Hi Guys and Gals,

First off, Happy New Year and thanks in advance for any help you can give here.

Today, I drove 6 hrs to look at a 69 Coupe for sale. Here's what I saw. The car is LeMans Blue with a paint job that looked like my 3 year old did it 20 yrs ago with a can of Walmart brand house paint and a dried brush (it's really that bad).
The car has the original drivetrain, a 350/ 350. The trans, rear, are original. It's a one owner car, but some of the docs are misplaced ( He had the original reg from 1969 with his name on it, and all subsequent regs). It's a 4 spd, Original sidepipe car ( we checked this out at every point and verified). Original glass all around. Has all original A.I.R. SMOG intact on the engine. Not original alternator, yet it is a 61 amp alternater and the numbers indicate it's for a 69 435 hp car! Carb is not original ( correct # service replacement). Original radiator (and RC-15 cap), wrong master cylinder, no power anything. Recovered (wrong) seats, everything else in the interior is stock. The frame looks very good (lot of grease and oil that probably saved it). Birdcage looked ok from the outside window inspection. Appeared to be all original body panels and a no hit car. Weatherstrip is shot to hell. Engine runs great and sounds awesome, no smoke. Original gas tank, tank sticker assumed to be there by owner (he didn't know what it was). Original metal headlight buckets, headrests, and shoulder harnesses (belts in kinda bad shape).

I may have forgotten some things, but i just got home and am in desperate need of a beer. The car would need to be trailered home.

Any suggestions for pricing? Thanks, and stay safe, John

 

Did you take lots of pictures?
How much is he asking for the car?
After reading your post, I had to go get a beer too.

 

he may take 14k.

Thanks, still drinking beer, John

 

I would give that for it.

 

thanks my friend.......aybody else please chime in, the War Department (wife) gave me the ok, though i had to throw in some new furniture...

If I got it for 13k, is that a good deal??

 

Original drive train WITH the air pump, no hit body! That would be a very good deal. Send us some pictures when you get it. Shucks, if it's south of you I'll help you pick it up.

 

Sounds like a car i went to see in RI a while back. Did it have a big crack in the dash, wiper door in the open position, missing antenna and tach not working? I also took the kick panels off and found 2 layers of carpet. If this sounds like the car PM me and we can compare notes . I passed on it.

 

Do you plan to fix and sell?

If so, how much is the projected value (once it is completed)?

How much exactly is he asking? Sounds like the car is in need of a total resto ($$$$$$). From what I see (without having pics), I think 10k could be too much.

 

Yes.

The paint is probably the biggest cost issue. Otherwise as long as the frame is good, it's worth it for a 69, 4sp side pipe car .

My .02

 

I bought a 69 that was a daily driver. 350, 350HP, 4spd, no side pipes. Had good rubber, great exterior and interior. Air even worked. I only paid 12K 2 years ago, and feel like I got a great deal. I bought it to have fun with and restore, but it's in such great shape I can't bring myself to start tearing it apart.
Hope this gives you an idea of what people are asking for what's out there.

 

It's still a 350. It will most likely bring the lowest buck out of a '69. To my knowledge, a 350 back in '69 was like the base engine. Everything else was a 427. The fact its a one owner, side pipe car with documentation is nice, but I think its too high. If you wait, I am sure that you'll find a better deal down the road.

 

John,
It sounds to me like you have rationed everything out that you think is do-able. Paint, interior, etc. If that's the case and you're willing to do the work, then it's just a matter of negotiation.
If the guy didn't know what a tank sticker was, he may be playing the "dumb as a fox" on you. That is, a closer look at certain things when you go to pick it up, may be required. Inspection of a few of the body mounts, removal of the kick plates, and a few trim pieces around the windshield, to start. Should you find anything you don't think you could overcome, you'd still be able to back out and only be down a 12 hour round trip(or 6 hour, not sure).
A 69 350/350 is a higher than "stock" optioned car, as mentioned above. Although, it was second to the 350/300HP, it was an additional $131.65, as were the sidepipes $147.45, of which only 4355 of the 69's even had! Therefore, this car is a bit rarer than a stock 350/300 Coupe. If you get the tank sticker to back that up, along with being the second owner(hopefully those docs were convincing, fakes are easy to make), you'd be sitting in the catbird seat by the time you're done with it.
Go slow, go back over everything you saw while you were there. Make a list of what you'd have to do to the car to get it streetable, and, in your mind, ready. Then make an offer based on those lists. Just my two cents, but if a car's not driveable, then it's a project. That hurts the seller and what he's asking. Should it be driveable(and you didn't mention that, other than trailering it home), then he should get closer to what he's asking.
Good Luck, keep us posted, and takes some darn pictures!

 

In 69 there were a few thousand more 427's built than 350's. They combined a total of a little over 22 thousand total coupes produced, 16.6 thousand convertibles. Only a little over 4 thousand had factory side pipes. So if you do the numbers only about 10% had side pipes.
If I were to guess I would say there are thousands still out there. But? Are they for sale.

 

It sounds interesting.Is the car drivable at all? What do you want the car to be when when you're satisfied with it? This will determine how much you're going to spend beyond what it costs to buy now. What's your wife think about that amount? That would matter a lot in my house.
I've never seen a project that needs just what it appears to need at first assesment. Projects are deep pits to fall into even when you know the pit is there.
But nothing beats playing with old cars!!!
Happy New Year,
Alan

 

Thanks for all the input Guys. To answer a couple questions, first, like a dummy, I did not take pics of the car when I drove up there. I have some photos (actual film) that the owner sent me i may try to scan. Also, the wife is "ok' with the purchase...she's defintely a vette widow, not really into cars. The car should drive ok, it started right up no smoke, but I noticed water in the gas tank. My plan for a new toy is to slowly restore it with my son, who is now 3. I was tryin to get a decent c3 (steel bumper) while I could still afford one, put it away, and when Tommy gets a liitle older, enjoy some quality resto time with my son ( and the girls if they want to). Thanks again for all the help. stay safe , john

 

Well I just went by this 68 for sale in Rhode Island. The owner was not around and I was parked out on the road. Do not know how much you want to spend or what condition but this was off the for sale sign:
1968 4spd
400 recently rebuilt engine. Original 327 available?
asking $11,000.00

There is a plate on the back and was inspected until 2008. I know nothing about the car or owner, like I said just driving by and remembered your post.

Interior worn, (fair to poor) needs work. Body needs some repair, tires, etc. Looked under rear and appears to be newer pipes and mufflers, otherwise your on your own. If interested, pm me and I will give you his phone number.

 

Thanks!

 

Expect to pay more for an L46 350 horse car - it's not the base engine. There's a significant difference between the base 300 hp 350 and the 350 horse 350, which is what this car is. 11:1 high compression, 4 bolt main block, same crank and pistons as used in the 70-72 hi-revving LT-1s. The L46 was only available with the 4 speed trans too. I'm looking for a nice blue 69-70 L46 myself. I've passed on several so-so ones this fall so far. At least two forum members have LeMans Blue '69s for sale right now - they're out there. Good luck with your search.

As far as pricing goes, compared to other similar cars I've looked at, this one sound like it's a bit rougher - I'd guesstimate it into the $12k ballpark based on what it sounds like it needs versus buying one done. I've seen a couple other very nice Lemans Blue L46 coupes like this listed for sale recently (great paint, interior, underhood, etc. but not factory sidepipes) and they've been listed in the upper $20s. Hope that helps a bit. I can send links and info via PM if you'd like.

 

that would be great, thanks for the help, stay safe, john

 

I stand corrected.. For some reason, I thought the L46 was the base engine. I guess the base engine doesn't even have a name??