Guidelines for Writing Your Vehicle Description

Writing can be super intimidating.  But, buyers love to see clear, informative descriptions, making it very important to write a good one.  Following this guideline will help. Feel free to use our headers and subsections as a template for your vehicle’s write-up.

Helpful first step

One thing we recommend is to sit down and write all the basics you know about the car.  When did you buy it, where did it come from, how many owners has it had?  Do you know where the car was first sold?  Was it used as a daily driver, or pampered?  What size engine does it have, is it an automatic or manual transmission?  How many forward gears?  Are there any modifications to the engine or transmission?  Tell us about them. 

What kind of wheels and tires does it have?  Are they factory wheels or aftermarket?  How old are the tires?  Have you done any recent maintenance to the car?  Has it been involved in any accidents or had any kinds of bodywork done?  Tell us about the receipts you have for the servicing that’s been done.  Has it had a major, engine-out kind of service?  If so, when and what was the mileage?  What are some of the features the car has like power windows, power locks, power steering, power brakes?  Does it have leather or cloth upholstery?  Is the radio original or aftermarket?  Does it work?  How does it sound? 

Honesty is the best policy. What are some of the deficiencies such as things that don’t work, or damage such as cracked dashboard or rust or a misfire – anything a buyer should know about.  It’s hugely important to be very transparent.  Read on to see how to bring it all together.

What kind of car is it?

Start at the beginning so we all know what we’re looking at. 

Example:

1981 DeLorean DMC-12

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302

1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

While it seems like a simple situation, it’s important to write out exactly what kind of car buyers are looking at, so they know if it’s what they’ve been dreaming of.

History

Start with what history you know about the car, including some highlights that will pique a buyer’s interest. 

Example:

Bought in 2018 from the third owner, who acquired the car in 1997, the car has travelled nearly 24,000 miles from new.  The previous owner only applied 3,000 miles during his tenure, leaving the seller with a number of deferred maintenance projects to attend to.  Still in very original condition, the car has enjoyed various updates and upgrades such as the new and improved fuse box with new fuses and wiring, a new fuel system, a new brake system, a new cooling system, and more.  The goal of the seller was to turn the DMC-12 into a reliable driver and it was achieved.  The body and interior present beautifully and are all original.

Maintenance and Modifications

Discuss some of the maintenance or modifications that have been performed. 

Example:

DeLoreans are known for having some finicky systems, especially those cars that have been sitting for prolonged periods of time.  Having bought this car in a highly-original state, the seller had a number of upgrades and updates to perform to make the car reliable and enjoyable.  Some of the highlights include:

·      New cooling system – the radiator, all hoses, belts, and thermostat have all been replaced in the last couple of years by DeLorean specialists.

·      New brake system – the rotors, calipers, pads, parking brakes, brake lines, and fluid have been replaced in the last couple of years by DeLorean specialists.

·      New fuel system – the fuel tank was cleaned and the fuel lines have been replaced.  A new fuel pump was installed.  This was performed in 2021 and has been used for 3,000 miles.

·      New electrical system – the fuse box, fuses, and wiring were replaced in 2023.

·      New AC – the compressor is original, but the hoses have been replaced and the wiring has been upgraded.

Bottom line, whatever you think you would like to know about as a buyer, another buyer would likely want to know as well.  So, tell us – also, knowing what’s been done should help support a higher dollar amount in the end.

Body

Tell potential buyers about the body. 

Example:

This is an original, unpainted, stainless-steel bodied DeLorean with very few blemishes, and those blemishes are almost unnoticeable.  You’ll see them in the pictures.  Only one, on the bonnet cover, is likely needing repair.  A golf ball sized dimple, someone scratched at it with something, marring the surface.  Simple to repair.  The only paint on a DeLorean is on the headlight and taillight surrounds, which are painted grey.  This car retains its original paint and it is a 9-out-of-10 condition with a couple of minor knicks.  The lenses for the signals, taillights, and side marker lights are all spectacular.  The grille, lower body trim, side trim, window surrounds, and so on are perfect.  The louvres are in mint condition, the color of the material is perfect and remains unpainted, the spine is perfect.  The engine cover is metal and painted black and is in beautiful condition, complete with the factory-applied diagram stickers on the engine side of the cover.  Both open and close as they should.  The gull wing doors open and close perfectly, the driver door is a tad out of alignment, but nothing serious at the moment.  The struts were replaced in 2023 and the torsion bars were adjusted at the same time.  The glass is perfect all around. 

