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bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
10/31/12 11:16 a.m.

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3367101847.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3374040448.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3351959954.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3324193132.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3370734292.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3332879776.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3370649873.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3365415175.html

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
10/31/12 1:50 p.m.

Are you still looking for "Cushy" and reliable?
I came across this and thought of you.
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/3375394462.html#.UJFx72ds_Q8<img
No mention of how many miles but may be worth inquiry. Asking $1,400

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
10/31/12 2:16 p.m.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Hey, that looks sufficiently boring that I might drive it and not want to mod it. Thanks, I'll be checking that one out! I also recognize that '52 Chevy in the background. He's got that one listed here:

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3367101847.html

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
10/31/12 2:44 p.m.

Ah, yes, I see.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
10/31/12 2:49 p.m.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

I was actually thinking of looking at that one after viewing the pics, but then the description called it "rough" and I lost interest. Maybe I'll get to see it anyway now.

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
10/31/12 2:57 p.m.

If you look at the Olds, take a flashlight and look up on the wheel wells of the rear tires.
Also, from in the trunk, peel back the carpeting and get a good look at the fender wells from the top side.
I am not sure about the Olds but the LeSabre of that vintage tend to rust through there. It is not structural rust-through but water may get into your trunk or toward the back seat. Any water staining of the trunk carpet or rear seat and interior carpet would be an easy sign of this rust-through.
Since it is not structural, on my LeSabre, the fix was a riveted in 5x18" piece of metal in the arch then all covered heavily with undercoating. A less than $20 fix that will last for all the remaining years of the car.

fasted58
fasted58 UltraDork
10/31/12 3:07 p.m.
bravenrace wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: Hey, that looks sufficiently boring that I might drive it and not want to mod it. Thanks, I'll be checking that one out! I also recognize that '52 Chevy in the background. He's got that one listed here: http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3367101847.html

anymore, I prefer these over the more popular '55- '57 chebbies

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
10/31/12 3:54 p.m.

In reply to fasted58:

Me too, although I prefer the '54 over the '52.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
10/31/12 7:12 p.m.

i missed out on that dart seneca. they bought it in chippewa lake for sub $600 and it had no title when it was for sale a few months ago. wonder how they are in process of getting a title.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/1/12 8:18 a.m.

As it turns out, I'm going to look at the '66 Bird for someone tomorrow. He has the following cars at the same location, so if anyone wants me to look at them closely, let me know.

66 LTD
64 Impala
73 LeSabre
50 Windsor

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/1/12 9:47 a.m.
JohnRW1621 wrote: Are you still looking for "Cushy" and reliable? I came across this and thought of you. http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/3375394462.html#.UJFx72ds_Q8<img No mention of how many miles but may be worth inquiry. Asking $1,400

Okay, so I called the guy on this Regency. He says it just past E check, and he just put new front rotors and brakes on it, had the front end checked and aligned. He says everything works and it drives nice. I'm going to look at it tomorrow. Any comments or suggestions?

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
11/1/12 11:07 a.m.

Did he tell you how many miles?
I found this search of another version of his ad where it admits to 211k miles.
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3367079524.html#.UJKdgmds-_I

That's a lot, but...
If you can get the price to $1k and it looks like it has been getting proper attention, it is not unthinkable.
In photos, it certainly looks like far less than 200k

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/1/12 11:09 a.m.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Yeah, I forgot that he told me it had 211k. For that price I wouldn't expect the mileage to be low. The way he talks it should be a good car. I'll know for sure tomorrow. One thing's for sure, it isn't a car I'll be tempted to mod! And that's exactly what I'm looking for in a car to just get me back and forth to work...Then there' s the '52...

Fletch1
Fletch1 HalfDork
11/1/12 11:13 a.m.

Here's a 97 Buick Riviera Coupe with only 100,000. I've heard the 3800's are good. http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3378946890.html

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/1/12 7:49 p.m.

i want that 73 lesabre but in that shape my OBO would be $500

Hoop
Hoop SuperDork
11/2/12 12:24 p.m.

I saw that Regency while I was on CL the other day. Seems like a good deal, let us know how it goes.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/2/12 12:27 p.m.

In reply to patgizz:

He said the lowest he'd go on the Sabre was $1k.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/2/12 12:32 p.m.

I looked at the T-bird, 66 LTD, LeSabre, Corvair, 64 Impala and 50 Chrysler Windsor this morning. They are all in pretty restorable condition, but they are all Ohio cars and have rust that needs repaired. The only car I couldn't look at close was the Buick, because it was parked too close to the cars next to it. The LTD is supposed to be road worthy, but it's trunk floor is gone. The Impala looks okay, but we couldn't get the hood open. He said it had the original 350 engine, although I'm pretty sure the 350 wasn't available in 64. The Corvair looked pretty good, but needs floorpans. He said it would run, but wouldn't stay running. He thought it was a carb problem. The Chrysler was really the most interesting, and possibly in the best condition rust wise, but had a beat interior. It had the original flat head inline 6, but he had never tried to start it.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/2/12 12:36 p.m.
Hoop wrote: I saw that Regency while I was on CL the other day. Seems like a good deal, let us know how it goes.

