ERA ad idea: IE: I'm so unloved these days

[mrmustang]

As always, in order to sell a Cobra these days you need to step up to the plate and think of some unique ways to catch a potential buyers attention. I had a dream last night and somewhere around 3am I grabbed the pad on the side of my bed and wrote the following (no Freudian interpretation needed thank you, I already know I'm nuts )

"I'm so unloved these days, my owner no longer has that gleam in his eye when he views me. I've seen him on his computer lately, while he has yet to cheat on me, he lusts after that stunning 289FIA listed here, I know he wants her badly, and that he is ready to divorce me and go chasing after another. Now I don't want you to think he is abusing me, he does take me out for drives in the country as much as possible, and he does keep me clean and well fed with 93 octane fuel and fresh redline oils, but it's just not the same. Someone buy me who can appreciate my beauty, someone buy me who can appreciate the power of my 2X4 Tunnelport headed 427 sideoiler engine. Someone buy me and stroke the toploader 4spd gearshift, make me purr one minute and roar the next. Someone buy me and save me from a life of neglected love....."



Then I'd go into the details on the car.....What do you guys think?


Bill S.

[blykins]

You feeling ok, Bill?

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by blykins

You feeling ok, Bill?

I am, but looked at the pad this morning and thought to myself "I really have a great imagination".......Of course I read it to my wife (we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this summer) who thought I was nuts.....I told her I was going to post it here and see what type of responses I get...


Bill S.

[dcdoug]

I can't believe this car hasn't sold. What are prospective buyers thinking? This has got to be one of the best deals out there.

[lovehamr]

My advise is to drink heavily..........

[stefanog]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

As always, in order to sell a Cobra these days you need to step up to the plate and think of some unique ways to catch a potential buyers attention. I had a dream last night and somewhere around 3am I grabbed the pad on the side of my bed and wrote the following (no Freudian interpretation needed thank you, I already know I'm nuts )

"I'm so unloved these days, my owner no longer has that gleam in his eye when he views me. I've seen him on his computer lately, while he has yet to cheat on me, he lusts after that stunning 289FIA listed here, I know he wants her badly, and that he is ready to divorce me and go chasing after another. Now I don't want you to think he is abusing me, he does take me out for drives in the country as much as possible, and he does keep me clean and well fed with 93 octane fuel and fresh redline oils, but it's just not the same. Someone buy me who can appreciate my beauty, someone buy me who can appreciate the power of my 2X4 Tunnelport headed 427 sideoiler engine. Someone buy me and stroke the toploader 4spd gearshift, make me purr one minute and roar the next. Someone buy me and save me from a life of neglected love....."



Then I'd go into the details on the car.....What do you guys think?


Bill S.

Yep! It's official Bill, you're nuts!

No seriously, that ERA should have sold 3 times over by now!

Keep at it my friend, as they say, there is a bum for every seat!

Stef

[brobehr]

very nice car



brobehr

[67JET]

What ever it takes--right. When i buy something the first thing i think is -- What's wrong with it? Why is this guy getting rid of it? If i know that he's just moving on, it helps me to know thathe just lost interest and i'm not buying his problem just helping him get on to his next project. Vety nice -- by the way.

[PatBuckley]

Bill,

Obviously you are asking for opinions on your idea, so here goes.

I think at best it is just a cute idea.

I think presenting good pictures of the car along with easy to read specifications should be all that is required.

I don't like the picture you posted in this thread BTW - the rear fenders look very Factory Fivish for some reason and the car isn't placed in a scene that makes people think about how much fun it would be to drive......it should be parked at the start of some twisty roads with a the drivers door open!

It also needs to be lowered about an inch and a half.

[mrmustang]

Pat,

Thanks, that is exactly the type of feedback I was fishing for. Picture wise I suck, I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination. The picture above shows as close to true color instead of the pictures I took this weekend which show the car as a much lighter green




Thanks for the feedback. Let's keep it coming.

