So how much have you guys been paying for parts cars?

[79GP6.6L]

All this Cash for Clunkers nonsense has made me think it would be good to have a parts car for my 79, even though the 78-80 Grand Prix's are too old to be eligable for that stupid program. Still, every body part I buy seems to carry at least a $100 price tag, plus shipping.

So I went to look at a 78 GP in my area. It was advertised as low rust, but when I got there to look it over, I was disappointed. I though it was too rusty to save. It had been sitting for 5 years, the tires were flat, it had no brakes, and both lower quarters were gone. It was hard to get a good look underneath, but when I got down to try and look, I saw nothing but rust. But it ran and was complete, and it still had a lot of good useable parts. Seller wanted $500 firm. I thought that was too much for something I was planning on cutting up.

Was I right to pass on it, or should I have met the sellers price? What has everyone else been paying for parts cars these days?

 

[87National]

In my area, the dirt track racers will pay $2-400 for a roller. Recently, I had done pretty well on 2 montes, an 86 LS and an 87 SS. I pulled a lot of good parts...interior, rear, dashes, tail lights, etc. and then sold the shell for the same price that I paid for the car to begin with.

$500 is a little steep for a GP. But it depends on the car, black interior pieces are worth quite a bit and crack free dashes are easily worth $150-200.

 

[Mike P]

It really depends on the car and the plans for it.

In the case of the car you looked at if it was usable pretty much as is and you were just looking for transportation it probably would have been worth the $500, but as you said if you were looking for parts probably not unless it had something like a nice interior or other options you need/want. A parts car with a solid drive train you NEED is likely worth the money, but if you’re just hunting a few odds and ends it can be a loosing situation unless you can make some money selling parts you don’t want to keep.

The El Camino I’m building started out as a parts car for another project (I paid $250 for it and used the parts I needed). I actually paid $100 more for the Monte Carlo parts car for this project (it’s pretty bad when you start buying a parts car for the parts car LOL), but it has straight and rust free sheetmetal and power windows, locks and seat that will go in the El Camino so it was worth it to me.

 

[vladj]

got my 83 cutlass parts car with an f41 suspension for $200

 

[shotgun]

$3500 to$4500. 8)

 

[TURNA]

It all depends on what part of the country you are in.

 

[Blake442]

I bought a wrecked '87 Cutlass Salon back in fall '02 for $300.
It was a pretty solid North Dakota car (no salt) with some very minor rust.
Put an '81-'86 front clip on it and drove it all winter.
I intended to paint it out at school and re-sell it.
Head gasket went out, and I parted the car in the spring of '03.
Made all my money back, and got some parts I needed in the process.
A bunch of the interior remains still clutter up the shelves in my garage...

 

[maliburacinfreak]

i bought a wrecked 85 salon with NICE bucket seat interior and a good running 307/200R4 for $50 a couple months ago.

 

[01GPGT]

the cheapest i have found listed have been $500 but there still driveable and in ok shape

 

[hujass]

Last week a guy up here in N Dakota was selling an 86 Regal rolling shell for $450.