Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Chevrolet Dealership Sign Help

I have the opportunity to buy the Chevrolet Dealership pictured below. As you can see it is a two sided wood framed glass sign with lighting inside. The one side is almost completly gone. I usually would have no interest in Chevrolet items but this sign is out of a local Chevrolet dealership that closed in the late 1930's and the ownership has ties to my grandfathers Buick dealership. The owner is asking me to make an offer and I have no idea where to start. I want to be fair to him and myself. If anyone has any info on the sign or ideas on the valve please let me know. THANKS!

email is andrew@innernet.net the link above never works for my email!!





Always interested in GULF & BUICK items!!

Over the last 25 years I have bought and sold a ton of petroleum/automotive related items. Every time I was ask to make an offer, I automatically assumed I would not be buying this item, because it always amounted to the fact the owner felt I wasn't offering enough. It was then I decided to tell the owner, let me know what you want for it, if it was in my price range I would buy it, if it wasn't, I would walk away.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book and Air Meter Identification book
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In this case the owner told me he has no idea what it is worth and I don't either. The owner is one I would consider a friend from doing business with him over the years. So he told me to find out some info on the sign and a value and we would use that to come up with a price that is fair to both of us. So I am buying the sign just looking for some help on what to offer. If I tell him $50 dollars he would sell it to me for that, but I want to be fair because I want continue to be friends and not take advantage of the situation. Any ideas on value out there???

i get emails & phone calls all the time "i am trying to sell this & make an offer" If i walked on every make an offer statement i would have missed many great items however making a fair offer is different for everbody especially on something like this........At one time it was a great piece but the elements has taken its toll & to me personnally its lost much of its value even if restored... ........

With all that said and it was offered to me as "make a fair offer" i doubt if i would go over $500.00 & I would prefer to pay $300 however the next guy may think a fair price is a $1000.............i hope you see my point here , each person may have their own opinion which may translate to a different fair offer
if it was mint & original i would pay at least $7000 & maybe more....hope this helps you

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http://www.roadrelics.com

Let me start by saying I am not on exper on Chevrolet signs. I don't think this looks like a sign made by Chevrolet. (Chevy experts prove me wrong now, LOL) It looks like a professionally hand painted sign. I wonder if there are any marking or tags onthe inside. Can you open it to see the lighting?? As far as value, I would figure out what the sign is worth and then had a "sentimental addition" to it. Also figure what it will take to get it fixed and running, assuming it isn't. You said it was tied to your grandfather's dealership. That is cool. My great grandfather had a business in Canada that is still going, but owned by another family who bought it inthe 30s. They have memorabilia shown inthe store from when he owned it and I would pay dearly (not a rich guy) to have a couple of the items, just because they were once his. I think this is an item to pay more for. It is unique. Having said that I think $450 to 500 id fair.

Tom

It depends a bit on yor financial situation, but often they may work with you.

You may say something like.. Its probably worth 500 , I could only give you 300 right now. And sometimes the owner might say something like Oh well, That Much!!.. I would be happy with 200.00.

So you never know, but I will say this.. if you have to wait a bit to pay or are even getting it later in the week..dont tell anyone anything specific about it... because things like that have a habit of disappearing under you nose when you tell people..

That being said, there was a bar in town that had a clock I liked.. it just closed after about 60 yrs. The clock behing the bar was what I wanted.. had a local jewellers name on it.. clock was there for at least 35 yrs that I remember. Closing week was very busy and rumor was place was to be sold with contents. It closed on a Sat nite, Mon morning i went past and saw a guy loading stuff up.. certain stuff is owned by lotto, beer co etc. He said we are closed I said I know, but is the owner(former) around. Just then a guy I kew walked out, he said the owner would be there in 1/2 hr, I told him what I was after, and left.
About 2 hrs later I went back and walked in the part they were in, owner and the guy were sitting down, I told him I was interested in the clock and he says we are supposed to leave it intact. I say well I thought you may sell it for a good offer, he says How much?..So I say how about a 100.00 He says If I could sell it to you I would sell it for 5.00... !!

He says go look at the chair over there and it was sitting there!!, he says I guess I might let it go.. So I say 5 bux.. how about 20.00.. he says sure.. and off I went!!

For months I thought of offering 150 or 200 but was worried that he might say someone would pay more...lol..

Thanks fellows for your help & advice. I don't have to worry about the sign begining sold out from under me, just need to finalize the deal with a fair price. There are no markings or tags on the sign and I agree that it looks to be hand painted on the glass. I think there is three light sockets on the inside of the wooden case and it shouldn't be a problem to get lighted (I'm hoping a plug and three bulbs). I'm thinking I'll just clean it and get the lighting going and leaving the faded side go without having it repainted. Thanks again and if anyone has anymore advice or value estimates let me know!

Is it etched at all? If it was at an auction I'd go like 225.00 or so-Seems kinda shot-It doesnt mean the same to me as you. Good luck!