'73 small block value
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 11
From: Grafton MA
'73 small block value
Guys,
What is a NOM '73 worth these days? My brother is considering buying one... I just got back from looking at it with him.
Here's a run down....
The good..
- Frame was solid....kick-up areas checked out fine, no visible rust on windsheild pillars. I wasn't able to pull the kick panels, but rust is not really a concern of mine with this particular car given what i saw
- Paint was in nice condition
- Rear bumper chrome was nice, as was the chrome luggage rack and chrome door handles
- Front bumper was cracked...why am i saying this is good? because he has an insurance claim in which means if he buys the car it will have a new flex fit bumper painted by a local corvette shop (he showed me the card of the place that's going to do the work). Doesn't look like it was hit hard enough to do serious damage...just cracked bumper.
- Interior is in nice condition. Carpets are nice, but a little faded...a little dye and they would be perfect...no need to replace them. Brand new leather seat covers. New door panels. No dash cracks, etc.
-Tires and rallys were in good shape
-Electrical seemed ok...turn signals, etc
The bad..
- After starting the car had to keep on the gas or else it would stall. After it warmed up it was better, but i suspect it needs a tune up, or carb adjustment or something
- Headlights came up, but didn't go down when i tried. Seller claims the switch under the steering wheel was in the wrong position which is why they didn't go down, but if that's the case they wouldn't have gone up either
. He did raise and lower them once for me once, but i'm still skeptical. I suspect the vacuum system may need some work.
- Aftermarket radio didn't work
- I didn't see a key hole in the back for the alarm system. Not sure if this was stock in '73 or not (i think it may have been). I know on my '71 it was optional...so not being present on a '73 i suspect it has been glassed over??
-Wipers worked, but made kind of a banging noise.
- Strange aftermarket choke **** sticking out of the center bezel.
- The bell housing was unlike anything i've seen before. he said something about doing the clutch and this bell housing must have been put on at that time. whatever it is, it's not original.
Other details..
- The car has power steering, no power brakes.
- Wrong color paint..originally blue, now black.
- No AC
- No power windows
- The car has '69 style side pipes, the fiberglass ones. They looked and sounded good...back filler panel was done well.
- Block was decked. Seller says it the original motor, but with no numbers and no documentation it's NOM in my book.
- Engine was cammed and bored 60 over. The car was damn quick...much quicker than other base engine bumper cars i've driven.
So....in summary. We went there expecting a numbers matching "mostly original car" (except for exterior color and side pipes). What we found was a car that has clearly been modified, but my brother doesn't care about the numbers.....only thing he wants to avoid is paying #'s matching money for a NOM car. Since it's NOM, color change isn't a negative to him either, in fact it's a positive because he likes the black and the paint is in good shape.
The seller is firm at 10k. I told my brother to set aside about a grand to 1500 for misc repairs (i.e. i have questions about the vaccum system, maybe do the wipers, buy a radio and whatever else pops up after buying the car). He wants to pull the trigger because he currently owns an automatic '80 that in his words "isn't exciting"...and he really wants a 4 speed and something quick. This car looks nice and drives nice, has clearly been modded, but meets his requirements (i.e. 4 speed and boat loads of fun to drive). I've given him my assessment of the car but since it's not my car only he can decide if it's the right thing for him. What he wants to make sure though is price-wise if this is in line with what a NOM '73 should sell for. Interested to hear your opinions.
Thanks,
Paul
What is a NOM '73 worth these days? My brother is considering buying one... I just got back from looking at it with him.
Here's a run down....
The good..
- Frame was solid....kick-up areas checked out fine, no visible rust on windsheild pillars. I wasn't able to pull the kick panels, but rust is not really a concern of mine with this particular car given what i saw
- Paint was in nice condition
- Rear bumper chrome was nice, as was the chrome luggage rack and chrome door handles
- Front bumper was cracked...why am i saying this is good? because he has an insurance claim in which means if he buys the car it will have a new flex fit bumper painted by a local corvette shop (he showed me the card of the place that's going to do the work). Doesn't look like it was hit hard enough to do serious damage...just cracked bumper.
- Interior is in nice condition. Carpets are nice, but a little faded...a little dye and they would be perfect...no need to replace them. Brand new leather seat covers. New door panels. No dash cracks, etc.
-Tires and rallys were in good shape
-Electrical seemed ok...turn signals, etc
The bad..
- After starting the car had to keep on the gas or else it would stall. After it warmed up it was better, but i suspect it needs a tune up, or carb adjustment or something
- Headlights came up, but didn't go down when i tried. Seller claims the switch under the steering wheel was in the wrong position which is why they didn't go down, but if that's the case they wouldn't have gone up either
. He did raise and lower them once for me once, but i'm still skeptical. I suspect the vacuum system may need some work.- Aftermarket radio didn't work
- I didn't see a key hole in the back for the alarm system. Not sure if this was stock in '73 or not (i think it may have been). I know on my '71 it was optional...so not being present on a '73 i suspect it has been glassed over??
-Wipers worked, but made kind of a banging noise.
- Strange aftermarket choke **** sticking out of the center bezel.
- The bell housing was unlike anything i've seen before. he said something about doing the clutch and this bell housing must have been put on at that time. whatever it is, it's not original.
Other details..
- The car has power steering, no power brakes.
- Wrong color paint..originally blue, now black.
- No AC
- No power windows
- The car has '69 style side pipes, the fiberglass ones. They looked and sounded good...back filler panel was done well.
- Block was decked. Seller says it the original motor, but with no numbers and no documentation it's NOM in my book.
- Engine was cammed and bored 60 over. The car was damn quick...much quicker than other base engine bumper cars i've driven.
So....in summary. We went there expecting a numbers matching "mostly original car" (except for exterior color and side pipes). What we found was a car that has clearly been modified, but my brother doesn't care about the numbers.....only thing he wants to avoid is paying #'s matching money for a NOM car. Since it's NOM, color change isn't a negative to him either, in fact it's a positive because he likes the black and the paint is in good shape.
The seller is firm at 10k. I told my brother to set aside about a grand to 1500 for misc repairs (i.e. i have questions about the vaccum system, maybe do the wipers, buy a radio and whatever else pops up after buying the car). He wants to pull the trigger because he currently owns an automatic '80 that in his words "isn't exciting"...and he really wants a 4 speed and something quick. This car looks nice and drives nice, has clearly been modded, but meets his requirements (i.e. 4 speed and boat loads of fun to drive). I've given him my assessment of the car but since it's not my car only he can decide if it's the right thing for him. What he wants to make sure though is price-wise if this is in line with what a NOM '73 should sell for. Interested to hear your opinions.
Thanks,
Paul
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 26
From: Ocean County NJ
Two years ago I paid $10.5K for my 73. Numbers-matching, 2 owner car with 73K miles. It was my brothers and was sitting in his garage for 10 years since he fell in love with Harley's. Not sure what the market is today for 73 NOM, but I'd think it would be under $10K based on my experience.
