Reply To: 1937 Pierce Arrow Sold at Mecom Auction this Week

[Gregory Long]

Purchasing a car at an auction can be a big gamble. Unlike purchasing from an individual, where the car can be carefully inspected, driven and questions asked of the seller, an auction car can often only be looked at, not touched.

I have purchased several cars from auction, and am happy that I’ve brought the cars back into the PAS family. But the cars often need work that would have been discovered prior to purchase, rather than after purchase. I would never pay a ‘top dollar’ price for a car at auction, without a thorough inspection prior to purchase. It’s just too much of a gamble.

I’ve been ‘scolded’ by auction-company representatives more than a few times for crawling under, opening hoods, doors, trunk lids, or rumble seats. on cars displayed for an auction. My reply is to show my bidder number or credentials, and ask that they [the auction-company person] to provide an assistant for me to properly look over the car, if they expect me to bid on the car. Occasionally an assistant is provided. Often not.

Greg Long