Finding broken cars to fix.

[SLCraig]

Classifieds.
They are hard to find.
The "Ex" Saturn dealer in my city had about 30 S-series in the compound behind their dealer and I asked if I could browse. I ended up finding the SW2 I owned for a while there, it needed some work, but I only paid $300 for it. 74K miles. What a score. I made money on that car when I traded it in at a dealer a while later.

 

[tightwad]

We have a local "give-away" newspaper full of auto classified ads. Something like this may be available. I found a 55 Packard parts car this way.

 

[cptbarkey]

i do 2-3 a year. i used to just do the simple stuff but now i am ready for cars with major engine/transmission problems. the last few years have been very difficult in the austin tx area, but lately things have picked up a bit with the bottom falling out of the trash vehicles in the sub $2000 range.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
i do 2-3 a year. i used to just do the simple stuff but now i am ready for cars with major engine/transmission problems. the last few years have been very difficult in the austin tx area, but lately things have picked up a bit with the bottom falling out of the trash vehicles in the sub $2000 range.

Cash for clunkers wiped the used car market out.

 

[artificialist]

I work with numerous guys who make money on the side this way. They buy a car that has a fine exterior, but the engine died prematurely of abuse. They buy a low mile junkyard engine and swap it in.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: bmwjohn
a friend used to buy foreign cars from owners and small junkyards. He always brought large rolls of small bills.People seemed to like that better than a check or saying "i'll be back soon". One point he made was that if YOU call about a car always ask about "the vehicle for sale" NOT about the 77 Ford, etc. If the "owner" says "which vehicle?" you know they have several and may not be the little old lady selling her old car. Just FWIW.


I feel iffy about this: Craigslist scam-bots will inquire about a generic car, hoping you'll respond. Probably different using email vs voice.

If a deal appears very good, call the guy, don't email, and head right over. If you're #2 in line, and he asks if you're Bob from City X, just say, you betcha!

 

[JimPghPA]

Big city police car auction, and believe it or not the auction held when a movie that had cars in it, being made in your city wraps up.

 

[caravanmike]

i have flipped 3 over the years and all were aquired by networking word of mouth.

 

[tinmanSC]

Whoa, lots of great suggestions, guys. Thanks. I'm sure this will help.

 

[morris]

could banks have repo cars that would do what you need?

 

[mechtech2]

It is as hard to tell where to find a bad car that is serviceable, as it is to tell where to find a good one.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Detailing and cleaning the car will go a lot farther toward making a profit than doing repairs will. It could be the most mechanically sound car in existence but if it is dirty, it will be hard to sell.

 

[GearheadTool]

I have thought about doing this very thing. It seems cars cost MORE here in the Boston, MA area (HerrStig please confirm?) I see a 1998 Lincoln Town Car down the street. It said $4900 and SOLD. Looks to be first year of the "Curvy" body.. obviously 1997 seems to be the last, or they have it labeled wrong, as I thought 1999 was the first year of curvy style redesign Towny. $4900 for that, sold. Across the street is an A4, looks to be a 2000 MIGHT be a 1999 or 2001, for $3900.

Neither of these cars would be profitable, at all, if resold.

What you WANT is to 1. Go to PA 2. Get whatever 1994 Town Car rides ok and passes muster for $1200 (they grow on trees out there) and 3. DRIVE It back to Boston, MA. Wait 6 months to a year. Sell a Jeep Cherokee in the winter, assuming Boston gets hit hard this year, judging by hot summer. Price accordingly. Keep it less but see whos name goes on what title, as changing states would close door on "just leave the title open." I used to do that and would again, but IN state. Not out of. Write $50 as purchase price, not even GIFT...........

For those familiar with Boston MA suburbs, there is a Marina down the street and make a right turn from me. Suburb starts with "W" and you go through Braintree on the 225 to get to Quincy, then Boston on the T on the Red line. So maybe there is market out here?

 

[GearheadTool]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
Detailing and cleaning the car will go a lot farther toward making a profit than doing repairs will. It could be the most mechanically sound car in existence but if it is dirty, it will be hard to sell.


This is very true as well.

If you can find a "garage queen" classic that just needs a good dusting, maybe a wax, and OIL CHANGE, you stand to make some serious $$$$ selling the granny-driven mint condition low miles car. If you get the car that needs a head gasket repair and the stop-leak is starting to give way.. Not so much.

A clean car with a nice radio will be more attractive to most, except the hard-core buyers such as myself that want to see it run AMD DRIVE for a half hour to an hour with the radio OFF. It is telling, the seller's attitude about this. The car will tell you what condition its in.. Radio OFF. The pros here know what I mean.

 

[Lyman]

There are lots of cars in need of repair in my local craigslist. The only problem is the sellers want full price for them.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: GearheadTool

What you WANT is to 1. Go to PA 2. Get whatever 1994 Town Car rides ok and passes muster for $1200 (they grow on trees out there) and 3. DRIVE It back to Boston, MA. Wait 6 months to a year. Sell a Jeep Cherokee in the winter, assuming Boston gets hit hard this year, judging by hot summer. Price accordingly. Keep it less but see whos name goes on what title, as changing states would close door on "just leave the title open." I used to do that and would again, but IN state. Not out of. Write $50 as purchase price, not even GIFT...........


Yeah it's worth knowing neighboring states' hassles. Some charge you tax on the blue book value. Some make you notarize the papers. Some titles (like florida) have little tear off bits for the seller to keep and turn into the DMV independently.

If there are two feet of snow on the ground, ANY running and inspected car will sell quickly and for top $. The more casual sellers would not bother shovelling things out. First on-street parking ban of the year is also a good time to buy.

 

[Jim Spahr]

I met a guy once who would buy two BMW 3 series. One wrecked in the front and one wrecked in the back. He would cut them in half and weld them together for a complete 3. He would then sell it. The problem is he had skills and facilities far beyond most shadetree mechanics. It was critical that the two halves be perfectly aligned. I never saw his shop, but he must have had a jig to align them before welding.