I've been looking at this one on ebay and the price is as close to my range as I've come across lately (and I'm looking ALL THE TIME!) This one looks pretty clean & straight and the sellers have a lot of feedback and they are at 100%. I was just hoping to get some input from some of ya'll that have been buying/restoring longer than I have.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-F...a-/271242755279

I would love to hear from any and everyone willing to give advice and opinions!
Thanks-Randi

Probably a reasonable starting point if it's driveable. Are you prepared to put another 20 grand into it though? To help us give proper advice, you should tell us what your plans would be for the car. Will this be a daily driver? An occasional weekend car?
A car for full restoration-car shows? An investment? (cough, cough)

If it sat that long, it is likely not roadworthy, even for short jaunts. Figure an additional $2-4k to make it road worthy. Then you need to address all the rust-rot. Panel replacement and decent body work could be another $8-10k. Frame off resto even higher.

Your money may be better spent looking for a better, finished car. (yes, likely in the low 20's, approaching 30k these days).

I would just hate to see you spend $9k for that to only realize you need double the amount for a reasonable driver.

But if you are handy mechanically and can do panel replacement and bodywork + painting yourself, this could be a good match.

Shipping from Iowa to GA would be around $1500-$1800 unless you can trailer it yourself. But gas isn't cheap these days either.

The car looks like it needs most everything... Just my honest opinion. Can you fill in some of the blanks?

Oh, and that car would look stunning in its original Aegena Blue! But I'm a bit biased regarding that. The gold doesn't do it justice.

I also look around all the time and can tell you that the lower priced cars like this although easy to get in to can be very expensive and time consuming to complete. There's a reason (or many reasons) this car is priced that way. Be prepared to spend more money and time than you think it will take. Also don't be shy about calling the seller and asking for a lot of pictures and any questions that you have, especially if you can't check it out in person. I'm considering a numbers matching 400 right now in similar condition and just not sure if I really want to or have the time get into a project like that.

its in a little better shape interior wise than mine was when i bought it...mine is a 69 vert., bought for $8000 13 yrs ago...it was driveable , but had rust in quarters, had a rebuilt ,non matching numbers engine (400, car was orig a 350) cracked WS , rust on header brs ,one fender different color...needed new top...etc,etc...if this car drives well, it should be worth $7000-9000 in my opinion...but then you`ll add to it ...i`ve invested another $20k in mine since. Its still not 100%. But it fun to cruise with!

Says it runs and drives good.
I would find out first.
Maybe someone from 1st gen near there can ck it out for ya.

Bjorn is on the money.. literally. The best advice is to buy one that is done, or nearly done. If you have the skills and resources available to do the work, it can be rewarding and a wonderful experience. I just finished restoring a numbers matching 68 400 vert, and learned there is way much more time and money needed than what you originally think.. guaranteed.

I bought my bird 2 years ago, similar mileage and also all original. Mine had no surface rust on the body at all and a fairly new paint job. The one on e-bay's interior may be in slightly better shape, but it's comparable. Since I was buying it from my Dad, we agreed to have it professionally appraised at an auto restoration shop. It appraised for $9800.
So this gives you a bit of a baseline.

Wow, to be a 2nd owner! Would like that very much.

Nice survivor car!

So much good advice and so much of what I was already thinking. My plans, maybe I should call them dreams, are to find a decent survivor, I'm not after concourse quality, frame off restoration. I want to be able to get in it and drive it any and every time the notion strikes me. A daily driver reliable, mechanically sound car. I'm not looking to go over the top with a restoration, just no rust and good interior. The body work could mostly be done by my father-in-law and me, with the exception of paint. The interior does look really good, and with a convertible in GA, white is definitely preferred to the black "pleather" in my current ride! Would be so sweet to be 2nd owner and taking it back to Aegena would be a must. I think it has a lot to offer, considering some of the rust bucket, basket cases, and "wink-wink, nod-nod matching numbers" pieces of cra* that people try to slide past you out there. And the whole "resto-mod" group can keep their stuff too, most of which is just ridiculous, in my opinion at least. I'm so glad I found this site, so much information and so many great folks to get real diy tips on finding and completing my dream car.

