My Favorite Ride: This 1989 Oldsmobile hearse 'floats down the road' current owner says
At the time of this writing, Steven Toth has a 1989 Oldsmobile hearse he’s dying to sell you.
The Spencer man’s online ad featuring the 35-year-old vehicle says it’s got some rust, 106,000 miles on the odometer and, well, so much room in the back.
“My understanding is it was used to haul bodies from hospitals and nursing homes to the funeral homes,” Toth said. “I think it was from Bloomington but I’m not sure.”
He bought the car from a friend.
“We make deals between us, you know? I fool around with used cars. I love old cars, and he does too. He’s got a few, and I’ve got a few, you know, neat stuff, unusual, cars you don’t see a lot. That’s always been my passion.”
He wrote up an ad designed to attract a certain kind of buyer. Someone in the market for an old gray hearse that’s known few live passengers and no joy.
Toth knows there’s always a buyer out there. You just have to get their attention. Like this:
“Looking for an ol hippie or ghost buster or someone with a vision to enjoy this type of car,” the ad says. “It literally floats down the road, runs and drives extremely smooth in fact you can’t even hear it.”
He offers the hearse for $3,000 “or partial trade.” He points out the vehicle’s versatility. “It’s ready to be used for almost anything. Use your imagination and own this beauty.”
As we talked about the hearse, which was the reason I had called, Toth described the importance of marketing when it comes to selling a vehicle. Point out special or unique features. Mention flaws, such as rust and dents, but dwell on possibilities. Use language that fits the target market. Display multiple photos taken of every side at flattering angles.
“I was talking to a guy the other day trying to sell a car on the computer and I told him he’d never get a call on it," Toth said. "He had it all wrong, and the pictures were terrible.”
He called the Oldsmobile hearse ad a true success. “I spent a few days thinking, ‘How am I going to advertise that hearse?'” Toth said. “Now I’ve got people sending this ad to other people. I’ve got people coming out of the woodwork on this one. It’s unbelievable, because there’s really nothing special about the hearse. I think it’s my ad.”
It got me to call.
And others. “I got somebody coming to look at it tonight,” he said before we hung up. “I could sell it tonight, or it could be sitting here a month from now.”
Toth said he’s bought and sold a lot of cars over the years, too many to count. Except for one — a beloved 2016 Dodge Challenger — he’s sold them all.
“I’ve loved every old car I’ve ever had, but when somebody comes around who loves it more than me, they’ve got a right to it.”
Have a story to tell about a car or truck? Contact My Favorite Ride reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Spencer man selling 1989 Oldsmobile hearse shares marketing tips
