[BaadAssGremlins] RE: Blue 74 304 Hornet X on eBay....values

["John W Rosa" <JohnRosa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-----Original Message-----
From: AMC74HORNET@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:AMC74HORNET@xxxxxxxxx]

Along with the mechanical issues this car has it has I 
figure is in need of just as much or more money to fix 
the body and interior. That's why I still say if 1,000$ 
is the reserve it is to much. Lets see what the final 
sale price is. I stand behind what I say on the price.
<snip>
The moral of the story is to buy someone's partially 
completed project that has a lot of the work done and 
comes with a pile of parts and or a parts car to complete 
it. Sometimes you can luck out and get it for 10-50 cents 
on a dollar when the owner looses interest or needs money 
or the oldest story in the book, the girlfriend or wife 
says it has to go!!!!!!  
"Doc"

========================

I agree with the basics of your view, and would tell anyone
that the best route to a nice AMC is to put together as much 
$$ up front as you can and buy the best-condition car you 
can afford. It's tough enough just to maintain. Restoring is 
always a money-losing operation (unless it's an SS/AMX or
AMX/3...good luck there).

But I'm looking at this ebay car somewhat differently.

First, of the $3500 you've spent on your orange car since
buying it for $500, how much of that went to pay for pro-
fessional labor? If it's a significant amount, it's likely
due to your health which is understandable, but most 
hobbyists do as you did in the past- working on things 
themselves. Subtracting labor, what parts costs do you have 
in the car? [Not knocking at all...just working the numbers]

Second, a knocking 304 is, to me, a blessing, as it's an 
invitation to upgrade to a 360 or 401...and doing it for
this body or another mint one costs the same. There are
lots of guys out there converting 258-cars to V8 power.
This car starts ahead of the game there.

Third, parts cars need not come with the project car. They
can be found dirt cheap, often. Heck, Davis in CT has a 
great $200 low-mileage donor. How many battered Matadors 
are out there with strong 360s begging for a lighter body 
to call home?

Fourth, when looked at as 'parts only', this car still has
$500+ in V8-specific parts before you consider things like a 
good windshield, black interior pieces, rally wheels, Levis
trim, a good trans and so on.

Fifth, worst case, it's a donor itself for a less-hurting 
6-cylinder hatchback- essentially a good 're-body' project.
Or create a '1 of none' '74 Hornet X sedan! Move all the good
stuff to Davis' $200 sedan. You'll be at $1200 and needing a 
good 360 motor. watch eBay for one of the $300 Mat wagons,
and viola...a $1500 '74 SC/360...almost. :)

The thing about this car that worries me is the same as any 
Pennsy car...the rust. I've gotten several cars out of PA- 
all had frame rot. They must use bionic road salt or something 
out there.
Rust ain't cheap to repair and just about never sleeps or dies.
It keeps coming back (in my experience).

To me, a $1000 reserve is, while not a 'steal', perfectly 
reasonable and in line with the car's parts value. Sure, we
often find cars in similar shape or better, for much less.
But that's the 'steal' and bargain that we've gotten used to
as AMCers. As the buyer, we want more for less. But imagine
this car is in your own driveway, and you need to sell it.
How fast are you giving it away for $500? Not me (unless that
wife factor pops up..but that's a commandment, not a normal 
sale). ;)


John


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