]

If I were him I'd call back that $19,000.00 bid and say SOLD!!!

If there was an actual bid.

[DMCMW Dave]

I sent the guy an email yesterday and surprisingly he responded back:

My email:

The DeLorean owners community is publicly mocking you on the internet for your craigslist ad...

You might want to consider updating your ad with more truth and less bullshit.

-Mark

... This shop owned by Dave Swingle is .

EDIT:


Thanks for the referral - I had a nice conversation with the seller and am getting him informed and steered in the right direction.

I do have to say though, that at times, members of this forum can be a bit brutal on unsuspecting folks just trying to move a car that they know very little about, and are just repeating what they have been told by others who are equally uninformed. I don't think that this reflects well on our community of owners/enthusiasts that have so much to offer! Please don't take this personally, I think your note to the seller was one of several. In the end, your email was able to help him get more accurate information, but maybe we can find a little kinder and gentler way of reaching out.

I see this from time to time and the reaction on the other end is typically "who are these people writing me nasty emails, when they don't really have any interest in buying the car?".

[SamHill]

It doesn't reflect well, and is really very petty.

[Delorean Industries]

I think it is safe to say most people don't know much about what they own in a situation like this and they almost always think they are sitting on a gold mine.

[Rich W]

I believe this is the same car listed for sale in Dixon, IL.
(has been listed elsewhere since about mid-October)

In a huge warehouse of lots of nice old cars, trucks, etc.

DeLorean was near the front of warehouse...lots of space
behind it, from other photos, listed elsewhere.

I had planned to go see it before the DMCH Open House,
but I was way too busy at work (even on the weekends).

Glad to hear the guy got some good advice and hopefully on
the path to sell the car for the "right price" for its condition.

Later,
Rich W.

[Mark D]

That is great the guy called you Dave, I was hoping he would get in touch and that you could help him out.

I felt kinda bad for giving him a hard time so I apologized in my second email. From the sounds of it there were other people that must have contacted him too.

There are occasional scammers posting fake ads once in a great while, but for the most part the people listing these ads are just misinformed like you were saying. If I was trying to sell some other guy's rare car and he threw a number at me I'd probably just list it for whatever value he said.

I wonder if it would be helpful to have a thread here or an FAQ section that people could send a link to sellers on craigslist/ebay. Something like a "10 things sellers should know before listing a DeLorean for sale." Then if someone feels like responding to one of these crazy ads they can just send them the link. People tend to belive things they read on websites more than random emails from strangers telling them their car isn't worth what they are asking.

[Renee_1632]

Does anyone else think the seats look...furry?

[dvonk]

yes, the steering wheel as well. the "fur" is mold. yuck.

[EdR5150]

Relisted, cheaper: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/2702485806.html