Hi everyone -
Finally getting serious and close to buying my bird. What do you think is fair to pay for the following:

'69 350 rebuilt engine, turboglide auto coupe, numbers matching (supposedly - having this checked), over 155K miles, PS, PB, no rust but small paint bubble in R Rear panel, newish paint close to original color but not exact, minor alterations to seats, OG rims, new weatherstripping.

Small transmission leak which is being checked on.

If anyone can give me a ballpark opinion on what might be fair to pay for this I appreciate it!

Thanks for your help and fingers crossed...

-Nina

$5 to $6k?
Tough to tell with no pictures.

Thanks for your take. Now that we got it up on a lift this morning and saw it has some issues, I'll share some photos and more information. Right off the bat I'm trying to figure out if it actually IS a numbers matching car.

I know there is a page on the FGF site to enter VIN #s but I can't seem to get it to work. VIN on this was: 223379L116690 and the Engine ID was 0504852 XB. If anyone can tell right off the bat if these numbers match, I'm all ears.

Sadly I think there are more issues than the seller admitted - mechanic said the rear axle needs to be replaced ASAP and even I could see that the floor pans had been cut out and replaced (though he claimed NO rust or anything ever). Plus the trans was leaking something fierce, and the pans too. Fluid all over the rear brakes, rear coil springs needed, cracked belts, cracked tires (from 2002, not 2 years old as claimed). Worst is the trans is a rebuilt 400 not the OG 350 as claimed.

Photo below...the car LOOKS really nice and I liked how it drove, but I'm worried about these issues. With all of that the asking price of $13500 is never gonna happen.....Trying to figure out if it's even worth offering a much lower amount and taking on those repairs (axle, transmission rebuild) myself.


Gold '69 Firebird by Nina Stotler, on Flickr


Gold '69 Firebird by Nina Stotler, on Flickr

Gold '69 Firebird by Nina Stotler, on Flickr

Well the engines were never painted orange so that's one clue that it's been out at least if not swapped with another at some point. It is a good looking car but needs alot of TLC. I'd say count on spending $10k on fixing her up(that's doing most of the work yourself and that's if you don't find a bunch more rot under that paint). So base your offer on something like that. If the seller is firm, walk away. Seems like one of those cars that has been just sitting wasting away for years with out anybody doing the things that it takes to keep it up.

Wow! Very Nice looking from the exterior! I agree with Robert though...

Hmm, thanks Bob. More and more this car seems like it probably isn't the right one. Between the skeptical response of the mechanic today and the inconsistent info from the seller, it might be a bad idea unless I could get it for $5 or $6K?

I'm not qualified to do the work myself, so right away I'd be in for $4-5K in axle replacement and trans rebuild at the garage.

Need to stop getting my hopes up, ugh.

off the top of my head, xb seems to be a 69 Firebird 350 and having a TH400 is original WHEN you have AC like this car does so my guess is this car is matching numbers.

Even if it is numb matching, it's still a 350/auto car. Not the height of the collectability list and with the list of repairs that you can see, and the list of things that will need to be addressed that you don't know about, it sounds like a bad deal to me. Unless this configuration was exactly what you had your heart set on I'd keep looking. There are better cars out there.

This is car really just a collection of car parts and potential work:
Offer him $4,500 for the car (Engine $1,500 + Body $1,500 + interior 1,000.+ suspension and glass $500 = $4,500)
Cost:
Trans rebuild - AAMCO $1,100 maybe less if just a bunch of seals and gaskets
Brake Rebuild all 4 wheels including wheel cylinders and master cylinder - PEP Bpys/Mienke $800- 1,100
Axle(s) - Replace $500 - $600

If you get it take it to more than one mechanic for estimates

Thanks for your opinions everyone - I appreciate it. The seller won't come down lower than $12K on the car, which I feel is way too high considering the major mechanical problems that need to be addressed ASAP. He seems to think it could fetch over $20K if it was fully restored - I think he's deluded after the time I've spent watching the market, but hey, it's his choice. It's been on Craigslist nearly everyday since mid-December and no takers yet:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/3679295495.html

My search continues!

Apparently he doesn't want to sell it. No use beating a dead horse. I think you really dodged a bullet anyway. She'll get it in the divorce and then he'll really be sad.
It might be worth $20K if you put $25K into it over what you bought it for.

Getting a vintage car is nothing to just jump into. You have to do your research and really check things out. Use your mind and not your heart to make your choice or you could get into a really bad deal. This guy says he has owned the car for 30 years so his sentimental attachment is also probably driving up the worth in his mind.

I've seen that car on c list for some time. I never gave it a 2nd thought due to it's 350/auto and that someone did the interior in non original materials. So add a complete interior to the list of needs.

Have you looked at the 4 speed car in Gardena? Also been on a long time but looks like a better start for less money.

Thanks Joe - I have seen that one in Gardena and it looks like it's back on CL here again: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/3764000585.html but I'm looking for an automatic unfortunately.

Let me know if anyone hears of anything else. Had another disappointment yesterday on a drive out to Riverside to see a white '69 350 coupe with supposedly only one minor rust spot...the owner called when I was halfway there (which is a long drive for me) to say they had just sold it! Trying not to think of it as the one that got away (or be mad at the owner for rude behavior).

The interior is also incorrect for a numbers matching car, seat colors, dash, door panels, custom work it looks like.
If you really want it run the model code with PHS. I did on a few cars before i bought them. It will tell you what it should have. Also as Firebob pointed out the engine color is completely wrong, so I would check the engine and head codes as well.
If you do get one here let me know, it says you are in LA, I am in Long Beach and have a bunch of parts.

Thanks for the offer and the info on the interior. I'm still looking for my Firebird and the search is getting long but I have hope.

Any chance you want to sell the '69 Coupe it seems you have under construction...?

Last weekend I was halfway to Riverside for an appointment to see a seemingly great '69 Coupe when the seller called to say they'd sold it. Trying not to get discouraged by events like that (or angry at the rudeness of some people!)

Nina,

Check this one out:

https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=268944#Post268944

Looks well worth the price.

What Craig said. Bulging hood, numbers match (hopefully) and $7,500 is a good start.

Too quick for my reaction time unfortunately - I'm trying to figure out how far afield from SoCal I can go on this hunt. Logistics and work often make it tough to consider hopping on a plane. Hopefully another candidate will pop up here in L.A. soon.
Thanks for all the help and advice.