This time of year, old cars like this start popping up for sale all over the place. Ebay, Craiglist, cars.com, autotrader.com, Hemmings Motor News; you name it. They're for sale because people want to get rid of great granddad's old block long Chrysler that's either costing them a hundred bucks or so a month to store or it's been taking up too much room in the garage. Shame too since many of them will be bought for what they are as opposed to being revered for purely sentimental reasons. What they are being nothing more than a nice, low mileage transportation appliance. One that is, at $7995, very overpriced.
How much should this go for? Well, how much something is worth depends on how much someone is willing to pay for it. With only 26,000 miles on it, this car, at least on paper, makes sense as an everyday driver purchase as opposed to something that someone purchases as a new family heirloom. Even then that asking price continues to rear its ugly head; 8 large is a ton of cash for this forty year old, plebian, entry level, sparsely equipped Chrysler. Hate to low ball at the risk of looking like an opportunist, but this will sell quickly at anything under $4,000; I'm thinking closer to $2,500. You have to be willing to insult someone to get what you want. Helps to do that with a smile. If you don't have the stomach for that but want the car, it's going to cost you. A lot. Then there's the issue with mileage; this car is going to make a Chevrolet Suburban appear thrifty.
The gas mileage culprit being the car's substantial curb weight, a complete lack of aerodynamics and a large, carbureted, computer control free V-8 engine. Let's not forget the rugged but inefficient, over drive-less, 3 speed "Torqueflite" automatic transmission doing you no favors at the gas pump too. The engine's relative lack of power being, perhaps, the only thing this car has going for it that saves it from being a single digit mpg car. Regardless, gas shoots up to $4 a gallon and this thing really hurts as a daily driver. How much is this worth to you now?
Mechanical parts are a plenty but good luck finding anything else if need be too. Also, you drop that kind of money on this, be sure your insurance carrier will cover you if the car is totaled. Antique insurance? Sorry, all of the "Classic Car" insurance companies I know of don't allow you to drive an old car as a daily driver. This thing gets in an accident while you're driving to and from work, that antique insurance you have won't do bupkiss for you.
Still, she's a handsome automobile. A comparable Buick or Oldsmobile in similar condition might have an asking price of almost double. Not saying I'd pay that either since for that kind of money you're into mid 1970's mint condition Corvette money. This is a solid, $3,000 cash car. At best.
No comments:
Post a Comment