Deceiving Dealer: 1973 Pontiac Grandville Convertible – Now Advertised By Dealer!
(To stop the slideshow and expand the pictures, click on the current photograph below)
March 30, 2022 Update – After flagging their Craigslist ad, apparently they got the message. This car along with all of their other cars are now listed properly under the “For Sale By Dealer” section. So while the car remains available on the Denver Craigslist page, we will not be featuring any longer knowing it’s a dealer listing.
Perhaps the motivation for a dealer to disguise themselves as a private party on Craigslist is to break through all the clutter on that site’s automotive listings. However, when the seller outright lies about why they are selling, you have to call into question how they are as a business person.
This 1973 Pontiac Grandville convertible originally listed in March 2022 on Craigslist in Denver, Colorado at first seemed like a nice enough ad. The poster claims, “I am selling this car because my storage expires around April 1.” and “I might be price flexible with an in-person offer.” Candidly, the pictures and the description did not tip us off. It wasn’t until we searched for a supporting video that we quickly figured out this car, at a minimum, was being stored at some sort of car dealership.
Okay, perhaps the seller is a friend of the dealership owner who was doing him a solid over the winter. Unfortunately, the fact this car is listed on the dealership’s website makes this one of the most elaborate deceptions we’ve run across.
Currently offered for $19,500, comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the dealer has their Grand Ville priced between this guide’s #2 “Excellent” estimate of $17,500 and its #1 “Concours” appraisal of $26,800. Unfortunately, the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls above this guide’s #1 “Excellent” estimate of $18,125.
Here’s the video of a similar ’74 Pontiac Grandville Convertible where the background tipped us off it’s a dealer posing as a private seller. Notice the similar background to the pictures used for the car featured here as well as the license plate frame.
It’s a shame the dealer feels the need to act like a private party as this 1973 Pontiac Grandville with only 51,000 miles appears to sell itself based on the pictures provided.
Here’s the seller’s BS description:
“1973 Pontiac Grandville Convertible factory 455 Automatic transmission. with 51000 original miles. Fully loaded including power seats front disc brakes 15’inch Rally II wheels. Really nice car. Ready to go! I am selling this car because my storage expires around April 1. $19500 I might be price flexible with an in-person offer.”
Do you have a scamming dealer story to share? If so, comment below and let us know!
that convertible has a engine knock
Please delete my prior post, I have reread your posting you are definitely correct about the backgrounds. My bad.
No worries, thank you for contributing!
And in the trunk you will find a ….. body?? Not going to lie, given the follow up I was holding my breath.
And yes, that land yacht has a serious knock.
But other than the fact that the seller misrepresented themselves, (nothing a well placed curtain can’t hide), the car has a serious knock, there is no video of the engine or the undercarriage, the paint is in seriously dire condition I think it is worth every penny he is asking. Put it on Bring A Trailer. He will get that and more.
Correction: I met lead up not follow up. I was laughing too hard to proofread.
I like how the dude in the video keeps calling it a ’74.
To clarify, the car in the video is a ’74. Ironically, that guy likes Grand Ville as even though its a different car, the background tipped us off!