I bought a Lotus Elan Series 4 in May.
I was in Tasmania visiting my daughter – the V8 Supercars just happened to be on at Symmons Plains the same weekend. I’d been looking at Elans for about six months. Initially, I was tempted by a white DHC in Perth, but it dropped off the usual sites – presumably sold. A yellow 1969 FHC had been on carsales.com for a few months, and as it was located in Launceston, I decided to have a look. While I didn’t know the specific car, it turned out I had raced against the same car in 1996. Local Randall Langdon (a previous Lotus Cortina owner) came along for support and advice. Despite having a blown head gasket, I made an offer the next week, which was accepted. A trip on the Spirit of Tasmania is booked to collect the car on a trailer.
As background, I’ve never bought a new car in my life – I leave that depreciation thing to others – so I’ve bought and sold all my cars privately. In the early years, of course, it was the Saturday edition of The Sydney Morning Herald, and then the paper version of the Trading Post was also popular.
I’ve always moved cars on once I’ve had my fun with them. So after eight enjoyable years I find myself trying to sell my Canstel (a clubman-style car) mid-winter – not very clever.
I started with my105.com (an enthusiast’s digital marketplace) which seems pretty popular for racing cars. An advert costs $99.00. I started a bit high at $25,500 – you can always come down. A few enquiries, but no lookers. The my105.com client base seems quite intelligent – no low-ball phone offers without seeing the car. My phone number was visible, and one chap from Tamworth sounded quite interested and claimed he would be down in a few weeks.
After about 10 days I had a call from “Garry from Cairns”.* He sounded very interested and asked lots of normal questions. Could his mate in Sydney look at the car for him? I agreed. The next day he rang again to say his mate was in Perth and that he would fly down the next day. I gave him my street name. He was staying close by in the Hornsby Inn. He arrived on time, looked at the car, and I took him for a drive. “Garry” is about my age, early 70s. I offered him a drive – but no, he wants to listen for any noises. He didn’t want the spare body and wheels, so after a bit of haggling, I accepted his offer of $23,000.
“Garry” stays overnight and says he will arrange for his mate with a truck to collect the car at Hurstville the next morning. Says he has the “money in his pocket”. After some more questioning, he then says it’s a Bank Cheque. I ask for his address (apparently genuine on Google Maps) and the Bank Cheque number – not provided. I advise Garry that I won’t release the car until the Bank Cheque clears in three business days (I had told him I used to work for Westpac). Garry is not happy (expletive deleted). I never hear from him again. A close call – but he was very believable.
As my105.com is more competition car focused, I decided to try carsales.com. I’ve used them before with success. I attempted to place a similar ad, but there is no Canstel in their drop-down brands menu. I ring the help desk – no problem, just email us your photos and text and we will load the ad … “it may take a few days for our ‘Red Book’ team to approve”. The advert cost is $219.00. I received an email to say my ad has been approved, but I can’t find it. Back to the Help Desk – it is there, but listed as a “Custom Clubman”. I explain how Canstel is spelt and ask for it to be corrected: “this will have to go back to the Red Book team” – I wait another four days. By the way, DMT approval No. 79114 for Canstels was granted in 1979 and the car is recognised and registered by Transport NSW today as a Canstel.
Obviously, no enquiries or calls are generated, so after eight days I give them two alternatives – correct the ad or refund my payment. The refund occurred within 24 hours.
I then decide to try Facebook Marketplace – Cars. Nothing to lose – listing is free. I get about 10 messages in the first week; some ask if it has a roof … yes, here is a picture. Obviously, most are not serious, just time-wasting. Then I get a message from “Saleem from Mt. Druitt” to say “I like your car – can I come and have a look?” He arrives in 45 minutes – looks over the car, we go for a drive – he loves it. He offers $20,000, which I decline. I’ll let him know how the Tamworth buyer goes next week. Tamworth man has a change of heart and is not coming down to Sydney, so I agree on $21,000 with Saleem, who pays me in cash.
Saleem has never owned a sports car; his other cars are a big Chevrolet ute and a Holden Maloo – both black and immaculate (well, he owns a car wash). He drives the Canstel with care, so I think it’s found a good home.
