What would you do?

[brownz]

I found a 1969-70 chevy short bed step side around the corner from me just sitting in the driveway of this house. It looks like it has been sitting there for a long time as the licence plates on it are from the mid 90's.

I stopped in and asked the old man if he would like to sell it, he is Mexican and does not understand english that well and just smiled and shook his head no...

I talked to his wife and she can understand english and she said what would you offer. I said I would like to look over the truck better and if you are willing to sell it I would make a offer. I gave her my name and number but no phone call!!!

I know its his truck but if you are just going to let something sit and do nothing with it sell it to someone who can get some use/enjoyment out of it.



So what should I do? keep going back every month or so with my contact info or just forget about it?

What would you offer??

[RenoKeene]

Have you fallen in love with it yet?
What would I do....find someone that speaks spanish and take them with you, maybe THEY will fall in love with YOU and you can get a cool truck on the cheap.

[70shortfleet]

Wecome from St. Louis, MO - Bug the heck out of them until they sell it to you and take some pictures and post them on the board, we like pictures!

[shawno72]

X2 we Loooove pics then just be persistent. Just be prepared if they do want to sell it, they may ask more than what it's worth. But if you want it bad enough price won't be the issue.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LEX]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

find someone that speaks spanish and take them with you,

pretty much this and take cash with you

[cdowns]

bug the hell out of them is a great way to not get the truck in the end somebody else might end up with it for alot less money because you've made a pain in the A$$ out of yourself

[Indyuke]

^^ Yep. And could be that the wife mentioned to the husband that she talked with you and he told her absolutely not, I will not sell it. So then she doesn't call you back.

Bottom line, this is America where every man can still do with his own property as he sees fit, regardless of whether someone else has plans for it or not.

There have been several times I've really wished to buy a sweet vehicle from someone, I'll stop in and ask them and they'll say no. With one exception, all those vehics are still sitting there rusting. One of those was a '63 impala in pretty good condition that my parents used to own... now it's sitting on it's axles in mud with the bottom half of the car almost completely rotted away. Last time I asked him if he'd sell it was in '91 or '92.

[lil hoodlum]

You could also figure out what you would be willing to pay for it and flash the green in front of their faces. Cash is a universal language that everyone understands.

Good luck!

Keith

[NoNeck]

I agree with the other suggestions. You need to break the language barrier, and make him comfortable with even speaking to you (or your interpreter).

But, some people develop a bond with their old trucks. Maybe it belonged to a brother who died in Vietnam, or his father who took him fishing when he was a kid. You can't buy memories. I own a 1966 Ford Fairlane GT/A that my mother bought new. I get offers to buy the car everywhere I go... and for a lot more than it's probably worth. But, now that she has passed, I will never sell it. At any price.

That being said, I can't understand why people let their vehicles sit and rust to the ground. If it really is special to them, they should at least protect it from the elements.

My son and I tried for over 3 years to buy a 1967 RS Camaro from an old guy that lived a few miles from us. Every weekend we would go by and talk to him about it. The last time we saw it the seats had collapsed through the floor pans (rust), and the back window had broken from the heat (black car). Some kids had jumped on the roof and caved it in, and all four tires were dry rotted and flat. By then, it was too late to save the car.

But, bottom line, it belongs to them. And one of these days they will "Get around to fixing it up." Yeah... right?

NoNeck

[big_al_71]

Fly me up there and I will go negotiate for you.....

[LEX]

Orale..

[original-71]

No means No in english and spanish

[JRANGER]

get a spanish translator on your smart phone and get to it

[CC69Rat]

Everything's for sale .. and cash usually helps. I'd say take a wad in your pocket and start unfolding 100's until they smile. (assuming you like / want to own the truck)

[Sequoyah]

Originally Posted by original-71

No means No in english and spanish

quoted for truth!

[socalkevin68]

i always pull out a stack of hundreds and say.." you sure its not for sale? i have cash"
heheehehehe

[Dunenutt]

I once had my lawyer contact a gentleman that was very interested in one of my vehicles. It cost me $ to explain to the gentleman what the meaning of the word NO is. He seemed to be very receptive

He also understands that car shopping over a 6' block wall is frowned upon

[lil hoodlum]

Are you sure the older gentelman said no or "no se"?

"No se", means "I do not know" meaning he does not understand you.

Could mean a big difference.

Keith

[biggestjohn]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Everything's for sale .. and cash usually helps. I'd say take a wad in your pocket and start unfolding 100's until they smile. (assuming you like / want to own the truck)

Everything is not for sale, and if you tried that on me, I'd slam the door in your face for insulting me.

I say respect his privacy and move on.

[CC69Rat]

I was just playing bro.. relax
Posted via Mobile Device

[PanelDeland]

Spanish speaking people are much more comfortable dealing with other spanish speaking people.Just because you "THINK" the wife speaks/understands english doesn't make it so.Many spanish speakers get by doing what they think their employer is asking them to do.
Just so everyone knows,I'm not being racist,my wife is of Italian/Mexican descent and speaks spanish fluently,though she doesn't look Mexican.She's embarassed a few by understanding something they said that was inappropriate.She usually doesn't judge them,she knows most are Catholic and were raised on guilt and comfort food,they also revere their mothers(who are usually devout) so she just asks if their mother knows they talk like that.So far in the dozen or so times I've seen her comment,she has yet to recieve more of a reply than a stunned look.
My suggestion is to get someone you either trust or know isn't intrested in the truck that can translate for you.The lady may have thought you were a scrapper and there's no telling what the husband thought.Get someone who can get the story on it and try to make a deal.

[Wootdog]

I am from Ohio. Every old car and truck I have ever seen there needs a good look over. The rust is terrible in the midwest which you already know. Do a search on this site for areas you may not think to look at. Rust gets into everywhere on one of our old trucks.
Good luck,
Kerry

[odog]

I agree, get an interpreter that will help the man understand what you are trying to do, I get the old smile and nod alot when speaking to mexican people, usually they have no idea what I am saying, and the one who understand sometimes misinterpret the meaning. If the guy still says no with an interpreter, be done with it, he understands, but doesnt want to sell.

[Sideways]

When I wanted to buy my truck in '88-'89 , I kept asking the owner and all I got for answer was nope!

It only had 23,000 original on it and the camper had never been off and a few people started knowing of it.

Finally one day I asked him and he said yes, he had been diagnosed with glaucoma and would not be driving it.

So you never know keep asking and he may change his mind.

[Meatman]

Persistence, showing up waving around money and acting like your their long lost best friend has always paid off for me.