Dropped price to 5k 714 924 0979 Cypress CA Full disclosure, I bought this car at auction, 4k, $8,500.00 for an engine rebuild, Selling at $5000.00 Everything works great on this car, does need rubber at windows and the side panel has been replaced, matches perfectly just needs the seem filled. California car, no rust, fresh rebuild on the matching numbers 350 with upgraded Cam, Lifters, Oil Filter Ignition system, Air condition- new charge- works great Trans, Brakes, exhaust, all in good condition, runs and drives well 5 Original Rally wheels included Needs new Vinyl top, Grill, rubber front and rear window
$8,500.00 in improvements Engine / Trans / AC. running working car. Got myself into a Jam that only $ gets me out of . Needs vinyl top, window rubber front and back , finish body work. Give me your thoughts, I can take it. 714 924 0979 cars in OC CA Cypress.
So please some feedback, am I crazy to think $8,500.00 is too much for a rebuild, when I found rebuilt, crate complete and performance, for under $3,900.00 some at half that price, readily available. Also whats the fair price to remove and reinstall the completed engine on a classic. I've done a pickup, a sedan and a sportfisher that had to be pulled from the water , the two boat 318's cost less than this one Buick ! I appreciate any advise given and look forward to staying in this forum when I find the 62 - 67 Riviera I've always wanted. Thanks Did I really spend $8,500.00 on a car not worth $8,500.00 ? Actually $15k at this point If so offer the Value and own it
You asked.. The car needs paint, grille, brightwork, bumpers rechromed, interior, rims, top, etc, etc. A clean, running, driving GS Cali that needs ALMOST nothing is $7500-$10,000. A clean 69 GS 400 can be had for under $20,000... Mid-teens, with many decent projects for under 10K... I hate to tell you, as I think you already know the answer... YES, you did spend $8500 on a car not worth $8500. I don't know an answer to what you should do to recoup the money. Is it better to sell the engine separate from the car? Better to part the car? I don't know the answer. I would love to have a 69 Cali again...
I wouldn't have put it so bluntly, but X2. You did say you paid, what, $4600 more than you should've on the engine. So knock $4600 off and you're at $3900 for the car. Probably realistic.
Geeze, I thought I gave a very toned down reply? I just gave an honest, straight forward answer from someone who KNOWS the 68-69 Buicks fondly.. And what the other options are. I will add that you need to take into account "sweat equity" if you decide to part the car.
Don't buy a 68-69 unless you really like them. I helped a friend sell a 1969 GS 350 coupe in good, rustfree driver condition last year which he priced at $10,000 to start. He ended up taking $5,500. The motor was not rebuilt but the trans, rearend and AC were. The body had some areas that needed attention but nothing horrible - it was all one color and the chrome was pretty nice. It was hard to find any buyers at all because they could buy a GS 400 in the same shape for $8,000-10,000 and spend the same dollars restoring it as the 350 car. That is why so many small block GS cars get parted out I think. Good luck in your sale, I have been in that position and it sucks.
Place it on eBay with a crazy reserve. See what it is bid up to.... It'll give you a "rough" measure of what the current value is. You can email the highest bidder and maybe work something out.
if you're looking to come out of this deal with as much $$ as possible i'd be finding a running used Buick 350 to swap in place of the new engine and then sell the new engine separately.
I really did like the 69 before finding it at auction, My big regret was being talked out of a high performance crate engine for the rebuilt. Was quoted 5k to rebuild it. I was never told of the up-charge till after, I made the wrong choice and want to start over. Thanks for your input.
well,logically thinking,after reading the replies,you wont get your money back,so why not just sell something else and then finish the car...at least the motors done....and then you wont have lost so much. in the end,youll gradually forget about the hassles and enjoy the car,yes? no?
Damn, unfortunately, even '70-72 (esp. '71-72 @GranSportSedan) 350s aren't the easiest sell & as Ted Nagel said '68'-69 350's are the stepchild of the stepchildren but assuming you're describing the car accurately, especially wrt rust, put decent paint on it and do the brightwork & top and drive the heck out of it. At $5k, It's a diamond in the rough for someone IMHO (& I do not know the OP). Not to make money & yes, soneone would likely be upside down, but the easy/fun factor is there.
