Buyer Beware - 1948 Custom Coupe on Wisconsin Craigslist

I recently looked at a 1948 Custom Coupe that was advertised on Wisconsin Craigslist for Dean Mullinax in South Carolina. Now, for a little background on the car, it had previously been owned by longtime club members from Green Bay, Wisconsin and they had owned the car for several decades. In June, they sold the car due to health issues to the current seller in Appleton, WI. They sold the car, along with a number of extra parts, to this guy for $12,500 and were under the impression that he would give it a good loving home. Needless to say, they were very upset to learn that this guy was going re-sell it. The guy who bought it is in fact a flipper and by the first weekend of July, had it for sale at the Iola, WI car show to make a quick buck at a price of $5k+ more than he paid (and without the extra parts). At the time, I glanced at the car as if it was another show car, but didn't look closely. The car presented decently at a quick glance and is indeed a good 10 footer.

Fast forward to late August this year and I mentioned this car (that had been on Craigslist consistently since Iola in July) to a club member who was looking for a '46-'49 coupe. With this member being from South Carolina, he asked if I would drive to look at it (250 miles round trip) and confirm that it was as-described. Up to this point, the car had been described as a good running car with nice paint (no scratches, etc.), a very nice interior, nice chrome, and only a sticky brake. Now, we knew from photos that the interior was mostly correct in pattern, but a color that wasn't originally offered. Talking to the previous owners, we knew that they had changed both the interior color and paint color when I went to inspect it.

Going in with the assumption that somewhere down the road the interior would have to be re-done if it was to be correct and that there may be a few mechanical bugs, the expectation was that I would find a number two or high number three car. What I found when I got there was a car that did indeed have nice chrome and did run good, but had major checking/crazing in the paint, as well as a few blisters from poor surface prep and some touch-ups in a different shade of color, and a car that had some significant underbody rust. The woodgrain inside also was not finished correctly and apparently this is quite pricey to re-do. This was certainly not the car that was described and not the condition expected.

To add insult to injury, the owner rushed to get done and get home, cutting me off before I was done inspecting. Keep in mind I drove 250 miles to get there and I wasn't exactly asking him to stay hours and hours. I suspect he didn't want me to see the flaws visible up close. At multiple points in both my conversation and Dean's conversation with the owner, he touted how he was a "famous car builder". When Dean called back to tell him it had too many potential issues and he would be passing, the owner proceeded to insult him and call him names while again touting his "famous restorer" status (I kid you not, he mentioned this about 4 times). He also said to my friend that the "young kid that you sent out didn't know diddly-squat about cars" and that he "couldn't believe you would send him". Well, maybe I am not the expert on the '48's that I am on the '56's, but I sure do know more than him about what is right on the car and I present the photos below of what the "young kid that doesn't know diddly-squat" found.

In short - be aware that you will be dealing with a flipper who probably bought a car with more issues than he was initially aware of and just wants to make a quick buck. Also be warned that he's not nice to deal with, especially once he knows he's not getting your money. I don't normally post about people or cars like this, but this guy (at minimum) omitted critical information about a car that would be purchased sight unseen and was a jerk all along the way. I hope this prevents any other club members from buying something that isn't as represented.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 71463.html