SOT: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Some people think their cars are gold?!? Options

[Wanna9146]

Went to look at a '71 /4 today. Guy was asking $3500 and kept bugging me to come look at the car. I figured for that price, it should be halfway decent, no?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) No.

I asked if it had rust. "One little bubble in the drivers door. Hmmm....OK. I need a (less) rust-free body for my /6 conversion.

He said it runs good, but there was a muffler leak. When I arrived he had it idling in the driveway. Pop, pop, pop....backfiring through the exhaust & carbs. I told him to turn it off before he does any damage. Sounds like an issue with the valves! "No"...it's just the muffler. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) "My friend works for Porsche and told me it was just the muffler". OK dude, whatever.

I pulled out the flashlight and my ice-pick. Anything & everything that could be rusted, was rusted...lower firewall, hell-hole, front suspension mounts, etc., etc. Major bubbles in all panels. Lousy interior.

I showed him all the issues and politely offered $500 for parts. He got offended and covered it up saying he'll get more on E-Bay.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) Is everyone blind? I'm no expert, but I saw all the rust right away.

Anywhooo....keep your eyes peeled on E-Bay for a "mint" 71 red 914 in SoFLA... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[JRust]

Typical! I found a 73 2.0 car under a tarp. It was hiding behind a Barbor shop in town. I went in to ask who's it was. Guy said it was his & he bought it new. I asked if he wanted to get rid of it.
He says sure but it won't be cheap.

I say well tell me more about the car. Does it run?
Yes! Well it did about 5 years ago when I parked it. I heard a load clunk from the motor so I turned it off. I'm sure it was just something from the road though.

Did you try to start it after that? Well NO.

I see under the tarp some rust along the bottom of the doors & by the windshield (peaked under the tarp). Any other rust? NO

How about the battery tray & under it? Oh the battery tray isn't there any more!

Why not? It fell off one day when my battery got to heavy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)
How about the trunks? There is some rust in the rear tunk but the front is good

I say well it sounds like a parts car. Would you take $500 for it (it did have 5 4-lug fuchs). He says hell I can get 2k for the wheels alone. The engine is worth another $1500. It has rare dual carbs which are worth another $1200 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) I tell the guy sI just sold a nice set of Fuchs for $350 & his engine worth maybe $250 as it sits. Not even worth my time to pull. I say I wish you luck with the sale. Honestly the only reason I offered you the $500 was because you are the orginal owner. I can respect that as I love these cars. I have 2 of your cars at home in better shape that I paid less for. I tried to be nice about it but the guy pretty much asked me to leave. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
Whatever numbnuts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[Wanna9146]

He says sure but it won't be cheap.

What makes me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) even more are people who say "It's not for sale! Will be worth big bucks someday! (as the weeds grow up through the floorboards)... -or- "I'm going to fix it up when I get more time!".

P.S. - I notice you have a Buick V-8 in your 914. I have a re-built Buick 455 for sale (cheap!)...will it fit? Need more torque?