Decent Deal? Anything stick out that should cause me to not make the trek?

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Fizzer6001

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Would love to get some feedback on this car. Car is 4 hours away one-way and would like to see if anything jumps out that should cause me not to bother making the trek. Car is a numbers matching 340 4 Speed.

Sell is asking mid-upper 20s. Cons from what I can tell are: Car was resprayed in a different color a few years ago. Some sloppy work in the engine bay (painted heater hoses, hood spring). Engine block and air cleaner could use sprucing up. I really like the car, but the relatively sloppy work in the engine bay is making me scratch my head. Seller does not have pics of undercarriage.

I was going to get a pre-purchase inspection done as well as a compression test. Trying to cover all my bases - any advice is appreciated.

Engine 1.jpg


Engine 2.jpg


Engine 3.jpg


Left Fender.jpg


Right Quarter.JPG


Right Side.jpg


Backseat.jpg


Interior.jpg


Trunk.jpg
 
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Appears to be a quick and nasty respray to sell quickly. I'd be very careful.
 
Those hoses were probably not painted- a number of years back some suppliers carried hose that was a dull red that turns pinkish over time.
Looks like they used it for the breather as well as the heater hoses. Easy to tell in person, and definitely nothing that would be a deal breaker if the rest of it checks out okay.
 
I would be looking for signs of rust in the panel seams,like doors seams trunk and hood seams.

Rust there is a good indicator of worst rust elsewhere
 
Professor Fate said:
Those hoses were probably not painted- a number of years back some suppliers carried hose that was a dull red that turns pinkish over time.
Looks like they used it for the breather as well as the heater hoses. Easy to tell in person, and definitely nothing that would be a deal breaker if the rest of it checks out okay.
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I've seen lots of Fords and Oldsmobiles use red hoses like that from the factory.
 
Picture of fender tag?
Pictures are not crisp. Poor resolution.
What's up with the wiring at both battery terminals?
Driver's side window trim between door glass and rear glass has a kink in it? Looks weird in the pic.
Air gap between passenger door glass and trim piece on rear glass. Overall, the fit of the passenger door glass looks weird.
Band clamp on top radiator hose is overtightened. :p
Sloppy work as already note by others.
Sloppy picture taking.
Not worth the long drive.
 
DeltaV said:
Picture of fender tag?
Pictures are not crisp. Poor resolution.
What's up with the wiring at both battery terminals?
Driver's side window trim between door glass and rear glass has a kink in it? Looks weird in the pic.
Air gap between passenger door glass and trim piece on rear glass. Overall, the fit of the passenger door glass looks weird.
Band clamp on top radiator hose is overtightened. :p
Sloppy work as already note by others.
Sloppy picture taking.
Not worth the long drive.
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De-coded tag is here:

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oldkimmer said:
Also if he is not willing to get pics of the under carriage I would be very gun shy of it. We still have the pinkish heater hose up her in Canada. Kim
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The car is in storage. He is an older gentlemen and I'm not sure if he can be bothered to go to storage just for pictures. Here is one pic of the trunk he sent.

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And he doesn’t know anyone that could help him out? Remember u play the game u take the chances. Let the cards fall where they may. There must be a member right close to him that would be willing to help u out. Just ask. We have 50,000 plus members. Kim
 
Anyone selling an A-body for mid $20k's should be willing to get you photos of whatever you want if he's serious about selling it. Or at least have a friend or family member willing to do it. Otherwise, the risk is all yours.
 
I did not see where you said how far you would have to travel (that I saw at least). From what I see, I would not want to pay $27K for it. However, If the price is not firm, go and look at it, and, if you like it, offer $18-20K. The seller may not like that, but if you point out the flaws, he might realize that he will never get $27K for it. If the distance is not too great, it would be worth the effort.
 
I am bummed as I thought this could've been the car I was looking but - but also very grateful for everyone's input that seems to have saved me a ton of travel time. On the off chance that any member lives in Saratoga County, NY and would want to do me a solid OR has a solid A Body in the mid 20's range, please let me know! Any additional opinions are appreciated as well!
 
harrisonm said:
I did not see where you said how far you would have to travel (that I saw at least). From what I see, I would not want to pay $27K for it. However, If the price is not firm, go and look at it, and, if you like it, offer $18-20K. The seller may not like that, but if you point out the flaws, he might realize that he will never get $27K for it. If the distance is not too great, it would be worth the effort.
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He told me he is firm at $25k!
 
