I'm having a heck of a time selling my elcamino... I've bought and sold quite a few over the last 10 years or so, and elcaminos are always a little more of a niche market... but damn, my car is really nice, I've got it priced dirt cheap for what it is- and i've only had 2 calls, and a handful of vague e-mails in 3 months of trying! I'd feel better if i had a few more calls, or flakes who were supposed to look at it and didn't show... but i don't even have them

I've got my car listed on Craigslist, Here on TC in the Free, Members, and Featured photo ads, Racing Junk.Com

I've been avoiding e-bay, but i think as soon as i finish working on the bed i'm going to list it there...

Where else would you guys advise advertising a muscle car for sale right now?

Does anyone still look at Hemmings? Auto Trader- I used to use them all the time, but their online form for adding classic cars doesn't look like it goes to the actual local publications anymore- online ads only???... I really need to look into that one some more... Anywhere else you would suggest?

Any advice would be appreciated. Any suggestions for changes to my ad's would be appreciated too...

-Ben

nicecar.. but
you say true SS
It might be, but it's a crate engine elcamino now.
I bought my 71 el camino 402/th400/12 bolt 7600.00
might not been a true SS.. but unless you have the stock parts..
your's is only in name..

nice car.. cosign the car in the eastcoast rustbelt.
it'll sell..

Sorry cant help you on the sale of your car, all you can do is try ebay each week its hit or miss week to week.
Times are hard now even the local Chevy dealer is doing buy a Tahoe and get a free Colbalt car with it, LOL

nicecar.. but
you say true SS
It might be, but it's a crate engine elcamino now.
I bought my 71 el camino 402/th400/12 bolt 7600.00
might not been a true SS.. but unless you have the stock parts..
your's is only in name..




Actually, No.... In 1968 and only 1968- the ELCAMINO Super Sport was its own MODEL, not an option- verifiable by the VIN number. So weather the original engine is with the car or not- it is and always has been a SS396 car. This is the same for 66-68 Chevelles.
http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html#68

69, 70,71& 72 SS was an option on the Custom elCamino Model- So you could prove a car was NOT an SS by the vin, but you could not say for 100% certain it WAS an SS unless you had the build sheet or a VIN number matching engine.

Ben,
Old cars are still moving in the market around here.
In fact, I'm working on a deal to purchase a car right now if the owner can come up with the title.

Their is a big Auction in Vegas in October.

Actually, No.... In 1968 and only 1968- the ELCAMINO Super Sport was its own MODEL, not an option- verifiable by the VIN number. So weather the original engine is with the car or not- it is and always has been a SS396 car. This is the same for 66-68 Chevelles.
http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html#68.

thats great..
but who cares..
as it sits .
right now..

it's a very nice big block el camino with a g.m. crate 454
SS or not..
anyone looking for a true SS and willing to pay the extra dough to get one..
wants the correct parts on it... or at least with it..

like I said.. your car is very nice...
but.. to most it's a big block crate engine el camino..
as getting back to "true SS form" won't be cheap to do..
I like it as it sits.. but 18g's
might want to list it on ebay.. and not list the g.m. crate 454ho as an 454ho
I have a 454ho in my 71 c-10 and it's fine ,no oilburning issues, but some have had them burn oil..and posted on boards like this that they do... that engine might scare away a few buyers..

Ben,
Old cars are still moving in the market around here.
In fact, I'm working on a deal to purchase a car right now if the owner can come up with the title.

What 'cha workin' on Bill?

I've got it priced dirt cheap for what it is- and i've only had 2 calls, and a handful of vague e-mails in 3 months of trying!

I've got my car listed on Craigslist, Here on TC in the Free, Members, and Featured photo ads, Racing Junk.Com

I've been avoiding e-bay, but i think as soon as i finish working on the bed i'm going to list it there...

Where else would you guys advise advertising a muscle car for sale right now?

Does anyone still look at Hemmings? Auto Trader- I used to use them all the time, but their online form for adding classic cars doesn't look like it goes to the actual local publications anymore- online ads only???... I really need to look into that one some more... Anywhere else you would suggest?

