Today I went to check out a possible parts car for my '67 Impala and found a '69 Wildcat sitting in the same yard! The guy says he is the second owner and has had it for quite a while. Its a golden color, paint in bad shape, with one of the repaints peeling. The black vinyl top is in piss poor condition, but I don't think its rusted underneath. Front bumper has a large dent in on the drivers side. Drivers fender has an old repair of some sort, buts its holding well and isn't noticable. Core support and inner fender are badly rusted under the battery tray. Firewall has a some rust and small hole near the trim tag. a pillars have rusted through in a small area near at the bottom in the door jamb. Drivers quarter has a dent right against the quarter extension. Trunk lid has been repaired in the past and has a ton of bondo cracked up all along the bottom edge. Interior is black vinyl and looks decent. Door panels are good. Back seat is good. Front seat is a split bench and is cracked/ripped on the drivers side. Dash looks good. Rally wheels. 85k miles. Says he drives it, and on rather long trips by the sound of it. After writing all that, it sounds like a real piece of crap parts car, lol. But its not bad compared to most muscle cars that show up in my area. He's asking $3,200 and won't budge. I assume he really needs that out of it. My intial thought was that its worth half that, but it had my interest so I looked it over thoroughly. Its really not rusted bad. I think with a trunk lid, a recovered seat, and a little bodywork, I could be on my way to a big block full size muscle car. I just can't get this out of my mind. Am I crazy to even consider at this price? Look how beautiful it could be, lol http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3149355808_47f50cafd7.jpg?v=0
I think what you're describing sounds like it is going to take more than "a little bodywork" to make nice. With the way the economy is, I bet you could find one in better shape for similar money.
Fred's and your initial impression of about 1/2 price seems about right. There have been some really nice B body cars for sale that need very little or nothing for about 10K. heres a link to a Canadian 69 Cat and a Convertable to boot for 2K! http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1969-Buick-Wildcat-W0QQAdIdZ170621759 if you consider purchasing, you may want to check the trunk, vinyl top cars tend to leak alot of water in the trunk & parts can be somewhat hard to find for these cars from what i gather. just my 2 bits
Here is one in my neck of the wood's, I know it's not a Hardtop but it would be tough to get it in this shape for the asking price. http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/1483325607.html
Sounds like a lot of $$ to me for what is there. I have a 69 Wildcat that could be had for a little more than that and its rust free. Just needs a paint job, interior is perfect and runs great. :grin:
The amount of bodywork required to make the car nice will never be recovered in resale value, if that matters to you.
Based on your description, that is a $300-$400 parts car. Those cars are not sought after and can be found in very nice pampered condition for under $5000. For $3200 asking price, the owner may as well say "I'd rather leave it rot into the ground than sell it". Considering the rust you mentioned after an inital inpsection, you can bet there is a lot more you didn't see. With a little patience in searching, for that price you could get a mostly rust free car with presentable paint and interior as well as in good driving and running condition.
I second this. Wonderful cars, but not worth much. No repro sheetmetal. If the A pillars have rotted through, I bet the rest is gonzo.
You guys have confirmed my thoughts. My problem is that I'm thinking with my heart not my head. I'm planning to sell my '86 Firebird and buy something else next spring, but don't know what yet. It will be GM and from '55-'72, but other than that I've been trying to keep my options open. Although, I really have a big block and a 4 spd on my mind. Who doesn't, right? My budget is probably 8K and for that price the car would need to be perfect. I'd rather spend 3-5K and have the rest of the money left to work on it. I never considered this year of wildcat before (I was stuck on '67), so I guess this has broadened my horizons just a little more. The problem is that by the time cars trickle down to southest Ky, they're usually rough. And after these guys around here get them, they don't last much longer. I'll probably end up going out of state for a car, but Idaho is just to far, lol.
Golly Gee - Watched the replay of the Mecum Spring Auction (Indiana) for awhile last night - a pretty nice original 65 Riviera (showroom quality Gold color paint) went for $58,000. Immaculate engine compartment - but it was painted a gloss black (and waxed ?). My mechanic thinks my engine compartment should be painted a gloss black too - is that correct ? My '53 Super had/has the engine compartment the same color as the hood interior and exterior. Was the Riviera's black paint "not quite original" ? The Riviera's engine block was that Buick seafoam green color - same as mine is. Rip Rohring :Comp:
You hit on a very good point that many choose to ignore because they think paying $1000 to have a car shipped is too much. I admit it is hard to lay out so much money for something like shipping and thats where people struggle mentally. It goes against human nature. You are waaaaay farther ahead to get a car from the arid climate states that has no rust and pay to have it shipped. Trust me on this. Whatever it costs you in shipping will be a tiny fraction of the cost if you have to start repairing rust and buying used parts from rust free climates. I can't begin to emphasize how much easier and less costly it is to restore a car from a dry climate. Repairing rust is only part of the problem. Being from PA I have worked on my share of rusty old cars. I just completely dismanteled a car I bought from CA. All the bolts come apart like they were just put together not 43 years ago. The original brake and fuel lines are so nice they will be cleaned up and reused. I could go on and on but think you get the picture. I told my wife to shoot me if I ever buy another car for restoration that isn't from an arid climate. Good luck!
The 69 cat is a great car and prob the best car ever built, however not to many people know this:Brow: thats why i have 2...some day they will be highly desired and appreciate exponentially in value:TU: Having minor rust is like saying you have minor cancer .....theres no such thing. This is why southern cars are an excellent start....
The 3500.00 Wildcat sounds to me more like a 350.00 Clunker on the other hand the 2000.00 convertiable sounds more like a 3500.00 car.
