The whole point to taking out a classified ad is to sell your car–quickly and for the most amount of money. But all too often sellers want to save money and buy the shortest ad possible, which is counterproductive. Conversely, you also don’t want to write an ad that’s half a page long, as sometimes too much information can be worse than too little information.
When writing the ad, there are certain aspects of your car that are more important than others, and it’s these salient points that you need to bring out. Serious buyers, the kind who read Hemmings Motor News each and every month, zero in on certain classified ads all because of the specific details that are listed in that ad. Knowing the type of information to include in your ad will no doubt have a far more positive effect on not only whether or not your car gets sold, but on how long it takes to do so.
So here are a few tips that we’re sure will help.
Don’t waste words by listing the dealership where the car was originally bought, that your Uncle Joe was the first owner or that it gets 24 MPG. This is all useless information, and because collector cars are not used as daily drivers, buyers don’t care at all about their fuel efficiency. Also, don’t add irrelevant sayings like: “best car Ford ever built,” “voted top 10 cars of all time” or “the finest muscle car in history.” None of those sayings will convince someone to buy your car. And what’s more, don’t say that your car is 100 percent original, followed by “just repainted” or “new paint,” etc…. Any car that has been repainted is not at all original, and saying so only makes you sound foolish. This will then put doubt into the minds of prospective buyers that you may be lying and/or exaggerating about other issues, too, and thus turn them off to buying your car.
Always enhance the positive, especially regarding originality. Cars with original paint are always worth more, that is, if that paint is in good condition. Original paint proves that the car has never been in an accident, and that it has been well cared for since new. The same applies to the interior upholstery and all of the exterior trim. Many buyers want cars that have retained as many of their original, factory-installed parts as possible because such cars are considered much more authentic.
After you list the obvious–year, make and model–list the engine size and horsepower rating if more than one engine was available for your specific car. This is particularly important for Corvette buyers. Then list significant options, such as power accessories, A/C, sunroof and posi rear. And always list the type of transmission–manual or automatic.
If your car originally came from a dry climate, state that fact. Buyers prefer cars that have resided in the Southwest or other low-humidity areas because they will almost always have little or no rusted metal compared to northern cars. Cars that feature their factory-installed floor pans, rocker panels and other body parts are always in greater demand than those cars whose panels have been replaced with reproduction panels.
Anything major on the car that has been rebuilt, such as the engine, transmission, brakes or suspension should be mentioned, too. In fact, any important restoration work that had been done should be stated, as well. On the contrary, if something important needs to be done, such as the engine or steering needs to be rebuilt, just say so.
But the most significant fact is the car’s price. It has been proven that ads that list a selling price will get far more calls–and sell more quickly–than those cars listed without a selling price. When there’s no price, that tells buyers that this car is so overpriced that the seller is ashamed to state the truth; thus they will turn to another car for sale.
And above all else, please be honest. If your car has rusted floors and/or quarter panels, be forthright and say so. Why waste a buyer’s time–as well as yours–with the kind of car that they are not interested in? Honest facts will always work to your advantage. Moreover, include both a phone number and email address to make it easier for potential buyers to contact you.
