Rally Packing
The internet and Ebay changed car chasing forever. When it was you and phone and the classified ad, basically everyone had a chance to buy that car. It was a case of first there with the cash won the day.
In many way, things were a lot better then. There were no disputes of the condition of the car, no "you said this" or "you said that. There was no payment disputes and blocking, no social media trials. Just a couple of bloke (and sometimes girl) cash and haggling.
I don't miss the haggling because I was never good at it. My poker face is same as the kids face when he sees ice cream for the first time....I always pay the asking price (if I have the money)
On one particular trip onto the internet, all the starts aligned up for me and I got the bargain of the century. It was mid week and I jumped onto the internet to search for Escorts, {yes, it sounds bad) but it was mainly Ebay. A very straight Rally Pack Escort (basically the Australian equivalent it the RS models, Mexico or Sport depending on the engine installed) all complete minus the engine and gearbox.
The car was on an auction, just started with a $100 opening bid. I wacked on the opening bid and jumped on the phone as the seller was the towing company who had just picked up the car and the photos were of the car still on the truck.
The phone rang a couple of times and the seller answered. He was local to me (about 500m) so after a bit of a chat he decided rather than me come to look, he would drive the truck around to me.....The Rally Pack was still on the back of the truck!!!!!
Within 30 min. (it seemed like hours) the truck turned up and I had a quick conversation with the driver and seller. We talked more about my RS2000 that I'd already moved out of the driveway to accommodate my new purchase. I didn't car what he was asking, I was buying.
The conversation was literally seconds. He mentioned a price, I said yes and then he dropped off the car and left. It was that quick.
I took some pics and jumped on a local Small Ford Forum (This was before Facebook) and I listed all the lovely Rally Pack goodies. Quarter bumpers, RS Steering wheel, Driving Lights, black seats and door trims. It was the most complete original example I had seen EVER.
Sadly, it was a 4 door version that (at the time) were as popular as a Hillman Hunter. Today, its a different story. I got a call from a Forum member who wanted a few items for his Rally Pack restoration. He came over from the western suburbs later that day and was so amazed with the condition, he made an offer on the whole car.
The profit was rather small by may standards but a car had been saved from (well me,) and one very happy Rally Pack owner had a somewhat easy restoration project. All good.
In many way, things were a lot better then. There were no disputes of the condition of the car, no "you said this" or "you said that. There was no payment disputes and blocking, no social media trials. Just a couple of bloke (and sometimes girl) cash and haggling.
I don't miss the haggling because I was never good at it. My poker face is same as the kids face when he sees ice cream for the first time....I always pay the asking price (if I have the money)
On one particular trip onto the internet, all the starts aligned up for me and I got the bargain of the century. It was mid week and I jumped onto the internet to search for Escorts, {yes, it sounds bad) but it was mainly Ebay. A very straight Rally Pack Escort (basically the Australian equivalent it the RS models, Mexico or Sport depending on the engine installed) all complete minus the engine and gearbox.
The car was on an auction, just started with a $100 opening bid. I wacked on the opening bid and jumped on the phone as the seller was the towing company who had just picked up the car and the photos were of the car still on the truck.
The phone rang a couple of times and the seller answered. He was local to me (about 500m) so after a bit of a chat he decided rather than me come to look, he would drive the truck around to me.....The Rally Pack was still on the back of the truck!!!!!
Within 30 min. (it seemed like hours) the truck turned up and I had a quick conversation with the driver and seller. We talked more about my RS2000 that I'd already moved out of the driveway to accommodate my new purchase. I didn't car what he was asking, I was buying.
The conversation was literally seconds. He mentioned a price, I said yes and then he dropped off the car and left. It was that quick.
I took some pics and jumped on a local Small Ford Forum (This was before Facebook) and I listed all the lovely Rally Pack goodies. Quarter bumpers, RS Steering wheel, Driving Lights, black seats and door trims. It was the most complete original example I had seen EVER.
Sadly, it was a 4 door version that (at the time) were as popular as a Hillman Hunter. Today, its a different story. I got a call from a Forum member who wanted a few items for his Rally Pack restoration. He came over from the western suburbs later that day and was so amazed with the condition, he made an offer on the whole car.
The profit was rather small by may standards but a car had been saved from (well me,) and one very happy Rally Pack owner had a somewhat easy restoration project. All good.
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