Should I, would you?

[bigowhiteboy]

So I found another B body the other day for sale locally, a 1966 Coronet 500 2 door. I went to look at it today, and really want to get it, but I really want to get every Mopar I see.
It is mostly original, guy selling it has had it for the last 30 years. It's a dark metallic red with black interior, automatic center console shifter, with a 383. It was originally a 318 car, but the guy swapped in a 383 which he said is a 1968 engine and it runs good.
Other than the engine everything is original. It has some pretty good rust in the rear quarters. Will need rear quarters, wheelhouse, and trunk extensions replaced both sides. Also both front fenders have some rust bubbles starting. But floors and trunk are solid. He is asking $2900 and didn't act like he would budge much, but I haven't tried to negotiate at all yet.
So what do you think? My judgement is blurred by my car addiction and the need I feel to buy up every Mopar project I find. What would it be worth with all body work done and paint? To me it seems to pencil out and I could get my money back, but of course that's assuming I sell it instead of keep it in my ever growing collection.

 

[Kern Dog]

I also feel the need to rescue these cars. My weakness is the 67-76 a body cars.
You can't save them all. One thing to consider: Are the parts available to save it? Nobody makes fenders for these cars. You'd need some good metal patch skills or have a rabbits foot when going to swap meets.

 

[Bruzilla]

First, the bloom is way off the rose for old Mopars, so all these guys with rusty old Mopars need to wake up to the fact that they are no longer sitting on a pot of gold. This car sounds like a rust bucket. A nice rust bucket, but a rust bucket, and rust buckets sell for about $500. A running 383 can be had for about $600, so I would say this car would be worth about $1,000 tops.

The problem you have is the guy selling it has had it for 30 years and has an emotional attachment to it or else he wouldn't have kept it for so long, and that always jacks the price up. Worse, you have to take into account that when he looks at the car, he's seeing how it's looked over the past 30 years while you're only seeing how it looks right now... and it's not looking like a $3,000 car, and the more you try to convince him of that the more he's likely to harden his stance.

In situations like this, I've found the best approach to use is just be honest with the guy. Tell him it's a nice car, and you understand where he's coming from, but a car like this in great shape sells for about $7,500, and it would cost you at least that to get his car into great shape, so if you want a great car you're better off buying someone else's car than dumping $7,000+ into his car. That's the reality of the market place since no one is paying big $$$ for fully-restored 318 66 Coronet 500s. The market for these cars is guys like you who want to buy a car for their own use, so there's no big payday at the end. Offer him $1,000 and when he says no, make sure he has your contact information and thank him for his time. More likely than not on a car like that, he's going to have lots of wheel kickers and parts car guys offering him $250-$500, and eventually that $1,000 offer will get the nod more often than not.

 

[67 coronet]

to give you a good reference point,i picked up my 67 coronet about two years ago for $2800.it has no rust ever!new interior and running 383 column shift.bruzilla is correct,rust buckets dont sell for crap.if you want another car,figure out what you like and start searching.take your time and dont buy crap.took me almost 1 1/2 years to find my current project.

 

[Bruzilla]

Took me two years to find mine.

 

[bigowhiteboy]

Thanks guys. Thats what I needed, a dose of reallity to get my head out of this Mopar enduced fog I find myself in lately when looking at these cars.

 

[YY1]

Bru and I often have differing opinions on values, but I think he's probably right on this one.

I look at cars like that as sum value of parts. If the doors, fenders trim, and interior are good price them out, add the engine, then subtract your gas, and labor.

In this case I think it'll be close to 1K, Pics would go a long way, though.

The worst thing you ever want to hear a seller say is "That's a very special car...".

 

[thomas93254]

The worst thing you ever want to hear a seller say is "That's a very special car...".

That was what I heard when I bought my 4 door Coronet. But it had been for sale so long I was able to get a deal on it Wait for a while and watch what happens. If it sits long enough he might then be willing to come down on price. Make a low offer and leave your number with him you might get lucky when no one else wants it for what he is asking

Thomas

 

[WileE]

Bruzilla's first line of his first post is spot on. I have somebody who wants me to do a car for them, but all the rot-buckets are over-priced. I just passed on a 71 Charger with rust made of gold. I told him to just buy a car already together.