Gah, almost there. Okay I got the loan from a bank that will now become my bank because I love the way they do business...and my old one? oops, oh well. anyway...the final part of this is the transaction and shipment of the 70. I offered the seller half up front and the other half when I receive the car. He prefers to have the full cost before he allows the vette to be put on a truck and shipped from Mississippi to North Dakota. I want a guarantee that I'll receive a car when I send my money. Is there a way to provide both him and I with a guarantee, perhaps a third party or a way to make the check cashable only when I get the car, or what?

you just need a good "contract for sale"

you can find one on the internet

he is reasonable in wanting to get the money before the car is loaded up..

get full coverage insurance on it right now though..

that way if it is damaged or stolen in transit.. you are covered..

where would I go about finding one?

hrm never mind, got a couple with google...my question is how does this keep me from not getting the car once I send the money? it's easy to advertise a false identity on the internet, and break a contract. I know that seems so classically...paranoid, perhaps? but with the recent increase in ripoffs for purchases from sites like ebay and such...I want no chances taken.

I bought my 69 on ebay. It came from Nevada and I live in Florida. I worked out a deal through my bank since they had all the money and can do fund tranfers from bank to bank. I paid the down payment, paid a local broker $75 to inspect the car just to make sure it was what I bought VIN, year, make, that type of things. Then once the transport company notified me he had the car loaded on his truck and it was on its way to Florida I instructed the bank to release the remaining funds in the sellers account. There is a little trust thing on the last part because if the timing is not 100% you could have the vehicle in transit prior to the seller getting his last piece of the money. In my case I paid 90% in 2 up front payments (down payment & completion of inspection) and the last 10% when it was loaded. Hope this helps a little. It will cost you a few extra bucks but it should give you some assurance. Good luck

Yes, well I don't think either of us has too deep a trust for the other...I already offered half up front and half when I get the car, though I could try asking him about half up front and half as soon as the car is loaded onto the truck. Any other ideas?

Try and find someone local to the car to check it out for you. And could also be there when it is loaded up. There must be a C3VR member and/or a Corvette club nearby (look at the Vette Club Listing here on the site). The National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) and the National Corvette Owners Association (NCOA) would also be worth checking with for some info on clubs and/or owners in the neighborhood.

I bought "The Toy" over the internet but flew out to finalize the deal and then drove it home (not something you'd want to do this time of year though! But if you had some leave to burn maybe the transport outfit would let you ride along ).

There is a bit of a trust issue on both sides of a long distance transaction, but if you have binding contract documents in place at least you have some recourse should something go wrong.

Norsky said: There is a bit of a trust issue on both sides of a long distance transaction, but if you have binding contract documents in place at least you have some recourse should something go wrong.

exactly.. thats what the contract for sale is all about..

but for future reference.. if you had used a visa/mc for this.. you would be protected.. you could still get the loan to pay visa.. but if there was a problem .. you could cancel the charge..