Having a full blown classic car inspection done, coupled with a certified car appraisal is where you should start if you’re serious about selling your muscle car or antique car in today’s on line market. Buyers typically expect that the one’s selling their own car will reveal the car in a very favorable fashion….to be expected. This process gets worse when you add in a broker that hasn’t really seen and studied the car. Most of those deals fall apart mid flight, due to lack of confidence on the buyers part. If they do end up selling, it’s for a lower dollar than they should have sold for, because smart buyers don’t overpay for a car they are not confident in. The key to success? Earn the buyer’s confidence. Not just through salesmanship, but through honest, accurate depiction. Having the car inspected by an outside, professional 3rd party inspection company will reveal the car’s strengths and weaknesses, and help both parties get down to the truth, which leads to a truthful and favorable outcome for both parties.  Our process includes jacking up the car and test driving it when possible, along with magnet test results, and in some cases video presentations, when personally conducted by the owner. Even if you have some computer skills, the management of a successful selling campaign on line can be a arduous process. Having the time to send out 100’s of photos, over and over to different prospective buyers, teaching them how to link to and or view videos, answer dozens of questions, and continually follow up  with people is what is required. You can utilize the reports and photos that Autoappraise.com will create for you on site to sell your car, or better yet, you can let us step up and handle the whole task for you. We have sold EVERY car that has been consigned to us, through our unique process of thorough accurate depiction. Don’t just take our word for it. Auto Appraise will put you in touch with the actual sellers of the cars we’ve consigned, so you can hear the stories of our success from them….which is really their success. Put the hard work and skills of certified auto appraiser  Jason Phillips to work for you. Please call us to discuss your unique situation. We offer discounted service for car collections. Auto Appraise Inc. is well reviewed in the Classic car field, so check out what our client’s are saying! Call us to discuss your needs. 800-301-3886, or 810-694-2008. M-F, 9am-7pm, Sat 10-2pm, EST.

Technorati Tags: auto appraisal, auto appraiser, buying a used car for sale, Classic car chat, classic car for sale, consignment, muscle car for sale

This 1963 340 HP Chevrolet Corvette has been meticulously frame off restored over a 3 year period by an experienced Corvette enthusiast. It’s a correct, original red on red roadster with it’s original number’s matching engine, transmission and rear end. Look closely at photos and you will see the real difference when someone spends over $125,000 doing up a rock solid original car. This car is right, down to the correct color fuel line clips. Bonding strips and fiberglass from under are clean and clearly visible.  The restoration has less than 3500 miles of road time logged. It’s truly a beautiful car….as close to a show car as you would want to drive occasionally. From date coded hoses to paint daubs, this is an amazing car. In today’s dollars, it would be difficult to even do this car again due to the lack of  NOS chrome available. Aftermarket parts are just not the same.  Another 200 photos can be studied along with a comprehensive inspection report at http://www.autoappraise.com. You’ll need to email cars@autoappraise.com and ask for a password to additional info. Here’s a shorter version of what’s in the report. Please access and read the report before you call, as I am on the road often and am not always easy to reach. 810-691-2664. We are asking $67,500.00

Casting numbers, casting dates and stampings were located and photographed. BODY TAG: k3 build date, 490m trim, 923A paint. ENGINE: 3787820 casting, F253 julian cast date, F0630RE assembly stamp, with corresponding VIN stamp 3120xxx. Brioche marks are visible on pad surface. Other engine component numbers were documented and can be accessed in report. TRANSMISSION: 3831704 main case, 3788421 scatter shield, vertical flange stamp corresponds to VIN 3120xxx. REAR END: Stamped “CE” code, dated 7 15 63. To summarize, the vin tag is correctly spot welded and the trim tag correctly riveted, and all the numbers above correspond and are correct for this car. Links to youtube.com are posted below, including cold start and test drive. If they don’t connect directly, just copy and paste them into youtube.com.

UPDATE: Thanks for looking, we have sold this client’s car.

Technorati Tags: classic car, corvette, for sale

auto appraiser Jason Phillips recently inspected this code 912A silver blue 1963 Split Window. The car was ordered sold by the court of local jurisdiction, who assigned the work to auto appraiser Jason Phillips and staff. It had the same owner since 1964, and has a very nice original interior. It features correct 63 gages, correct 63 only adjustable seat frames, but it does have a 64 hood. It has a solid, unrestored underbody, good solid frame, and runs well, with it’s correct 300hp number’s matching motor and original 4 speed. In the history of Corvettes, this was the 1st coupe ever available in the Corvette line. It also was the introduction of IRS, replacing the “straight axle” set up with nylon straps. This car has a driver quality, older repaint that was never really sanded and buffed out very well. A wet sand and wheel will bring it up a couple notches. If you are interested in purchasing this car, please contact me. 810-694-2008. The asking price is $39,500.

