counterpoint... Often times, this is true.. And I tend to agree more with the "nicer original car" than the "already done" part of that statement.. here is why.. I can tell you from experience, I have seen a number of folks by 15-20Kcars, that were "restored" .. shiny paint, ok interiors, and a running engine, with plenty of paint sprayed here and there.. And then they send them up here to the shop.. or we come out and look at them. to find out.. The engine was a refugee from some race car, or on it's last legs.. and pretty much junk.. The car was pieced together from a number of cars, and has a bunch of mud in the quarters, fenders, and doors.. often times it is virtually impossible to tell what's under that paint, until you get into it.. Half the "correct parts" are not correct at all.. not for that car.. And then, we spend 40-50K on that 20K "done" car... I have seen this a number of times.. Do the math.. now you have a 25-35K car, that you have 60-70K in... Or the owner panics, and it goes back on the "for sale" block.. I always tell folks.. This is the best car to start a resto with, if you want to end up with a really nice car, that your gonna be buried in.. Find a car like this one, and pry it out of the guy for 5-6 K.. that's all it's worth. Then spend $25-50 K on it, build it (or get it built) exactly how YOU want it.. not how somebody who was going thru it for a quick sale did it.. Then you have 30-56 K in it... Now your money ahead, and you know exactly what you have.. I can't stress that enought.. The ones to stay away from are the 15K cars, that have "just a few bubbles" in, or "need a few things fixed".. those are most likely the ones that had a "quicky" done to them, to boost a 7K car up to 15K.. And the fact is, most folks who either put in the thousand+ hours themselves, or payed to have it done, are not gonna sell that car.......... ever... Don't get me wrong, there are a few cars out there that have been correctly restored, that are for sale.. just don't expect to pay less than 25- 30K for one. Very few people are gonna take a 20K hit.. And then hope that it really is correct, and there is some substance to it.. not just skin deep beauty.. Not a triple black 70 convert anyway.. I look at a lot of cars, and I can tell you that the cars like this one that roll into the shop, give me the least nightmares.. because I know I am not going to be stripping the paint, and find a weld line, where two (or three) quarters were welded together.. We know what there is to work with, and what has to be done, and so does the owner.. As opposed to the guy who just bought the 20K car, and thinks it just needs a fresh coat of paint, and a tune up... JW
This car was for sale a few months ago on ebay... I guess it never sold.:gt: And I can see why ay $10k starting bid
I agree with Jim- For someone who wants to tackle a resto and has the knowledge to do quite a bit of the work themselves-this would be a great start. Man, what a gorgeous car this would be fully restored! I agree-it's only worth about 5-6k as it sits Todd
Dr Weise: We are on the same page with the evaluation of this car and the general evaluation philosophy. Not many free lunches in this business. It costs a lot of money to do one--a lot more than you initially think even if you do much of it yourself. I will say that buying a good older restoration done at yesterday's prices generally yields the best car for the money. Having said that Buicks are still a better deal than Pontiacs, Olds and MOPARS. MOPARS especially have gone out of sight of even many big hitters.
