Making a Long Distance Deal

Why would anyone in their right mind buy a car that they can't physically set an eye on? While I'm sure we all have our various reasons, for me, at least, the car of my dreams rarely is found in my own backyard. even here in Los Angeles, the undisputed automotive mecca of the western hemisphere, finding the "right" car at the "right" price is a seemingly impossible task.

And judging from the proliferation of nationally distributed "Cars For Sale" publications, I'm not the only one in the country willing to attempt a long distance deal for the right car. My most recent purchase is a case in point. After calling about a 1966 Chevelle Super Sport (only to find out that it had just been sold the day before), the owner of the Chevelle and I continued the conversation like so many car nuts usually do. The discussion of one car led to the discussion of another-until the conversation finally centered around a particular '70 Chevelle SS 396 convertible that my friend thought could be bought for a reasonable price.

Now, an original '70 Chevelle SS ragtop would pique the curiosity of most anybody with Chevrolet orange coursing through their veins, but the real kicker was that the 396 happened to be a 375- horse version and it was also still in the possession of the original owner. That was it ... l soon found myself wrapped up in "Chuck's Latest Quest."

This is how I saw my Chevelle for the first time, parked in an open shed. I was surprised at how well preserved the body was... too bad the engine wasn't.

After getting the owner's name and city from my latest Chevelle connection and extracting the correct phone number from directory assistance, I soon found myself chatting with the owner of the aforementioned Chevelle convertible. Yes, he still owned the car. And yes, it could still be bought. Unfortunately, I still didn't know where that left me in regards to a "reasonable price." The best way to ascertain a price is to come right out and ask, which I did. The response wasn't quite as reasonable as I had hoped, but still, it wasn't out of the ballpark.

With the price of the car having been determined, I needed more information. Putting together an all-encompassing questionnaire would be a near impossibility, simply because of all the variables from car to car. You can, however, use the interview outline I've prepared to help determine the overall condition of the car you're interested in. And, while interviewing the owner, be sure to take plenty of notes rather than trying to rely on your memory for all the details. It will also give you a record of the owner's representation of the car before you meet the car (and owner) in person, just in case it's not quite what you had expected it to be.

After the interview (provided you're still interested in the car), you should probably ask for photos; preferably a front 3/4 shot, a rear 3/4 shot (opposite side), and an interior shot. If at all possible, you may even want to ask for specific photos of any areas of special interest. Does the engine still have the correct smog system? Does the rust around the wheelwells extend all the way through or is it just on the surface? Does it have the right numbers on the carb air horn? If the person sending the photos you've asked for, be sure to return them regardless of the outcome of your transaction.

In the case of the Chevelle convertible, the photos portrayed the car just as it had been described to me on the phone. It was now time to close the deal.

After negotiating a mutally agreeable price, perhaps the best way to ensure both parties are protected is to set up a form of deposit (usually non-refundable). This shows good intent by both parties and the receipt that should accompany this phase of the transaction makes it a legally binding agreement. the balance of the money is generally agreed to be paid upon receipt of the car and clear title. Should there be any problems with the paperwork, you may or may not choose to back out of the deal, depending on the complexity of the problem. Still, as the buyer, you should expect all the paperwork to be in order when you show up with the rest of the money.

Getting the car home is not without its own set of problems. If the car is running, you may want to simply arrange transportation to its location and drive it home. If it's not driveable, trailering it home may turn out to be a logical alternative.

The original engine made the trip home in the trunk, in pieces. All the original parts are still there, except the smog pump and related hardware.

In the case of the Chevelle convertible, the original engine was out of the car, suffering from a dropped valve and major internal damage. What's more, trailering it from Virginia to California seemed a bit out of the question. I then made a financially-foolish decision and had a used small block installed; flew to Virginia and drove the Chevelle 2,483 miles back to California. Had I taken the time to figure out the cost of the plane fare, a used engine, labor to install it, fuel, food, motel bill for the return trip (not to mention a week's worth of vacation time used), I'd have been way ahead of the game to hire a transport company to pick up the car, an attendant engine assembly, and have it delivered to my door. I only mention this to help keep you from making the same mistake.

While the excursion back East to pick up the car was a financial pitfall, the trip itself was absolutely delightful. I personally met the original owner, the gentleman who originally told me about the car, and his nephew, who was the man that installed the small block and drove 50-some miles to pickme up at the airport! Sometimes the friendships and good time outweigh the financial considerations, and this was one of those times.

After checking out the Chevelle's mechanicals in preparation for the long trip home, I bought an inexpensive AM/FM tape player, a half-dozen high-energy rock 'n roll tapes to keep me company and a full tank of gas before taking to the highway.

The trip to California was fairly uneventful, with the only problem being a troublesome carburetor that had a slight stumble on accelaration as I pulled out of the parking lot of Howard Johnson's. But by the time I crossed from Virginia into Tennessee, the stumble had really tripped-up the engine's ability to climb even the smallest incline. clearly, some mechanical help was needed; the toolbox I'd packed in my suitcase for the return trip "just in case," was about to earn its keep.

Johnny Swink, new-found friend, engine installer and airport chauffer, re-installs the air cleaner after we unsuccessfully tried to adjust the stumble out of the carb.

Shortly after this photo, I found myself in Bristol, Tennessee, looking for a replacement Q-jet carb. That was the only major flaw of the entire trip.

I was fortunate enough to locate a parts store just as the tired Q-jet metered its last drop of fuel before giving up the ghost. A half-hour and $100 later (thank God they took credit cards!), both the Chevelle and I were huming happily back down the road. The remainder of the trip was a blur of fast food and cheap hotels as I blazed from one coast to the other on I-40.

This was practically my home for four days. My bottom still hurts every time I think about the broken spring poking through the upholstery and into my backside. Many soft drink bottles and countless candy wrappers had already been cleaned out of the interior at this point.
At Barstow, California, I filled the Chevelle with its last load of fuel and transitioned from I-40 to I-15 for the final blast back to "smog city". In all, the Chevelle had consumed $186.35 in fuel, I'd consumed $41.77 worth of soft drinks, Twinkies and other road side cuisine, and spent $287.60 for hotel rooms. Still, I probably wouldn't have done it any differently, despite my lack of financial foresight.
Whey would anyone in their right mind even consider buying a car that they can't physically lay an eye on? We all have our own reasons... I just had more time to think about mine. CW

Safely back in California, the Chevelle
and I had crossed the country in only four days
and had a blast doing it.

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Editors note: This reprint of a May 1990 Super Chevy article appears with the full permission of Argus publishing. It also introduces a long-term project car that will provide many how-to articles. Even if your Chevelle isn't a '70, many of the procedures and techniques can be easily applied, regardless of year or model.