Any advice would be appreciated. Any suggestions for changes to my ad's would be appreciated too...

-Ben

Ben,

Can't tell you exactly why or how I know, but I know the following and it's as good as gold.

Free ad sites AND EBAY almost only pull bargain hunters. IMO, eBay is a breeding ground for fraud. Personally I would not sell anything on eBay unless I HAD to.

Rule #1 of advertising, you need to be where the eyeballs are. Racing Junk is not the 1st thing on the minds of newbie shoppers. No eyes, no buyers.

My 1st suggestion would be become a student of the business. A good way to do this is to try shopping for a car just like yours plus 2 years before and after as appropriate. If you type "Classic Cars for sale" into a search engine you'll get 100's of related site to visit. Google just delivered 76 pages on a search. You've got lots of homework to do.

What do the ads say? What colors, features, condition are available? What makes you get drawn in to read the ad? Use these ads to help you build or re-build yours. BE GENUINE in your choice of words. If it sounds phony the ad will be passed by. Try to evoke emotions in your ad, "Lovingly restored", "killing me to sell, but it must be sold" can draw someone into reading and contacting you. NO BS-don't say anything that is not an ABSOLUTE fact. Ex-if you say "fully restored" it better be a chassis off rotisserie restoration. If it's not look through other ads that relate similar levels of restoration. Leave the BS to Dealers who BS all the time.

Consider pulling the ads and/or re-listing any on a currently used or new free sites. Why? Because anything that's been sitting around for a while may be discarded from consideration because it creates a perception that "if it's been here that long, somethings wrong with it, especially at that price."

For example, on a Craigslist posting, the ad gets pushed farther down every time a new ad is listed. There are people who do NOTHING ELSE ALL DAY LONG, but re-list ads so they stay at the top of the search. If you want a free ad that gets seen, you need to do the same thing.

Price-Real buyers are going to look at cars that are priced based on the majority of the ads. Quite often a car that is priced too low evokes a perception that "something must be wrong with that one for that price".

Price your car based on similar cars, but below the avg Dealer price. How much lower? EVERYONE believes that a Dealer price is negotiable and probably by 5%-10%.

Consider looking for quotes to use from other ads that indicate a willingness to "discuss' price.

Second would be to use a respected paid advertising site like AutoTrader or Hemmings, although Hemmings seems to deal more with purist restorations. AutoTrader and their associated sister sites have far more eyeballs than any other, but sometimes a niche site like AuttaBuy.com will lure in the right person. BTW, AuttaBuy has a very nice print edition.

You can still buy print along with online ads, but I can tell you that the readership of the print magazines has fallen by huge amounts vs. online. If you decide to use a print ad/online combo make sure you can buy it at your local newsstand and buy it to review your ad. If it is wrong or looks like crap, get it fixed.

Photos sell cars when they can't be seen. Review the ad sites to see which allow the most photos. If you post, post the most photos you can and them make sure they are good ones.

Consider a run till sold approach, much cheaper in the long run.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

thats great..
but who cares..
as it sits .
right now..

it's a very nice big block el camino with a g.m. crate 454
SS or not..
anyone looking for a true SS and willing to pay the extra dough to get one..
wants the correct parts on it... or at least with it..

like I said.. your car is very nice...
but.. to most it's a big block crate engine el camino..
as getting back to "true SS form" won't be cheap to do..
I like it as it sits.. but 18g's


Lol... I know I'm arguing when I asked for opinions and suggestions, but after reading this a few times, I can't help but respond to what you wrote... I realize this is useless because you obviously have a strong opinion about it... but i'm going to anyway.

If you talk to anyone on this site with a 66-68 Chevelle that has a 138 vin- Regardless of the condition of the car or original engine or replaced over the 40 years- it IS a true SS car. Period. They are worth more money than a similar condition/equipped non SS car- Simply because there is no guess work about weather or not its a clone.

If it was a 69-72 and an ad listed the same stuff I have in my ad- I would agree with what you wrote 100%- its just a nice big block car- it may or may not be original and therefor not worth any more money-

However again- a 69-72 with paperwork prooving its heritage as an original SS car (weather it still has that original motor or not) is going to be worth more money than a similar non-SS car or a Similar Non documented car.

