There is a beat '70 Electra I've been eyeing up for about the past year. It's sitting in the guy's yard along with several other POS cars, and misc. other junk. Yesterday I drove past and the crazy old man was outside! I cut the wheel hard on my own '65 Electra and pulled in. I got his attention and inquired about the dilapidated '70 Electra. He said that he has had several other people wanting to buy it (even tho it's parked up around the side of the house, with no "For Sale" sign to be seen). He said some kid came to look at it a few weeks ago and was going to give him $1200 for it. I actually knew the asking price already, I found out the guy's name from someone else I knew in the area, and called about the car last fall. Seems the same kid was going to pay him $1200 then, about 9 months ago. Oh well, a couple of weeks, 9 months... who's counting anyways?! :blast: :laugh: I told him that I'll hold out on it, but wanted to know if I could check it out anyways :Brow: He said that the car was open and I could look at whatever I wanted. Basically, the car is junk. It's rusty, especially underneath. The Vinyl top has been removed, altho there are remnants left around the "Electra 225" emblems. The top was very poorly painted in a somewhat similar gold color as the rest of the car. The interior smells of must and mold, and was damp. The finish on the dash and gauges was faded and dingy-looking. The carpet is all matted up. The only thing in good shape is the vinyl on the seats. I don't think there was a single body panel on the car that lined up properly with another, although there was no apparent sign of a point of impact in an accident. I'm not sure what the deal is there. What I'm interested in is the drivetrain. A supposedly "good running" 10:1 455/TH400 combo with 102,761 on the clock. The engine bay looks to be all stock and untouched. There was no battery in the car, so I couldn't hear it run. I am temped to call the guy and go back with a good battery and fire it up if he wouldn't mind, and maybe even do a compression test. If the engine/trans were in good shape, what would be a reasonable price for this hulk? I was thinking somewhere around $300-$500. I think the $1200 he is asking is outrageous and I will let it sit for that much. Thanks
i sold my 70 electra motor and trans together for $875, i got $350 for the rusted out shell from a guy in mi. he came and got it. sold lots of pieces off of it and came out with $2010 bucks after it was all gone. i only have the am/fm radio left of it. if that helps at all. look at the sides of the car and if the moldings running down the sides are any good. they bring good money as well on these cars
I bought the exact same condition car last year. I had it posted here for parts. Car was a 70 Electra 4dr, hardtop, loaded. Body was completely shot. Owner was son of original elderly owner. Car had 105k on it. Was listed in the paper for $600-650. I was the only one to look at it in a week and I told the owner car was worth $300. He told me he was going to restore it and I said ok. Here is my name and number, give me a call when you want to get rid of it. Local salvage yards would only give hime $100 for it. As we, dad and I, were getting back in my truck, he said "Oh, well, I would take $400." I said $350 and you have a deal! Came back in 10 mins w/cash and car was mine! I made good use of it and got rid of some parts. Carcass went to crusher and I got $80 for it stripped! Engine was original but compression was very low on 3 cylinders, about 80-90. Oh well, rebuilt it and put in Stage1 valves. In a conv I am finishing now! I would give him your name and number and see what happens. $1200 for a junker is way too high! If he says something about the "kid" again, ask him where is his cash????? Lots of people talk price but let's "see the money."
Your estimate sounds about right, $300-$500 for a non running, been sitting for over a decade, rough bodied, highly desrable deuce. If the front bumper emblem was intact, if it has a posi rear end or the car runs and drives I would pay as much as $1000. How is it optioned?
I'm not sure exactly how long it's been since it ran, but the last annual safety inspection ran out in '99, so it hasn't been run regulary since then. I think he probably started it last year, becuase he moved the car from down by the road, to up beside his house, about 100 feet uphill. I know he didn't push it, and by the way it's parked I doubt he towed it to where it's sitting. Unfortunately, the front bumper emblem is missing from the otherwise fairly decent bumper. I'm not sure whether it's posi or not, I didn't look under it for the little silver tag. I didn't realize a '70 Electra was very desirable, I personally don't think these models look as nice as the earlier cars, (no offense to people that own them) but maybe it would look better in something other than faded gold..... I am partial to the mid '60s versions, I could be biased though :Brow: :bglasses:
I was trying to be sarcastic with the "highly desireable" comment. My favorite Electra is the '60 model.
I'll LOVE a '70 Electra till the day I die. GOBS of tourqe, just as much of HP... My pa pought a '70 4dr hardtop in '73...and I know all about working on cars from that vehicle. That's why I searched for my ragtop in 2000. I just had to have one to call my own! If you can adopt it, please do. I know you have plans for the drivetrain, just don't let this one out to pasture! -- Larry '70 Electra Convertible
A FAT WAD of cash gets people's attention I'd go back with $300-400 in 10's and 20's and get him over to the car and flop the wad of green on the hood. He's gonna look at the $$$....and then the car under it and he's gonna want the money alot more than the car Have an extra $50 or so in your wallet if he's on the fence but if you take out your "Lunch Money for the week" make sure he see's thats all that is in there Im betting he takes it
Shoot, i drove my '70 225 drop top into work ONCE last year, and i still have people asking me to sell it to them! one guy didn't even ask...i was leaving as he was coming in and he stopped me and saud "Sell that duece to me!" i said "hell no!" :laugh:
