[Steve Horelick]

Hi,

I’m looking for suggestions as to the best way to sell my Spider. I’ve owned it for 30 years! 35,000 orig miles. It’s in really good condition. Here’s a pic... any suggestions?

 

[divotandtralee]

For a car in this value range, your best bet will be to find a buyer who is within a 250 mile range of where you are. Anything over that creates transportation and "inconvenience costs" to a buyer. A buyer will need to eat those dollars which will be discounted from your pay-off but are figured into the cost of the car to the buyer. I think the Alfa BB is as good a place as any and a proper write-up of the history of the car and how it is not driven in winter ( look like you are in NY) will add value to the car. Be realistic on the value and come up with a price using your insurance company and other guides for your ZIP code. Last but not least, anticipate the questions a buyer will ask on service and operation of everything on the car. What would you be asking if you were a buyer? From the get-go .. what is your definition of "really good" condition and why are you selling?

 

[DPeterson3]

While I agree with the above, I see nothing wrong with EBay or BringATrailer. The latter may not accept your car, but you never know.

As the car is a 1980, it MAY have more appeal than a later S3. In my opinion, the low miles will probably attract a wider audience willing to pay a few hundred dollars more for long distance shipping.

My strategy is to supply plenty of pictures, and describe every flaw in good detail. Let a potential bidder know nothing is being hidden.

 

[nealric]

An 86 series 3 with similar miles sold for over $30k on Bring a Trailer. That's probably an outlier result, but if it's in pristine condition, it could fetch a pretty big premium. Detail it to the nines before taking listing photos.

 

[divotandtralee]

An 86 series 3 with similar miles sold for over $30k on Bring a Trailer. That's probably an outlier result, but if it's in pristine condition, it could fetch a pretty big premium. Detail it to the nines before taking listing photos.

There are TONS of S3's with mid-to low miles at less than half of 30.. The biggest mistake squirrels (sellers) make is looking for the one acorn under an oak tree that has the face of Jesus on it and then go hungry.

 

[nealric]

There are TONS of S3's with mid-to low miles at less than half of 30.. The biggest mistake squirrels (sellers) make is looking for the one acorn under an oak tree that has the face of Jesus on it and then go hungry.

There are, but I'm pointing out that a well presented low-mile spider on BAT can do quite well. If you are fine selling it for less, just set a lower reserve .

 

[DPeterson3]

BaT won’t accept a reserve on low-value, garden variety cars, or at least rarely do.

A data point. I bought my 77 Spider about a year ago. It had been parked for a decade, and driven only 67k prior to that. Pretty much zero rust, very nice paint and interior, dark blue+oxblood. Needed a top. Had the heavy bumpers.

I paid $3k for it, plus $1,200 for a hauler to bring it home. I’ve put around $6k into it, including CN36s, Eibach springs, red Konis, suspension renewal, early bumpers and grille reversion, new tank and sender, serious sound system upgrade, plus an ongoing variety of detail renewals.

So, I now have a brilliant driving, tight, good looking, rattle-free S2 for $10k.

The two variables on this car, both plusses, is that it is running, and has fewer miles. These argue for a higher minimum opening bid, but I recommend against using a reserve. Post an auction at, for example, a $5k minimum, and let it run a week. I reckon a smart buyer would compete up to around $10k, or more, plus the cost of a haul to bring it home.

 

[Alfajay]

Don't forget to put an ad in your local Alfa club's newsletter. I'm guessing you are in New York somewhere; there should be a local chapter and its members will satisfy divotandtralee's "250 mile" constraint.

 

[autobroker]

Hi Steve,

I'd try selling it here and any other Alfa specific sites first. Here's my why. It seems like you've taken care of your car and you're a proud owner. People who know Alfa's will be glad to buy the car from you. And you'll be glad to know it's getting into the right hands.

Bring a Trailer is a good site to try next. Your car may bring good money, or it may falter. And if you have a no reserve sale (required per BAT), you could wind up being forced to sell when you don't want to. One other thing with BAT, there are flaky buyers there. The number of people who won the bid, but didn't buy is too high. There is no recourse - you have to run the auction again. And there are trolls out there who will pick on a small item, because they're sitting there on the computer bored and on top of it, they have no intention of buying the car.

I just noticed that there are a lot of 1980-1981 Spiders for sale on the east coast now (mostly in the New York area). I'm not sure why these popped up at this time, but if you're in that region of the country, know that you have competition, which in most cases isn't good.

The other issue with your car is that it's a 1980! I own a 1980 Spider that gets very little use. It looks just like my other Spiders (except the black bumpers), but it doesn't drive like the others. The single throttle body, cat, smog pump, egr, etc. The motor just doesn't breathe like it should. Is it a bad car? Not, definitely not. But other years are in higher demand. 1980 and 1981 are both single throttle body cars. And many rubber parts are not available for these cars, since aftermarket parts companies won't make them - economics.

Good luck with your sale.

Greg

 

[autobroker]

One final thing. You may get lucky selling your car to someone who lives in a state where they don't have to smog test it. The buyer can rip the cat, egr and air pump out and let the motor breathe again! And maybe get rid of the single throttle body and put a pair of Webers on her. With some steel bumpers, it would be a really nice car! And of course the low miles and it being well taken care of helps too!

 

[divotandtralee]

I think we can draw a consensus from this discussion.... It's his car and he will do whatever he does.... and you are welcome..

 

[GTA Alfa]

As a comparable, similar low mile Spider advertised here.... For Sale - 1977 Spider One owner 35,700 miles NO RUST!
Last price advertised was $7,000.
Late Series 2 Spiders are not there yet, in terms of price. Clean, early Series 2 stainless bumper cars are starting to gain some attention, as round tail Spiders are getting out of reach.

 

[divotandtralee]

Series two can be misleading.. There are many variations including bumpers that influence value.. so already spoken. Hell a non-bumperette car mirror image of one that is can command many more thousands of dollars and yet be basically the same car.

 

[Mauricio101]

Hey Steve,
In the world of Alfa, low milage doesn't always translate to better, as these cars need to be driven. A lot can go wrong with them when they sit for long periods of time, especially with a SPICA. Pat Braden wrote a book called the Alfa Romeo Owners Bible. There is a chapter in it headed Alfa Buyers Guide where he takes you step by step of what to look for when buying a used Alfa. You should read it and familiarize yourself with it as you will need to answer most, if not all, of the issues he poses. Get ready to take lots and lots of pictures, especially of the engine bay, under carriage, rocker panels, jack points and foot wells. Document everything. The good and the bad. On BAT, there is a feature that allows you to see and track past sales of models. I would start the research there. See what sold, for what price, and why. Condition, mileage, issues, etc.....
Then, I would set a price, be realistic, and post it for sale on this BB. This BB has some pretty far reach and a great community.