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

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The “car is in storage, so I can’t take more pictures “ is the opening line of many scams.
 
Too bad you're so far away,. I'd do you a solid and inspect it for you. I've been doing it since 2017 for Manheim auto auction. I'm starting my own business at the beginning if the year for inspection and appraisals.
Biggest things imo is: check gaps between all panels (hood to fenders,hood to cowl, fenders to doors, doors to 1/4 s, trunk gaps) . Bring a good small flashlight for confined areas (under dash, in 1/4 drop offs, under car) a flexible magnet to look for bodywork.
If you want more pointers, pm me. Good luck!
 
The OP asked for discussion!!
^^RRR is so right as in consider this, it is always worth more to buy from a trusted seller. Buying from someone that can give detailed details as to exactly what has been done with the car. Honest information and details!! Body/paint. Engine, trans, rearend. Interior. Suspension. Electricals. Yes, even the glass and window mechanisms!
Where has this car lived its life? Always garaged. 40 years in a cow pasture? The salt belt and everyday driver its first 5-6 years or rust free Az.(Az. is not always 100% rust free!).

I feel for the guy that is trying to buy a classic that has limited experience and/or knowledge. It is hard. Frig magnet or $75 paint check depth tool? If a guy has never done body/pant, he really has no clue as to what is involved. Buy from someone that you can trust and did the work or paid to have work done and he KNOWS what was done!!!!!! Know what you are paying for!!! I know of perfect work that the little guy does and I know if lipsick on a pig the big guy does!

And a guy can hand you a box of receipts but that has nothing to do really as to what a car is worth. It shows what he spent. What he paid "someone"!

Its hard!!!
 
Mike69cuda said:
The “car is in storage, so I can’t take more pictures “ is the opening line of many scams.
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With the number of casual tire kickers and doofuses (doofi?) out there just sending silly Emails, I can sorta understand someone not wanting to pull it out of storage just to take pics for someone who may not be serious...
That said, I also can't understand someone putting a car into storage and THEN listing it for sale- makes no sense.
 
The stereo was likely done by someone other than the painter. The screw hose clamps don't degrade the car or the quality of mechanical work. Just means they were not going for an original resto.

Needs to be looked at by someone that knows old cars.

You never know who is calling on your car, if they want more info or photos get it to them. Piss them off and they lose your number.
 
People that are serious about buying or selling will be glad to exchange info on their car, the build,who built it, all the info, all the details, the good and not so good....give out their cells and actually have in depth conversations,,,,NOT text. Many people are too inexperienced to even ask the right questions. Too many buyers do not want to give info.
 
413 said:
The stereo was likely done by someone other than the painter. The screw hose clamps don't degrade the car or the quality of mechanical work. Just means they were not going for an original resto.
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Right- it wasn't my intention to degrade those points, just to say that it wasn't the work of a big dollar resto shop, as some were alluding to. The functionality is there, just not the "correctness" that one would expect in a car in the upper 20s. At that price point it should be bordering on something special.
 
So much good advice here, really does make your head spin. One very little, but I think effective tip, Harbor Freight has a small telescoping magnet (not the bigger one) that is weak enough to let go on relatively thin bondo'ed areas. Much cheaper than a paint gauge. Check the underside of right rear quarter panel, and just above bottom first, then the other side, then the front fender "drops" along bottom and sides and finally rocker panels and lower doors. You have to get under and visually inspect floor pans, and can inspect spare tire pan from the top but a light underneath is helpful to highlight the pinholes. These are all the common areas that tell you how much car was outside in the elements. Could still be structurally sound but for this much money you need good quality, not perfection, all over. Sounds like a fun trip to me, take your ear buds and playlist, or listen to a good podcast on the trip. You will definitely gain some experience from the visit.
 
If really interested take a car trailer and park it a half mile away at a fuel station after asking the owner to check the tires and you will be back. Then go check the car out good the areas that were posted then haul the trailer back full or empty deal or no deal done money spent or kept
 
If showing up with the trailer there is no bickering to get the price lower pointing out the problems with the vehicle. They think you are a serious buyer with the trailer in tow so no bickering
 
yeah i don't understand the cloak and dagger **** with stashing the trailer and what not.

you came to buy a car, who cares if you've got a trailer or not. if the deal ain't right, the deal ain't right and you walk.
 
Have to be wise and savvy when buying a car unless you have a lot of money and then it makes no difference just buy it and hand over the cash and deal done
 
Only 4 hours? I've gone farther and come home empty.
I'm currently looking at 80s D/W 250s.... Not something I care about "numbers matching". But I do care about straight and rust free....
I'm talking with a couple of people in Oregon and I'm in Illinois.
Back about 15 years ago my son and I drove 30 hours straight thru, to Vegas/ and brought his ramcharger home, which he still has. Took us more than 30 hours to get back home
 
Maybe showing up with a trailer shows you could be a serious buyer and could motivate a seller to work with you instead of thinking your a looky-loo. Why risk losing your trailer by leaving it somewhere you are unfamiliar with. IMO, I've show up to look at cars with my trailer and then left empty. Other times I've loaded it and went home with a new set of wheels.

Four hour drive isn't awful. Yea, its not a trip to the corner store, but like others said, make a day trip of it with a friend.

What I find interesting is that this is an "older" guy tat can't be bothered to take additional pictures, yet it has a finished trunk compartment with some premium stereo equipment in it. I enjoy my tunes as much as the next guy, maybe more sometimes, and I've had some powerful car stereos, but I never took an install to the degree shown here.
 
HPP said:
Maybe showing up with a trailer shows you could be a serious buyer and could motivate a seller to work with you instead of thinking your a looky-loo. Why risk losing your trailer by leaving it somewhere you are unfamiliar with. IMO, I've show up to look at cars with my trailer and then left empty. Other times I've loaded it and went home with a new set of wheels.

Four hour drive isn't awful. Yea, its not a trip to the corner store, but like others said, make a day trip of it with a friend.

What I find interesting is that this is an "older" guy tat can't be bothered to take additional pictures, yet it has a finished trunk compartment with some premium stereo equipment in it. I enjoy my tunes as much as the next guy, maybe more sometimes, and I've had some powerful car stereos, but I never took an install to the degree shown here.
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Good point - I asked him about the stereo. The car came with it when he bought it 7 years ago.
 
I bring my trailer and cash. You get a lot of peeps that will not dicker over the phone. I tell the seller I expect the car to be ad described, IF NOT tell me before I make the trip. If I need to dicker, I do. I also say hey I brought the trailer, cash, and I am NOT A "Be Back!" If the guy will not come up with a reasonable ball park price, I never bother.
I also ask the seller, IF he has ever restored a car, worked on any old car, etc. If he just drug grand dads old ride in from the pasture, and can't change oil..I figure he knows nothing probably\ not good.
 
Did not see it mentioned. Ask to see if there are any pictures before the car was painted. Pictures of the car as it was worked on.
 
Fizzer6001 said:
Here I was thinking $25k was a steal given that dealers are asking $35k-$50k for clean 340 cars.

I’m leaning toward still checking it out using the great advice I’ve gotten here but not being afraid to walk away if the car isn’t a winner.
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You may " waste" time and gas to go look at this Duster. But, with all the information what people here, including myself have given you, you can look at this car with a better set of eyes. I even mentioned that you can call me when you're looking it over in case you aren't sure about something. That being said, if you do go and check it out, it's a learning experience to better help you evaluate the next car you look at. Wish you luck!
 
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