Emergency Sale

[stuartsolomon]

EMERGENCY SALE If anyone is interested, I have a 1965 ERA 427, balanced, blueprinted AC Cobra that is impeccable. This car was voted one of the three best Cobra replicas in America at the Pheonix car show. I bought this car 3 years ago for $60K, with an asking price of 65k. I have put around $5k upgrading the suspension, all bushings, and upgrading the break system. We have a family emergency and are moving at the end of this month. The car must be sold immediately. The first buyer with 25k cash and carry, takes the car. Please contact me by Phone or E-mail. Serious inquiries only, please.

Off 408-871-0712
Hm 408-369-9910
Cell 408-406-3850
E-mail stuartgs@cdesignideas.com

[avanti-176]

Once again I am in the right place at the wrong time (for me anyway)....
looks like someone is going to get a hell of a deal!

Have a good one,
Dan

[Maricopa]

Hmmmm.....

[clayfoushee]

Hmmmmm......is right.

[southernfriedcj]

Looks like a legit ad to me. Name and several phone #'s. If it was near by I would go take a look, and if as advertised I'd buy and resell.
Good luck with the sale. Shouldn't last long at 25k.
Stuart, why don't you Ebay the car with no reserve? It'll bring more than 25k.

[mrmustang]

I'm game. Anyone in the area who can take a look at it for me.

Bill S.

[HIQ]

If it is real he could get $35K just as fast IMHO.

[clayfoushee]

Stuart,

I apologize in advance for seeming suspicious, but the price is just too low to seem legit. for this car. I realize you've posted contact numbers, etc., and on the surface it appears that it could be legit. If it is, surely you don't mind, because you'll sell it immediately at that price, and I'm terribly sorry about your misfortune.

I have a garage full, so I'm not going to bother to do the due diligence here, but whomever might be interested certainly should. I'd definitely arrange to see the car in person (or have an agent look at it), and get some documentation (copies of title, registration, etc.), as well as some from the seller (DL # etc.) before any deposit money changes hands. I'd put the deposit in escrow, and insist on a notarized bill of sale before any money is transferred directly to the seller.

[luke-44]

Stuart - I think Clay has hit it right on the head and I imagine he is speaking for many - one thing you learn quickly is it's a pretty knowledgeable bunch here....and new posters selling bargain cars come under close review...I think the appropriate saying would be "if it sounds too good to be true......"

A serial number would add some credibility.

Clay - good advice about how to proceed.

[Trueoo7]

Seems odd he bought the car 3 years ago but JUST NOW decided to become a member of this forum. Somethings not right !!

[rated x]

Someone out there must know this car? family emergency? call local classic car dealer car would be sold in a minute> I am surprised it is not on ebay ?? sounds too good to be true!!!

[SnakeBitt]

Hey, I'm in the market for a car and if this is a legit deal contact me. I will need proof of ownership and a LOT more info than whats in your "advertisement" here. How about giving us some more pics of the car and some of the engine. Perhaps a build sheet while you're at it (and WHO built the engine)! What is the serial number of the car? Was it a home build or did ERA put it together?
If you're really in a hurry to sell the car, why haven't you replied since your initial post? Hmmmm??

[DKing]

Guys,
Turns out this guy lives about four miles from where I work. I spoke with him on the phone and he said he had an East Coast offer for $30k cash&carry. I drove over to look at the car after I got off work (two hours later), and the price had drifted up to $35k cash&carry.

So, I get there and there is a red (no stripe) Cobra sitting in the garage. Big block under the hood, but I wasn't able to get a close look for oil galleries or casting numbers. Serial number is #ERA154. I was set to take it out for a spin, but they had run it out of gas in the garage. This seemed odd to me, since the fuel gauge read 3/4 tank and the engine was not warm. I attributed this to them sizing me up as a "tire-kicker" ("Wrong!") and didn't want me to drive it. Didn't see a title (I didn't actually ask), but he had a book of build papers and articles about ERA and that particular car (newspaper clipping from Texas). I don't know much about ERA 427's, but it did have the serial number, the round tail lights, and the footbox venting that I would expect to find on an ERA.

