Parts Car Value, I need some opinions Options

[LvSteveH]

Don't you love it when you go to look at a car that's for sale and you have all of these wonderful images of how great it might be. So here's the deal. The car is a 73 1.7L, original owner 60k mile car. Unfortunately it's rusted to the hilt. It's from Missouri, and the spare actually has a studded tire for snow, that's a first for me. Anyway, the good news is that the interior and many of the seals and such are in great condition. The car has sat for the last 10 to 15 years, it just "stopped running" one day. Out here in vegas most original seats and rubber are turned into dust, so I still have some interest in the car. All lenses are in very good used shape, the interior is virtually perfect, deck lids are great, engine unknow, but has stock fuel injection, tranny is a side shifter, wheels are crappy stock steel w/ rust, and the car has A/C. It's the longer under dash unit setup for use without the center console, was said to all be working when the car was parked. Most rubber is in excellent shape, and the windows operate very well, both mirrors are good, as are door handles. All glass is also good.

So here's the $64k question, the body is junk, of course we'd all love to find great parts cars for a few hundrad bucks, but this guy won't come off of $1250. It's pretty easy to get to that value by adding up parts values, but is it really worth it on a parts car? I have a habit of stock piling parts, so I can't really trust my judgement sometimes. I get too excited about having transmission number six, another set of door handles, and so on. So what's the max value? I do have projects lined up to use the parts, but it could be quite a while before I actually need them.


Thanks for the help (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif),
Steve

[Porsche Rescue]

You have my sympathy. I am trying to buy a one owner '71 with under 100K miles that was hit in the front (hood, bumper, front of trunk). Interior, including dash pad and original perlon carpet, is perfect. All kinds of good parts, including windshield (which I need). Engine was professionally overhauled 10K miles back (owner can't forget that, has receipts!). Only problem, car has been sitting since 1983 and it won't turn over. Asking $1700, I offerred $1000. He says he wants at least $1400 since he spent $1300 on the engine (20+ years ago!). After a couple of months I said "split the difference, $1150". He said "no". Go figure.
I really want the early interior for a 6 I am going to restore. I sure hate to go $1400 for a "fresh" engine that hasn't turned over in 20 years.