Selling my 1984 Avanti Touring Coupe

[unclemiltie]

I bought this 84 Touring Coupe to be my long trip car. After I sold the 64 Convertible my daughter told me that my special needs grandson would have liked riding in it in parades. Last month I bought an 88 Convertible so the 84 needs to go as I do not have room to store both. I have mixed emotions as I am not really a "convertible man" but I know the grand kids will like the convertible more.

What surprised me when I was researching the worth is how the Touring Coupes are worth quite a bit more than the standard 84 Avanti. I bought it as I like the Touring Coupe appearance more.

I have it on Ebay rignt now,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131278528183?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649

I would appreciate any suggestions on my ad or assistance with finding it a good home.

Thanks in advance

[ddub]

On my screen the color appears as orange, is it really red?

[unclemiltie]

Yes it is red, same color as it came from the factory with.

[Da Tinman]

Nice car!

I would prefer it with the factory Ford 289 though............

[Xcalibur]

I may have missed it in the ad, when did you get the car, please, and how many miles did it have on it at that time?

I do seem to remember seeing it at a St. Louis meet years ago. If it doesn't go on ebay, pm me here, if you wish--I may be interested in it and have a friend and expert who may be able to look at it for me. Also, not caring about the a/c, is it currently road-worthy, in your opinion... i.e., would you consider starting out in it for a 600 mile trip? (btw, I do have a truck & trailer, too.)

(And since you asked for feedback about your ebay ad--too wordy and time consuming to glean info about the car from the "narrative," imho.)

[unclemiltie]

I bought it a little over a year ago out of an estate. It was a one owner car. I would not be afraid to drive it to either coast. When I got it all I could find wrong was one front end bushing and one PS hose but I replaced all of them in both cases. It has been reliable for me. I also put a couple tires on it at the recommendation of the tire shop. I have put less than 1000 miles on it. I never tried to charge the AC as it was not a priority.

I welcome having someone take a look at it. I prefer that it goes to a good home.

Thanks

[candbstudebakers]

Milt, my observation of the ad is if I were really looking for a late model Avanti I would be able to see the kind of car you are selling with your ad, lots of pictures and description to cover all items,to bad the pictures show the car as orange and not as red, being orange and black stands out but maybe not as a 2 tone set up every one might be interested in, I know you very well milt and if you say it is red I can believe what you say, but not every one knows you like I do and this might be just enough to pull this auction down some, I hope Dick Steinkamp see this and speaks up. good luck with the auction and see you in Wisconsin....Bob

[Dick Steinkamp]

I hope Dick Steinkamp see this and speaks up.

Milt,
You include a good amount of info on the car... pros and cons. That's a good thing. Many people skip the flaws part which makes buyers suspicious. Including the flaws gives them confidence that you are FULLY describing the car.

You include a lot of pictures. Another good thing. The more the merrier. Either in the listing or a link to a photo album. Put your self in the shoes of a potential buyer who can't see the car in person. What would YOU want to see?

You wrote it in HTML. Good on you! The standard eBay listing format leaves much to be desired. HTML gives you LOTS of room to be creative and to show the car in the best light.

OTOH, the small, off color pictures don't work so well. If the car is red, you'd never know it from the pictures. Red will sell far better than orange. If you don't have a good camera, borrow one. Good pictures (and video) are essential to a successful listing. There are only a few under hood and under carriage shots and all rather tough to see details. These are important areas to most potential buyers.

IMHO, describing the car with the car doing the narrative is cute, but awkward and a little hokey. Buyers aren't looking for "cute". They want the facts. At best, it will turn off more potential buyers than it appeals to. Just telling the facts turns off no one. Keep all the facts, but use your voice to describe the car.

Here's an ad I'm running for my grandson's 1981 BMW. It's only a $3,000 car, and I hope we get it, but it demonstrates some of what I'm suggesting. Here's the eBay ad I did for the Kart Hauler. I sure don't claim my way is the only way to market a car on eBay. I've been successful with it, but so have others with different approaches.

Good luck with your sale!

[Xcalibur]

Thanks, Milt, for the additional information. I had gotten the impression you owned the car longer, hence might have "lived" with it for a significant part of its life (and miles). However, I'll still watch it on the 'bay.

[unclemiltie]

Thanks for the comments, I added some more pictures taken with a different camera. The old Sony seems to be making the red look like orange.

[unclemiltie]

I re-listed it using suggestions from forum members. It is really great to have a place like this where you can get great suggestions and assistance.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131291329144?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Dave Kinney's value's on the Hagerty site says the car is worth quite a bit more than my reserve. It is nice to have a site where the person controlling the values etc actually owns Avanti's himself as some sites have no real clue what they are worth.

Thanks again for those whom provided assistance.

[53k]

I re-listed it using suggestions from forum members. It is really great to have a place like this where you can get great suggestions and assistance.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131291329144?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Dave Kinney's value's on the Hagerty site says the car is worth quite a bit more than my reserve. It is nice to have a site where the person controlling the values etc actually owns Avanti's himself as some sites have no real clue what they are worth.

Thanks again for those whom provided assistance.

Very nicely done. All your changes from the first listing are very positive (and it's nice to see the real red).