I'm going to try to make a long story short, or at least shorter. I'm contemplating selling one of my 1983 Regals, its been a project car that is almost but not quite done. I was building it for my fiancé with an eye towards something that would be ultra reliable as a toy for her, but, I haven't been able to work on finishing it up since my surgery this spring, and her first car she had gotten on her birthday about 9 years ago has gotten to the point it needs to be parked and she needs to drive something else. Given all that sentimentality, and my longer-than-expected recovery, I'd rather let her put her first car away rather than keeping this one around if I could get enough back out of it to be worthwhile.
So, what is it. As said above, its a 1983 Regal Limited coupe. I'm third owner, it has been a southern car since bought in North Carolina new, second elderly owner bringing it to Middle Georgia. I got ahold of it after the mother passed away and a son tried driving it one weekend and rear ended someone. Have maintenance records since new. Currently reads 88,830 original miles, clean and clear title. Interior looks like a new car, manual windows, power locks, power driver mirror, am/fm radio, no rear defog, has cruise, landau half top, wide lower body trim, and wire wheel hubcaps. When I say no rust I mean NO RUST, was undercoated when new as well although I'm not sure why given that it was always a southern car???
What I've done to it bodywise: replaced the dented fenders and hood, upgraded to an 84-87 header panel.
New Mechanical Parts I had installed with only a couple hundred miles at most (including brand and part number when I can recall what it was off hand) : Spectra Premium Radiator CU571, ac delco water pump 252-582, upper and lower radiator hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, ac delco nos a/c condenser updated design for r134a refrigerant part # 52485723, ac delco accumulator dryer, ac delco orifice tube, a/c refrigerant line, Spectra Premium GM307C Fuel Injection Baffled Fuel Tank, Spectra Premium FG08B Sending Unit, nos ac delco fuel pump, replaced rubber gas lines with new fuel injection hoses for ethanol fuel tolerance, all new engine belts (mix of gates and napa brands), assorted vacuum hoses and lines, vacuum ball, power steering pump lines, Michelin Defender 90,000 mile rated 205/75/r14 tires.
Replaced with used: cruise control solenoid, low mileage power steering pump with pulley, A.I.R. pump, IAC valve, full size tiger paw tire on steel rim in trunk.
Done by a repair shop: vacuumed down a/c system and recharged with r134a, blows cold, transmission flushed and filled also with new filter, lifetime front end alignment through firestone.
Replaced by previous owner: a/c compressor (ac delco new unit, not reman), alternator, shocks, full exhaust, plugs/wires, valve cover gaskets, repaint faded top surface, install rear fiberglass fillers painted to match.
As I said, it was a project to me, haven't driven it much and still would need some finishing and bugs worked out of course. Engine runs strong. Front end needs repainting, and front edge of driver's door was contacted by the fender and slightly bent, front fenders needs better alignment, I was going to when repainting and needs fillers. I removed the front chrome face bar from the reinforcement and reattached with a half dozen bolts to later remove during repaint and reinstall a nicer replacement (slight ding/bend near grille opening). To pay a shop to do all alignment and dings, repaint with base/clear had an approx. $850 estimate to just pay and finish off. I contemplated doing just that, and had my fiancé try driving the car around the neighborhood this weekend, but, she isn't comfortable turning it to her daily driver and I wouldn't have room to keep it and her first car, plus another daily driver for her in addition to all my toys. I still have my first car so I'd like to let her keep hers, even if it isn't anything special so curious what this unfinished but largely rebuilt car is worth in the current market.
I'll try adding a couple pictures, but with the rain and bad weather this weekend they aren't much.
So, what is it. As said above, its a 1983 Regal Limited coupe. I'm third owner, it has been a southern car since bought in North Carolina new, second elderly owner bringing it to Middle Georgia. I got ahold of it after the mother passed away and a son tried driving it one weekend and rear ended someone. Have maintenance records since new. Currently reads 88,830 original miles, clean and clear title. Interior looks like a new car, manual windows, power locks, power driver mirror, am/fm radio, no rear defog, has cruise, landau half top, wide lower body trim, and wire wheel hubcaps. When I say no rust I mean NO RUST, was undercoated when new as well although I'm not sure why given that it was always a southern car???
What I've done to it bodywise: replaced the dented fenders and hood, upgraded to an 84-87 header panel.
New Mechanical Parts I had installed with only a couple hundred miles at most (including brand and part number when I can recall what it was off hand) : Spectra Premium Radiator CU571, ac delco water pump 252-582, upper and lower radiator hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, ac delco nos a/c condenser updated design for r134a refrigerant part # 52485723, ac delco accumulator dryer, ac delco orifice tube, a/c refrigerant line, Spectra Premium GM307C Fuel Injection Baffled Fuel Tank, Spectra Premium FG08B Sending Unit, nos ac delco fuel pump, replaced rubber gas lines with new fuel injection hoses for ethanol fuel tolerance, all new engine belts (mix of gates and napa brands), assorted vacuum hoses and lines, vacuum ball, power steering pump lines, Michelin Defender 90,000 mile rated 205/75/r14 tires.
Replaced with used: cruise control solenoid, low mileage power steering pump with pulley, A.I.R. pump, IAC valve, full size tiger paw tire on steel rim in trunk.
Done by a repair shop: vacuumed down a/c system and recharged with r134a, blows cold, transmission flushed and filled also with new filter, lifetime front end alignment through firestone.
Replaced by previous owner: a/c compressor (ac delco new unit, not reman), alternator, shocks, full exhaust, plugs/wires, valve cover gaskets, repaint faded top surface, install rear fiberglass fillers painted to match.
As I said, it was a project to me, haven't driven it much and still would need some finishing and bugs worked out of course. Engine runs strong. Front end needs repainting, and front edge of driver's door was contacted by the fender and slightly bent, front fenders needs better alignment, I was going to when repainting and needs fillers. I removed the front chrome face bar from the reinforcement and reattached with a half dozen bolts to later remove during repaint and reinstall a nicer replacement (slight ding/bend near grille opening). To pay a shop to do all alignment and dings, repaint with base/clear had an approx. $850 estimate to just pay and finish off. I contemplated doing just that, and had my fiancé try driving the car around the neighborhood this weekend, but, she isn't comfortable turning it to her daily driver and I wouldn't have room to keep it and her first car, plus another daily driver for her in addition to all my toys. I still have my first car so I'd like to let her keep hers, even if it isn't anything special so curious what this unfinished but largely rebuilt car is worth in the current market.
I'll try adding a couple pictures, but with the rain and bad weather this weekend they aren't much.
