Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I would like to share an experience I had recently regarding attempting to buy Bob Cassella’s SS/DA for sale on RacingJunk.com. Bob and I spoke on the phone and via email several times before I made an offer. Upon accepting my offer, I sent Bob a deposit to hold the car until I could get to Pittsburgh the following weekend. I made arrangements to look at the car on Sunday night and if everything was okay, pick up the car on Monday morning. My brother in-law agreed to drive up from Atlanta to get the car and deliver it to Florida.

Bob told me in advance he refused to accept a personal check or even a bank check on Monday as it was a holiday and the banks were closed. I found this a little odd as most people know a bank check is close to “guaranteed money”. I told Bob I would bring cash.

Around 6:50 am on Sunday morning, Bob called to tell me not to bring my trailer as the weather was not great. By this time, my brother in-law was already on his way. Then, while I was in route, Bob left me a voicemail message disclosing the car had been in an accident a few years back. I was surprised Bob was just now disclosing this as I had specifically asked if there was “anything I should know about the car” during our initial phone conversations.

Upon arriving at Bob’s house Sunday night, the car looked good and I told him I would be back in the morning. At this time, Bob informed me I would not be able to get the car until Monday evening or even Wednesday due to the weather and his driveway not being cleared. Well given I could not stay for an extra three days, my brother in-law and I spent the entire Monday afternoon salting and clearing the long driveway. The cost for the salt and supplies was over $120. Once the driveway was cleared, I told Bob’s wife I would be back later that evening to get the car. Around dinnertime, Bob called to say I could not pick up the car that evening as he would not accept my cash until the bank could verify it was good. And while I am not sure, I guess I would have had to stay around until Bob’s day off on Wednesday when he could have taken the cash to the bank. Needless to say, I walked away from the deal. While I am disappointed to have wasted time and money, this is not how I do business. All in all, I spent over $1,000 trying to buy this car.

I just thought you should know in case you were interested in buying a car from Mr. Cassella.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Wow Bill, I have had issues with guys calling and say they are gonna come see the car or come see the car and say they will get back to me and never do but never have I heard where the buyer had cash and the seller didn't want to sell. I would have to say that he got cold feet, but it seems he did everything possible not to sell the car to you. Come see me, I'm in Tampa but don't have SS/DA car for sale and it's Ford; guaranteed you want get yanked around like this guy did you.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bill, I am really sorry to hear that. I know how it feels to spend a bunch of your own money to attempt to purchase something from someone else, only to have the other side be totally unreasonable. I just went through a similar situation, except it was a business, and a whole lot more money at stake. Hope you find the car you are looking for.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I am assuming you got your deposit back.

I don't know Bob Cassella, but how about slandering the guy.

Yes, a bank check is close to "guaranteed money" assuming it is a legitimate bank check and not something made up on someone's computer. That is not such an uncommon thing these days.

As for cash, there is counterfit money out there. I've been stuck with it before. The guy was being cautious. He felt that once the money was in his bank account and accounted for, he had a deal.

I've done many one on one deals before and sometimes you end up going home empty handed. Walking asway from the deal was your choice.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Can you post the RJ AD #, so we know what car you are referring to. I assume it is the SS/DA 69 Camaro that is listed.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bill -

Wow! Sorry for your inconvenience. There is another SS for sale Turn key or less Engine, tranny, salt or snow and Cash is King!

Bones said give him a buzz 1-888-534-4372

Hugh

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

if it was just some Joe Schmo i would kind of agree with you. However 10 minutes of Mr. Cassella's time and i think he could have had more than a handful of good references for Bill and Brenda Grubbs

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bill -- You did the right thing in walking away -- there must be more to this story - maybe another buyer ? As for the cash it doesn't take very long for a bank to check it -- certainly not days .The bank check you spoke of however is never the same as cash -- they can be stopped -- I've learned that lesson firsthand .

PS -- He should have told you about the accident sooner . Others would have "walked" at that point .

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Chad,

References for what; Being the Div. 2 wrench of the year or for just being a "good guy"? What has that got to do with a business transaction?