Thanks so much-Randi

Yep, you're right, always much more time, and much, much more money than you think in the beginning on something like this. I think I saw the one you're looking at, looks like it's black primer and they're asking $9700 obo? I looked at that one also. Just can't beat those stock wheels to me. PMD really had some great ideas on design back in those days. Birds have so much more character than their Camaro brother, and so often lately are commanding higher $'s. I should have bought years ago, when I realized this is what I really wanted. I'd have 12-15 years less rust and thousands less scammers out there to wade through.

Yes, I agree on both counts! Yours is gorgeous! Love the color, I wouldn't be able to drive that one though. 2 bad wrecks in "red" cars, and I promised my Granny I would never get another one. Maroon, burgundy, black cherry anything close was considered red by her standards, so they are all out of the running for me. But again, yours is beautiful!

Thanks-Randi

Thanks...
She's all in pieces right now. I have to replace the floor.
Eventually I will repaint her stock Nordic Blue.
I had my 68 coupe in Maroon for over 30 years and no wreck, however, it did rust out sitting in the garage ... lol.

That is the one that I'm looking at but just not sure with so much tied up in my '69 tribute and a wife who already thinks I spend too much time in the garage. I owned and reworked a couple of '68 Camaro's back in the day, the last being a highly optioned RS/SS 396 which was stolen. Ended up getting into Firebirds since they were more affordable with plans on trading up to another '68 Camaro but now I really like the F-birds better. I should have bought years ago too but that time is gone so don't put it off again and do what you want now. Just make a good informed decision and enjoy whatever FGF you decide to buy. Good luck!!

Sounds like you've come a long way with yours. Wish I'd bought 13 years ago. 13 years less rust, sun/heat damage and 1000's less internet car salesmen scammers out there to waste my time. I agree, if this one runs and drives with the interior condition being a big plus, it is worth the money. There are very few, and the number is shrinking, 1st gen birds you will find that it's not a given that quarters, fenders and rockers are gonna have to be patched or replaced. That's just something I'm factoring in on any of them in my price range. And with the way things are going in the Pontiac market over recent years, there shouldn't be any way to lose money.

Thanks & have fun in yours! Randi

It would be sweet if someone could check it out. It's almost a given that the quarters and fenders of any of these, not already rotisserie restored will need at least patched or replaced along with rockers. So that part is not that much of a concern, but if it is supposed to run and drive well, I'd sure like some confirmation. Thanks for your input-Randi

Randi,

I called this guy as my wife was interested in it. It needs more work than is shown, just be careful. The interior is far from perfect, and some of the seat seams are coming apart. You can see the obvious need for quarters and fenders, but I am betting it will need inner fenders as well. It appears the trunk floor might need patched, and he did mention the floors need work as well.

I am about an hour North of it, but I don't have the time right now to get down there- I have been working 10-12 hr days and trying to keep up at home with things and run my own business on top of it.

The guy is pretty nice, but said the car would have to be seen before 3pm as that's when the shop closes- there is no way I can make that timeline. I would ask him for a lot more pics of different areas, (I'm sure there is a lot of advice here on those) as they have a hoist I believe and could do that pretty easy. If you do that, and you still want to proceed, I could try to get down there on a weekend (can't this Sat.- wedding to go to and work on my business) but let me know if you proceed.

Another case of work getting in the way of fun!

work IS a 4 letter work in my world

68tpls400,

I know you are familiar with that feeling.... But hopefully retirement (someday) will be a blast!! Hoping to slow down this winter...

Here's one with a Commanche hood. Probably not a real 400 car though.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/3957040310.html

Looks like the 'vert sold.

Anyone on here pick it up??

Wouldn't be surprised if we see it back on eBay in the next few with a some body repairs and paint for a whole lot more money.

Did you end up getting this car?