Anyway... I know i'm not going to change your opinion, so I'll let that go.

As far as my price... Who knows. In this market it probably is priced too high, but since I've got about $25k into it and I'm already losing my ass on it priced the way it is. But $17-18k is about as far down as I'm willing to go to move it right now.
I have seen other 68 SS's not nearly as nice as mine priced around $14-15 and have sold... so I don't think I'm that far out of line.

Everyone, thanks for the suggestions- I will see about getting my ad onto ebay, hemmings and Classic Car Trader and some other places.

I have seen other 68 SS's not nearly as nice as mine priced around $14-15 and have sold... so I don't think I'm that far out of line.

I agree ! :thumbsup:
Good luck with the sale Ben.
One issue I can see...
Over the years, I've noticed an abundance of Elkys in the NW region. Must have been a popular utility vehicle in that region back in the day.
Any other geographical location in the States and your car would have already sold, IMO.

Ben,I don't care what anyone says...try ebay
Nice pictures and alot of them help out. And your phone number in the listing as well.

I am in the same "boat" as you so to speak with the 71 Cutlass I have.

I'm having a heck of a time selling my elcamino... I've bought and sold quite a few over the last 10 years or so, and elcaminos are always a little more of a niche market... but damn, my car is really nice, I've got it priced dirt cheap for what it is- and i've only had 2 calls, and a handful of vague e-mails in 3 months of trying! I'd feel better if i had a few more calls, or flakes who were supposed to look at it and didn't show... but i don't even have them

I've got my car listed on Craigslist, Here on TC in the Free, Members, and Featured photo ads, Racing Junk.Com

I've been avoiding e-bay, but i think as soon as i finish working on the bed i'm going to list it there...

Where else would you guys advise advertising a muscle car for sale right now?

Does anyone still look at Hemmings? Auto Trader- I used to use them all the time, but their online form for adding classic cars doesn't look like it goes to the actual local publications anymore- online ads only???... I really need to look into that one some more... Anywhere else you would suggest?

Any advice would be appreciated. Any suggestions for changes to my ad's would be appreciated too... -Ben

Have you tried a local listing yet? I sold my 69 yesterday for asking price (cash is in hand) with only a 1 day free local listing.......I was really surprised it happened so fast.

Lol... I know I'm arguing when I asked for opinions and suggestions, but after reading this a few times, I can't help but respond to what you wrote... I realize this is useless because you obviously have a strong opinion about it... but i'm going to anyway.

If you talk to anyone on this site with a 66-68 Chevelle that has a 138 vin- Regardless of the condition of the car or original engine or replaced over the 40 years- it IS a true SS car. Period. They are worth more money than a similar condition/equipped non SS car- Simply because there is no guess work about weather or not its a clone.

If it was a 69-72 and an ad listed the same stuff I have in my ad- I would agree with what you wrote 100%- its just a nice big block car- it may or may not be original and therefor not worth any more money-

However again- a 69-72 with paperwork prooving its heritage as an original SS car (weather it still has that original motor or not) is going to be worth more money than a similar non-SS car or a Similar Non documented car.

Anyway... I know i'm not going to change your opinion, so I'll let that go.

As far as my price... Who knows. In this market it probably is priced too high, but since I've got about $25k into it and I'm already losing my ass on it priced the way it is. But $17-18k is about as far down as I'm willing to go to move it right now.
I have seen other 68 SS's not nearly as nice as mine priced around $14-15 and have sold... so I don't think I'm that far out of line.

Everyone, thanks for the suggestions- I will see about getting my ad onto ebay, hemmings and Classic Car Trader and some other places.

I under stand that.. I do..
and the vin. says so..
and people will pay because of that..

but it's not as the factory equip. it.
don't get me wrong.. I like your car..
looks good..
but look at me as a buyer..
o.k.
or better yet..
you get in the buyer shoes..
and look at that car..

