Steal a Convertible!

[Bob Andrews]

If I could I'd be buying instead of posting it:

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/2268685291.html

[kmul221]

By the time one has this car driving & made presentable,you would have at least $30=40k into it & I'm sure you could buy one done for that kind of $$$.Older & wiser now than I was several thousand dollars & years ago.

[Studeguru]

I bought a basket case 1960 convert in 2003. Got it for a song. I put about $16000.00 into it. Even put in Air Condition to make my wife happy. The car won Best of Division at the 2006 Pacific Southwest Zone Meet. Of course I did all my own work. It can be done.

[65cruiser]

Where is said car now?

[gohdes]

are you suggesting a crime to be planned? I'll meet you there at midnight, bring an extra black mask.

well, I know you're not. I am joking.
But yes, there is quite a bit of work to be done on this bullet nose convert, and could be a good deal for someone looking for this particular car. But it's never a deal unless you do the labor yourself as I am learning the hard way with the 60 lark convert I bought last year. Several things happened that were not planned in a supposedly well running car (engine rebuild, tranny rebuild).
Solid car from midwest? don't hear that too often, especially since it appears to be stored outside.

[Bob Andrews]

By the time one has this car driving & made presentable,you would have at least $30=40k into it & I'm sure you could buy one done for that kind of $$$.Older & wiser now than I was several thousand dollars & years ago.

Can't disagree. But you're overlooking a couple important points:

1. Many folks these days don't have 30-40, or even $20K to spend on a toy; yet they still want what they want. For them, the only way to do it is to put a little money down to buy one needing restoring, then fix or buy a piece at a time, as money allows.

2. I cannot tell you the number of times I've seen this happen: Guy wants a certain car, shops for a nice one already done, pays premium money, then finds out the car is actually a bondoed-over piece of junk. So instead of spending $3-5K on an unrestored and $30 to restore it, he spent $20K on a cobjob and $30 to tear it down and do it right. It really happens! (See gohdes' post just above this one). I have a friend that bought a "restored" split-window Vette for $50K two years ago, which currently is getting engine/trans. overhaul and new, correct interior. Makes me cringe.

3. There are some for whom the quest is the fun of the hobby. They love the hands-on work, learning the details, and scouring the planet for every last odd and end. When they get it finished, they lose all interest. I have a friend with buildings full of restored cars he rarely drives, because working on the next one rings his bell more than using them. What a beautiful collection he has though!

4. Some want a certain car, but they want it their way- their colors, their style, their running gear, etc. Buying a finished car only to be unhappy and changing everything will not do for them.

So yes, by the numbers you are right on. But there's a lot more to consider. If I could I'd have already wired the money and made arrangements for Peg Trucking to pick it up. When it got here I'd look it over and only then decide if I wanted to go stock, custom, or somewhere in between. That's fun to me. I understand it may not be for everybody

[E. Davis]

The first mistake your friend made was to buy a Corvette for 50 grand. Hee hee

[52hawk]

" solid car from Mid West" ?????? Midwest as in USA?? rust belt car.

[Bob Andrews]

The first mistake your friend made was to buy a Corvette for 50 grand. Hee hee

That's what I told him <G> When this round of stuff is done he'll be at about $10K in repairs on this "perfectly restored car" I hate to think of what might be next...

[studegary]

" solid car from Mid West" ?????? Midwest as in USA?? rust belt car.

Where the car now resides means little. It could go either way. I purchased a 1960 Lark with A/C in Cleveland, Ohio. The car was brought up to Cleveland from Texas and never driven in Cleveland. I recently considered an Avanti in the desert part of California. In checking the history on the Avanti, I found that it spent its entire life, up to this Winter, in Georgia. I did not buy this one. I figured that there was some reason that the torque boxes were not mentioned or pictured.

[barnlark]

Where the car now resides means little. It could go either way. I purchased a 1960 Lark with A/C in Cleveland, Ohio. The car was brought up to Cleveland from Texas and never driven in Cleveland.

Couldn't be more true. I've had mine here from Arizona since 1997. Since I got it running, I haven't even been caught in the rain with it once to crud up the underneath work, let alone allow for any rust. It will happen on a long trip some day, but so far it's been kept solid, dry and clean, amazingly. I drive it from April to November, though. It doesn't sit much.

[JDP]

It's on ebay now,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/300537378219

[BobPalma]

Where the car now resides means little. It could go either way.

True: Local SDCer Howe Clark and his partner, Joe Neuman, had a fledging restoration shop here in Brownsburg maybe 15 years ago.

Somewhere they got a hold of a 1964 Hawk that had been delivered new in Dallas TX. It had even been fitted with aftermarket air conditioning, thus confirming its [probable] life in that hot, dry climate.

But the car had migrated north early enough in life that it was rusted beyond salvation and was parted out! Yes, I saw the car and had to admit, it was a parts donor. They were wise to have parted it and baled the balance. 'Don't know when I had seen such a rusty Gran Turismo Hawk. BP

[barnlark]

It's on ebay now,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/300537378219

So much for the $3500 deal on CL. Snooze you lose.

[Bob Andrews]

That's what I thought. Wonder if the owner saw my comments and reconsidered the $3500?

Will be interesting to see how high it gets.