I saw this Cutlass on the side of the road today. I glanced over it quickly. It has bondo, which is bubbling and showing some rust in the lower quarters and fenders. Original drivetrain with 198K and reupholstered seats. Chrome all needs to be replaced. To me, either you could drive it like it is and watch the rust grow or restore it. Either way I can't see anyone paying $6000 for it but thats what the guy wants. I'm looking for your opinions here. What do you think it's worth? I also saw the red lark with the crooked side moulding on another thead here and that guy wants $8000 for it. Did the prices on these plain jane cars go up all of a sudden or are these guys nuts?
I think the sellers are crazy I stopped to look at a '71 Skylark the other day. Had a Earl Sheib special, bad body panel allignment issues and missing a couple pieces of chrome. Very drivable just not that nice. Asking $9500 but the guy said he was negotiable. I thanked him for his time. Rich
We are probably going to see the asking prices for plain janes increase in the future. I believe one of the reasons for this is the fact that we are being flooded as of late with all kinds of media exposure showing what can be done with these cars. There has been an explosion in TV coverage alone and I think we are getting back to more of the "customizing" trends popular in the past. Anyone can buy a muscle car if they have the cash. But most people want to be different so they aren't going to spend a bunch of cash on a pure bred just to cut it up. The younger generation isn't emotionaly tied to muscle cars. However, they are being exposed to the endless possiblilities of what can be done with the same plain jane body styles. Take a look at the cable shows such as Overhaulin, American Hot Rod, Horsepower TV and see what they are doing. Rarely are they using actual muscle cars. They are taking plain jane versions and customizing them with the end result being something completely unique. Even if they do clone the majority of the car it still allows them the freedom to customize. Also, keep in mind that there are more crate motors and aftermarket parts available then ever before. A good example of where this is all going is to take a look at the Mopars. Like it or not they are the the most sought after cars currently. Even the clones and plain janes are priced out of sight. When Hot Rod magazine reports that a guy owns and or sold a couple of Hemi Cuda converts valued at $3-5 million each you can bet that more plain janes will be snatched up at a higher price without hesitation. The madness of the BJ auctions where cars are going for more than they should be simply because it's a televised ego feeding frenzy ends up driving the price up (real or perceived) on the clones also. And let's not forget about the movies.....try buying a 68-70 Charger right now.
We arent? Huh, nobody told me that was the hip thing to do. I always get left out :laugh: I may not have grown up around them, but Ive been told by many people three times my age that I sure would've fit the mold back then. I am not looking forward to the price of plain jane cars going up. They are what I like - I'd rather restore a rare car and modify a plane jane car, and since Im not much for factory restorations (in, doing them myself, cool if other people do them), I'd rather own a "lowly" Skylark than a GS and make a lot of changes to it. That and if I wanted to, I could go incognito :Brow: .
Bought mine 2 years ago, sight unseen mind you, for $4000.00 USD. 43337 car, standard engine by the book is an I-6. Sold new with 350-2V. Too far away to look at, talked the vendor's ear off. Had him send lots & lots of digital pics. I'm more happy about this every time I think about. Car was as solid as you could find anywhere. Originally from Texas. Minor trouble at the rear window channel & the top crner of the windshield. Couple surface rust areas rear quarters but very minor. Took the original universals off it last year, still tight. Car was Plain Jane alright. Had a '68 radio in it, me thinks it was sold without a radio. Non-hidden park wipers, manual drums. Only real option it had was AC, a V8 & tinted glass. Original brake lines, original ball joints... bottom pair was beat a bit. Could have gone real sour too.......got lucky this time. I'm a Happy Camper.