"man it's an SS" cool
crate engine, "wonder if he's got the stock engine??"
what else is changed form factory stock "doesn't list much info on that"
"wonder what it take to get it back to factory correct"

same guy looks at a 68 el camino 454/th400/12 bolt with SS badges..
listed as a clone... clean like yours. 12900.00
hum what to buy..
the clone.. or the incomplete real deal SS
thats what your up against,my friend..
I'd give you 15g's if wifie would let me have another toy..
(not gonna happen :(

<edit> Deleted my other comments....

The original question was asking for suggestions on places to advertise in this tough market-
Anyone else have suggestions about where to post ad's?

Thanks-
Ben

You could send these guys some pictures,http://www.showdownmusclecars.com/ maybe they can give you an idea or two, or maybe they could sell it, its a shot at the East coast.

Well not exactly the East coast.

Rob

Try it overseas, in Europe..... Netherlands....Sweden....France...Norway?

The El Camino market here is more popular then the chevelles market

Hey.... you can try!

I can help you here, as I'm located in Rotterdam, all RoRo comes in my neighbourhood.

<edit> Deleted my other comments....

The original question was asking for suggestions on places to advertise in this tough market-
Anyone else have suggestions about where to post ad's?

Thanks-
Ben

hemmings motor news...

or
d.f's web site

www.carjunkie.com

You need to clean up that front grille. :) Market does seem pretty slow in the PNW but there are buyers, you just have to find them. I have seen a couple cars priced in your range take more than 6 months to sell local. One sold via the autotrader.

There's only one reason why anything doesn't sell.
Car, house, guitar, your baseball card collection...
It's priced too high, relative to market conditions.

Waaa, I put a price on my car and no one will buy it...
Waaa, What do I do, I want to buy and sell for a profit every time!!!
Waaa!

When I first joined this forum, I thought it was guys that really loved the cars, but the more I read, it seems to be mostly mercenaries. Buyers and sellers, like a group of dealers. I've received plenty of pm's with offers to sell me their car. I'm beginning to think most of you guys don't even drive the cars, just buy and sell. That's fine, but it was a bit of an eye opener.

Maybe it's just in this section of the forum that guys just troll for buyers.

Arnie,with all due respect I think you are slightly off base here :)

I know for a fact Ben didn't buy his car to turn it for profit..he needs something more Family oriented..like a musclecar with a backseat! End of story :)

Ben,

You have a very nice looking El Camino. From personal experience, 68's are a little more challenging to sell as well as being an El Camino. I think prices are going to fall further which means numbers matching Chevelles and 69/70 El Caminos will become more affordable versus your '68 El Camino. Personally, I think your El Camino looks great. If you don't have to sell, put the cover back on it and wait. On the other hand, if you really want to sell in this market, you're looking at $12k to $14k and falling. I've seen some beautiful houses here in the Pacific NW that are priced below market and still get no bids, regardless of price. As far as other suggestions, I would also take it to every cruise night and local show in your area. In addition, SoCal is a hotbed for El Caminos compared to up here. You need to consider how much the car was worth in the 2004/2005 time and price it accordingly.

What are you doing to the bed?

all I'm sayin is that I felt like I was swimming in shark infested waters when I was in this section of the forum...

Ben,

You have a very nice looking El Camino. From personal experience, 68's are a little more challenging to sell as well as being an El Camino. I think prices are going to fall further which means numbers matching Chevelles and 69/70 El Caminos will become more affordable versus your '68 El Camino. Personally, I think your El Camino looks great. If you don't have to sell, put the cover back on it and wait. On the other hand, if you really want to sell in this market, you're looking at $12k to $14k and falling. I've seen some beautiful houses here in the Pacific NW that are priced below market and still get no bids, regardless of price. As far as other suggestions, I would also take it to every cruise night and local show in your area. In addition, SoCal is a hotbed for El Caminos compared to up here. You need to consider how much the car was worth in the 2004/2005 time and price it accordingly.

What are you doing to the bed?

Thanks for the comments and the advice... As i said, i really havn't been trying that hard at selling it yet- only local craigslist, and here on TC- in the past that has been all the advertising i've needed... thats why i posted asking for advice on where to place ads in this tough selling market.

