Wanted to say thank you!

[Susanne]

Been in this hobby since I was a kid... so the T affliction really grabbed me early, and I've been there since I was maybe 9. So thanks, Pop!!

I've tried to get a "newer" car, but every time, for some silly reason, when I say I'm interested, people not only say "No, I don't want to sell it to YOU", but run away, ghost me, then sell to someone else. I just don't get it...I have pulled money out of my savings and sold stock to buy a car only to find the person who I thought I could make a deal with ghosts me, then sells to someone else.

I get it. I didn't believe it, but I finally understand that, while I love Henry's car, the people nowadays who want to sell theirs will sell it to ANYONE but me. I don't get it, I just don't understand if it was something I said, something my dad did to piss someone off, but I am tired of chasing my tail trying to get a car I want, and NOT having someone decide, for whatever reason, you will sell your car to anyone BUT me.

Seriously - EVERY time the seller has some condition, or gives me a reason why "i" am not worthy of their car. Were it once, fine, but SEVEN times in a row???

So thank you for tellng me that while I love this hobby, and while I have grease and rust in my veins, I am not, for some reason known only to you, not worthy of buying your baby you no longer want. Because... hell... I don't know. Really... I just don't know.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Saddens me that you would have such troubles. It certainly doesn't make sense. I can't recall anyone that didn't like your dad. I wasn't much older than you, and I was proud to say I knew him and that he knew who I was! I think I recall seeing you at the Calistoga races a couple times. And with your long history in the hobby I would think anybody should be pleased to sell their cherished car to you.

I hope you feel better. A lot of good people in this hobby. Percentage-wise I think antique automobile people are much better than most interests and endeavors. However, like all things to do with people, there have to be some rotten apples. Your dad wasn't one of the rotten apples, and neither are you.
Whatever it is that you are looking for? There must be a good one just out there waiting for you.
Take care.

[mtntee20]

Susanne,

Do you think the problem is that you're a woman? I'm just pulling out straws here because I can't think of any reason someone wouldn't sell a car to anyone with the money and good intentions.

A suggestion: Find someone who will buy the car you want and sell it straight over to you. When the both of you went to look at the car, you could be the "expert witness" looking it over for the other person. You might find a guy to be the buyer and see if there is a sexist thing going on. I, for one, would have no problems selling to you. I'm sure there are several on this list who feel the same way.

Good Luck,
Terry

[Susanne]

Honestly, I just don't know... I was raised in this hobby, I want like nothing else to keep it alive... I keep trying to make things come together, and every time I think it's close, from car parts to build a speedster to an almost brass car to a few "improved cars", I pull the money out and then they sell to someone else, or decide not to sell... only to sell 3-6 months later after telling me "I decided to keep the car"...

So I just don't rightly know... but after all this, after all these years of trying to keep the family legacy alive and getting strange cold shoulders, I just don't know any more.

[Steve Jelf]

There was an editor in Atlanta who got a new job in Philadelphia. He had his Atlanta house appraised for sale, and thought the figure he was given seemed awfully low. So he took all his African art out of the place, removed all the photos of his black family, and had his white secretary and her kids stay in the house when it was reappraised. Of course, the reappraisal came in many thousands of dollars higher. Discrimination is never stated blatantly, but it's widely practiced. I think Terry may be onto something. Perhaps a male friend acting as a straw purchaser could make the deal for you. It's galling that such subterfuges can be necessary, but unfortunately it's reality.

[DHort]

Makes no sense to me why anyone would not sell a car to a woman instead of a man. You certainly have a good reputation on this forum and you know your stuff, so that cannot be it. I am sure there is someone you know who will buy the car for you or pretend to be your husband, and have his wife write the check. I am sure you want to drive the car before you buy and that could be the sticky part if the previous owner is in the car with you. I guess whoever goes with you will have to know how to drive a T, and you both get a test run.

In the mean time, think of it as the car was not meant for you because there is really something wrong with it. That someone is looking out for you without you knowing it. When it is time, a car will be yours.

Good luck!

[TRDxB2]

Curious to know what "conditions" a seller would levy on the sale of a car. Not sure about your decision time but, next time be ready to commit and have a cash deposit in hand (green always overcomes bias with greed). Use the following to document the transaction. Take a selfie of you, seller and the car too. Taking a friend along helps to. You'll need to check into California's Laws about what rights you have if the Seller tries to back out or sold to someone else (that's fraud). "May the Ford be with you, always"
You can down load the word document

Vehicle-Purchase-Deposit-Receipt.doc

(16.5 KiB) Downloaded 96 times

[DHort]

I see you could have had the 27 Roadster for sale out east by William, then he sold it to someone else.

[mtntee20]

If you decide to carry large amounts of cash on a purchase potential....TAKE someone WITH you for security.

It's better to be car-less and still have all of your cash than being car-less AND cash-less.

[Sarikatime]

Susanne, if you ever find a T to buy in Arizona, let me know, I would be happy to go with you to make sure the deal goes through. Frank.

[John Codman]

If my T was for sale ( and sadly, it may be before too long) I wouldn't care if you were male, female, black, white or 3 feet six inches tall. The only thing that I care about is that your money is green.

[Susanne]

I see you could have had the 27 Roadster for sale out east by William, then he sold it to someone else.

Yep... that's the one. I made contact with him, Set up to pull the money out of my retirement account, I sent him an email, said he didn't want to sell it to someone so far away... then he dropped off the map. Next I know, the day my investment sends me the money to buy it, he posts it's sold... to someone else.

So no, I couldn't have. I wanted to, it was kinda sorta exactly what I was looking for (very late 27 roadster), and he wouldn't sell to me. This wasn't the first time something like that's happened, it's been eating me for a few days and finally just lost it, I guess. Kind of the straw that broke the camel's back.

Anyway, I apologize for venting on a public forum.

[RajoRacer]

Susanne,

There is a pretty nice "Improved" Runabout up here in Washington available from a local T Club member I'm familiar with - nice car - lots of mechanicals done - Ruckstell & wires & the price is more than fair - drop me a note & I'll send you his contact info !

[DHort]

Best of luck. I hope this is what you are looking for. Let us all know.

[Matt in California]

Susanne,
Feel free to email me with what you are looking for and a price range. I will see if I can find leads locally. I seem to find plenty of deals...

Matt

[Burger in Spokane]

You don't really want another one of these cars, do you ?

[JimDix]

Locally it seems that people don't want to sell a car to local people. Several times people who you thought were your friends, sell cars or collections off to people outside our local area. It's like our money isn't good enough for them. Okay, maybe it's sentimental, and they don't want to see someone driving around in Grandpa's Model T, But we knew Grandpa, and would be honored to be the next folks to care for his car. Months after the fact you see someone close to the person and ask, 'What happened to Bill's Cars?" and get "Oh, they were all sold out of the area." Frustrating.

[TRDxB2]

Locally it seems that people don't want to sell a car to local people. Several times people who you thought were your friends, sell cars or collections off to people outside our local area. It's like our money isn't good enough for them. Okay, maybe it's sentimental, and they don't want to see someone driving around in Grandpa's Model T, But we knew Grandpa, and would be honored to be the next folks to care for his car. Months after the fact you see someone close to the person and ask, 'What happened to Bill's Cars?" and get "Oh, they were all sold out of the area." Frustrating.

Another reason: If anything goes wrong with it local gossip about the transaction will go in many directions - likely harming both of you. The old saying applies: "Good fences make good neighbors"