doppler asked:
How do you get financing to buy a restored used car from a private party? I am trying to buy a restored VW Thing and I do not have the money to pay cash all at once.This is not some junker… it’s a clean, quality restoration and has value. Are there companies that specialize in financing such purchases, or do I need to get some sort of (probably too expensive) consumer loan?
Wow, John, a little harsh there. It’s a taste thing. I’ve owned a ’68 Beetle and a ’71 Squareback, so I know I love air-cooled VWs, but I’ve loved the look of the Thing since I was a kid and have always wanted one… and body parts are not a problem since, as I answered, this is a clean resto. Plus, there are still specialists out there that offer parts and service for the type 181.
bostonianinmo: anywhere from 3 or 4 grand for a clunker to 16-20 grand for a clean resto… that’s what I’ve found. They’re rare and the people who have ‘em don’t often part with ‘em.
Marjorie
How do you get financing to buy a restored used car from a private party? I am trying to buy a restored VW Thing and I do not have the money to pay cash all at once.This is not some junker… it’s a clean, quality restoration and has value. Are there companies that specialize in financing such purchases, or do I need to get some sort of (probably too expensive) consumer loan?
Wow, John, a little harsh there. It’s a taste thing. I’ve owned a ’68 Beetle and a ’71 Squareback, so I know I love air-cooled VWs, but I’ve loved the look of the Thing since I was a kid and have always wanted one… and body parts are not a problem since, as I answered, this is a clean resto. Plus, there are still specialists out there that offer parts and service for the type 181.
bostonianinmo: anywhere from 3 or 4 grand for a clunker to 16-20 grand for a clean resto… that’s what I’ve found. They’re rare and the people who have ‘em don’t often part with ‘em.
Marjorie
Floyd
Doppler Why do you think VW’s don’t make any cars like this anymore? Me personally I would never finance an obsolete car like this one,The engines are not the problem but other things like body panels and moldings and maybe the windows and the parts to them are very tough to find,try to buy something that has tons of available parts for that particular vehicle VW’s too remember this it is all planned obsolescence.Now you know Right?
Javier
Look in the specialty rags for ads by banks that finance classics. Any of the specialty V-Dub press (DB&HVW maybe) should have plenty of ads in the back pages. Just make sure you’re dealing with a real bank and not some rip-off offshore loan mill.
Alternatively you could do a personal loan if your credit is strong.
Had a Thing years ago. Loved it! What are they selling for now??
Ronnie
Hmmm, they quit making those “things” when I was in high school. I’d think you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan for one, since most lenders will not finance a car that old with a traditional auto loan. You might need to use a home equity loan or get a personal loan for something like that. It doesn’t matter how well restored it is, it’s still a 25-30 year old vehicle to a lender, and repairing or replacing parts damaged in a collision might be a problem.
Yvonne
Hey good car for fun and cruising. The finace question an be answered by one of three ways.
Bank personel loan. Finance Company, or maybe if you are lucky the owner may just hold a note for you. The latter would be the best choice for the now owner. The THING is highly collectable and can bring big bucks. check ebay motors.com
The prices will scare you.
Andrew
I always wanted a thing, I had a cat named thing once.
I think that you will probably going to have to get a personal loan. Careful though, interest will probably be on the high side.