All About Cars

Tips for Preparing Your Car to be Raffled

Preparing a car of any vintage to be raffled amounts to a transfer of ownership. In this instance, however, the proceeds are going to a good cause. Just the way you'd want to get a good price, you want to generate lots of ticket sales. All the points that apply to preparing a car for sale, apply to the pre-raffle process. Make sure you've taken care of the following:

• Have the car assessed by a mechanic and repair any issues he discovers.
• Test (and if necessary, repair) the interior systems, in particular the heating and cooling and the audio unit.
• Clean up the engine so when someone opens the hood, they feel they're getting a machine in good condition.
• Make sure all fuses are working. Change the filters and top off the fluids.
• Check the tires. They need to be in good shape with adequate, safe tread.
• If the inspection is due within a month or two, have it done anyway. (Not all states allow early inspections, so if you can't tend to this chore, make sure the winner knows the inspection due date is coming up.)
• Clean thoroughly inside and out. Consider a professional detailing and a nice coat of wax.
• Don't forget to clean the trunk and make sure there's nothing under or behind the seats.
• Leave some sort of air freshener or neutralizer in the car for a week to ten days before the raffle. The night before, spritz a little "new car" smell inside.
• Have all the paperwork in order and know what needs to be done to complete the transfer of title. (Organize these in a nice folder you can hand over with the keys.)
• If possible provide documentation of any work or repairs done over the life of the vehicle. (If the car has been in an accident and repaired by your car insurance provider, let the winner know. Include this with the other paperwork at time of transfer.)

The trick in preparing any car for raffle is to make it look and run like someone's dream machine. Early in the process your car will probably be photographed to advertise the raffle. Be sure to place it in a setting that shows it off to its full advantage and says to the potential ticket buyer, "Get behind the wheel of this baby and adventure lies ahead." People love to win, especially to win something they really want. Make the car an object of desire, and your raffle is guaranteed to be a success.

Bucket Seats 7-24-2008
Ford is Job 1 6-10-2007

 

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Much of what is contained here is the opinion of the author - Mr. Steven Bailey, a long time classic car collector.  It is all based on fact, but when it comes to the subject of cars, especially old cars, opinions play a huge role.  Therefore, we welcome your opinion and we invite your comments.

First thing to note is that I base all my opinions strictly on looks. Although most car enthusiasts take into consideration things like engine size and/or performance, handling, ride, and reputation, I believe that competition eventually forces all the car makers to be very close when it comes to mechanicals. Therefore, looks, especially in the 50’s, are the best way for a car to be “unique”.And, “unique” is king!

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Ask Mr. Bailey - Free to download!

• Article # 1 Top 10 Best Looking Cars Between 1940 - 1979
• Article # 2 Top 10 Worst Looking Cars Between 1940 - 1979
• Article # 3 Tips on How to Buy a Classic Car
• Article # 4 Classic Car Values - A Study of Investment Vs. Recreational Enjoyment
• Article # 5 It's My Story and I'm Sticking to It
• Article # 6 Can't Afford to Buy a Classic Car? How About Winning One!
• Article # 7 Should You Drive it, Show it, Store it, Sell it, or Just Junk it?
• Article # 8 What Makes a Classic Car a "Classic", or is it Just a Very "Old" Car?
• Article # 9 Classic Car Business Opportunities

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