10 years ago I used to ride my bike through this old neighborhood and would always look to see if this chrome bumper car was still sitting in the garage, and it always was. I couldnt tell what year exactly, all I could ever see was the rear end. I no longer live on that side of town but thought I would take a ride today and see if that car is still sitting there, and it was. So I went up to the door and asked if it was for sale, and to my surprise he said yes actually. But he has no idea what to ask for it.

Its a 1972 Warbonnet coupe with 79k actual miles. Automatic with A/C and brown deluxe interior. The seats and the rest of the interior is pretty nice, no tears. All numbers matching and the guy is the second owner. The paint is old and faided (just the way I like it) but the body is super straight and tight. The doors and hood close and line up perfect and the t-tops fit nice and I couldnt see any rust on the windshield pillars. As much as I could get under the car, I could tell that the frame does have some rot. Just what you'd expect from sitting in an old garage with a concrete floor. Im sure its the base motor with 360 ft lbs and he said it runs great, strong and the car is very tight.

It needs exhaust and one of the headlights dropped down he said. I paid $8500 for my numbers matching 1968 L79 4-spd 3 years ago in similaur condition. So I compared it to that and told him from what I can see Id give him $7000 for it. What do you guys think?

I might head back over to take a few photos after work, Ill keep ya posted.

PS: Is there anything cooler than walking up to a C3 and standing over it admiring the body lines?

 

car is prob worth 12k in that cond.

 

Well, I guess its not exactly a barn find. The guy said that he hasnt driven it much in the last 5 years. It has 06 tags and he does start it up and drive it once in a great while. I think he said the last time he drove it was 6 months ago because of the exhaust.

He's going to call me monday and let me know if my offer is good. Then Ill go from there, back it out of the garage, take my jack and look it over & under better. Then maybe make a second offer depending on what I find.

This would be a long term project. As far as Im concerned right now, I just want to fix the things that it needs to be road worthy and drive it now and then, and go look at it every night before I go to bed and smile.

 

Sounds like a nice find!!! and ya gotta like the color Good luck...Muddy

 

As long as the frame is not gone a good buy I would say. Good luck

 

Yeah Muddy, my personal favorites are the Warbonnet and the Riverside Gold.

 

Can't really estimate a value without knowing how bad the frame is.

Also, you really have to know the condition of the birdcage.

Making a deal without knowing these things is nothing but a gamble.

Good frame, good birdcage, might be worth 7 to 8K.

Frame rot and birdcage rust would put the car at part-out value.

 

My son and I worked on a 79 project car for a few years but I could never get excited about the car. We recently bought a 72 and it is just so much nicer to open the garage door and see chrome bumpers. For reference, the car we bought is pretty much original, base engine 4-speed in fair to good condition. It had been off the road for 10 years due to the owners' death. We paid $8,000 which wasn't a steal given there is a hole in the diff crossmember but I think it was a reasonable price for a New England car. If you can get yours for $7,000 you are doing well.



Rick B.

 

The price really depends on the condition. A fair driver might be worth $10K or more. The more work it needs the less it's worth. The less work it needs the more it's worth. If there is frame rot (not surface rust), then the price is going to much lower. Look at the car, make a list of things needing repair/replacement, and then make an offer. It makes no sense to drop $10K into car after paying $8k, only to own a $12k car.

 

Well, the owner called me today and said he'd accept 7 for it. So Ill go over there tuesdat to give it agood look.

Ill keep ya posted.

 

Why if he puts money in it would it only be worth 12k?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The above statement would be true if it were a rubber bumper car. The prices of the rubber bumper cars at this time just dont support dumping $10k into one after the initial purchase.

Kursed stated it was a chrome bumper 72. The chrome bumpers do support dumping $10k into one after the initial purchase because the end result and end value will be much higher than what he has invested.

This post isnt to bash rubber bumpers, I believe they all will have their day soon and some of the 74's through 77's are starting to see the turn around.

Just my opinion...

 

I can't say with certaintly how much it would sell for. But when looking at prices a general range can be expected. A chrome bumper vette will cost more in comparison to the later C3 vettes if they are in the same approximate condition. Since the intial cost will be higher, it doesn't really matter all that much if it's chrome or rubber. However, for the sake of the discussion, lets keep it to chrome. A good driving 72 coupe is worth $12K-$14K. By that I mean it needs nothing but $40 to fill the tank. Everything is functional and very close to the way it left the factory. It may have the original paint or perhaps it was repainted. The suspension has been rebuilt if needed. A/C works fine and no major fluid leaks. Etc, etc... Compare that to a $8k car. It may need significant work. A nothing special paint job with out much body work is $4000. Brakes and bushings will cost $1200 or more. Replace some worn interior parts $1000. A/C and power steering another $500. The cost keeps adding up. At this point I have not even mentioned any engine/tranny/differential work. Now if someone is capable of doing the work themselves, then the cost is going to much less.
Once the car is finished it should be at the upper end value of a daily driver. Maybe I am a little pesimistic but I don't think it's possible to get every dollar back.

 

I know where there is a 70 LT1 low mileage, 100 percent original, sitting in a garage for 30 years, just 4 houses down from where I live

original owner,,,,will not sell

 

Dang! Too good to be true. I checked out the 72 today and the looks decent. That was until I looked underneath! Where the frame and the trailing arms meet, oh wait, they didnt meet! It was gone and rotted away! Surprisingly the car drove very good and tight except for the thud when Id hit a bump.

I asked him if would come down on price since when I offered 7000 I hadnt seen the frame rust. His reply was that he had been checking on pricing and now he thinks its worth 12k!

So Ill have to think about it.

 

It's his car and obviously thinks it worth more. It's a good thing you seen the frame, or what's left of it, now versus later. In my opinion there is a big difference, time wise and money wise, changing/repairing a frame versus a lot of other little repairs. It almost sounds like a project car. If the body has to be pulled, then it might as well be fully restored.

 

12 is too much with the bad frame today. You could probably still justify 7 and put a frame in it. You can probably buy a rolling frame for 3 and that would leave 2 to put it in. Depends on what you want. Sounds like a project, but an all-there project. If the frame is that bad, you will definately want to look at the windshield frame. If it is bad also, the car is still worth fixing, it's just that it will require taking it apart completely to do it. Again, just depends on what you want. If that was a 67 it would be worth over 20 as is. Chrome bumper cars are still coming up in value. I wouldn't cut it up, it will be worth that 12 as is some day, just not quite yet.

 

Yeah, I think its still worth 7 and I know a guy who has a couple frames that he might let go. The motor and trans seemed really smooth. The guy really doesnt know much about it. Heres 2 photos I took before my cameras batteries gave up.

I guess Ill have to just think about it tonite.

 

Header bar is finished (see: headlight doors), frame is finished, I bet the rad support and birdcage are rusty too. That dude's been seeing to much Barrett-Jackson.

Too bad cause for 5000-8000 that car would be worth "bringing back".

 

Could you explain the "Headerbar and headlight" problem to me? The header bar just rusted and let go? Are these replacable? I need more ammo to talk to the guy about and get the price down as far as I can.

So you think if I can get it for 7 still its worth it?