Need Help with a Car

[Bark0]

Once or twice a year I go to my Mothers Friend's Farm. (I will be heading there in may) And Every time I go there I make Sure to Visit This car.
When I first saw it I knew It totally Defined me. and with a 350 block...maybe I can have some fun too.

But sadly The owner of the farm does not Own the car. A man who has been working there since late 1970's Owns the car. I know for a fact the car is not used. It has 30 years of dust, slashed tires, ans a Grand Forks Student Parking permit from 1976. It sits in a Shed (Hanger maybe) where they Put the combines and the 10+ Snowmobiles Every year...so If I have it it can leave a lot of space for the Combines. But Here is my problem.
I don't Want to ask him without being To Forward like "Can I have that car in the west shed?" or "How much for that Car in the west shed?" Because I believe that is Downright rude. I want your Honest Opinion on how I should ask for this car. I am 14 so if it needs fixing I can have time to learn/fix it before i get my drivers License. Here is A picture Of it

 

Sorry about the lines...that's just the camera.
BTW can You guess what it is?
<<<<<<<<S>>>>>>>>
              1st. Lt. Barko Edwards

[Roundeye]

I would say it's a 1973 Chevelle SS.

Tell the owner that you have noticed the car sitting and ask if he would be interested in selling it.  It's that simple.  Tell him you would like to buy it, fix it and drive it.

Unless he has some sentimental attachment to the car, he should be willing to part with it.  I know I would rather see and old ride back on the road being enjoyed by a young person willing to learn about the vehicle and care for it than to see it simply rot down....but thats me.


Those cars are some of the last real muscle cars ever to come out of Detroit before the engines shrank and emissions started to screw cars up.

Here is some info on them....  http://www.bakerbuzz.com/

[Spikes]

Ask him something like...
"I noticed you have that red car sitting in the shed, I'd be willing to buy it, fix it up and drive it if the price is right".

[Bark0]

I would say it's a 1973 Chevelle SS.

Correct!

 I Am also afraid to open the car It's been sitting there for 30 years ansd a Bat or a mouse or some S*** like that is bound to get in the engine or the Interior. I don't want anything to Jump out at me And scare me!

can anybody give me a rough draft on the price? I want to know a Minimum to see how many lawns i need to mow this Summer..Babysit etc. Just in case it is too high for me.

Again ty!
I count this as a Decision that may Impact my life...so all Opinion is Ok. Even you Chevy Haters can say something

More pics to come! This is a sweet car!

[Getback]

I believe that car could be worth some bucks. My guess is he's wanting to fix it up but hasn't gotten around to it. You can ask if he wants to sell it. Only ask though if you have some money to back up your offer.

[Fulmar]

How deep are your pockets at 14?

[ROC]

Be bold.

Rust on the rear fender.

Cars been sitting for years so you know the vacuum lines and such are rot.

It's the typical car that kids see what it Could be, and not what it is.  It is, frankly, a money pit.

[Stop here, if you don't get it I will, it's awesome, but get into the mood here, k?]

Now, this POS is taking up space, I need a hoby, so I'll tell you what, if you give me $500.00 I'll take that car off your hands and maybe use it to get me to school or something.  Probably going to cost me every dime I make for the next 20 years, but heck, for $500 bucks you gain some space and help me out.



It's all in the approach.  What's he gonna do, say No?  Ok, great, then you are now negotiating and might snag it for a few hundred.  

Be Bold.  Be Imaginative.  Everyone buys their first car, that process follows them their whole life, it defines you.  It is the sum total of what you have learned do date.


So, whatcha got?  Go get the car.

[Tec]

It's tough to judge a car just based on one grainy pic, but that rear quarter panel is a deal breaker for me.  I know what it's like to be young and have a total hardon for a project car like that, but trust me when working with a budget rust is your worst enemy.  Especially on the rear quarters since they are not something that just bolts on and can be easily replaced with repro or NOS parts.