Bill S.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

Bill,

Obviously you are asking for opinions on your idea, so here goes.
I think at best it is just a cute idea.

...It also needs to be lowered about an inch and a half.

To further Pat's comments, I offer my opinions as he does-in the spirit of well-meaning criticism.

I second most of his thoughts with these additions. The car has poor (but new-appearing) tires, aluminum wheels, and a 500HP Tunnel Port which has little historic/power inducement in a replica. A 600HP set-up would. At chassis #188, the car is a 'non'bar' car, meaning the older version. Full bar cars can command higher prices, in conjunction with greater content. The dearth of real buyers has indicated that the car needs greater content to command such an ask price.

It's a really nicely assembled early car with excellent finish and appearance-but "aggressively priced" would be below 40K IMO.

As a 20+year owner, it pains me to see so nice an ERA not trade.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

To further Pat's comments, I offer my opinions as he does-in the spirit of well-meaning criticism.

I second most of his thoughts with these additions. The car has poor (but new-appearing) tires, aluminum wheels, and a 500HP Tunnel Port which has little historic/power inducement in a replica. A 600HP set-up would. At chassis #188, the car is a 'non'bar' car, meaning the older version. Full bar cars can command higher prices, in conjunction with greater content. The dearth of real buyers has indicated that the car needs greater content to command such an ask price.

It's a really nicely assembled early car with excellent finish and appearance-but "aggressively priced" would be below 40K IMO.

As a 20+year owner, it pains me to see so nice an ERA not trade.

HP is conservative as I do not have easy access to a chassis dyno here in my area of PA. better to underestimate than overestimate as far as I am concerned. Tires are for the street and have less than 500 miles on them (being less than a year old and purchased when I got the new Trigo wheels towards the middle of the summer). I do not see this as a track car, but instead a really nice well built driver (semi show car as I do not feel like detailing it weekly(daily)..........I'm not willing to lose money on the car just so I can buy someone elses FIA (now I have two to lust over).Break even, sure, but lose money, not going to happen...if it sells before the two FIA's do, great, if not, then I'll most likely take it off the market and put my FFR up for sale instead......Again I appreciate the response as this is why I made the post in the first place.


Sincerely,

Bill S.

[MaSnaka]

I agree with Pat about the stance. Picture is not doing you justice. The green color would look better lakeside on a sunny day with blue sky early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low. Read Curt Scotts photo tips at Cobra Country. Also you say "aggressivly priced to sell at $$$$ firm" drop the "firm" it comes across as stubborn and is a turn off. I'm trying to be constructive since you asked for some opinions. I'm in no way trying to bash you or your car. I think your car is awsome. Good luck.

John

[tkb289]

Bill,

Clever AD … might just work!

This may seem like a stupid question ( so I'll apologize in advance ) but along with a different approach to the AD, have you tried advertising in other places aside from Club Cobra? Maybe casting a wider net would find the right person for your car.

For the photos, as mentioned above, Curt Scott's photo guide is excellent. Also maybe try a different camera (borrow one?) or exposure setting, as color response and fidelity can vary from camera to camera. Also, try some shots on a overcast day, or just as the sun sets for more even lighting to bring out the true color of the car.

It's a great Cobra at a great price, that's for sure! I hope you find a good home for ERA 188 … I know how much you lust after an FIA

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Bill,

Clever AD … might just work!

This may seem like a stupid question ( so I'll apologize in advance ) but along with a different approach to the AD, have you tried advertising in other places aside from Club Cobra? Maybe casting a wider net would find the right person for your car.

For the photos, as mentioned above, Curt Scott's photo guide is excellent. Also maybe try a different camera (borrow one?) or exposure setting, as color response and fidelity can vary from camera to camera. Also, try some shots on a overcast day, or just as the sun sets for more even lighting to bring out the true color of the car.

