“Knock… knock… knock knock… knock…..knock knock” someone banged loudly on my front door, clearly going for the “Pop Goes The Weasel” beat. I looked over to find a man I’d never seen before; I motioned to him that I’d be there in a second, as I was on a phone call. A few minutes later, I walked outside and greeted the stranger. “Hey, I’m into classic cars. I might be interested in something,” he said.
I found this a little odd. Sure, I have nine cars outside my house, but given how bad some of the project cars look, I strongly doubt anyone would really mistake me for a dealer. Maybe this random guy was a reader who wanted to see my fleet? This happens fairly often — someone who follows my articles is driving by, sees my cars, and decides to say hello. I usually greet them and give a nice tour of my collection; in some cases, we become besties. It’s pretty great. Miraculously, in zero cases thus far have my organs been harvested and my body haphazardly dumped into the mud pit in my backyard.
Luckily that didn’t happen this time, either, though something about this dude did make me feel a bit uneasy.
(Before I go on, I’ll just mention: I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. This guy could be reading this article, and I’d feel pretty bad if I made him feel upset in any way, but I’m writing this because of how he made me feel, and because I think what he did next is something we’re seeing a lot of in the classic car world. And it’s not okay).
As I began giving a tour of my cars, we got to the backyard and I pointed out my beloved Willys FCs. He showed zero interest. I pointed out my 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle — a real beauty — and my daily-driver 1985 Jeep J10 pickup (also a beauty). He showed no interest there, either. I wasn’t really sure what was going on at this point; if he was a reader, surely he’d dig at least one of these soulful junkers, right?
“So how much?” he asked me, pointing to my brother’s beautiful Candy Apple Red 1966 Ford Mustang. “Haha, that’s not for sale,” I answered.
He got serious. “No seriously, how much?”
“Again, it’s not for sale.”
He began looking under it. “Woh it’s pretty solid. There’s some rust here and there, but it looks good. I want to buy it. How much will you sell it for?”
“It’s…” I began to say before he jumped in. “Look, everything is for sale at the right price, and I can offer you quite a bit. How much will it take for you to sell it to me? I’m in town from California and I’m going back tomorrow. I want to go back with this car.”
“It’s my brother’s,” I told him. “He’s not going to sell it.”
His reply: “Let’s just call your brother right now and see what he’ll sell it for. It’ll be cash.”
I responded, telling him that my brother lives in Hong Kong.
“Well, let’s call him. You don’t think he’ll pick up?”
After telling the guy that it’s 5:30 A.M. in Hong Kong and that my brother is asleep, he asked for my number and told me to get back to him with my brother’s response. Then, after looking at the car for a bit longer, he left.
I’m writing about this because I’ve heard of this kind of thing happening before. Someone’s driving their dream car down the street, and the car catches the eye of a well-to-do person, who offers up a blank check. “I want that car. How much do I have to pay to get it?” they ask someone who’s not really interested in parting ways with their machine. Sometimes that’s totally cool, and the prospective buyer either says “I understand that you don’t want to sell it, but here’s my number” or they end up striking up a deal right there, and everyone’s happy.
But what made my exchange with this random guy feel demeaning was what felt like a lack of empathy. It was his insistence that this car is for sale despite my words communicating otherwise. Here’s a guy looking into the eyes of another man his age, and saying: “I want what you have. Because I have money, I’m going to get it. Now tell me how much.” There was very little compassion and a whole lot of entitlement; never mind that this car represents a strong connection between my older brother — for whom a 1960s Mustang has been a dream since he was 10 years old — and me. Never mind that I put many weeks of blood, sweat, and tears into getting this thing running and driving like an absolute dream.
This red Mustang was something he wanted (presumably so he could post some sick photos to his Instagram), and since he pegged me as someone who has less money than he has, he was convinced that he could influence me to part ways with it.
I want to make clear that the general bones of this situation are totally fine. This kind of thing is happening on Bring a Trailer every day — rich people are buying up the middle class’s dream cars. Do you want a Jeep Grand Wagoneer? Ten years ago you could get one, now you can’t. They’re in the hands of the rich. Do you want a nice manual Jeep Cherokee XJ? Too bad, the people who like those have money, and they’re throwing it around. Are you a middle class-er interested in an air cooled 911? Unless you snagged one up 15 years ago, you can forget it. You’ll be outbid.
