1938 Buick Century

The rating system above is not accurate as it assumes I went through with the purchase of the car... I did not after finding out that the seller lied about several factors. The seller stated "No Rust" and "Only 38,000 miles". Sounded good but after I put in a minimum bid, I wrote several times and ask for additional photos of the interior, trunk and engine compartment which he had failed to include. The seller refused telling me they are not "Pros at taking photos". My bid held as the high bidder until the auction was about to end. I didn't want to take a chance and pass up an honest car but something odd happened; all of a sudden I was outbid and I made several more bids but couldn't outbid that high bidder... then the auction page went crazy and froze up. I thought I had lost the car as I couldn't bid further. When all had cleared up, I learned I was the high bidder with my first bid??? What??? that last bid was withdrawn! I immediately received an e-mail asking how soon can he get the cash for the car. He wanted cash within 3 days! I informed him that it would take time to transfer the cash but he said he needed the cash (not a check) within the next few days. This made me suspicious so I called him and asked him to verify that the car was rust free as he had stated in his auction. I also ask him about the low mileage. He informed me that the car was indeed rust free but the mileage was wrong. He said the mileage was only 17,000 miles which I took to be 117,000 miles!! I became suspicious and contacted eBay support who told me not to continue with this sale; they also turned me over to eBay Security and Fraud Dept. which stated the same thing and that if I received any reprisal from him, they would handle it. I then called the seller again and told him I was not in any hurry to pay him as he did not send me the photos I had requested. He was angry and refused to allow an Inspector to view the car but he reluctantly sent me some photos of the interior, trunk and engine compartment. I am currently an auto inspector working for one of the large Inspection firms advertised on eBay so when I saw the photos he sent me, I knew the whole auction was a scam. The interior of the car; seats, door panels, carpeting, etc. had been water stained up to the window sills; a great deal of surface rust was prominent on all metal in the trunk and engine compartment as well as rust stains running from the front windshield down onto the dash. The steering wheel white Ivory covering was non-existent and the steel showing through was covered with rust as well as the floor gear-shift lever was fully encrusted with rust. With my experience with classic cars; Appraiser and Inspector for the last 50 years, it was apparent that this car had been submerged in water or caught in a flood and then set for a period of time for all that rust to occur. When that much rust is present in the photos, it's very apparent that steel floors, seat springs, doors and frame would all have a great deal of rust present under the upholstery and carpeting. I did receive a letter from the seller condemning me for failure to follow through with his auction and called me a 'liar' among other things. I'm just lucky to have found out that this car would have been extremely costly to repair. eBay was a great help in backing me in my choice to back out of the deal. I thank them sincerely. It also brings out that old saying. "let the buyer beware!".
Harold Youmans (Boxer21