Again, this is your moment to tell everyone about the flaws and highlights of your car.  It’s very important to be as accurate and honest as you can be.

Interior

How is the interior? 

Example:

DeLoreans were sold with either a light grey or a black interior; this one has the black.  The original leather upholstery by Bridge of Weir is still in great shape, with charming wear and creasing showing a bit of use and a bit of care.  The original carpeting is medium grey and is in beautiful condition, the center console is in stunning condition, the door panels need to be repadded, but otherwise are in exceptional condition.  The passenger-side latch trim is broken and requires a little care when using the door latch to open the door.  The straps are perfect.  The dashboard is in mint condition with only a minor dip in the passenger knee pad at the glovebox door.  The Craig radio is still in place and works well, although we don’t know if the cassette player works.  The speakers produce good sound, but they are in varying states of condition and sound their age – replacement might be a good idea at some point.  The HVAC system works beautifully, the AC system was extensively serviced in 2021 with new hoses all through and upgrades to the wiring.  All the lighting has been upgraded to LED, so nothing gets hot, including the instrument cluster.  The gauges work, but the fuel gauge is inaccurate – rely on the ‘low fuel’ light to know when it’s time to fuel up.  The package area net is perfect with a strong stretch.  The rear window defroster works.  The power windows try to work, but the glass does not go up-down.  The power locks work, but suffer from a short – as you drive, if the doors are locked, the car automatically unlocks and locks itself – it’s best to keep the car unlocked while driving.  The interior lighting works. 

This is your moment to tell the world about your car.  Be honest and up front.

Engine/Transmission

Tell us about the engine and transmission. 

Example:

The 2.8L V-6 engine was built by Renault for DeLorean and runs fine.  Many upgrades to the cooling, electrical, and fuel system have been done, thus helping the car run fine.  Thanks to the new cooling system, which includes a new radiator, thermostat, hoses all throughout, and fan belts, it maintains a perfect temperature.  The fuel system features a new fuel pump, wiring, and lines throughout.  The fuel tank was cleaned.  DeLorean buyers could opt for a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission.  This car has the manual.  The shifting action is okay, but it could use a major servicing – third gear takes some getting used to, as do the other gears, but third is the most challenging.  Bottom line, it doesn’t like fast or hard shifting – take it easy.  The clutch action is fine, but again, a servicing would go a long way with this transmission.  Otherwise, it works fine, doesn’t pop out of gear or make odd noises.    

Chassis

Example:

DeLorean chassis were inspired by the Lotus Esprit of the day, but sprung with a slightly higher-setting and more softly-tuned suspension system.  The frame is original and untouched, but along with the rest of the undercarriage, appears to be free of corrosion.  The suspension is largely original and could use an upgrade, but is on overall decent shape.  The brakes have been entirely addressed with new calipers, pads, rotors, and lines.  They work fine, but still rely on a 40-year-old design.  The tires are new Hankook all around, installed in 2019.  The rear original Goodyear NCT tires will accompany the sale along with a second set of correct DeLorean turbine wheels. 

Wheels and Tires

Example:

Hankook tires were installed in 2019 on the original, correct, turbine-style wheels.  Just about 2,000 miles have been put on them. The wheels are in exceptional condition showing no obvious knicks or blemishes or damage and are complete with the original paint.  The original rear NCT Goodyear tires and a second set of turbine wheels will accompany the sale.

Problems and Deficiencies:

This is a fairly important piece of the puzzle, to tell people about everything you know to be wrong or in need of with this car.  It allows buyers to feel a little more confident about buying the car, knowing you’ve illustrated what you know to be weak spots of your car. 

Example:

DeLoreans have a broad reputation of being finicky, however, in the past couple of decades, various shops and mechanics have popped up with products and services to correct the factory deficiencies.  This car has benefit from having had most of those corrections done.  Some remaining areas that need to be addressed for perfection might be the power locks and power windows; the stereo speakers could be replaced and we don’t know if the cassette player works; the driver door is slightly out of alignment, but an easy adjustment; a golf ball-sized ding on the bonnet cover is a simple fix and the most major detractor on the body; the chassis could benefit from new shocks and springs, perhaps even standard suspension maintenance like new bushings and parts; the transmission is difficult to shift and could use a major servicing.