10DecTook a Market Hit, Sold Anyway!

Every donated vehicle has a story, and this one had a pretty good ending. I’m not complaining, considering the market.

2005 Ford E-350 donated to charity

A month ago I told the beginning of the story of a 2005 Ford E350 Sportsmobile 4×4 6.0L Turbo Diesel, long body, Sportsmobile conversion that was donated to charity.

This van in a good market could sell for above $70,000. (What a nice donation that would make for a charity!) Along with the troubles in the economy in general, though, the recreational vehicle market took a hit, and sales were down. We marketed the van directly to consumers, partnering with Sportsmobiles of the West, knowing that this collaboration put us right in the middle of the sportsvan retail market.

The E350 sold. Not for what we hoped. In this market, we got $50,000, which was considered by Sportsmobiles of the West to be fair market value. That’s a nice donation for the charity and a healthy deduction for the donor. No Complaints.

-Tim