Early B body value

[toolmanmike]

 

[Evan Frucht]

whoops I didn't realize they were painted ! paints already worn off mine. ya I meant fender tag

its a nice looking car but 20 seems too high, as if they don't really want to sell it. if I were prepared to spend 20k and there weren't that many cars in my area I would expand my search beyond locally. you can find an arguably better car for around half of that closer to the west coast. if you find a nice car for 10-12k (which I'm sure you could if you expanded the search) then spend 1500 to ship it your still way under that 20k. I picked up my 64 fury wagon a few months ago for $2100, granted its a project but its a two owner car that really hasn't been messed with and is 99% complete and original. its a good driver but definitely not as nice condition as you want. just some reference and my 2 cents

 

[69L48Z27]

The heater hose is doubled back to the water pump! Probably the hot water valve is bad! Pretty common problem!

If you stare at it long enough it doesn't quite connect. Later picture in the thread here shows it's hooked up and not bypassed. Sure looks like a loop though.

 

[cryplydog]

good cars and other cool man stuff are hard to find that are cheap,so it depends if a feller's got the money and a shop/garage to keep it in and are stable enough to be able to keep it long term. And, you smile every time you see your cool stuff. A huge part of my sanity/longevity is going out to my shop everyday and smiling.

 

[andyf]

That car looks decent but I think you need to figure out why you want to own an early B body before you buy it. That car isn't going to be much fun to drive in stock condition and you said you don't want a project. Do you just want an old car to take out for a drive once in awhile? If so, that car might be fine but you should go drive it before you make up your mind. Personally I think these cars are horrible to drive when they are stock. The suspension is floppy, the brakes are wimpy, the tires don't have much grip, etc. The problem is that if you start to fix all that stuff then the car is modified and the resell value drops. If you just want something to drive on sunny days and you aren't looking for any sort of performance then you might be happy with that car. You didn't really say why you wanted an early B so it is hard to answer your question.

Looks like the car has disc brakes so someone made some mods. That is good but the hoses are wrong so whoever did the work didn't use the correct calipers. There doesn't appear to be a front anti-sway bar so the car won't handle very well but you can fix that. I wouldn't pay $20K for it but I suppose that is because I paid $1500 for a '65 Coronet 500 with a 426W and a four speed back in 1980.

 

[Ron H]

I agree the original handling of these cars on poly rubber and no mods isn't a thrill to cruise around in. When I got my '63 convert 20+ years ago, it was a clean CA car; the auto-adj for the brakes had been removed and it was let's say a 'thrill' to stop the car. I added a sway bar, rebuilt suspension, HD leafs, firm-feel box, front disks, 15" 235/radials (aside from the other 35k or so restoring) and it drives great. I'm thinking a rear sway might be another add to do, not sure. Anyway, if you could snag the car for 15k and put in another 5 for the handling mods you'd have a great driver. As I did the work in phases it was a remarkable difference when I added the sway bar and radials alone.

 

[bigaadams]

That car looks decent but I think . I wouldn't pay $20K for it but I suppose that is because I paid $1500 for a '65 Coronet 500 with a 426W and a four speed back in 1980.

and the guy was probably happy to see that guzzler go to a new home...….

 

[Detroit Iron]

That car makes my 500 a steal at $18k. Hey, at least the heater isn't bypassed. Haha! I wouldn't buy an early B without a big block that's for sure.

I think nice classic Mopars still holds their value pretty well; but honestly, there is a select few that wants to buy a classic car these days. That makes selling is a slow process, but a good market for the buyer.

 

[toolmanmike]

That car makes my 500 a steal at $18k. Hey, at least the heater isn't bypassed. Haha! I wouldn't buy an early B without a big block that's for sure. I think a nice car still holds it's value pretty well; but honestly, there is a select few that wants to buy a classic car these days. That makes selling is a slow process, but a good market for the buyer.

View attachment 693371 View attachment 693372 View attachment 693373

And I would love me a 64 Dodge. Nice!

 

[khryslerkid]

Personally I think these cars are horrible to drive when they are stock. The suspension is floppy, the brakes are wimpy, the tires don't have much grip, etc.

You must not have grown up around these cars. It's all about the experience of how they do handle. Don't take the curve too deep, don't ride the car in front of you too close. They're not Lamborghinis!