It was Bill Grubbs that choose to walk away from the deal. So you must then think the other guy is Joe Schmo. Probably a lot of Div. 3 guys would disagree with that. You are only hearing one side of the story. I'm sure each guy will say the other was unreasonable.

Two things are negotable, price and terms. They agreed on price. It was the terms they couldn't agree upon. They should have had a clear understanding of that before Grubbs left Florida.

As for the $1,000 - $1,200 in expenses. That's called "the cost of doing business". You win some, you lose some and sometimes you get rained out.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Jack, you are right.

He didn't say the bank would take days to check the cash. That is done immediately. What was taking days was them getting to the bank.

And yes, I've had payment to me stopped on a Cashier's check also. Didn't know that could be done until then.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I never assumed the other guy was Joe Schmo. I would think that enough people could vouch for Bill Grubbs the he would be able to take CASH money. I dunno, maybe he shoud have taken a gold brick. As for not agreeing to the terms, it sounds like terms were changed midstream several times by the seller.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bobby,
With all due respect, it appears Bill felt like the terms were agreed on. If the seller didn't think so, he should have said so. I doubt it was possible for Bill to read his mind via voice mail and email. And yeah, I'm taking in to account we're only hearing one side.

As for the cash, well, yeah, it could be counterfeit. But not likely. I don't think you could call Bill exactly hard to find, either. The drag racing community is not that big. I think Bill Grubbs paying with bogus cash after jumping through hoops to make the deal happen is a pretty big stretch.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Alan,

I didn't imply nor did I think it would be intentional. Anyone can get stuck with bad money as a "holder in due course".

Obviously, the other guy was being ultra conservative (what we refer to as a scaredy cat).

If I was buying the car, and I saw that the seller's hot button was getting the money in the bank intact, and I really wanted the car, I would have gone along with it. I wouldn't have just got pissed and pulled out of the deal.

And I wouldn't have bad mouthed the seller publicly.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bobby,
It appears Bill put forth a really honest and earnest effort to buy the car. What else do you call going ahead despite weather, despite schedule changes, and going so far as to clear a driveway entirely at your own expense and effort, after already paying a good faith deposit? At some point, you have to cut your losses. Have you considered that maybe it was not possible for Bill to hang around another 48 hours? After all that, and getting the impression the guy didn't want to sell, what would you have done if something else came up?

Regarding the cash, if it had been bogus, again, Bill is pretty easy to find, and I can assure you that no matter what, the guy would have either been paid or had his car back. The Secret Service and the FBI get touchy about that sort of thing.

Also, unless Bill is lying, and I doubt he is, as he has no reason to, it isn't even close to slander. The truth is the ultimate defense for the charge of slander. I think maybe your use of that word is a little over the top, at best.

Bill and Brenda are friends of mine. Not real close, personal friends, but good friends for certain. We have a lot of mutual friends. I think you are very mistaken about Bill. I think Bill honestly feels a bit taken, and Bill is the kind of man who would make the effort to warn his fellow racers. Bill is an absolute stand up guy.

I can honestly say at that point I'd have asked for my deposit back, having made more than a good faith effort, and headed South, as Bill did.

In any event, I think I've said enough, and Bill is quite capable of defending himself without my help.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

If I were buying a car or maybe a piece of equipment for the business and the seller wanted cash only, I would expect something to be wrong or misrepresented. Once the cash changes hands, it's yours.
Its a possibility there may be something else he forgot to tell you and hoped you didn't find out until you got home with it.

Keep looking Bill, you'll find something! Hope to see you and Brenda at the races soon.

Andy Stone 1102 B/S 1112 SS/C

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Don't know if it's still for sale. Owner is Guy Czarniak in Redding, CA.

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/13690...aro-SS-BA.html

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

DON'T DEAL WITH YANKEES .....

Hammer

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Wrong car Mike....I believe it's this one:

http://www.racingjunk.com/post/12946...aro-SS-DA.html

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Czarniak is a Pittsburgh name though.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Is that Tom Ferene's old car. Originaly from Rachael/Fairmont WV area?