Fizzer6001 said:
He told me he is firm at $25k!
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Then call him back and politely tell him that from what you see in the pictures, you will have a lot to do to get the car to looking as good as you would like. Give him your phone number and tell him that you truly wish him good luck at $25K, but if it doesn't sell to please call you. Be as nice as possible.
 
If you do go look at it.
Leave your trailer at the hotel.

Go look it over, jack it up, see if he will let you remove the rocker to look under the carpet or better yet bring a borascope and look in the frame rails, between the carpet and the floors, pull a spark plug and look in a cyl or two and down the intake.

And other places hard to see, in the window openings at the quarters.

By not bringing a trailer it shows you are ready to walk and go home without the car.


That you are looking it over so intensely shows you know what you are looking at
 
If its a rust free factory 340 4 speed car . Its well worth the asking price. Look for rust repair. rear seat belt attachment on the inner quarters. Look up under the dash and look for trails of water leaks and cowl rust on the upper firewall. spare tire well and trunk to quarter drop downs. under the rockers behind the doors and torsion bar cross member.

Hidden rust will be the game changer. If you find one area more then likely there will be more you don't see. If it had any major rust with no before and after pictures walk away.

No rust covered up, engine runs smooth, No trans noise, try and make a deal. Pale green is one of the ugliest colors in 73. I would have changed the color also. You know what they say.." Resale Red" or "Out the door Orange" pull people in. Have a friend with you holding a safety rope to pull you away.
 
Oldmanmopar said:
Have a friend with you holding a safety rope to pull you away.
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that right there is worth its weight in gold.

take along somebody that's pragmatic and not emotionally invested in the car but is knowledgeable about cars.

and another set of eyes will catch what you may overlook. better your bro does you a solid and points out the girl's fat ankles before you go and marry her and the rest catches up.
 
Fizzer6001 said:
I am bummed as I thought this could've been the car I was looking but - but also very grateful for everyone's input that seems to have saved me a ton of travel time. On the off chance that any member lives in Saratoga County, NY and would want to do me a solid OR has a solid A Body in the mid 20's range, please let me know! Any additional opinions are appreciated as well!
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A day trip to look at a car that matches your specs isn't entirely a waste. I spent 2 days traveling one way to buy a Lexus SC400 sight unseen seven years ago and still no regrets. In fact, after seven years as the summer ride I doubt there will ever be regrets. Could end up being a nice day out and a chance to talk Mopars with a stranger.
 
Take someone with you and check it out,,,,it’s only 4 hours,,,make a day of it .
You can do your close inspection,,,,maybe an hour ?,,,counting a 10 minute test drive .
That’s a lot of money,,,,so the car should really be in fine condition in my opinion.

And,,,,if it is in that great of shape,,,it should drive .
Why take a trailer,,,drive it home,,,I did a few months ago .
After I arrived,,,I had planned a really close inspection,,,,,after I looked at several locations I was done .
It probably took 10 minutes,,tops,,,it’s really hard to hide crap,,,unless someone is really a crook .
I did a short half mile drive,,,maybe like a big circle round trip .
Paid the man and then a 3 hour drive home .
I couldn’t have been happier,,,,we let it roll coming home,,,lol .

But,,,be prepared to walk away from it if it’s not worth the money.

Tommy
 
Desoto291hemi said:
Take someone with you and check it out,,,,it’s only 4 hours,,,make a day of it .
You can do your close inspection,,,,maybe an hour ?,,,counting a 10 minute test drive .
That’s a lot of money,,,,so the car should really be in fine condition in my opinion.

And,,,,if it is in that great of shape,,,it should drive .
Why take a trailer,,,drive it home,,,I did a few months ago .
After I arrived,,,I had planned a really close inspection,,,,,after I looked at several locations I was done .
It probably took 10 minutes,,tops,,,it’s really hard to hide crap,,,unless someone is really a crook .
I did a short half mile drive,,,maybe like a big circle round trip .
Paid the man and then a 3 hour drive home .
I couldn’t have been happier,,,,we let it roll coming home,,,lol .

But,,,be prepared to walk away from it if it’s not worth the money.

Tommy
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all of this, but especially that last line.

it's okay to walk away if the deal doesn't feel right. you don't *have* to buy a car because you drove all that way or took the money out or pulled the trailer all the way there.

the deal is the deal, and if it ain't the deal you are always 1000% ahead calling it a push and going home. big whoop if you burned a day cuz it didn't turn out to be as advertised, or there was something that you didn't like about it, or the paper work was screwy or the seller was a dick. you didn't lose nuthin' on that man, you saved 25K (or whatever you were gonna spend).
 
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