Try To Make Financial Sense Re: Car Purchase

[ed1948]

I'm looking for a G body for shows, cruises and pleasure drives.
Scenario #1: buy a plain G small block(reasonably rust free frame and no body work required), swap interior to buckets and console,gauges, update chassis to F41specs, 15" rims and warm up the engine performance keeping factory emission, gut interior to check/treat surface rust in hidden areas, thoroughly go over chassis/underbody again doing what it takes to stop future corrosion. This would be a pro quality workmanship type of preservation/restoration. (Basically turn it into a mild clone of the real thing)
Scenario #2: Get an original SS/442 rust free chassis and body, gut interior to check/treat interior and preserve it. Go over chassis/underbody and do everything to stop future corrosion.

Now the money question using hypothetical numbers
#1 may total $8000(not labor - DIY) when completed to my taste
#2 may total $12000 initial cost

In the future, will #1 pay me back what I put in or will #2 hold/ increase it's payback?
I have a feeling #2 may be a better financial move then #1 even though the initial outlay is greater.

 

[lilbowtie]

For that kind of money you should be able to buy what ever you want - g bodies are not pulling the bucks yet. Yes, 442's, Gn's, SS's, Aero Coupes as you know pull more $$$, v-8's more than 6's, 2 doors more than 4. I have the feeling your a purest looking for and all stock car - be patient your car is out there. Did you see the Monte pic I sent

 

[ck80]

Bah, wrote you a long reply and the phone messed up. Here's the condensed answer.

The 442/GN/SS vin number has value for what you're talking about. As nice of a base car as you want to build, insurance won't care much when it's hit/flooded/stolen. Cheaper to build a base car, but you do not get paid $ for $ for your upgrades.

On that topic, the likelihood of buying a gbody, adding upgrades and finishing touches, then selling and getting your money back are darn near zero if you pay someone else to work on it. Ever. Buy it to enjoy, not to invest or think you'll break even after.

From what it sounds like you are looking to do, my opinion if you would do best with one of two choices: buy a southern car, or a western car. Avoid coastal (florida, gulf coast, etc) like the plague. They rust from the inside out, usually top surfaces (over windows, roof, tops of fenders, etc) from the inside out where you can't see it.

Think low mileage garaged cars from nc/sc, ga, tn, co, nv, etc. You may also get a cheaper car from those areas or out west that have sun dried out interiors and need new plastic and upholstery. That said, compared to coastal and northern, even summer only garage kept northern, the southern and western cars are a pleasure to work on and the $2,000 spent on flying out to buy and ship back is more than worth it. I've done many of both and believe me, the sub 100k mile cars from those spots were easy to work on and spotless for rust.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Does the Grand Prix 2 + 2 interest you....looks like a pretty decent one listed locally here...

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...le/1190651879?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[ed1948]

This is getting more interesting/confusing/frustrating.
-86 SS, orig owner, no winters, garaged 20 years, t top seals mint, dash mint, underbody small areas/spotting surface rust, frame no vis rust,, 24K miles, door seals fine, door hinge slightly sloppy, no AC, no posi, Chev 305 no smoke and all OEM, rear headliner trashed, trunk metal perfect, driver seat bolster slight wear and a few cig burns, repaint 1992 due to theft recovery, old brake fluid, paint shiny black
NOW HERE IS THE REALLY BAD PART...
about 6 marble to golf ball sized shallow dents and scratches on the hood and few on the front fenders and a few marble sized shallow dent rear fender and front bumper corner missing paint all from stuff falling while stored. Not visible from 50 feet
Seller tells the PDR guys can do it for a $1000. Car has the safety check pass.
The rating system based on rust and general condition(excluding multiple dent) would rate it above average to very good.
Asking price in Canadian is at $12500( US roughly $8000) I'm concerned the dents may not totally disappear thus affecting the show car appearance> I would consider an above the belt line repaint if I do all the pre myself. I can live with no AC, and investing time to preserve the chassis, and fixing the two interior flaws.
What would be a reasonable in US$ (most here are US I believe) offer considering the above good and bad points? Ad has been up for two weeks with two showings.

 

[ed1948]

Does the Grand Prix 2 + 2 interest you....looks like a pretty decent one listed locally here...

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...le/1190651879?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Somehow the SS is more my style - subdued.

 

[jeremyandthemonte]

I did the same thing you are trying to figure out what I wanted to do and I went way past my budget building my car then I could have bought a finished one I will also never get the money back because it's not a 442 or anything. But for my sake and as my Ontario friends will say it's hard to find a rust free gbody up here so I was really better off building one. I would personally buy one enjoy it while you can and if you want to modify it in anyway you can without really being out of a car that is my short .02 cents
Jeremy

 

[clean8485]

What you really need to decide is whether you're buying the car strictly as an investment, or whether you'd like to have something that you can enjoy. If you want an investment (and keep in mind that not all investments will show a profit), then buy the Monte SS, 442, or even the GP 2+2, since it has most of the stuff that you will want already on it. Those cars (and the Buick GN/GNX) are most likely to hold their value, or increase in value. If you go that route, then try to find the cleanest and most rust-free example that you can afford. If you're not concerned about a return on your investment, and you want a car that you can build to your own personal taste, and enjoy, then buy a more basic A/G body, and have fun.
As Jeremy has said, just my $0.02.

 

[lilbowtie]

As I said earlier DON'T SETTLE for a car, If you question it it's not for you. You are going have to be willing to take road trips which may or may not produce a car. I have taken several 500+ Mi trips. Too bad your not around Detroit - It's the Woodward Cruise this week and if you haven't seen it you wouldn't believe it. You name it it's there - lots for sale. On a positive note summer is coming to an end and it becomes a better buyers market. Hang in there and always take a knowledgeable person with you to give an honest opinion.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Compared to the one you listed above I think this sounds like a nicer car.....lower asking price as well...

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/london/original-owner/1186833109?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true