Advice needed on selling my 74 412 w/4 speed

Vgonman · Post by **Vgonman** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:10 am

Hello,

I have not posted in a while, sort of between a rock and a hard place. I have a 74 412. Been restoring it for awhile, late last year got it back from paint and body. It has the manual transmission.

To make a long story a little shorter, I have rebuilt the motor, it is on the shelf in the garage, and prior to pulling the motor for paint work, the car ran with all the original fuel injection stuff. Now, mind you, no corners were cut on this paint work, or the motor, rebuilt injectors, etc. I even had the seats custom reupholstered.

It needs a new home for I lack the finances to finish the job. I probably have upwards of $8000 in it.

What i need from the list is a way I can connect with potential buyers for this car, to where i can recoup a fair share of my costs. I realize i will lose money on it, BUT I need to minimize that and not put more into it. It is a special car, and as we all know, something like 1400 of them came to the US. This is a solid car with 90 % of mechanical work done---brakes, hydraulic clutch, etc.

Any realistic and helpful ideas would be appreciated.

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:42 am

I suppose ebay and thesamba.com would be a place to start? Maybe Craigslist in some distant big cities? Even if many of the little details still need resolving, I think it would be best if the car were at least mostly reassembled to have the best chance of selling it for a decent price. How many people out there could easily reassemble one of these without having taken it apart themselves? Ray and a few other regulars here? There are so few of these cars, there aren't really any "market rules" it seems. I've seen just a few nice 2dr./4 speed cars come up for sale on the web in the last 4 years- a nice mint-appearing original w/many era-correct accessories was priced at $4500 IIRC. Just my thoughts.

Vgonman · Post by **Vgonman** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:09 am

You are correct, I do need to do more reassembling, so that an individual has to do something easy, like have a carpet installed, instead of assembling the whole darn interior. It might be smart to stick the motor in as well. Thanks for the solid and sensible advice.

PS--anyone out there near Charleston SC want to hang out and help reassemble a 412?

)

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:12 pm

Assume since it's a US-spec 412 with 4-speed it's a 2-door?

Vgonman · Post by **Vgonman** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:26 am

Yes, that is correct

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:31 am

Technically...as the crow fliys...I am not that far from you. I wish I could buy it...but alas...I now have a car payment for the first time in my life and my own 412, two door with 4-speed. I can probably make some trips down to help with assembly work at some point. Maybe even show you some better than factory...and cheaper...shortcuts. Maybe even enough that you can keep it instead of getting rid of it. Ray

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:43 pm

Wish I was closer. I have two 16 year olds needing a ride, and I could let them take my '73 412 Variant and I could have the 2-door...

Vgonman · Post by **Vgonman** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:09 am

One thing that would really get me kicking along is a source for a carpet. I stupidly ripped it out , and need to put a new one in so then i cac install seats, etc. That is the first thing i got to come up with interior wise.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:15 am

Sewfine has the type of carpet you want.....OEM. As for carpet kits....they don't exist. It would be a matter of buying the carpet, cutting the carpet to shape and then marking teh edges that you want "bound" and them sending it to Sewfine or someone local to have those edge areas bound. Ray