ClassicOldsmobile.com - View Single Post - "CARS-ON-LINE" INSPECTION ON A '71 442 CONVERTIBLE

catonine · 09-13-2007, 02:02 AM

I just thought I would give all of you Olds guys a "heads-up" about an inspection service I recently hired through "Cars-On -Line". The cost of the service is $275.00 and is worth every penny. I found a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 big-block convertible(Stock #265) at Black Tie Classics located in Stratford, NJ. The car looked impressive in the photographs, and I was seriously considering it. The inspection was performed professionally and promptly. Within 2 days, I was forwarded an 11 page report with photos detailing every part of the car, including how it performed during a test-drive. The asking price of this car originally was $48,900.00, then was "reduced" to $45,900.00 as shown on Black Tie Classic's website. The report I received appraised the car at $17,850.00. The car was found to have an excessively thick layer of undercoating hiding rust and sloppy repairs, "bondo" used on the doors and quarter panels in a mediocre fashion, mis-aligned body parts, including a poorly fitting reproduction "ram-air" hood. The rear wing was also noted as a reproduction held onto the car with generic screws. The horn does not function, radio speakers sound poor, the driver's side mirror cannot be adjusted, heat doesn't work in the "high" setting, an "after-market" tachometer is installed where the clock should be ...... I could go on and on but I think you got the message. Photographs of cars always look great until you see them up close, especially by a professional with a "trained-eye".
Never buy any classic car sight unseen, and consider using the "Cars-On-Line"
inspection service as an insurance policy to protect you against unscrupulous dealers or individuals that are out to "rip" people off.

09-13-2007, 02:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
catonine Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7	"CARS-ON-LINE" INSPECTION ON A '71 442 CONVERTIBLE I just thought I would give all of you Olds guys a "heads-up" about an inspection service I recently hired through "Cars-On -Line". The cost of the service is $275.00 and is worth every penny. I found a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 big-block convertible(Stock #265) at Black Tie Classics located in Stratford, NJ. The car looked impressive in the photographs, and I was seriously considering it. The inspection was performed professionally and promptly. Within 2 days, I was forwarded an 11 page report with photos detailing every part of the car, including how it performed during a test-drive. The asking price of this car originally was $48,900.00, then was "reduced" to $45,900.00 as shown on Black Tie Classic's website. The report I received appraised the car at $17,850.00. The car was found to have an excessively thick layer of undercoating hiding rust and sloppy repairs, "bondo" used on the doors and quarter panels in a mediocre fashion, mis-aligned body parts, including a poorly fitting reproduction "ram-air" hood. The rear wing was also noted as a reproduction held onto the car with generic screws. The horn does not function, radio speakers sound poor, the driver's side mirror cannot be adjusted, heat doesn't work in the "high" setting, an "after-market" tachometer is installed where the clock should be ...... I could go on and on but I think you got the message. Photographs of cars always look great until you see them up close, especially by a professional with a "trained-eye". Never buy any classic car sight unseen, and consider using the "Cars-On-Line" inspection service as an insurance policy to protect you against unscrupulous dealers or individuals that are out to "rip" people off.