While out garage saling I found an original owner 1981 Monte Carlo Turbo with a little over 14,000 Kms on it. (14,000 kms and not 140,000 kms). It is in spectacular, mint shape. The car was driven last year but has never seen winter. It has T-tops, air, bench seat, maroon paint, wheel covers. This is a great garage find. The current owner said she had it appraised three years ago for $13,000.00. Therefore the current owner wants $13,000.00 for it. Is that a fair price? Any opnions?
1981 Monte Carlo Turbo garage find - value
- Thread starter kewl
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I wouldnt offer more than $9000
Work some magic as a buyer and talk her down. Mabey the car is worth 13 000 , But always try and get it lower.
Work some magic as a buyer and talk her down. Mabey the car is worth 13 000 , But always try and get it lower.
what motor is in it? 231 turbo? i have never heard of a turbo monte carlo i'd like to more about it,sounds cool
1bad79 said:
It's the same 231 Buick turbo, it was offered as an option in 1980 and 1981. According to Before Black there where 13,839 built in 1980 and 3,027 built in 1981.
I am not sure what it is worth but since it is an '81 you might not come across another. I've seen a couple of the '80 models, but only only one that still had the turbo 6 still in it. 😢
Ive seen only a couple in person in the 20 or so years Ive been around A and G bodys. They are the same hot air turbos used in the 82-85 Grand Nationals. There was a turbo Monte in 80 also.
Not worth 13k IMO but is still a rare find.
Not worth 13k IMO but is still a rare find.
Kewl, you said that the car has 14,000kms on it, so I'm assuming that its a Canadian car. Seeing as how you're new to this site, and you didn't list a location in your profile, do you mind if I ask where you and the car are located, roughly? That car would be rare, as the hot air turbos were only installed in Monte Carlos in 1980 and 1981. Its not a race car by any means, but its definitely interesting. I doubt that the seller will get the asking price. An appraisal value is generally higher than the average market value for insurance purposes, in case there is an insurance claim if the car is badly damaged, or a complete loss. The concern is that many sellers believe that the appraisal value is also a fair market value, which is usually NOT the case. If it had a few more options on it (bucket seats, console, power windows & locks, rally wheels), it might be worth more, but judging from your description, I'd say that the seller would be lucky to get $9,000 to $10,000 for it. Are there any photos available, or is the car listed for sale online anywhere (link)? Just curious.
clean8485 said:
The car is a Canadian Car. I am in fact located in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada as is the car. The car is not advertised for sale. I by fluke just found it. I agree that generally the appraisal is higher then the real value of the car. I am interested in buying the car but I suspected the asking price was high and so I needed some advice on what a fair price for the car is. I didn't get a picture of the car because I didn't want to proceed further with the owner without arming myself with some information about it. Plus it was somewhat buried in the garage with boxes all around it. Also it may have power windows & locks. $13,000. seems high too me but if I educate myself with some with good opinions and knowledge maybe I can get the car for a decent price. Any more advice is greatly appreciated. Anything else I should look for? Is their any on-line history of what a comparable car sold for recently. I briefly checked but couldn't find anything.
I'm assuming that the car has been garaged for most, if not all of its life. If so, it should be in very good condition. Here in southern Ontario, salt is used extensively on the roads furing the winter, and it can cause major rust issues in the rear frame rails of these cars, but that's probably not an issue in your case. As I said before these cars are unusual and rare, but not real powerhouses, like the later turbo Buicks and GNs were. These cars were equipped with a carburetor and didn't have an intercooler, so as a rule, they weren't the greatest running cars. GM hadn't perfected their engine control systems, and they didn't have fuel injection just yet. If you're looking for more information, you might want to try one of the turbo Buick websites. A good one is www.turbobuicks.com . I know its not a Buick, but the most valuable information is probably there.
As for value, I'm kind of leaning towards what YGSpider said. I don't think I'd go any higher than $9,000 for the car, and I'd start lower than that. I don't foresee those cars gaining alot of value in the years to come, because they're kind of off the radar screen, in terms of popularity. The later Monte SS cars will probably appreciate more, because of the NASCAR connection with them.
Good luck with the buy, and if you're successful, I'd like to see some photos.
As for value, I'm kind of leaning towards what YGSpider said. I don't think I'd go any higher than $9,000 for the car, and I'd start lower than that. I don't foresee those cars gaining alot of value in the years to come, because they're kind of off the radar screen, in terms of popularity. The later Monte SS cars will probably appreciate more, because of the NASCAR connection with them.
Good luck with the buy, and if you're successful, I'd like to see some photos.
Low miles and turbo or not, 81 Montes are not exactly the hot ticket in collectables.
a 3 year old appraisal is worthless...if not for the fact that they are always overly optimistic on cars with a low pool to derive values from (how many recent low-mile turbo Monte sales you suppose they found for comps?), the reality is that NOTHING is bringing what it did 3 years ago...perhaps you guys up north have not felt the effects of the US mortgage boondoggle and overall uncertaintity economics-wise?
Sounds like a neat car for novelty value, but not a strong performer and a horrible investment, IMO. If it could be bought between 5-7 thousand and you WANT a little more offbeat G body, it'd be something to pursue. My guess is it will continue to sit there until either a total nutcase wins the lottery, or the owner passes and the relatives sell it off...let's hope it isn't one of those "we paid a guy to take it to the scrapyard because it's just an old car" deals.
Any way you slice it, it's a 31 year old car that's going to need a LOT of stuff replaced to make it reliable...not from being used-up, just from age. Think all rubber lines, brake system, engine/trans/axle seals, etc.
Of course, the preceding is JMO...from a guy that's been down that road
a 3 year old appraisal is worthless...if not for the fact that they are always overly optimistic on cars with a low pool to derive values from (how many recent low-mile turbo Monte sales you suppose they found for comps?), the reality is that NOTHING is bringing what it did 3 years ago...perhaps you guys up north have not felt the effects of the US mortgage boondoggle and overall uncertaintity economics-wise?
Sounds like a neat car for novelty value, but not a strong performer and a horrible investment, IMO. If it could be bought between 5-7 thousand and you WANT a little more offbeat G body, it'd be something to pursue. My guess is it will continue to sit there until either a total nutcase wins the lottery, or the owner passes and the relatives sell it off...let's hope it isn't one of those "we paid a guy to take it to the scrapyard because it's just an old car" deals.
Any way you slice it, it's a 31 year old car that's going to need a LOT of stuff replaced to make it reliable...not from being used-up, just from age. Think all rubber lines, brake system, engine/trans/axle seals, etc.
Of course, the preceding is JMO...from a guy that's been down that road
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