I was doing my random CL search while on the phone today. Not looking for anything in particular, or really even at all. I'm usually quite specific about how I plug in my searches, but made an error this time and ended up on a very different-than-normal search criteria. Suddenly, there it was. A vehicle I've wanted for many years, but not a "priority" vehicle. It's not a '73 Super Beetle (my planned 'next project'), and not one of the investment cars I typically search for. But still, a vehicle very much on my list of "one day".

I've tried to buy three before. One wasn't for sale, no matter how hard I tried. The second was for sale, and sold before I could commit. The third was hit, badly, before I could buy it...and, well, this particular make/model/year has been largely forgotten. All through the lunch hour, there it was just staring at me from the CL ad...

I, like many of us in this thread, have either too many cars or not enough money. There was no chance I could just drive down tonight and make an offer. Jokingly I emailed it to a buddy of mine, who countered with an offer on a vehicle in my stable. Hmmm, guess he's been thinking about that one for a while! All afternoon we negotiated back and forth. He knows what I paid for the car, he knows I want to make money on it, but we both know it needs to be a 'friend deal' too. Just after 5pm, I agreed to sell him the vehicle. Now I've got a 10:30am appointment to go and see the car I found for sale. The seller promises to hold it for me until I have a chance to take a look. I'm half-worried I should be heading down there right now. It's not perfect, but I do think it's a well-priced deal. I won't post the ad here until I've been down to see it...it's that good. I'm often the scoundrel calling ahead saying I'll buy it before someone else's appointment, can't let that happen to me! I figured the rest of you Craigslist watcher's and dreamers could appreciate the fun stress I'm going through. Is this car going to be any good?!

It was a bit more project then I was hoping for. I knew from pictures he sent me that it needed a fair bit of finishing, but there was definitely more then I anticipated. All of it is easy, except for the headliner and reassembling the doors...both are very challenging jobs, and potential lost parts from the doors is very worrisome.

The bad news on the car:
- Aftermarket fenders, all four (thinner metal, probably not exact fit)
- 1957 Front fenders instead of the proper '58s
- Aftermarket bumpers and mounts, they don't fit well or proper front and rear.
- Running boards are incorrect.
- 1956 Rear apron welded in
- Tires are wrong
- One front fender scraped down low
- Who knows what is lost and missing...

The good:
- Seller was honest and genuine.
- Floor pans, heater channels, body all done. The work looks good, and he's sending me photos of all the 'in progress' work, which is a huge plus. While the incorrect parts bug me a little, having a rust free solid car that is done right makes up for it.
- Mechanicals seem sorted, minus the engine bay. I know them well enough that I honestly didn't even care about what lump was in there.