What is the outcome if a seller agrees to sell a car for $20,000 but later states the sale requires his wife's approval for less than $30,000?

In situations involving the sale of goods, certain contracts may require the involvement or approval of third parties for them to be valid. If the seller specifies that his wife's approval is necessary for the sale of the car, especially when the sales price is above a threshold which, in this case, is $30,000, it indicates that the seller does not have the authority to commit to that sale without her consent.

The requirement for the wife's approval creates a condition precedent that has not been satisfied. This makes the contract void because it lacks the necessary consensus from all required parties. Thus, the agreement to sell the car for $20,000, while it may seem valid in isolation, is contingent upon the approval of the seller's wife. Since this approval has not been secured, the contract remains unenforceable and is void regardless of the buyer’s knowledge of this requirement.

This principle reflects the necessity for certain permissions or agreements in transactions that involve multiple parties or obligations, rendered ineffective without specific consent.