Best place to sell a classic?
Discussion
Caveat: If this was my car I would have used various classified ads on motoring sites first off, but it's not my car to sell.
FIL has spent the best part of 8 years restoring a 1954 MGTF 1250. It's the second one he's done, the first was in the early 90s. The enjoyment for him is in the building and satisfaction on getting everything perfect. Due to ill health and being to worries about taking it on the open road he decided to sell it.
I initially offered to help him write a decent online classified ad and place it here; Car & Classic etc. That was the plan, until I was told recently he's letting a well-known MG garage sell it on commission. They'll get a little over £3k on the deal. He said he's worried that if he sold it privately they'd be potential hassle and people would know where the car was kept and steal it – he is paranoid at the best of times.
My line of thought is that you want it more viewable than tucked away on a marque-specialist site where the people visiting are more than likely to already have this car or one very much like it.
This isn't a financial issue, it's more about helping his car sell. What sites would you recommend and how can I gently persuade him that not everybody who comes to view a car is looking to steal it later that night?
It's a matching numbers RHD 1954 MGTF 1250 and it is flawless; he is a complete perfectionist. The garage selling it say its the best they've ever seen in over 40 years of business. The biggest MG anorak would not find fault with it, even down to how 3 of 4 sets of bolts do up one way and the 4th set is reversed (something to do with access and that's how they came out of the factory).
Thanks in advance.
FIL has spent the best part of 8 years restoring a 1954 MGTF 1250. It's the second one he's done, the first was in the early 90s. The enjoyment for him is in the building and satisfaction on getting everything perfect. Due to ill health and being to worries about taking it on the open road he decided to sell it.
I initially offered to help him write a decent online classified ad and place it here; Car & Classic etc. That was the plan, until I was told recently he's letting a well-known MG garage sell it on commission. They'll get a little over £3k on the deal. He said he's worried that if he sold it privately they'd be potential hassle and people would know where the car was kept and steal it – he is paranoid at the best of times.
My line of thought is that you want it more viewable than tucked away on a marque-specialist site where the people visiting are more than likely to already have this car or one very much like it.
This isn't a financial issue, it's more about helping his car sell. What sites would you recommend and how can I gently persuade him that not everybody who comes to view a car is looking to steal it later that night?
It's a matching numbers RHD 1954 MGTF 1250 and it is flawless; he is a complete perfectionist. The garage selling it say its the best they've ever seen in over 40 years of business. The biggest MG anorak would not find fault with it, even down to how 3 of 4 sets of bolts do up one way and the 4th set is reversed (something to do with access and that's how they came out of the factory).
Thanks in advance.
DrSteveBrule said:
Caveat: If this was my car I would have used various classified ads on motoring sites first off, but it's not my car to sell.
FIL has spent the best part of 8 years restoring a 1954 MGTF 1250. It's the second one he's done, the first was in the early 90s. The enjoyment for him is in the building and satisfaction on getting everything perfect. Due to ill health and being to worries about taking it on the open road he decided to sell it.
I initially offered to help him write a decent online classified ad and place it here; Car & Classic etc. That was the plan, until I was told recently he's letting a well-known MG garage sell it on commission. They'll get a little over £3k on the deal. He said he's worried that if he sold it privately they'd be potential hassle and people would know where the car was kept and steal it – he is paranoid at the best of times.
My line of thought is that you want it more viewable than tucked away on a marque-specialist site where the people visiting are more than likely to already have this car or one very much like it.
This isn't a financial issue, it's more about helping his car sell. What sites would you recommend and how can I gently persuade him that not everybody who comes to view a car is looking to steal it later that night?
It's a matching numbers RHD 1954 MGTF 1250 and it is flawless; he is a complete perfectionist. The garage selling it say its the best they've ever seen in over 40 years of business. The biggest MG anorak would not find fault with it, even down to how 3 of 4 sets of bolts do up one way and the 4th set is reversed (something to do with access and that's how they came out of the factory).
Thanks in advance.
Sell it for him. Stick it on ebay, and everyone will see it. Simples.FIL has spent the best part of 8 years restoring a 1954 MGTF 1250. It's the second one he's done, the first was in the early 90s. The enjoyment for him is in the building and satisfaction on getting everything perfect. Due to ill health and being to worries about taking it on the open road he decided to sell it.
I initially offered to help him write a decent online classified ad and place it here; Car & Classic etc. That was the plan, until I was told recently he's letting a well-known MG garage sell it on commission. They'll get a little over £3k on the deal. He said he's worried that if he sold it privately they'd be potential hassle and people would know where the car was kept and steal it – he is paranoid at the best of times.
My line of thought is that you want it more viewable than tucked away on a marque-specialist site where the people visiting are more than likely to already have this car or one very much like it.
This isn't a financial issue, it's more about helping his car sell. What sites would you recommend and how can I gently persuade him that not everybody who comes to view a car is looking to steal it later that night?
It's a matching numbers RHD 1954 MGTF 1250 and it is flawless; he is a complete perfectionist. The garage selling it say its the best they've ever seen in over 40 years of business. The biggest MG anorak would not find fault with it, even down to how 3 of 4 sets of bolts do up one way and the 4th set is reversed (something to do with access and that's how they came out of the factory).
Thanks in advance.
Let the specialist sell it on commission unless you really fancy the bother of doing it yourself!
As a buyer I find private sales can be awkward and the car wouldn't be insured for a test drive. A decent specialist will make sure it's in running order and road legal and would have other MG models in stock so that someone who came to look at one of them may be sidetracked into looking at your TF.
Going rate seems to be 10% which a good agent will earn, unlike the huge double commission the auctioneers take.
As a buyer I find private sales can be awkward and the car wouldn't be insured for a test drive. A decent specialist will make sure it's in running order and road legal and would have other MG models in stock so that someone who came to look at one of them may be sidetracked into looking at your TF.
Going rate seems to be 10% which a good agent will earn, unlike the huge double commission the auctioneers take.
rovermorris999 said:
If he wants a quick sale then perhaps auction it at ACA in Kings Lynn. £70 to enter it and 5% commission. I recently sold a car through them and it was completely painless.
ACA are one of the nicer auctions to deal with, car lovers and no pretentiousness either. Another suggestion is themarket.co.uk who do it all online, sold cars with them myself and the write ups are great. Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff