Classic Auto Classifieds

Who has the right to buy the car in this contracts law question?

On Monday Wajid put a 1976 Triumph Stag car on the forecourt of his classic car garage for sale. On the windscreen of the car he placed ‘’special offer - until Friday this classic will be available at £7,500’’. Early Tuesday morning, the last zero on the price of the car fell off the windscreen. Lee saw the car later that day and decided that he would like to take advantage of such an offer, which he knew too good to be true, and on Thursday clutching £750 cash said to Wajid that they have a deal. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Doug was driving past Wajid’s garage and saw the car for sale correctly priced. Doug was in a hurry to get to work, but later on that day sent a letter first class post to Wajid saying that he would see Wajid next week and would be pleased to pay him £7,000. Wajid received the letter on Saturday after a postal delay. On Thursday Wajids brother Sheraz was very surprised to see the car for sale at all as the week before Wajid had promised him the car if he spends 2 gruelling days washing and valeting all 15 cars on the forecourt. Lee, Doug and Sheraz all insist they have a contract for the purchase of the Triumph Stag. Who actually does and why? Why do the others not have a contract?

Public Comments

1. A contract requires an agreement between the vendor and the customer and there has to be an agreement on the price or consideration (something of value). Therfore it would appear that the only contract entered into was between Wajid and Sheraz as the promise to sell was based upon the consideration of 2 gruelling days washing and valleting 15 cars. That has to be of value.
2. A contract require a meeting of the minds and mutual acceptance. Lee may have said they have a deal, but that deal needs to be accepted by Wajid. I can't say for the UK, but in the US, a typo or misprint, such as when a digit falls off, does not legally obligate the seller to change his terms. For Doug, a letter promising to buy the car in a couple days means nothing. Sheraz has the closest to a contract and, actually, may have one if in fact it was agreed by both of them and he actually did that work before the car was put up for sale.