Buyer Beware: Protecting Classic Car Enthusiasts From Craigslist Scams
As the founder of GuysWithRides.com, the only dealer-free marketplace and community for classic and collector car enthusiasts, I’m dedicated to building trust and transparency on this website. In addition to our auction and buy now offerings on the Guys With Rides Marketplace, I blog about classic cars I find for sale by owner on Craigslist. In between those two tasks, I frequently scour the websites of my competitors to stay abreast on trends on what is selling and for how much. I’m blessed with a good memory when I see a picture of a car. While I’ll stop short of labeling my memory as “photographic,” it often helps me remember when I come across a picture I know I’ve seen before.
My latest example happened early this morning when I discovered a Craigslist ad for a 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado for sale in Lake Elsinore, California (screen image shown below). As a huge fan of first-generation (1966-1970) Toronados, I always take note of when one hits the market and what it sells for. Consequently, when I came across the aforementioned Craigslist ad, it immediately reminded me of an eerily similar example offered one year earlier in May 2024 on Bring a Trailer. This 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado was sold on Bring a Trailer for $22,500 on May 15, 2024. Not only does the new Craigslist ad feature pictures pulled from the Bring a Trailer (“BaT”), but the listing also uses the BaT description practically verbatim. I hate to say it, but the new ad appears to be a scam, copying a Bring a Trailer (BaT) auction from May 2024.
When Craigslist launched five-dollar car and truck ads in 2019, it was seen as a great way to reduce, if not eliminate, the scam ads that once plagued the site. While much of that nonsense can now be found on Facebook Marketplace, apparently, there are still scammers on Craigslist who believe spending five bucks on a Craigslist scam ad is a worthwhile investment to con someone. This discovery underscores the significance of expertise, authenticity, and community in the classic car market, highlighting why GuysWithRides is the trusted choice for enthusiasts.
Here are screenshots of the two listings, one year apart:
The Craigslist ad, posted on April 5, 2025, lists a 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado Deluxe with a 425ci V8 engine, red vinyl upholstery, and 23,000 miles, touting repairs such as a new transmission and brake booster. It features photos of a red Toronado with pop-up headlights, a red vinyl roof, and bucket seats, mentioning a cassette stereo and power windows. However, it’s nearly identical to BaT Lot #147,029, which sold for $22,500 on May 15, 2024, featuring the same car, images, and details, including a New York registration and spare parts such as a factory radio. Red flags in the Craigslist ad include the absence of a title (citing NY’s age exemption), the use of uninstalled OEM parts (e.g., cruise control, 8-track player), and vague contact information, which is also absent from the BaT listing. This suggests the scammer hijacked BaT’s auction to deceive buyers, a common tactic in the classic car world.
Out of fairness, I called the number listed in the Craigslist ad to get the scoop, as it could be just a lazy seller leveraging BaT’s content. Here’s a screenshot of the conversation; you be the judge:
If the listing was legit, the alleged seller would have called me back or at the very least, tried to explain the history since the car was last sold. Instead, he coyly asked me, “Question??” (sic) before quickly calling me names.
This scam is wrong for three key reasons. First, it misleads collectors, risking thousands of dollars in losses for a fake car and eroding trust in online auctions. Second, it exploits platforms like BaT, whose detailed listings are often repurposed for fraudulent purposes, thereby damaging industry credibility. Third, it targets nostalgia, preying on fans of the Toronado’s front-wheel-drive innovation and 385-hp Rocket V8. Such scams emphasize the need for a reliable platform like GuysWithRides, where we verify listings and prioritize community, unlike Craigslist’s unregulated chaos.
This incident underscores GuysWithRides’ mission to be the go-to resource for classic car auctions through expert content, trust, and engagement.
However, the beauty of the internet is that private buyers can try to protect themselves from such scams by doing a bit of research. If a Craigslist ad does not contain the VIN, ask the seller for it. If they are reluctant to provide it, walk away from the ad immediately. If the seller provides the VIN, perform a free VIN search on Classic.com. Doing so might give a glimpse into where and when the car in question was last sold.
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