No, haven't gotten it yet, haven't spoken to the owners yet, so I am not sure how tightly they are holding on to it. I just sent out a letter to them today, figured that was better than calling them directly and scaring them away.

I'll keep you guys updated though, hopefully with some pictures of my new Vette, well it will be mine for a few weeks/months til I am able to give it to the old man!

 

Well, this small world just keeps getting stranger! We talk a while about the history of the car and what's been done, what he has done, how much it is driven. Then he tells me that the motor was rebuilt by the guy he bought it from....Jeff Schwartz. My jaw about hit the ground....I've known of the Schwartz's for about 10 years, as I was a frequent customer of his wife's motorcycle shop. To find out that he owned the car, just blew me away. How many times did I see that car out in front and not even think to take a look. Their shop is not even 5 minutes from my house. In any case, the guy is a bit hesitant about selling, but is willing to talk. I'm waiting for some pictures than I am going to work out a time to go check out the car.

Some details:
- Motor has been rebuilt, still the 350 with a 600 Holley on it, ceramic headers; car has 155,000 miles on it
- I don't believe it has had a total restoration
- He said the car had 17" centerline rims...
- Car has been repainted once about 14-15 years ago, has some minor dings/scratches
- Car has always been garage kept, never seen rain. Only been washed twice


He loves the car, and says it is reliable and never has given him a problem, but he liked my letter and showed it to a couple of people and they, I guess, have talked him into considering it.

My questions to you guys, is what obvious things should I be checking? What price ranges should I be considering? I'm guessing he wont have an asking price, so I'll have to start the "bidding" at a certain price. He is sending me some pictures and I am going to work out a date in the near future to drive down and see it. Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

 

He will have you in the $15K plus range, I would suspect around 18k to be the sales price. unless he tries and go off NADA guide which isn't in most cases the current selling prices.

Original MSRP: $5,472
Low Retail Average Retail Value High Retail
Base Price $23,700 $35,300 $42,000


I would start with 15k and let him counter offer.

Good Luck,


maybe ask Schwartz's what they sold the car top him for? Then you know he will not go below that.

 

I've got a message into Jeff, just hoping he gets it soon. He seems pretty reasonable, but for a car that's not registered and really is more sentimental to me and not necessarily a showroom or Top Flight car can't be worth the NADA values. Although he does have me in the fact that I'm looking to buy, and he wasnt looking to sell. I'll wait til I get some pictures first and hopefully some insight/background from Jeff. I was going to start at $14k my ceiling was going to be $18k. Although getting the extra cash might be tricky.

 

OK but this is weird... there is another 1972 orange for sale in Illinois that is the exact same car you are tracking down.


the craigslist header says 26500 but the ad says 16500

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/1544812454.html

 

Sounds like it might need some work too, might be a little high, but saleable at 16500. Prices I am researching , show that to be the case. My biggest fear is the frame right now, with 155k miles on the chassis, even though it's been garage kept, there is still that chance that a lot or work could be hidden under it. Time will tell, and then I will tell you guys! More like ask for your experienced opinion!

 

well if this car is an exact match like the one your dad had, this one looks good and he is upfront with everything that is not original to the car and discloses things that are wrong with the car. but the price is right if it is sold for 16500.

it's your only option if the other seller doesn't sell.

take down the ad information in case the posting goes away so you have it.

 

Got it, thanks!

 

This is a great thing you are doing for your father. I hope to one day pass down my '74 vette to my father, once I have a little fun with it first. Good luck.

 

Congrats on finding the car. What ultimately let you to find it?

Thanks,

Dave

 

I found a bunch of info from the DMV, but needed a PI to get the name and address.

 

It will be interesting to see where the price lands... It might be worth $12.5, but the seller knowing the specific emotional attachment to you he could really try to take advantage. How often do you see an engine for $1500, but then when the seller find out you have the matching number VIN car it goes to, the price is $5000.

I dont believe Id even consider another car. There's lots of orange '72 Corvettes for sale. THIS is the car he will want.

 

I think you are right, well at least I hope so. I'm not trying to win the good son award, but he has given me a lot to get me where I am at today. Helping me out with college tuition, down payment loan when I bought my first house. All things I greatly appreciated, but never expected out of him. He's a car guy at heart too. The Mecum auctions recently rolled through here in St. Charles, IL and it was dubbed a Corvette specialty auction. He really wanted to go, but was afraid he would end up with buyers remorse. He did watch the live coverage on HD Theater and call me with updates everytime a Corvette rolled up though!

I'm hoping the car is in good condition, knowing that it might need some work here and there. And the owner said he really liked, that I wasn't somebody off the street offering to buy it. I have a backstory and he said he would think it over price wise, and he wouldn't try to screw me over but at the same time he really wasn't looking to part with the car. Which I understand, but if he is unrealistic I will walk away peacefully and leave my card with him. Maybe hoping he agrees to my lower price.. Time will tell!


Tom

 

i would search out other matching vettes like luerja said. this guy isn't going to try to rip you off neccessarily but as you said, the doesn't even want to sell! so it's gonna take some extra bucks to make it worth it to him. also, in the price range you are looking to spend, you will not find a 72 without issues. not that it'll be terrible, but really a chrome bumper in excellent shape goes easily over $23k. keep all your options open. don't be greedy and don't be stupid. your old man is going to be happy with a vette. PERIOD. heck, for all you know, when he owned the vette he may have secretly always thought to himself "this orange is OK, but if i had to do it again i'd go with blue!".

 

Ha ha funny you say that Ed, he works with a guy who has a '65 Glen Green Vert that he always drools over. However, I do not have that kind of cash, short of selling the house and moving back in with Dad!

I spent most of the night last night reviewing cars for sale/sold online. I have a price range in mind, that I can safely afford. However this is all based on the shape of the car/frame/etc....I fully expect there to be some issues with a 38yr old car but it will be the severity of the issues. I think he will be happy, I know he will be...and if it came down to it and he decided he didn't want it....well how often do you get a second chance on things like that right?? Thanks for all the input guys, I'm hoping those pictures come soon. The owner told me he was waiting for a nice day, so he could pull the car out of the garage and get some pics of it in the sun. Wintertime in IL, that can be tricky but it is supposed to be in the 40's this weekend, so I'm hoping by Monday I have something to look at!

 

all sounds good. i guess the real point in my price comment was that... don't pi$$ on other options just because they have a couple of issues. as far as color... well that other orange is certainly something to look into if this one doesn't pan out. and if neither pan out, keep looking. get your dad a chrome bumper, ANY color, and he'll crap in his pants with excitement. condition should be more important than color. you want him to enjoy the car, not get frustrated and overwhelmed by what a p.o.s. it is! i think that what you are doing is unbelievable. i makes me feel like a crappy son ....

 

Uh, if you tracked down your Dad's old car and presented it to him, you would win the Good Son Award for the Decade.


I went Corvette shopping up near your neck of the woods last weekend when it was 10 out, and a guy from Colorado flew out here yesterday to see one of my cars yesterday.

It's ALWAYS Corvette Shopping Season.

 

FOR YOU ! i'd be divorced by now

 

Well guys I need some more advice, was hoping I had pictures to show you guys by now, but I haven't heard back from the owner. Do I wait it out until next week? I know things come up and he may not have gotten around to it. But at what point to I call him back to "remind" him of my interest in the car??

Tom

 

it's been long enough. i would "remind" him and see what's up...