'75 camaro LT
texas car
65k or 165k miles
350
headers (not on the car)
automatic
runs and drives fine

interior is competely shot
12" crack in upper front fender

only rust i could find on the car was a spot about the size of a soccer ball on the driver's back rear fender

i called the guy tonight and he wants $1000, which was the price he paid. he said the car was purchased in texas and driven to wisconsin. he told me he bought it to restore, then basically never go around to it.

i offered $400 cash and gave him my number. he sounded like he would consider it. i know the car has been sitting there for at least 2 months, so maybe there's a chance.

about how much is the car worth?

 

if u get it for 400, thats a good deal.

 

Yeah for $400 you can't go wrong... I'd probably be happy paying around $1000 if as you say theres only a quarter with rust.. but there is probably alot more hidden. It could be a fun restoration project, especially since those big metal bumper cars I rarely see around anymore. If you even have to go up another $100-$200 it'd be worth it.

 

to be honest didn't get a really good look at the car. it was basically a quick 10 minute glance. i'm going back tomorrow morning with my dad to check it out more. even so, i'm going to wait for a week to see if the seller calls back. if he doesn't, and the car really is solid as it looks, i'll offer $600.

i don't know why, but for some reason i really want this car. i could get the interior cleaned out and do some general maintinence this summer. and also do something to stop the rust as much as possible.

 

driver's rear fender
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7113/11be.jpg

interior
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9868/21ht.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/56/33zq.jpg

trunk
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1547/45gs.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/980/65lb.jpg

side shot
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6286/51on.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6713/72nh.jpg


undercarridge
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4375/85ln.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9149/93hs.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8348/166kd.jpg

passenger side rocker panel
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2804/101cc1.jpg

passenger's front fender
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3323/118wg.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1362/184pk.jpg

headshot
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3664/120nx.jpg

engine/firewall
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6259/139qb.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7666/158uy.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1042/141nb1.jpg

door jam
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8348/166kd.jpg

 

i looked again this morning and took some pics. the only rust i really saw was on the driver's rear fender, and in the trunk. you can see there's two holes about golf ball size in there. there was chipped paint and whatnot on the inside of the fenders, but it wasn't bad.

the gasket on the trunk is shot. the door jams look ok. like i said though. the interior is really, really rough. then there's the crack on the right upper right front fender. transmission seals also leaks, the two empty bottles of tranny fluid gave it away, plus you can if you look underneath. tires are also bald as michael jordan. the exhaust is some cobbled up ****, as you can see. weatherstripping also needs to be replaced.

the rest of the car looks solid. rocker panels are strong. didn't see any rust underneath the hood either.

 

I've cut up many second-gen f-bodies to make dirt-track stock cars.

Look VERY carefully in and around the front and rear mounts for the leaf springs.

I've seen many with less outside (visible) rust than yours, and still have the leaf spring mount areas nearly rusted away. And this was over a decade ago.

Take a medium length flat-tip screwdriver and poke around those areas.

Rust in these areas is difficult to remove properly as it is a stressed area for mounting the suspension.

As to if the car is worth $1,000 or $400, that is up to you.

The real question should be:

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THIS CAR WHEN FINISHED?

If that figure is honestly (to yourself) arrived at (counting all potential problems which WILL show up), and that figure is less than you can buy an original, unmolested version for, then go for it.

And if that figure is less than you can buy a restored version for, go for it.

My opinion is just don't jump into this blind. You would not be the first to do that and you wouldn't be the last.

"Fixing" up old cars is expensive even when there is no rust.

jms

 

I would be expecting to replace all the floor pans including the trunk, as well as a bunch of body work. it will definitely be no walk in the park for you, but very doable.

as a side note, that is one hell of a ghetto rigged exhaust

 

i test drove the car tonight. engine runs ok, but needs a new carb. the car handled like crap. i checked underneath the leaf springs and they all looked solid. the guy seemed pretty honest and said the car was solid except for the one fender and the trunk. the speedo didn't work either and neither did the heater, but don't worry, the power windows still worked great

he said he's had the car for 3 years. he was gonna restore it, but of course never got time because of work. then he told me that if he doesn't at least get what he paid ($1,000), that he would talk to some other people and blah blah blah get the car restored later....basically it was just wishful thinking on his part.

i said i'll give you $700 and good luck.

 

So, what happened?

 

Is the passenger door ajar, or are the panels that far out of alignment? Seems to me it has issues.... even if it is only $1000.

 

I might take it, if he gave it to me, but I sure as hell wouldn't pay for it. To restore a car like this in todays market would probably run $20 to $30 thousand dollars.