TerryB Posted June 2, 2017 Posted June 2, 2017 Scanning the local newspaper cars for sale section today I found an ad for a 1978 Grand Prix which says in the first line "former showcar". Also says it has leather seats, 106k miles on the odometer and in excellent condition with an asking price of $4250. At 106k miles it must have been driven to a lot of shows. No mention of ever winning any awards as a showcar either. I find it a somewhat creative use of words with not much relevance to the car's current running and driving condition. Also no mention that it's a Pontiac. Just shows there is no limit to a sellers imagination when writing a for sale ad! Terry
F&J Posted June 2, 2017 Posted June 2, 2017 I would be still interested with that wording of "former showcar". In my own experience with my own cars, I have used that term when someone sees my "former mint resto" of a 66 chevy truck. I built it as a show truck in the 90s, but life often causes a change in the use of a truck...so, even though my truck is still way, way better that the typical "fixed-up 66 truck" in my rusty state of CT, it now shows 15 years of using it to earn me money, or using it only for hauling. Still indoor stored but no where what it once was. What I mean, comparing to a fixed up one, is that those may be properly-patched, former CT rust ones, and mine was all dry-western sheetmetal. So mine is better in my eyes.... IMO.
capngrog Posted June 2, 2017 Posted June 2, 2017 35 minutes ago, F&J said: "former mint resto" I'll have to remember that term when I decide to sell one of my "former mint-condition" cars! Cheers, Grog 2
tom_in_nh Posted June 2, 2017 Posted June 2, 2017 I assume that the newspaper ad charges by the word, do you agree? Sometimes the newspaper editor will shorten the ad, in order to save space or quite possibly save the subscriber some change. Has happened to me in the past. Cut the poor fellow some slack, just call and inquire if it tickles your fancy. 2
joe_padavano Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 Hey, it got you to read the ad, didn't it? On the interwebs that's called "clickbait".
Guest Turismo Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 People still put ads in the newspapers for this kinda stuff? This alone would make me wanna call and inquire...
TerryB Posted June 3, 2017 Author Posted June 3, 2017 I took my 1964 Plymouth, an original car with 46k miles , to some local car shows over my 10 years of ownership. It was not AACA trophy level, just a nice old car with several dings and bumps in it. It did get a couple of local trophies for it's originality. When I sold it I did not advertise it as a show car or even a trophy winning car rather it was advertised as a nice original car. The thought of calling it a former trophy winning show car did not seem to fit. The ad I mentioned was in the generic cars for sale section. There is a separate section for classic/specialty cars which would seem to better fit this car if indeed it had any type of pedigree. So yes, maybe it was just a hook to get someone like me to read the ad. Terry
oily rag Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 Maybe the original owner bought it off the showroom floor late in 1978, - - - therefore the car was shown many times and it was a display piece for months.
60FlatTop Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 19 hours ago, Turismo said: People still put ads in the newspapers for this kinda stuff? That is the FIRST place to look for "the uninformed buyer". The New York Times and the LA Times would be my choice. And don't forget, that advertisement is an invitation to the sellers home, like the vampire can't bite you unless you invite him in. The novice seller invites the professional buyer in and everything is up for grabs. I wouldn't care for a '78 GP, but if they lived close I would go just to see what they didn't list. There is a good chance a person owning a 40 year old car is not sound of mind. Could go either way. Bernie
Joe in Canada Posted June 3, 2017 Posted June 3, 2017 Former show car could mean was on dealer show room floor when new????????????????????????
JamesBulldogMiller55Buick Posted June 4, 2017 Posted June 4, 2017 On 6/2/2017 at 4:21 PM, capngrog said: I'll have to remember that term when I decide to sell one of my "former mint-condition" cars! Cheers, Grog You could say it was a former new car ....
capngrog Posted June 4, 2017 Posted June 4, 2017 2 hours ago, billorn said: This could theoreticly be called a "former showcar" What is that? It looks pretty nice. Maybe a Facel Vega, custom Rolls? I hope someone saves this one! Cheers, Grog
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