It's a great Cobra at a great price, that's for sure! I hope you find a good home for ERA 188 … I know how much you lust after an FIA

I need an overcast day when it is not pouring and I can get home before the sun goes down, no doubt about it. I'm going to take better shots per Curt's excellent web page instructions, might even list it on his web site, just depends how quickly I want to sell it.

Thanks,

Bill S.

[kgs365]

Bill

the car is beautiful...but ERA Chas nailed it..and please take this with a grain of salt ...(and a stiff drink)..a newer ERA has had some improvements that your car does not..the price you are asking is not that far away from a new ERA built to how an owner would like..if you have $45K to spend you most likely have $50K to buy new and set up how you want it (color, interior, motor etc..Jag rear end vs. ERA rear end)..I appreciate you not wanting to lose $$$...but Bill this is a car not a mutual fund!...most cars depreciate...you buy and sell all the time..there is certainly a better market for these toys in the $20K to $30K range then $40K to $50K (unless its an original classic, and even those have lost significant value in these times, I think you even said your business is down 30%...?...peoples disposable income has also decreased)...

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by kgs365

Bill

the car is beautiful...but ERA Chas nailed it..and please take this with a grain of salt ...(and a stiff drink)..a newer ERA has had some improvements that your car does not..the price you are asking is not that far away from a new ERA built to how an owner would like..if you have $45K to spend you most likely have $50K to buy new and set up how you want it (color, interior, motor etc..Jag rear end vs. ERA rear end)..I appreciate you not wanting to lose $$$...but Bill this is a car not a mutual fund!...most cars depreciate...you buy and sell all the time..there is certainly a better market for these toys in the $20K to $30K range then $40K to $50K (unless its an original classic, and even those have lost significant value in these times, I think you even said your business is down 30%...?...peoples disposable income has also decreased)...

yes and no, I do agree with some things you are saying, but show me where you could find a car with my drivetrain for less? There are 427 center oilers, and 428 CJ cars out there, but not many sideoiler powered ERA's currently on the market. Again, I can wait, it's not a fire sale, yes I'd like one of the two current FIA's listed for sale here, but if I don't sell, I don't sell. I guess that to me is the differences right now. Eventually I'll find the right buyer who loves what he sees. Usually the first person who comes to look at it buys it. In this case it will be the second person, as the first person I took out for a ride and it started to drizzle, and he flipped out asking me how I could drive the car in anything but perfect weather (he was one of those who diaper wipes his daily driver when he gets home, or at least that is what his wife told mine while we were out for a spin). The car is what it is, a nicely built, well taken care of weekend driver. Either you love it as it is, or you do not. As for price, many out there cannot squeeze that extra 5K and then only have a roller, some can, again, that is not for me to say one way or the other. Once again, I do appreciate your insight on this thread.


Sincerely,

Bill S.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

... as the first person I took out for a ride and it started to drizzle, and he flipped out...

Bill, do you not let prospective buyers drive it themselves?

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by kgs365

Bill

the car is beautiful...but ERA Chas nailed it..and please take this with a grain of salt ...(and a stiff drink)..a newer ERA has had some improvements that your car does not..the price you are asking is not that far away from a new ERA built to how an owner would like..if you have $45K to spend you most likely have $50K to buy new and set up how you want it (color, interior, motor etc..Jag rear end vs. ERA rear end)..I appreciate you not wanting to lose $$$...but Bill this is a car not a mutual fund!...most cars depreciate...you buy and sell all the time..there is certainly a better market for these toys in the $20K to $30K range then $40K to $50K (unless its an original classic, and even those have lost significant value in these times, I think you even said your business is down 30%...?...peoples disposable income has also decreased)...

$50K for a small block maybe. No way you're going to get a sideoiler in it for $50K.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

$50K for a small block maybe. No way you're going to get a sideoiler in it for $50K.

I agree. I'm building my ERA myself, doing just about all the work including paint. Using a Keith Craft built 428 and toploader and there isn't any way it is going to come in for under $55K. A sideoiler would probably be another $3K on that. And ERA kit prices have gone up $2K since I took delivery of mine.

Dan