I own a 1972 Malibu and I am trying to make a decision on whether to keep the vehicle or sell and pursue something else that is in better condition. The problems are: I am in the military and living in military housing which restricts doing any major vehicle projects at your home. We have a great auto hobby shop with tools, lifts on base. But they don’t allow us to do any body work because they don’t have the proper environmental equipment to do it. (The base is in Alameda, CA).

So the two choices I am considering are store the vehicle indefinitely at $30 a month and wait until a time where I have my own house or sell the vehicle in the condition bank the money and wait for a car to come along that is in better shape that doesn’t require a complete tear down, frame off to rebuild.

The Car – It is a 1972 Chevelle Malibu that currently has a GM Goodwrench crate motor and a T350 transmission that was recently rebuilt by a local shop 200 miles ago. It was originally a Cranberry Red with black vinyl top bench seat car built in Van Nuys, CA. It had an engine swap, vinyl top removed and repainted by a family friend back in 1980 or 81. It was garage kept during that time and had only 30K put on it. They were the second owners until 1992 when they sold the vehicle to another friend of mine who kept it on the streets of Portland, Ore. It was exposed to the weather and drove hard. He put about 175K on it and replaced the motor with the current crate about 35K ago. The car then sat for 3 years in the backyard uncovered in the rain rusting away until I bought it. Now when I was all exited to get the car I had beer goggles on. It was like remembering what the hot cheerleader in high school looked like her senior year and then seeing her at the local watering hole after you drank a six-pac and she has had two kids, bad plastic surgery and a divorce. She looks pretty good at 2 a.m., but when you wake up in the morning and roll over you can see the dimples, rust and what the heck is that smell?

Anyway while still in the honeymoon phase with the car I had the transmission rebuilt, had the drivers side floor replaced, brakes done. I also ordered a new radiator support, fenders, battery tray. I began installing these during a brief time that I had a stall at the auto hobby shop with the intention of doing most of the body work myself. But my free time got ate up due to work and life getting in the way. So I ran out of shop rental time. So I had to slap everything together quickly and get her driveable and out of the slot. (You can see my earlier post on why the hood wouldn’t fit. Thanks to everyone on here I got the hood back on.)

It is still in really rough shape. I posted pictures here http://picasaweb.google.com/keithalholm/Chevelle on the car. I paid $2800 for the car, $1,000 for the transmission rebuilt, $1200 in body parts from Yearone and a few hundred here and there on other items. I am about $6,000 into the car and it feels like it is in no better shape than when I bought it. In fact I may have caused more damage to it not knowing what I am doing. So my question is what could I reasonably expect to get for the car? I have been following Craigslist for a few months and it seems that I can pick up a much better 1972 Chevelle for about 12 to 15K that would require a lot less work. Since I can’t do much of the bodywork myself I am thinking it would be at least 15K to 20K for a shop to do the work to make it equivalent to what I could by for about 15K. While not a dime a dozen, this car isn’t rare by any means. I am not as emotionally attached to the car as I thought I would be either.

i just sold a really clean car. my wife talked me into buying it, and even though everybody loved this car, and it attracted lookers everywhere i went, i didn't have any feeling for the car. it was solid, dependable, collectable, but it was like dating a morman chick, it just wasn't going anywhere, we were just different religions...

you seem to really be trying to talk yourself into selling the car, so i'd say, go for it. one problem is, the market is soft, you might not get what you want, but also, the car of your dreams may also be more affordable.

by the way, i just bought a really neat car, for a great price, and it has most of what i was looking for in a car. i couldn't have built it for what i bought it for, and the more i drive it, the more attached i'm getting, i've turned down almost twice what i paid for it. i think this one might stay for awhile. it needs little things, but with the limited time i have these days, little stuff works just fine for me, and it draws as many lookers as the last one.

good luck, i hope you find what your looking for...

So the car is drivable. Why not just get some por15 and seal up the floor and the ugly stuff under the sheetmetal. Drive it over to 1 day paint and have it blown with a cheap paint job, throw the interior in it and just drive it until you get a house, or someplace you can work on it. I dont recommend a nice paint job until you have a place to park it indoors. At least this route, you can enjoy the car and do small stuff when you feel like it. Good luck with the car. jim

Keith,

I gotta give it to you straight my friend. That car needs some big time help. To do that car right it needs to be stripped down and I bet whats under that paint is going to be a nightmare. Cut your loss's sell it off and save for a better car.

Price wise here is SoCal solid (with very little to no rust) 72's are plentiful and with the economy being in the dumper right now I would say around $1,500 bucks.I know losing the money you have in it may hurt now but going back to your analogy your better off dumping her now otherwise next thing you know you will be married to her and really losing your butt when you decided to sell.

I laughed pretty hard when I analogy as it hit home pretty good with me, you pretty much described how I met my ex to the T. The hot high school cheerleader who woulden't give me the time of day back when. It's amazing how your mind plays tricks on you and you still see that person even thought it was 10 years, 60 pounds, 2 kids, an ex husband and 80k of debt prior.

that car does look to bad at all. I think you can easily sell it for 3-3,500 bucks. (with todays econ) honestly if you can dedicate time to it right now 30 bucks a month to park does not seem bad. However if your not up for restoring it then yeah just sell it. I seen far worst east coast cars.

i wish I had my shop already I'd be up for taking up a project like this.

Actually i get my 2 post lift installed at home in 3 wks:hurray:

You are at a point that you could chunk several more thousand $$$$ at it and still see no progress. Recovering additional money spent at this stage will be at a very small %.

Considering everything you have said it is now time to stop the bleeding. Sell it, lick your wounds, and make back some of your loss off someone else . Only this time make it a ride and drive. As you get some windshield time the memory of this one will fade.

Your situation , like so many others, is why I reccomend to almost everone to not tackle a full blown restoration. Throw in inexperience and a very common car and the results are usually the same.........disappointment.

You are at a point that you could chunk several more thousand $$$$ at it and still see no progress. Recovering additional money spent at this stage will be at a very small %.

Considering everything you have said it is now time to stop the bleeding. Sell it, lick your wounds, and make back some of your loss off someone else . Only this time make it a ride and drive. As you get some windshield time the memory of this one will fade.

Your situation , like so many others, is why I reccomend to almost everone to not tackle a full blown restoration. Throw in inexperience and a very common car and the results are usually the same.........disappointment.
couldn't agree more.

Thanks for the responses. I think I am going to test the waters of craigslist and post it for sale.

Thanks for the responses. I think I am going to test the waters of craigslist and post it for sale.

I have had pretty good luck with craigslist. I have found if the price is fair it will go quick. How much have you decided to ask for it? I will put the word out locally

Tom

Tom, I put it up for $3200 - I know I know - really optimistic. But paying for the front end parts, brakes, transmission rebuild and new exhaust still sting a bit. But I am open to negotiations on price. Its on there now under 1972 Chevelle Malibu in Alameda, CA.

Tom, I put it up for $3200 - I know I know - really optimistic. But paying for the front end parts, brakes, transmission rebuild and new exhaust still sting a bit. But I am open to negotiations on price. Its on there now under 1972 Chevelle Malibu in Alameda, CA.



I hear ya, always hurts to lose on a car. Good luck with your sale!