Tauranga motorhome sells after being viewed 44,000 times

SOLD: Graham Flett has sold his Hino Rainbow motorhome at last. PHOTO / ANDREW WARNER

Graham Flett has at last sold his Tauranga motorhome, after it became one of the most-viewed vehicles in the country.

The 1982 Hino Rainbow was viewed 44,000 times after Mr Flett listed it on Trade Me in the middle of last year.

It will be heading off to the South Island after being sold last weekend.

"He made me an offer and after all my troubles I thought, 'why not'," Mr Flett said. "At least it's a weight off my shoulders, eh."

Mr Flett's troubles had been related to the unwillingness of people to fork out $13,000 for a rusty old vehicle with lichen growing around the windows and up over the roof.

But Nelson vehicle dealer Basil Jones saw potential in the Hino.

"We do buy that sort of thing and rent them out," Mr Jones said. "I bought it over the phone. He seemed like an upfront sort of a fellow, and there has to be some trust."

Mr Jones, who owns Sun City Motors, said he would come and fetch it in a few weeks' time.

Trade Me spokesman Jeff Hunkin said the Hino would have ranked as the eighth most-viewed listing of 2016 if it had closed last year.

"Whether it'll make the cut this year depends on what gets listed on Trade Me in the coming months."

Mr Hunkin's advice for selling any item was to "really make it sing" with good photos and an informative description. For auctions, it was important to respond to questions from prospective purchasers.

"If the photos or description leave anything to doubt then it can be tougher to get potential buyers across the line," he said. "Be sure to update your description with any frequently-asked questions you might be receiving through the listing."

Neither Mr Flett nor Mr Jones would reveal the final selling price of the Hino.

Mr Flett said that he intended to live in a caravan annex at a Papamoa campground after the motorhome was eventually taken away.

1982 Hino Rainbow
223,000km
7m long
3 berths
shower/toilet
gas hot water
solar power charger
Two-burner stove