50 Years of Buying Cars Off the Street

by Greg Herron | Feb 11, 2018 | Cars

Knockin’ on doors for 50 years

I have been knocking on doors and saying, “hey mister wanna sell your car?” since I was 12 years old. I have bought ( and saved from the crusher) 100’s of vehicles this way.

My significant other, my Jewels, says she can’t believe I can walk up and knock on a door and see if something is for sale. I tell her that you never know when the person’s TV may have broken and they will be happy to sell their old car. My most memorable buy was a deal that took 25 years to complete and I was rewarded with the purchase of a 1959 Caddy Coupe but that’s another story.

Just the other day

My most recent purchase was a 1978 Chevrolet Suburban Air, tilt, cruise and 2 WD. A perfect platform for my next car trailer tower.

I had seen this ‘burb parked on the main street, in a small Washington town, for years. I went to the licensing agency to update my 1995 Suburban’s tags. It is the same town as the 78 Suburban and when I was finished licensing I was driving past this old suburban…again.

I’m retired, my days are lazy, and I decided today was the day to see if it was for sale. Let me preface this with I have been “binging” on old pickups and I really didn’t have ANY car money left to buy another vehicle. I told Jewels that I wasn’t going to buy any more cars ’cause I didn’t have enough money left over to buy anymore… I was wrong!

I knocked on the door, a young girl answered, and I asked if the suburban would be for sale. She asked her mom and mom said she really wanted to get rid of it.

I asked how much. Mom said she would take $200. Yup really…$200. I knew it didn’t run because it had sat for so long and 2 tires were flat. I checked my billfold and I was pretty much cashed out. I asked if $150 would work as I wanted to “seal the deal” right there.

Dawn (the seller) was happy to get rid of the old suburban ( she was going to donate it or give it away. She could not find the title but 2 blocks away at the licensing agency we transacted the deal and a title in my name is in process.