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

In todays world I sure wouldnt take a bank check for 22.5 unless I was at the bank it was written from, As for cash they make a felt pen available at any office supply place that you mark the bills with, if it turns yellow its good. As for the way this was handled Id have to hear the other side of the story first. Im sure the guy got torched in the past on a deal. I sure dont blame the buyer for being pi**ed though

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I know, this is another one for sale if he's looking for a '69 SS-DA (I know the owner)

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Too bad you are not looking for an 88 Culass Gt car. You'll fine me alot better to deal with.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Chris

It's not Tom Feorene's car.
My buddy "andy bohatch" bought tommy's car several years ago.
Here is a pic of when Tommy owned it and when Andy ran it at one of our pittsburgh points meets.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...ldoraTruby.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...orenenum02.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...prp06pram2.jpg

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Sorry Mike; I didn't realize that you were suggesting an alternative.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

The seller was afraid his friends would find out that a girl could drive the car better than him. (By the sounds of it maybe he didn't want his boyfriend to find out either.)

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Or... maybe she wanted it sold, and he wiggled out of that....

Well, at least she got a clear driveway out of it......

Sorry Bill, Brenda and Bobby. You know me well enough to know I have to try to make light of a bad situation.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I have a 69 Camaro SS/BA (Ex Anthony Bertozzi Camaro) that I would let go of if the price is right. Reply via PM

Manny

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Hey Bill email me at oakes2074@hotmail.com

Thanks Brian

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Maybe Bill and Brenda should have gone straight to the top and talked to the guy's wife. Who knows, she may have sold it for half price!

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Bill and Brenda I sent you an email and PM

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

bill give me a call 252-560-1176

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

:~(

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Adger,
Not to highjack Bills thread, but call the cops on the guy. You'll get it in short order after that.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

bill, you still owe me dinner.
dj raiser

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

I have skimmed over all the posts Bill, not devoured them and am not real educated on the car you and Brenda are trying to buy. But if my thinking is right ... it seems too cheap. Maybe ... maybe your seller is trying to get it appraised. Maybe he is affraid that he has priced it too low. Just a thought.

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

My brother owned a mail order internet business that did over 600 transactions per day. We use to get one phony certified check a week, I can understand that. But after saying that you can buy a cash pen for 20.00 and mark the money yourself. NOBODY is going to be stupid enough to go to the bank with 22,500 cash on one day deposit it since you have to do a federal form to put that much cash in the bank at one time. If the bank checks it by law they have to do the form. If I was selling the car and it was Bill or Brenda I would take the certifited check due to the fact I know them and other people they know and I would bet my life he would never do a phony check. Be glad you walkd away and email racingjunk.com your story, I know they have pulled ads before on similar stories.

Herb Jr

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Just want to let anybody know, always feel free to contact me about history of a car ET wise, i have records going back to 1993, so if a car has ran in SS or Stock in NHRA or IHRA, i have the history.
There has been a few that have told the buyer that the car will go -.90 or faster after checking with me i have told them maybe if they pushed it off of a cliff, lol.
Anyhow, always feel free to e-mail me.
Joe

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Joe -- That's a great service you offer to potential buyers.........and to honest sellers ! ! ! !

Re: Adventures in buying a Super Stocker
 

Just want to let anybody know, always feel free to contact me about history of a car ET wise, i have records going back to 1993, so if a car has ran in SS or Stock in NHRA or IHRA, i have the history.
There has been a few that have told the buyer that the car will go -.90 or faster after checking with me i have told them maybe if they pushed it off of a cliff, lol.
Anyhow, always feel free to e-mail me.
Joe

Joe,

How fast did I go at the 2008 Dutch Classic ? I went 9.430 at 139.30 on 11/23/2008 in the left lane at a weight of 3525 which is 95 lbs over the min wt. That is 9.335 or 1165 under at min wt.

Take care.

Bob Cassella