Looking at this 79…. Is this good or bad?

 

I vote bad.

 

Someone more knowledgeable than me is going to chime in about that trim plate.

 

Your profile is not filled in so we don't know where you are.
Are you in the rust belt? That looks like Stage 3 bird cage.

 

Looks pretty bad to me. And that trim tag has been re-rivited.

 

Let's compare. My original 1977 model, never had body off. Never restored.

Note bits of red paint on trim tag and even red paint inside holes of rivets. As though the factory didn't tape it off when spraying, they just wiped it off when paint was wet. Very sloppy, but very original.
but also note the condition of this 99 thousand mile, 46 year old door jamb.
with original factory paint.

 

Let me see if I understand. You found a 1979 car with cracks and what looks like bondo and asking if its good or bad?

 

You will lose money on repairing the car even if you got it for free. Jerry

 

This vehicle sat outside for a long-long time. No garage, no car port, no car cover, no tarp. Look at the carpet variation in color at the door sill plate. The sun bleached most of the interior.

Skip this one.

 

Hi,

I think that this picture doesn't tell so much about birdcage rust. However it shows that the front clip bonding may be loose, probably the door gaps are wider on the upper side, and thinner in case of the lower. (Door gaps are often much worse on the passenger side.) The nose may hang down a bit.
If this is the case, it will be a major repair: the front clip have to be removed, enhanced if there are some cracks and re bonded to the firewall.

Birdcage rust is a separate condition: You should remove the kick panel and see inside where the 2nd body mount bolt is.
If you cannot remove the kick panel, then check these visible areas for rust, it may be more correlated to other part's corrosion:
- Major undercarriage rust in the front of the rear wheel: https://www.hobbycarcorvettes.net/wp...s/IMG_0368.jpg
- Lower portion of the radiator support (It may be replaced some time, but if it look bad, then the birdcage may also bad.): https://tech.corvettecentral.com/201...-installation/


Many times, bad condition of the front clip bonding means also birdcage rust as the car seems more used than maintained.
But it's not that straightforward: I have a barnfind condition car that may be used in the desert. It has a badly loose front clip with some cracks on the fiberglass too, but the birdcage has just surface rust, nothing serious which have to be repaired. E.g. my windshield frame is shining like new after I removed the original paint.


If you would like to buy and just drive a car, leave it for someone who want to repair this. If you have resources to restore it, then check the birdcage and pay only a fair price for it's condition.

Kind regards, Géza

 

Yes, you are correct. This must be unfamiliar territory for you…

 

I’d like to thank everyone for your advice. I’m always learning!
Im passing on the car.

 

Glad you got what you needed.