[Cougar68]

Make sure this is a car that you really want and are going to have the time and resources to put into it.  The rust over the rear wheel wells can indicate a whole heap of rust on the trunk floor and interior floorboards.  These Chevelles were notorious for leaking at the base of the rear window and rotting everything out.  It won't be cheap to fix either.  Since it's been sitting forever you're looking at a full rebuild on the engine, all new hoses and rubber fuel lines.  The rubber brake lines will most likely be hardened and useless.  The rubber bushings in the suspension will be shot as well all of the weatherstripping and most likely the interior bits too.  Not going to be cheap or easy at all IMO.

[CAVPFCDD]

How deep are your pockets at 14?

thats what i was thinking, it's a cool car, and a cool idea to fix it up, but old cars take alot of time and most importantly $.

[Seraphim]

Most of the work on that car is going to be disassembly, cleaning, & refinishing. You can conceivably do it for less than what you think, but it would take the rest of your high school after school life. It would be worth it though, when you finish. If you really think this is "your car" there should be nothing posted here to dissuade you from restoring it. It is a good car, but as said before, a ton of work. the body looks ok, the rust to me is mostly towards the rear (looks like from the open door), but you'll have to pull that engine & do a complete rebuild. As for price, I'd say at least 500, maybe even up to 800, check the paper work (if it's still around). The more originality with the car, the more it's worth, despite it's condition. If you can convince him you are really passionate about the car, he may even hand it over for straight work. Believe me, don't be discouraged. And as for the age, the most you'll see is spiders & grease.
There are ways around that rust, there's tons of restoration books & such. Just do your homework, there's also tons of parts dealers that deal with classic & muscle cars.
Here's one to start you off on the chevelle http://npdlink.com/

[Delirium]

Unless you have a lot of personal experience, or want to use the car as an excuse for you and a family member (who knows how to restore cars) to get closer, I would not touch it.

There is a good chance in the end you'll spend more money than even buying a newer car would amount to. Instead, put your money away and save for not only for a car but also for college and your future.

Besides, I remember being 16-20 years old and the insurance premiums are highway robbery.

edit: I just realized I turned into my father, I was in your shoes back in 1986, looking at a Corvette. He told me the same thing...

[gunnss]

I have a 76 comet, in factory perfect condition it is only worth 2500.00 I estimate I will sink about 8 grand into it before I am done. I am doing it because it is fun to drive, if it was just transportation I would get an econobox.

Regards,
Kevin

[Marauding Conan]

Make sure this is a car that you really want and are going to have the time and resources to put into it.  The rust over the rear wheel wells can indicate a whole heap of rust on the trunk floor and interior floorboards.  These Chevelles were notorious for leaking at the base of the rear window and rotting everything out.  It won't be cheap to fix either.  Since it's been sitting forever you're looking at a full rebuild on the engine, all new hoses and rubber fuel lines.  The rubber brake lines will most likely be hardened and useless.  The rubber bushings in the suspension will be shot as well all of the weatherstripping and most likely the interior bits too.  Not going to be cheap or easy at all IMO.

Frankly, I agree with him. Besides his points, you might have to rebuild the electrics. And when you are done restoring it, your insurance cost alone will be staggering. This type of projects is something that I would be looking to do when I retire. For your first car, I would recommend cheap and cheerful, you know you gonna wreck it anyhow, so, why spend money?

[Edgar]

Frankly, I agree with him. Besides his points, you might have to rebuild the electrics. And when you are done restoring it, your insurance cost alone will be staggering. This type of projects is something that I would be looking to do when I retire. For your first car, I would recommend cheap and cheerful, you know you gonna wreck it anyhow, so, why spend money?

Agreed,

Buy it, clean it up and drive it, its a basket case of a restoration at best and a money pit to boot. If it was a late 60s to 70 SS,  I would say you have a collectors item in your hads and it would be worth the money to restore it, but andything after about 1970 isnt really that desireable to a collector...

Drive the hell out of it and have fun, it would be a cool first car even with the rust and rot.

<S>
Edgar