I looked at it this morning, although the owner wasn't available, so I couldn't get in it or run it. From the outside it looks really good. No rust, a few dents, the clear coat is peeling on the trunk lid, the tires look almost new, and it has new front rotors, calipers and pads. The interior is tan leather, and the drivers seat has dirt in the wrinkles, but no rips or damage anywhere. I think all it needs is a good cleaning. I'm going back tonight to look at it again with the owner. It's not a very good looking car, but might be a really comfortable and pretty efficient car to use as a DD.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/2/12 9:17 p.m.
bravenrace wrote:
Hoop wrote: I saw that Regency while I was on CL the other day. Seems like a good deal, let us know how it goes.
I looked at it this morning, although the owner wasn't available, so I couldn't get in it or run it. From the outside it looks really good. No rust, a few dents, the clear coat is peeling on the trunk lid, the tires look almost new, and it has new front rotors, calipers and pads. The interior is tan leather, and the drivers seat has dirt in the wrinkles, but no rips or damage anywhere. I think all it needs is a good cleaning. I'm going back tonight to look at it again with the owner. It's not a very good looking car, but might be a really comfortable and pretty efficient car to use as a DD.

those 3800 H bodies are tanks in the snow, all the weight of the all iron v6 hanging out over the drive wheels makes them virtually unstoppable.

bravenrace
bravenrace PowerDork
11/3/12 7:46 a.m.

In reply to patgizz:

What do you think about the 211k miles? I wasn't able to go look at the car last night, but hopefully will today. I see other ones with half the miles for about the same price, but they are no where near as clean as this one. This car had to be a southern car at some point, as there is virtually no rust on it, top or bottom. So the question is, if it was taken care of, is that drivetrain still reliable at that many miles, or should I be looking elsewhere?

Pat - Different subject - The path to the barn is still very wet. But in the interest of getting your car out of the elements, if you want to ring it over, I'll put it in my shop until I can transfer it to the barn. Your choice if you want to do that or wait. Let me know.

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
11/3/12 8:34 a.m.

It will all come down to the drive.
In short, yes I think it can still be a good car at 211k but look for proof and maybe records of things being done/fixed.
I bought a '97 LeSabre at $1,200 recently w/ 110k Ohio miles. That meant that I had rust repair to deal with. For the same money, you may have less or no rust issue but rather mechanical issues. Personally, mechanical issues often fix easier than rust.
I looked to the south, like Nashville and Atlanta for 3800's but what I found was in the same price range, the southern cars typically had 200+k. That is the same thing you are seeing; lower miles or lower rust.

I assume that you could buy this car at $1k (maybe less.)
The question then becomes, how much do you need out of the car?
Will you just drive it for the winters?
Will you put less than 10k per year on it?
How quickly do you need to resell it? (200k+ cars do not sell quickly.)

If there is something you do not like, pass on the car, there are many more like it out there.

For repairs, it is nice how readily available and low priced parts are. I thought I might need a front axle/cv. At my small town O'riely's, they had both a reman and a new one in stock. Reman was $50 with a $40 core charge. New was $60 and no core. I picked up the new version.
Once diving into the repair, we managed to save the existing CV by repacking with grease and re-tightening the boot cover which had slipped off the axle on the car (which looked like a reman.) I returned the new one.

On my $1200 car, I dropped about $200 after purchase and self fixed the coolant leak, rust, etc and a new battery. My car also came "un-cleaned" so I did an extensive job on that as well. I also added $400 in 4 new tires since what came with it were all crap. All told, I have $1800 into it (and a fair amount of time.) If yours does not need this, you could be really buying yours for half of what I spent.

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
11/3/12 8:46 a.m.
patgizz wrote: those 3800 H bodies are tanks in the snow, all the weight of the all iron v6 hanging out over the drive wheels makes them virtually unstoppable.

Good to know. Since my LeSabre will be a "winter driver" and needed tires, I put on a set of Firestone Winterforces. I look forward to the "better than SUV" capabilities.

JohnRW1621
JohnRW1621 PowerDork
11/3/12 9:10 a.m.

'96 Regal 2 dr 120k
I bet this guy would take $1k all cash, now.
This year could be a 3100 or a 3800. The ad does not say.

patgizz
patgizz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
11/3/12 9:45 a.m.

i wouldn't bat an eye at a 211k mile 3800. and i'd rather take the miles on a clean car than a 100k mile cleveland rotbox that needs all the lines replaced and has flintstone brake option.

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