Eric, The trend of creating something unique has always been the heart of hot rodding. It doesn't matter what age a car nut may be. It's great that you enjoy the old ones. :TU: You state that you aren't into factory restorations and the fact that you would rather hop up a "lowly Skylark" as opposed to owning a GS proves my point. Although many of the current generation appreciate original muscle, the cars themselves don't evoke the memories that the guys who grew up around them have. Back in the 80's there was a muscle car boom and those who could afford them scooped them up knowing they were making an investment. The base models were left to the younger generation to hop up and most are long gone now. As the years pass the plain janes are getting harder to come by and will become more and more expensive. All one has to do is watch the e-bay auctions. Ever notice how many bids are placed for a decent plain jane? When I look at the local Tradin Post or look online I actually find more GS's for sale than I do decent base Skylarks. Believe it or not this is common with many makes in general. The customized, muscle and limited versions of cars tend to outlive their base counterparts as the years go by.
Funny how plain janes are coming up in price. Just 8 years ago I bought my 70 GS with 51,000 for $5000. I don't think I would let it go for less than $12,000 now. I think my Skylark is worth over $5000, maybe over $6000. Not many options from the factory (AM radio, power steering, V8 and auto). The body is rough around the quarters and back glass. As for mods all it has a 455. Nothing exotic except for the four wheel aluminum drums.
Mark, You do make a good point - I didnt grow up around them. There is one pony car that holds a special place in my heart, and I do have a very strong passion for. I wouldnt even consider the "plain jane" version of this car... shoot me if you want, as its a ferd... but '67 Mercury Cougar XR7 with a 289 and a 4 speed :3gears: I did grow up around muscle cars - Ive been at car shows all my life (literally, I have pictures of my mom 8 months pregnant sitting in a lawn chair at a car show), so although I didnt grow up with them new, I grew up with them old. I do know what you mean - my mom had a passion for tri5 chevies because in the town she grew up in and where her love for cars bloomed only had one stealership, and it was a Chevy dealership.
Buicks are worth less ... ..., in the used car marketplace, compared to other similarly equipped GM A Bodies, Pony cars, Mopar midsize muscle, etc. - that's a fact of life. Just go to the website that Andy/70aqua_custom took that jpg from in FL, and you'll see what I mean - only a newer (early 90's) Camaro, and a rather unattractive Rambler are worth LESS, the rest appear to be in similar shape to that "purdy red Bird" i.e. "$8,000 72 lark", but go $2-5G's more. Personally "I'd rather have a Buick", anyway. http://www.justmusclecars.com/ That's a double edged sword, a bonus to Buick lovers who want to buy, not as good those same Buick lovers who put in allot of $'s, scrounging at times, without the same level of supply & support by way of parts that similar Chebby and Mopar owners enjoy, but still want to sell, say for a move up to a bigger and better Buick etc. PS, I just went to that website, and there's another newer Camaro (Z'er), asking less, but my point still stands.
Eric, Most people like the 67 Cougar. :bglasses: As far as the Tri-5 Chevys go, sign me up! Nothing like a 55' in gasser form! :3gears:
The reason the 67 XR7 289/4 speed is so prominant to me is because my mom had it from '69-'71 and loved it, then my dad traded it for a new 72 cougar that fell apart... so I always wanted to restore a dark green/black top with a luggage rack XR7 4 speed for her. She died before I could do it, but I hope to be able to do it anyway :TU: We think a lot alike, a gasser '55 is definitely a dream for me, with an early nailhead or 371 olds.
Interesting discussion. It seems like the value of these types of cars has skyrocketed lately. I bought my 72 Skylark which is very similar to the Cutlass in condition for 2500 bucks less than 2 years ago. I doubt I could do that now. When all is said and done I'll have a nice driver car with about 6-7000 dollars invested. I hope I can at least get that back if I ever sell it which seems likely if the market stays like this.
while it's true the latest car craze on TV has sent prices only higher, us Buick folks have had it very good, and i think we still do.. i remember in HS (i graduated 95) a friend got a triple brown 69 GS400 that was in pretty good shape from what i remember. he was a typical kid who couldn't afford much yet when the SS's, GTO's, etc prices were still way out of reach he got a bad ass Buick. damn, i wish i would have bought that car off him..