If I had been able to verify ownership, verify the 427SO, actually DRIVE it (remember, I didn't even get to HEAR it), et cetera, I would have dropped $25k and taken the car. BUT, with the price increasing 40% since his initial posting I'm out of the game. I was uneasy with the escalating price and the "no gas" story. Don't know the guy well enough to know if that was actually the case.

Next?

Well, I want a 289 FIA car anyway... Black... or Blue, maybe... I'm sure I want an ERA. But, maybe a Unique... Or, if Shelby would drop his price on his CSX7000...But no, it has to be an ERA... Or...

You get the picture: part sour grapes and part wishful thinking...

DKing

[Excaliber]

Stuart,
We talked on the phone, I'm still waiting for your e-mail pics.

Aloha, Ernie

[mrmustang]

.

[DKing]

Bill, et al:
Assuming Stuart actually holds the title I do believe he does want to sell the car. However, right off the bat he told me over the phone that he had another offer for $30k and that the car would sell for no less. When I arrived to look at the car the price had gone to $35k. He's supposed to call me this morning and meet me for a drive at noon. I fully anticipate the price to be in the $40k's at that time.
Offering the car at $25k seems to have been a tactic to generate interest. This it seems to have accomplished. Now I think he's sorting through the "buyers" to see who has the dough and how high he can bid the price up. This, of course, is all conjecture. I really don't know what this guy is up to. I'm interpreting his actions. (See my post above). I do, however, feel played.
If I had the same car to sell, would I sell it for $25k? Not even on my death bed. Would I offer it at $25k and then bid it up from there? No, it doesn't mesh with my ethical standards. Yet, this happens on Ebay all the time (right?), but somehow when it is not stated as an auction (i.e. when the guy says, "first $25k takes it") it starts to smell a little fishy.
Think about it. I was at the guy's doorstep looking at the car. Cash is a mere phone call away. I could have driven the car home last night. He said that "the first $25k takes it" but he reneged on this statement. It leaves me wondering what else is not what it seems, or what else is going to change in the sale agreement.

Assuming he holds the title, there is a pretty nice car to be bought here. However, I think it is going to sell for pretty darn close to market value.

I could be wrong. Nevertheless, caveat emptor!

DKing

BTW: A couple of oddities: hubs are not true knock off's, they are the lug-to-knockoff conversion type; also, had radials in the front and bias ply on the rear --- a pretty dangerous tire combination; fuel guage may not work; passenger side fresh air damper is stuck. Paint looks pretty decent, though there are some signs of wear. I didn't see any outgassing blisters in the paint. Didn't have a chance to see this thing up on a lift. Seller was pretty open about all of these details, and in some cases pointed them out.

[427Aggie]

I think there are alot of people waiting on a call from Stuart....I spoke to him yesterday and received the emailed pictures...I was also told that someone had offered $35 for it to go to Hawaii...I told him in no uncertain terms I was not going to get into a bidding war...I would pay cash and drive it off just as requested...I could have been out there today to get it if needed...This car on the market with the options it has is about $40... besides the hub wheels it also is 12.5/1 comp motor...that means 100 octane of better boys....I agree its not the way I deal...if he wanted a higher price ask for it and it you don't get a bite then start dropping the price...

Playing this game in reverse leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth and unfortunately Stuart may get left holding the bag because nobody wants to deal with him.

[427Aggie]

I just got an email from Stuart...stating that the price is now $35 because he had 3 offers at that price and would start working down the list of who called first and offer it out.

Now I really am not going to go to $35......Here is a good question for you to ponder...

What dumbass in their right mind would call a guy and say hey I know you want 25 but I will give you 35 for it right now!

Smells bad.

Matt

[clayfoushee]

Ernie,

Is that you in Hawaii who upped the bidding to $35K?

I'm just glad it's a real car, hope the other legalities (title, etc.) work out. Too bad he's playing games, but I'm not surprised. Something had to be wrong given the initial ad.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally posted by 427Aggie


What dumbass in their right mind would call a guy and say hey I know you want 25 but I will give you 35 for it right now!

Smells bad.

Matt

Nail hit.