There’s nothing wrong with any of this. This is all economics; if car-lovers come into money, that’s great, and if rich people get into cars, that’s awesome, too — I want everyone to be into cars. And I realize that many of you reading this article are in high-income households; I think that’s fantastic. The issue I have is that this particular rich guy (I’m assuming he’s rich based on him so freely throwing money around) didn’t approach this situation with the sensitivity it deserves. He didn’t understand that this Mustang isn’t a washing machine; people see cars differently. They attach emotion to them; so when you try to pressure someone into selling something their heart is invested in, and say things like “Everything is for sale,” not only does it display a sense of entitlement, but it’s a bit presumptuous about the other person’s economic status relative to yours, and most importantly it trivializes the emotional relationship the person has with that car.
So no, random arrogant guy who dropped by yesterday, the Mustang literally isn’t for sale. Take that little slip of paper onto which you’re about to scribble a number that a cheap bastard like I would find impressive but that you make every time your Christmas bonus check rolls in, crumple it up, and shove it up your ass.
Okay, maybe that was a little too harsh. But you get the idea. I’m keepin’ the ‘stang.
So, what you’re saying is, you still have all of your organs?
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I’ll be right over.
Your bad day is this man’s dream.
I would love that some rich arrogant person had to have my 1978 Warlock or 1983 320i turbo no matter what the cost.
No one has said it, but I bet Mr. California, being wealthier and clearly smarter than most people (of course), thought he found a sucker. Here is this nice Mustang sitting out amongst rusty Jeeps, he probably thought DT is some yokel who would jump at the idea of some green in his pocket. Mr. Master Negotiator would clearly have the upper hand.
Of course as others have said, if he is so “rich”, go head to Barrett Jackson and buy some trailer queen for $75k.
Why would someone from California want to buy a car in Michigan, you can find Mustang coupes on the west coast usually pretty reasonably priced.
Everything is for sale, eh? In that case, Mr. Arrogant Rich Guy, let me buy your shoes.
What? You don’t think I’m going to use my own shoes to kick your arse off my property, do you? How gauche…
David, why didn’t you just do to him what he was doing to you? The counter should have been $1MM dollars. There are a couple of reasons this works. First, after explaining the car’s connection between you and your brother, you let him know that the sentimental value is worth at least that to you. And second, if he can’t afford that then he needs to look elsewhere, because if he doesn’t have that kind of money to throw around, then there is no further use in him talking with you because he is too poor to continue the discussion.
If you have to ask how much it is, you can’t afford it.
I like angry David. The description of this jackass just drips douchebag.
Any more, after hearing offers for the convertible for decades, I tell ’em if I had $5 every time I was asked I could buy another one. That usually gets at least the casual questioners to laugh it off.
The upside is you get to name your offer. Like, “I’ll take $5,000,000 for it”. The down side, if the guy is rich, then you’d have to sell it.
That’s a dangerous game. I made the mistake of playing that game with the stupid, “Hi, I’m calling about your house and if you’re interested in an ALL cash offer” dickwads. I said, “Sure, “$1.5M” and now they won’t leave me alone. I think I’m up to 5 calls a day on average. Unfortunately, I can’t ignore unknown numbers due to work.
I wrote out a big paragraph saying I’d take that risk blah blah blah, then remembered my dad’s truck that I will never in my life sell. Some vehicles aren’t worth the risk. Others definitely are though.
Isn’t this scenario how John Wick started?
Coming this Summer to a theater near you…
“Don’t Set Him Off!
David Tracy isn’t the Boogeyman… He’s the guy you send to fix the f*cking Boogeyman’s Jeep.
Rust is all he has left.”
Came here for this, and did not disappoint. Ty!
This guy buys a woman dinner then gets pissed when she won’t sleep with him afterward. But he PAID for it!
Good on ya, David, although the Pee Wee Herman response would have been hilarious. There are two general attitudes that drive me bonkers:
“everything’s for sale”
and
“everyone’s a salesman”.
Always reminds me of this clip from Broadcast News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTCtiADVAWs
And this one from Glengarry Glenn Ross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czOpDN8Knr4
I am not a sentimental person, but I am of two opinions here…
I daily drive a 10 year old truck that is a run of the mill, essentially bone stock vehicle; no time put into it…no mods, no issues to fix, just general maintenance, oil and (lots of) gas. I probably will never sell the thing; don’t know why…
About three years ago, I bought a 99 Wrangler Sahara for my oldest son…junior in high school at the time. Surprisingly little body rust for a Minnesota Jeep. We’ve spent a ton of time in the garage fixing, tweaking, upgrading. He uses it as a daily driver at tech school (wants to be a mechanic). I told him we could keep it until it pukes or not. He recently indicated he would like to sell it and get a truck…and I have no qualms getting it ready to sell. This one was all about the process of learning to wrench. If we sell it, he and I will get a project car at some point and start over.