Getting my '62 on the road this year really brought back memories. It's been many years and I'm really enjoying it. No power brakes on the four drums, no power steering. They were built when men were men and I'm not changing a thing!

 

[andyf]

You must not have grown up around these cars. It's all about the experience of how they do handle. Don't take the curve too deep, don't ride the car in front of you too close. They're not Lamborghinis!

Getting my '62 on the road this year really brought back memories. It's been many years and I'm really enjoying it. No power brakes on the four drums, no power steering. They were built when men were men and I'm not changing a thing!

I owned an early B body with a Max Wedge when I was a teenager so I've been around early B body cars for 40 years. They suck to drive when they are stone stock. If the OP knows that then that is fine. I'd just hate to see him spend $20K on a car and then discover that he hates having to drive it like an old man since it won't handle or stop as well as a Toyota Corolla off a used car lot.

 

[Richard Cranium]

In the pictures shown, the car looks fairly sanitary. Like all cars, I'm sure that it needs some TLC, but I bet that it would make a good driver.

 

[Darter6]

RC,I'm with you. Buy the damn thing already ! It's only money.
I'd look at it for what it has,not for what it doesn't.Just scanning the photos,no trim is missing($) Body looks solid,I see more good than bad. Yes it will never be a $100,000 resale car no matter what you put in it.If I was in the market I would be looking at it serious. Make a offer and see what happens.

 

[Detroit Iron]

I owned an early B body with a Max Wedge when I was a teenager so I've been around early B body cars for 40 years. They suck to drive when they are stone stock. If the OP knows that then that is fine. I'd just hate to see him spend $20K on a car and then discover that he hates having to drive it like an old man since it won't handle or stop as well as a Toyota Corolla off a used car lot.

I agree, and that is the challenge for me at least. I like to take these cars and update them so you CAN actually drive them in today's traffic. My Polara is a daily driver and I live in the crowded Bay Area of CA.

Who wants to slide into a motorcycle that pulled out in front of you because your drum brakes locked up? Who wants to only go 55 MPH (and that's pushing it) on the freeway because you don't have anymore gears? Not me! I upgrade everything: disc brakes, electronic ignition.... everything!

And like Darter6 said, just buy the car you want. That's what matters in the end is that you have what you want. In the end the difference between $2k-$4k won't matter. Just don't get divorced over it....

 

[Darter6]

Boy oh boy We are all the same.We all got some very cool cars,but are never satisfied with what we got.
I have 3 early "B's" now and I still Jones after your 66 Dart !
I keep tellin' myself,sell what you have and get what you want. Problem is ,,I WANT THEM ALL !!!!

 

[skicker]

Ultimately if that car makes you happy at 20K pull the trigger...That looks like a decent 20 footer...You won't build another that shows as well as that and is as complete...The quality of most of the parts I see looks good...
Trying to find super nice parts for these is difficult...at least in the rust belt...
It looks like a good car to pick-up as a driver...If your idea is to update and change and modify look elsewhere for something cheaper...In the end it will ultimately cost more but may be more of what your looking for...You have to decide what you want the car to do...

 

[63SPF]

Wow, $20 seems high to me, Hell bring me $20,000 and we can talk story. My car is Way worth more than that. but I might sell it !

 

[skicker]

20K seems high to me too...I'm not buying at that...I know what I have in mine and I paid 4,500 for it...It's more than 20K and he could drive that one...Mines RB-4 speed Dana...not a small block...but again...he can drive that one...
No verts for me...

 

[Ron H]

There are the purists who want a car all original and some of those are trailer queens. All fine. When I started driving there were no radials and few cars had disk brakes...so back when had no idea what was 'missing' with improved handling and braking. Of course, getting newer cars over the decades it's a world of difference and improved safety. As such had the interest in making my '63 handle as good as doable (posted earlier). Detroit Iron makes a point about today's traffic that was a concern with me...today people drive like friggin maniacs and they can get away with it (most of the time) having better handling cars unlike driving habits and traffic volume in my youth. If you plan to drive the old ride in traffic you're better prepped with upgrades...and I added head rests just in case one of the multitudes that effing ride my ***, even when I driving 5-10 miles above the posted limit, don't stop in time. Some ******** see an old car in front of them and they have to ride up their ***!

 

[toolmanmike]

I went and looked at the car today. From what I've seen elsewhere I would say it's a $10,000 dollar ride and not worth 20. Cool enough but not worth the money.