As for the bed- When the car was painted last year, i couldn't afford the extra to have them strip and paint the bed- like they did to the rest of the car- i was planning to just have it spray lined... figured i could do the prep work myself, So i left it painted Orange. It was covered by the tonneau cover, so i didn't care.

But... Now that i'm trying to sell it, opening that tonneau cover and showing that ugly orange paint just doesn't cut it. So i'm DAing the old paint out of the bed and will be shooting it DP90 back- So if the buyer wants to shoot the body color on the bed and finish it they can (its definitely straight enough to look good) or if they just want to take it to a Linex shop and have a liner sprayed in, it will be ready for that too.

My heart won't be broken if it doesn't sell... I love the car, it is finnaly what I wanted my previous elcamino projects to be- but i've got month old baby boy here now, and the wife not working- it would be nice (and wise) to be able to have a big chunk that $$ in the bank where i could get it if i need it- I'll take a little bit to get another project (with a backseat this time) and start over again- but the main idea is to have my security in the bank, not in my garage.

That said, I've got close to $25k in the car, i'm willing to lose a little bit to get that cash out for the family- but i'm not going to give the car away either- at least not until some major emergency or something forces me to- in which case, i guess i'll have to take whatever i can get to sell it quick at that point- but i think i'm pretty far from that point.

Anyway- I've taken your guys advice- I've going to start rotating my craigslist ad around to different cities every few days- will get it into the autotrader & collector car trader sites next week- and hopefully finish the bed this weekend and get my ebay ad put together next week too.

Thanks-
Ben

There's only one reason why anything doesn't sell.
Car, house, guitar, your baseball card collection...
It's priced too high, relative to market conditions.

Waaa, I put a price on my car and no one will buy it...
Waaa, What do I do, I want to buy and sell for a profit every time!!!
Waaa!

When I first joined this forum, I thought it was guys that really loved the cars, but the more I read, it seems to be mostly mercenaries. Buyers and sellers, like a group of dealers. I've received plenty of pm's with offers to sell me their car. I'm beginning to think most of you guys don't even drive the cars, just buy and sell. That's fine, but it was a bit of an eye opener.

Maybe it's just in this section of the forum that guys just troll for buyers.



all I'm sayin is that I felt like I was swimming in shark infested waters when I was in this section of the forum...

You know what... Your comments are not appreciated in this thread.
There are a lot of guys, like myself that have a lot of $$ and time wrapped up in cars they are now trying to sell- knowing damn well that we are losing money by selling now- but for whatever reason are trying anyway.

Not everyone is a dealer or an investor making a killing, or trying to scam someone.

If you don't want to read about car sales, then get out of the "WHATS IT WORTH" FORUM. read the top of the page- this forum is for "ebay/online sales discussions"... That is what this thread was about- asking for advice advertising my car.

I've been active on this site for 8 years and have had numerous cars in that time- I doubt I've made money on any of them- Its a hobby, I spend what I can and enjoy the heck out of them, and when its time to sell its time to sell.

This site is all about guys and their cars and what they are doing with them- If you can't see that in 10 seconds of viewing the Performance, Suspension, Cruise-Ins or any of the other 20 forums on the site, then maybe its time for a new eye glass perscription.

Free listing and national exposure on ebay. New policy starts September 2. From ebay:

No Insertion Fee on Your First 4 Vehicles...

eBay Motors is eliminating Insertion Fees on the first four vehicles you list in a 12 month period. Starting with the fifth vehicle, the fee is $20 (50% less than it was under the old plan). And after 12 months, you go back to "first four" pricing.

Only pay if you are successful...

If you are successful, a $125 Successful Listing Fee is charged.

In short, we only succeed when you succeed.

for 18g's.. that bed , should be painted,, or at least lined..
..
not prep'ed, for buyer to shoot

Ben, thought about selling through Kompact in Lynnwood or Austin's Pro Max in Tacoma? It might get more exposure. Try listing it on local clubs sites also. Cruise it when ever possable with the sign in the window, you live and work near the big $$ area.