See what happens when people that don't really like cars have a nice car? What a waste.
This could be one of those rare circumstances where a restoration might be financially feasible. It isn't going to cost much to buy it, it seems fairly complete, and the seller claims no rust (with the rear window missing?).
That is number 115... It was originally sold in Wakeshaw, WI, to Wilde Pontiac. The top is correct for Tan...
Like someone else said... be a great car to take a TTA and make a TTA convertible with the convertible parts.
It needs more than love, it is more like it needs about 50 rounds of passion... The car is too far gone to be worth much more than that... sad really... Also, what is that on the hood that looks like rust?
I am willing to bet between the FL sun, and someone leaving the top down in the rain on multiple occasions...that's the only way to make that interior that bad. I'm surprised the bid is that high given how bad the interior is...I hope someone saves it and restores it.
I am willing to bet between the FL sun, and someone leaving the top down in the rain on multiple occasions...that's the only way to make that interior that bad. I'm surprised the bid is that high given how bad the interior is...I hope someone saves it and restores it.
Unfortunately, Even if I got the car for free, it would take a ton of money to get it to a show condition... In the end would it be worth it??? possibly, but there is a lot... I mean a lot of work there. When you can get a nice one for around $10K-$15K that is done, and I would probably have that wrapped up into this one by the time I got done... I would rather just buy one... IF the car was worth $25-$30K It would be a no brainer to fix up, but it appears that will be at least a year away before it reaches that value.
I think I would fix it up to "enjoyable" condition and just drive it.
Not every car needs to be a show stopper.
I have like 8 grand in my Formula (before paint, paint this week!) and it's far far far from a 'show stopper'. The amount of money required to make this car even a daily driver sounds like it's not worth the effort. /shrug
I have like 8 grand in my Formula (before paint, paint this week!) and it's far far far from a 'show stopper'. The amount of money required to make this car even a daily driver sounds like it's not worth the effort. /shrug
Tires, brakes tune up/parts to make reliable, 2 used seats and maybe carpet. Drive it as is with top down.
Tires, brakes tune up/parts to make reliable, 2 used seats and maybe carpet. Drive it as is with top down.
It doesn't currently run.
More realistically you'll be redoing the fuel system end to end. Pump, filter, regulator, injectors (though the old ones you can probably run with, but it won't be pretty).
Then there's ignition, basic tune up there most likely unless something is really wrong.
All good for a few weeks then woops cyl 4 just spun a rod bearing because it has 120k miles with no service history, and the head was actually cracked leaking coolant slowly. I have no experience with this, of course.
It's never as easy as it looks. Just sayin' Sometimes you get lucky, but I like to look at the worst case scenero on these things.
More realistically you'll be redoing the fuel system end to end. Pump, filter, regulator, injectors (though the old ones you can probably run with, but it won't be pretty).
Then there's ignition, basic tune up there most likely unless something is really wrong.
All good for a few weeks then woops cyl 4 just spun a rod bearing because it has 120k miles with no service history, and the head was actually cracked leaking coolant slowly. I have no experience with this, of course.
It's never as easy as it looks. Just sayin' Sometimes you get lucky, but I like to look at the worst case scenero on these things.
If she blows, she blows ! Its a sbc, go grab another one.
Even doing all the stuff to just drive it, it would still be a fun car and great 11s making machine
It amazes me that someone can let any car deteriorate that bad... that's a shame, must have been absolutely gorgeous when new!
This is the way I look at cars like that. Even my "beater" cars I've owned...Wranglers, Grand Prixs etc...always looked nice.
For as much money as that car sold for new, and the rarity of it, its a shame. I've already been looking at "boring" cars to keep the miles down on my V...but I just love driving it too much, and would rather put the money towards a 4 post lift so I can get another third gen.
And even if I end up DD'ing my V for the next 10 years and 200k+ miles, I would NEVER let it look anywhere near that bad. When you have a special car, you don't trash it like a CR-V or something throwaway....
I tend to be kind of picky about my cars, especially when it comes to any rust or damage. I remember getting some touch up work on a daily driver by a bump shop, it was in there for someone backing into my bumper anyway, so I had them clean it up while there. More or less, I told them I am rather picky, and the guy that does the estimates was like "It is just a car"
Admittedly true, he is right "it IS just a car", I can replace it. But it is MY car, I like nicer things, My DD does not have to be perfect perfect, but just nice enough for me to care about it. If my car looks like crap, I take care of it like it is crap... I get to a point to where I just do not care, because when I wash it all I see is the crappy things wrong with it cosmetically, and I get to the point to where I do not want to see those things, so I quit washing it, which makes it worse.
This car looks like it was owned by someone who really did not care, they just saw it as a car, and nothing special... Granted, there is another 140 of them out there that were made, but c'est la vie...
I tend to be kind of picky about my cars, especially when it comes to any rust or damage. I remember getting some touch up work on a daily driver by a bump shop, it was in there for someone backing into my bumper anyway, so I had them clean it up while there. More or less, I told them I am rather picky, and the guy that does the estimates was like "It is just a car"
Admittedly true, he is right "it IS just a car", I can replace it. But it is MY car, I like nicer things, My DD does not have to be perfect perfect, but just nice enough for me to care about it. If my car looks like crap, I take care of it like it is crap... I get to a point to where I just do not care, because when I wash it all I see is the crappy things wrong with it cosmetically, and I get to the point to where I do not want to see those things, so I quit washing it, which makes it worse.
This car looks like it was owned by someone who really did not care, they just saw it as a car, and nothing special... Granted, there is another 140 of them out there that were made, but c'est la vie...
^^Agreed....
Even my DD is immaculate. And I'll keep it that way. When I traded in my Charger last month for the V, the detail department laughed...they didn't even need to detail it to put it on the lot. When the family that sold me the IROC bought it back last June, they commented that it looked exactly like how they sold it to me...the car deteriorated zero in over 5 years of ownership. In actuality, it was better than when they sold it to me, because the tires, intake gasket, injectors and fluids were all new versus original like when I got it!
There's exactly what I want on eBay right now...'89 LB9/M5 bright red/grey cloth GTA with T-tops and 32k miles. Damn...what I wouldn't give to get my hands on that car!
There's exactly what I want on eBay right now...'89 LB9/M5 bright red/grey cloth GTA with T-tops and 32k miles. Damn...what I wouldn't give to get my hands on that car!
There's exactly what I want on eBay right now...'89 LB9/M5 bright red/grey cloth GTA with T-tops and 32k miles. Damn...what I wouldn't give to get my hands on that car!
That's close to the ultimate 3rd gen Firebird. One notch better would be an '88 GTA that could be had with the digital dash. It's soooo 1980's.
I can't believe it sold for that much. I'm normally an advocate for these cars being worth more than most people give them credit for...but I wouldn't have paid more than $1,000 for it.
And even then, I really don't know what I would've done with it. Its so trashed, a restoration like that has to be one of love for the car itself. Hopefully, someone will love it...
If that car was worth $2800, Could we conclude that, a good condition 350 Convertible should be worth at least $15K-20K, and more when all done and ready for show...
If that car was worth $2800, Could we conclude that, a good condition 350 Convertible should be worth at least $15K-20K, and more when all done and ready for show...
John
Damn then, I've missed the boat on the GTA & Formula I passed on for 10k!
If that car was worth $2800, Could we conclude that, a good condition 350 Convertible should be worth at least $15K-20K, and more when all done and ready for show...
