Hi everyone - New to the forum but on a quest for a '68-'69 coupe. Would love an opinion on this:
Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Pont...=item2322eeeac5

Wondering if that seems like a good price - might go see it this weekend.

More expensive than what I'm looking for, but the other one I'm mulling over and have test driven has a a big rust hole right of rear window and may not even be worth the $8K: Hermosa Beach $8K coupe

Appreciate opinions if anyone feels like giving them!

The first one looks nice, but a lot of incorrect parts on that one. Price is high for a 350 coupe with a lot of inaccuracies. All original sheet metal is very hard to come by though.

The second one looks promising, but has also been modded. It has some farily rare options including A/C (if it is complete and works). You could pick up the second one, put another 8 -10k into it, and have a nicer car than the first one.

As a daily driver, the black car may run a little hot in LA traffic without the fan shroud.

A note of caution:

I am an L.A. native. My college roomate (UCLA) was from Hermosa Beach. He owned a '67 or '68 Tempest as his daily driver (this was in the '80's)

That car was subjected to moist salt air from the ocean it's entire life and was the rustiest car I had ever seen up to that point.

And be very wary of "CA" cars that have much more recent license plates on them (as opposed to the original black/yellow). I was there when I acquired my '67 in 1998 and walked away from numerious "California" cars that I found had been brought there from rusty parts of the country when I found patches and other signs and confronted the owners.

I would never purchase a "CA" car without checking it's pedigree through PHS.

PS, I will be in town next week if you want an observation.

first one has a sbc in it not a pontiac as described, triple black is rare and he doesn't show the trim tag so i'd check that. a bit steep in price maybe a 12,500 car but not 16 without a true numbers engine. second one a better deal IMO. offer up 7 and drive it
good luck

Thanks for your opinions everyone, I appreciate it. Finally got an opinion on the red one in Hermosa Beach from a mechanic who restores cars and his exact words were "Don't touch that car with a ten foot pole." The kid who was selling had kept the car at the beach for 15+years and it's probable the rust was indicative of it being a "moist car." I turned it down.

Great to get everyone's take on the black one too - I'm gonna check it out and was thinking $12K would be a reasonable offer if everything checks out (even with the vinyl top?). I'll ask about the trim tag, etc.

Hopeful that photos will come soon of my new bird....

Hold to the $12k. $16.5k is a little high for a not correct 350 coupe. Nice looking car however.

On the first one, the '68 Michigan plate in the trunk is a fairly good sign of what salmon38 mentioned.

Thanks everyone - Jinxd you were right, I asked a pro restoration expert to take a look too and he confirmed it's a Chevy small block engine, not a Pontiac as advertised. Dunno what this indicates about the seller, but when I called him on it he said the previous owner had told him it was the original #s matching engine.

Going to take a look at it tomorrow and find out how long it was in Michigan, etc. Good eye on those Michigan plates Wovenweb....

Fingers crossed.