Recent G-body Prices - WTF?

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motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan
I just don't understand the hype.
These cars do nothing well other than look good and get you from A to B. You get a G-body because you like the looks and you can't afford anything better. Or you just really like the looks. They need everything. 30,000 - 50,000 is what you're supposed to have into it when you're done; not when you're starting.
...
Suddenly I wonder if this is what guys were thinking when '60s cars started going up. "Why pay so much for so little?"

Nostalgia mostly. Most of us grew up in these cars, which were deemed disposable throw-aways at the end of the day. There is nothing immediately inspiring about the vast majority of them - other than one quick version and lots of badge and sticker engineering performance variants. They are built like crap and architecture sucks in stock form; but, can be band-aided with enough money and creativity. I love how analog they feel, but that sensation is still available in lots of performance cars made between 1985 and 2009; and many are just better cars (which you can make worse through modifying them to build in that "80s" feel - LOL).

But, if I cannot find a clean car with a wheezing drivetrain for a reasonable price - I am not buying another G-body. I would rather get more for my money elsewhere.
 
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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
4,650
13,575
113
Western MN
Most of the overpriced stuff is Wives that want their husband to "sell that old car" to "get a new one". I just realized recently many people don't notice the difference between a clean GN and a rusty 4dr 83 crown vic. To them it's just a "boxy old car" Guy doesn't want to sell it so prices it twice of what it's worth, or what he has been telling his wife all those years it is worth.

G bodies are the next A bodies. 3rd gens are the next 1st gen F bodies. Fox bodies are the next 64-69 mustangs.

I get a lot of 35-45yr old casual car guys liking my G bodies. Guys that don't have anything but a pickup or SUV today but had one growing up. Once those guys turn 55-60 and get money, they will restore total junk G bodies and prices will rise. Give it another 10-15 years and G bodies will be on par with what A body values were 10yrs ago and today.

My girlfriends dad is underway of dumping like $30k into a 64 V8 289 non hi-po mustang resto. It is a real 64 early production run v8 car with a period correct 64 289, but simply because he wants one.

When model T's and A's where expensive, tri 5 chevs where cheap and used for dirt track.
Tri 5's got expensive, A bodies used for dirt track
A bodies got expensive, G bodies used for dirt track
I have seen some REAL bad rusted G bodies get new rear frame rails and stuff to get dirt tracked.

Dirt guys are weird in that they want certain G bodies too. Regals and malibus are best because their trunk shape. Many also have no idea what they have if it is a factory turbo car, rare v8 manual, it just gets a cage and gutted.

Is a "classic" muscle car better than a G body? It's relative. The forum enthusiast is a small part of the classic car segment. Most classic car owners are just a guy that wants a car he had when young and is paying someone who has the knowledge to bring the car back to life for them.

The G body enthusiasts might bock at the price of 7k for a plane jane malibu but for every one of "us" there are 5 or 10 casual car guys that will pay that just to get their high school car back.
 
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motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan

lilbowtie

Comic Book Super Hero
Jan 7, 2006
3,460
3,965
113
Canton Mi
Been watching this thread and wondering if some of these higher priced G's are actually selling. I personally have had some very nice G bodies and had "0" luck getting what I thought the car was worth. Low miles and "0" rust and my 81 Regal(22,000 mi)netted the most at $3500.

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rogue_ryder

Master Mechanic
Oct 27, 2017
267
549
93
Colorado
Been watching this thread and wondering if some of these higher priced G's are actually selling. I personally have had some very nice G bodies and had "0" luck getting what I thought the car was worth. Low miles and "0" rust and my 81 Regal(22,000 mi)netted the most at $3500.
View attachment 82996

Very nice Regal and Monte. I haven't seen a Monte like yours in good shape in probably 20 years!
 

vanrah

G-Body Guru
Apr 16, 2013
879
1,189
93
Near Afton, Wisconsin
Greetings LilBowTie & all; You are the man, more nice G's that I can count? It seems like I should chime in? As I have one of those higher priced G's for sale! How many of you guys have parted out a car or truck? And when ya did were you surprised by how much money you recovered, I was! Anyway as we know many (maybe MOST) guys that own hobby cars are after a certain style. And style over rides logic most of the time? For me I was after the lightest stiffest body that could accommodate any of the GM family of engines. During the 60's when so many thought Chevelle's, GTO's & other heavy "A" cars were fast, they didn't really rule the streets. It was from what I remember the lightest highest reving cars that usually won the day, or I should say the night! And in most cases that was a Camaro or Nova L78 or L72 trans plant. So When I see a car I look at the parts that make it a whole. If the parts are stock or cheap I know it won't hold up to heavy duty use & it won't be that quick but it may look fantastic. Great paint, nice interior & fancy bottom, but the only thing it's good for is car shows & light cruising. And for 60% 70% of the car enthusiast they're fine with that. I'm NOT. So I have to have better parts that don't break. And they cost MORE, hence the car is worth more??? I want to run 12 second quarters be able to auto X & drive anywhere, the hell with perfect paint & show. Not that I don't like great paint as I go to great extremes to keep my paint as good as possible. But it comes second on the priority list after performance! So what I'm trying to say guys is to me a car is worth the sum of the parts or maybe 1/2 of the costs?? And style, give me aerodynamics please & that includes a sloped back window for sure. Take care, Ole' Bob.
 
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