Garage time rocks, especially with one’s kids.
DT: “Look at my yard. Do you really think everything is for sale at the right price?”
Rich Guy: “…” /leaves conversation
Honestly, the biggest problem I have here is why a guy from California would pay top dollar for an automatic Mustang from Michigan. If he has a blank check, he can find any number of better examples in California. (no offense David)
Because they’re going to cost a ton more in California.
“Okay, maybe that was a little too harsh. But you get the idea. ”
You have to be careful. You have no idea what kind of rare jeep this guy might have in his backyard. It could be an awkward conversation if you stumble upon his treasure in 5 or 10 years.
I’ve had a 95 GT sitting in my garage for 2 years now. Parked it once I got a truck….to make it a “project”.
I tinker on it here and there, but people constantly ask me if I want to sell it and then offer me $500, and tell me that’s all its worth.
Hmm. Well I can stick a fresh battery in it and fire it right up, and even take it out for a ride. Yes, it needs the transmission thats on a pallet to get put in replacing the noisy boy in there now, but $500 is an insult.
Playing devils advocate here David. If you were presented with this fine machine https://rockford.craigslist.org/cto/d/machesney-park-1959-jeep-forward/7466888138.html
would the tables be turned? Shout out to “Busted Knuckles” in Rockford, IL.
When I was a kid I remember hearing adults bandy about a term to prove leverage over another that would make me cringe, “I could buy and sell that SOB”. I remember thinking how demeaning that was that people thought that everyone’s worth was measured in dollars. Fortunately I don’t hear that term much anymore, but what you experienced was basically the same thing. Glad you handled it correctly 🙂
“Fortunately I don’t hear that term much anymore…”
Guessing you don’t hang out at Mar-A-Lago.
The closest I’ve come to being this rude is leaving a few notes of inquiry under wiper blades or on mailboxes. Just something like “Hey, I’m a Saab nut and was wondering if this car might be for sale. If it ever is, give me a ring.” I wouldn’t even do this if looked like it was loved or a daily driver. I bought a 85 900 Turbo this way and an Airstream, but the thought of knocking on someones door and aggressively pursuing them to sell me a car they say isn’t for sale is insane.
And to your point about the toxic, elitist collector car market bleeding into otherwise middle-class enthusiast niches, yeah, it’s real and alarming. While it’s nice to see some cars that I love, like Saabs, NA Miatas, and old Alfas, finally getting some love (I guess Alfas have always had some love, but it has increased in recent years), the ~$60K 900 classics that recently sold on BaT means that even the one car that seemed like it was never going to get priced out of the average enthusiast market is now at risk of becoming a rich guy’s toy. On one hand, it means the some real restorations will be done on the better survivors and some examples will survive for a few more decades, but it could change the community in ways that I really don’t like to imagine.
I had this very thing happen to me pre-covid with my 78 F150 I restored. I was in a Grocery parking lot, and a guy did this to me, and it happened all the time which did kinda annoy me. I threw out a crazy ass number as I usually dir, and I want it in Cash. He said give me two hours, meet me here. I did, and I was able to buy a very nice 91 Jeep Wrangler Renegade, fully Restored, both Hard and soft top matching doors, and have money left over. Been happy ever since with the Jeep!
Like your story; probably this is the exception rather than the rule.
But BaT shenanigans makes me think its more common in recent times.
The point is, this dude was just trying to get negotiations started; once you name a price, *any* price, you are halfway to selling – he’ll either talk you down to what he’s willing to pay or walk. Puts him in control, which might be all that was sought from the jump.
David did the right thing in this circumstance; if the vehicle is really not for sale, stick to your guns.
You should have said $11 Million, no tire kickers
Why doesn’t this ever happen to me?
I love my cars, but if some idiot wants to grossly overpay for one of them, my heart is big enough to fall in love with the next thing I buy too.
I’m frankly shocked no one has approached you about buying the Viper. But maybe they’re just waiting for it to do stereotypical Viper things to you, and then they can shop the estate sale?
They’ll be waiting a while, the Gen V actually has traction/stability control etc.
I’ve dealt with humans like this with my own cars and truck. The vehicles are mine and I am not selling them until I’m done with them. So I’ll sell them after my funeral.
Had a few people do this for my C10 a while back.
I never said any amount under 7 figures. Each one chuckled a bit before noticing I wasn’t kidding.
I still have that pickup.
^this is the way. Unless they want to offer you 1% money go kick rocks. Or at least enough to replace every vehicle in DT’s collection with a showroom quality example. If money really is no object then pay me an amount that the IRS will determine is too much to go after.