Re: [BaadAssGremlins] Re:76 Hornet For Sale - Alabama

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

1/2 the fun is simply talking to original owners Lu, as while everyone has a 'rambler 
story' or two, it is the original owners who you can talk to and find out what made them 
buy AMC to begin with, and how much they have loved and enjoyed the car thru the years. 
However, when talking price, if I had just $1 for every person who has said (in no order) 
'if you ever want to sell it give me a call' or 'man, that thing must be worth a fortune!' 
or 'I want to buy your car' or those that take cell phone pix when I am driving any of 
them, or park them anywhere I go in Houston, just $1 for each thru years would have 
retired. Many folks just use it as icebreaker, while many don't know anything about AMC 
and just like old cars. There was older man here who had a nice blue 74 Javelin, and for 
years he said it was a 401/AT. One day he decides to sell it, and listed it in Auto 
Trader, so that was my cue to go out and document it. I told him his car was a 304, not 
401, and he was defensive, but I crawled up under car and made imprint on block on piece 
of paper showing him the 304 casting. He said 'the guys ar Hi Lo auto parts told him it 
was a 401 since 1983 (about 17 years) and I mentioned to him that in their computers it 
usually has engine sizes grouped together of 304/360/401 and that might be what they 
meant. I was not trying to be asshole, and also told him was not trying to knock down his 
price as had something like 13 Javelins and AMXs at time, even drove over there in my 72 
AMX. His bubble sort of burst and I told him not to take my word for it, to look under 
there at block, which also backed it up with the H in the VIN, but also told him that 
whoever bought that car would be mad if it was talked up as 401 then they discovered it 
was 304, so best to find out now. He pulled his ads and kept the car and continued to 
enjoy it, not sure what ever happened to him however as he moved several years later.

Bes tthing you can do however is keep line of communication open in case he does go to 
Barnes & Nobles and buys Old Car Price Guide and discovers that not all that glitters is 
AMC gold, same advise I tell people with NOS parts.....they might have huge lot of NOS 
stuff, but how many people are restoring....much less want.....a set of 68 rebel station 
wagon tailights, or distributor cover (I have one on ebay now, $9.99, 7th time have listed 
it) or regulator, so tons of stuff while NOS AMC, no one is restoring that make/model so 
no one wants those parts, and there is reason why that item sat on dealer shelf for 20-40 
years!
Eddie Stakes
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "lumina333" <lumina333@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 11:22 AM
Subject: [BaadAssGremlins] Re:76 Hornet For Sale - Alabama


> Doc & Eddie-
> I wasn't going to comment about a price, but since we are all knowledgable AMC buddies 
> here, I told the guy that the car was probably worth $500 - $1000 tops. He was shocked 
> and told me that some (dummy) mechanic told him he could get $5K for it easily. I then 
> told him that I felt that was a VERY unrealistic expectation and explained all that had 
> to be done and replaced to get the car viable again. I had arrived at his home in my 
> restored Gremlin and he was impressed at the level achieved on the car. I explained that 
> it took me almost 5 years and >$10,000 to get it that way. An amount of money that I 
> would never be compensated for if I ever wanted to sell it. I tried to emphasize that 
> his car did have potential but someone would have to be looking specifically for a 
> Hornet to restore to give it that much love (& money). I also told him that AMCs do not 
> bring the money that Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, and Mustangs bring even if they are 
> considered 'vintage automobiles'. I wished him luck in whatever he wanted to do with the 
> car and that I would pass the info along to my AMC group. Maybe after awhile, he will 
> think about what I told him and come around on a reasonable price. Or he can sell it on 
> EvilBay (he said he might). Frankly, I saw it as another project that will take alot of 
> time to get right and I just wasn't going to give alot of money for the man's 
> sentimentality over this car. I loved the fact that he was the original owner, had 
> original paperwork and parts, and had kept the car running all this time (he stopped 
> using it as a daily driver in 2000 when he retired, but still kept it running and 
> maintained). Still had the original jack. Oh well. I felt I gave him an honest 
> assessment of the car. ~Lu~
> --- In BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Mr. AMC" <AMC74HORNET@...> wrote:
>>
>> Lu I couldn't bring up the pictures. Don't take this the wrong way but I hope your 
>> didn't put your foot in your mouth and give the old man false hopes on a price. You 
>> didn't say what you told him it was worth. Not driving it since 2000 is almost 10 
>> years. The so called new tires are not safe Neither is any of the brake components. Gas 
>> tank needs to be flushed and a whole lot of hoses, belts and wires replaced and other 
>> maintenance issues resolved before the cosmetic things. I know about fixing up 
>> interiors as I rebuilt my yellow 74's which was in good shape except for the drivers 
>> bucket and my orange 74 had a completely cooked Florida interior. So I know what it 
>> costs and takes to fix it up without the mods I made to it
>> From your description this is a 300$ car, 500$ at best on a real good day with someone 
>> really wanting it and that is stretching it. Sorry just my 2 cents. I paid 300$ for my 
>> orange 74 and it was in decent mechanical shape besides the interior and 99% rust free 
>> and a daily driver by the previous owner.
>> "Doc"
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
> 



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