Technorati Tags: chevrolet, corvette, numbers matching

Jason Phillips points out in an auto appraisal that it’s easiest to identify true factory built SS Chevelle’s in 1966 and 1967. Even without a protect-o-plate, or a build sheet, the cowl tag and VIN tag will not lead you astray. If it begins with 138, then it was a factory built SS model. All SS chevelle’s from 1966 through 1970 were 396 equipped cars. All except for some 402’s, and of course LS5 and LS6 equipped 454 1970 models. If you need more info or a car inspected, check out our website, www.autoappraise.com.

Technorati Tags: chevelle, chevrolet, SS, technical

auto appraiser Jason Phillips was asked “when did the 396 engine get introduced? Most people believe that it was 1966 for the SS Chevelle’s, but that’s because you rarely see or hear about the 1965’s. In 1965, you could order an SS with a six cylinder! However, early in the year, Chevrolet introduced the mark IV 396 big block, but only put it into 201 heavily optioned “A” bodies. These were all well equipped cars, called the “Z16″ Malibu. If you find one, It’s a rarer than rare treat!

Technorati Tags: chevelle, chevrolet, muscle car, SS

I knew when I was walking up the driveway on this last auto appraisal that there was going to be drivability issues. The left rear tire had some major negative camber issues. This is spotted easiest by kneeling down behind the car from 20 feet away, and looking at the tilt of the rear tires. It can be adjusted some, by rotating the cam washer, or replacing the non-adjustable lower torsion arms with aftermarket adjustable ones. The car had all original bonding strips in place, and a very good original un-hit frame. The dog leg caps had some rust, but nothing structural to be concerned about. On the high side, it had a tank sticker, both tops, and was a numbers matching big block 427 car, with the original muncie and original rear end. The rest of the suspension had been rebuilt, which was nice. It ran surprisingly well, and had really nice paint, for a 20 year old respray. It’s still for sale, the guy want’s $25,000. Contact us if you are interested in this car. 800-301-3886

Technorati Tags: 427, big block, corvette, for sale, numbers matching

Certified auto appraiser Jason Phillips has recently inspected both a 66 and 67 GTO. The post December 1966 build date for 67 models makes it a whole lot easier on verification of engines. Pontiac Motor Division began Stamping VIN’s on the motor in Mid December, 1966. If you have the still original block in a 1967, then it SHOULD be stamped next to the timing chain cover, just beyond the lower radiator hose inlet. The stamp is vertical, and often up higher on the pad. This 67 was clearly marked. The seller had the PHS documentation, even better. If you’re a buyer, and he/she does not have PHS, be sure to order it. Jim at Pontiac Historical Services can fax you back the essentials on a car history in about a day’s time. It’s well worth the money he charges to have this in hand. There you’ll find the engine unit number on the car’s billing history to match up against the right front engine stamp. This was especially useful on the 66 I did, as there was no vin stamp on the 66’s. The PHS will also provide other build history on the car. I have 265 inspectors at work nationwide, and I never send one out to do a Pontiac inspection before I order my PHS on line. The 66 turned out to be very nice, but not a matching car. It’s still for sale if you’re looking for one.

Technorati Tags: 1966, 1967, GTO, numbers matching, Pontisac

So many people ask me when I’m conducting an auto appraisal if I can confirm the “matching numbers” on the motor and transmission. When selling, seller’s often refer to their cars as numbers matching, but only because most of them cannot be confirmed on sight. FE blocks (12 versions in all) for the most part were not vin stamped, unlike GM cars and Mopar’s. Casting dates is about all you’re going to end up with off the engines. During an on site inspection, these are not possible to see on a small block, unless you brought your tool box! Some dis assembly IS required.

Technorati Tags: ford, mustang, numbers matching

auto appraiser Jason Phillips notes that Mustang’s were built in 3 plants in the USA. San Jose built cars were the only ones that no buck tags were utilized. That leaves Metuchen built and Dearborn produced cars. Tags were used from 1964-1968. The Metuchen tags, at least through 1967, had wavy edges, whereas the Dearborn produced cars had flat, rectangular tags with 90 degree edges. The little holes you see punched in both versions were put there by assembly workers. These punches indicate that workers acknowledge their instructions on what that particular car was to receive. Punch holes had different shapes and symbols, based on what was being confirmed on the order.

As an auto appraiser I’ve been asked many times about the VIN stamp on 1969 Z-28’s. People see the engine assembly info on the motor stamp pad, but see no vin derivative next to it. Most of the vin numbers I’ve verified are on the stamp pad near the oil filter. Knowing which casting number your block has is a big help.

Technorati Tags: auto appraiser, classic car, muscle car