Whew . . . okay here goes nothing!!!! Hi gents my name is Lacey and my teenage son ("BACS") and I recently threw our hats into the proverbial classic car arena. I won't rehash ALL of our specs, so here is a link to our "Hi-Hello-How do you do" posts' http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297639.

Some of the guys suggested that we post here . . . with a link to the advert & post what pics we have. Don't snicker at the fact it's a Craigslist ad . . . LOL . . . several sites and periodicals were suggested that we have already started perusing. So the question is essentially . . . any thoughts on the car in question??? Price? More info about the car:

1. there is actually a tad more body damage than reported. Not much, but enuff. No rust to speak of except by the one (gaping) hole we were able to find which was by the rite rear lite going into the trunk.
2. I thought he said only one headlite was damaged & because the pics showed only one, but both were damaged similarly.
3. The engine is sound. (we confirmed this with someone more knowledgeable than us). Although our friend/ mechanic wasn't impressed w/ the problems under the hood which we knew some going in. Hmmmm, let's see . . . . no rust "damage" . . . good glass all around; ummm . . . no mold or mildew.
4. There is more interior work to be done but really minimal.
5. The radiator fan doesn't work . . . yikes for winter moisture here in good ol' Seattle!!
6. Like I've said before, the headlites are directly connected to the battery.
7. both bumpers need to be replaced.
7. I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff . . . it's hard to remember what I've written here and shared in PMs. Don't laff . . . I think we can do . . . most of it as a project.
8. Ahhhh yes, the rear brakes need to be replace . . . not such a big deal but the kid selling the car keeps saying it has disc brakes not drums . . . everyone looks at me like I'm a nut when I say that, well they are drums. No conversion . . . he says his mechanic says to replace them would be about 200-300. I'm a little confused. I know the difference 'tween the two (kinda) but I'm not sure why he would try to convince me that the car was converted . . . and why he would suggest his mechanic was fixing disc brakes. Strike 2 . . . LOLOL maybe cuz I'm a girl. Maybe he doesn't know. but this isn't his first car he's fixed up. Anyway . . . that was another thing.

Advert & Pics:
1968 CHEVELLE Malibu - $950
'69 CHEVELLE Malibu
Solid California car with less than 90,000 original miles.
Mechanically sound.
307 V-8 runs strong. Starts right up.
Automatic. 4-door. Good tires.
31 year old car qualifies for WA collector vehicle tabs.
Almost perfect interior - no cracks in dash.
Crunched front headlights & right rear taillight.
Drive it home.
Drive it everyday.
Drive it anywhere.
Phone: (206)795-6107
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu196/Fire2009/malibu.jpg http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu196/Fire2009/3n33o03p45O35T65P09bc993c353fe2371a.jpg http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu196/Fire2009/3k13m93p55O45Te5Sf9bcad39775594b018.jpg http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu196/Fire2009/3ka3o93p85O55Qa5Ta9bcf2c42545987e14.jpg

Sadly, my kid is busted up at what mechanic (who we trust implicitly) suggested . . . which is to keep looking.

BACS drove it and it looks rite on him . . . he's big (6'5" over 280#) which is why we even went in this direction. I feel like the Grinch!!! Anyway, any suggestions or info y'all mite have would be greatly appreciated. Worth the minor problems? Worth the major ones?? I may be passing up a sweet deal. And the more pics I see and info I get from different folks here makes me . . . it just feels like we're ready. That the problems with the car are minor enuff for our first project. Soon . . . LOL

I've already learned A TON since our first post!!!! The info shared by the folks here both publically & in private message, gave me a wealth of knowledge to use going in in the first place . . . thank you, you've all been really great to us. We do feel like we've joined in with a great bunch of guys. We'll learn . . . slowly!!!! LOL cheers y'all YOU ROCK !!!!! :hurray:

Lace & "BACS" :beers:

PS: We did run across a sweet little '65 Mustang today though LOLOLOL but I think it would need more work than the Chevelle . . . the pony's been sitting for over 8 years LOLOLOLO.

In my area it's a bit overpriced, maybe double. Even the mechanic said to keep looking, the car isn't what I would recommend for first time classic car buyers. There's alot of work there, more than it looks on the surface. My suggestion is if he really wants a Chevelle/Malibu/El Camino then look to the 73-77 models. You can get much more for your money those years and done right still have strong muscle car vibe.

My only hope is you have not bought this, well I will be nice, car. If not you have already succeeded where others fail, buying a piece of crap. Sorry Lacey, but you have entered the world of Whats it Worth and it can get brutally honest in here. I am not sure the car is worth much more than what it will bring across the scales at your local scrap yard.

With that being said lets go back to square one. What is your immediate budget for car purchase and near term investment in it ? With this we can help you find something that will not be so difficult to turn into something you will be proud of and not become a financial disaster.

Lacey
Your Son is on the right track lets not start with the 65 Mustang thing :D

Welcome to the forum:thumbsup:

In my area it's a bit overpriced, maybe double. Even the mechanic said to keep looking, the car isn't what I would recommend for first time classic car buyers. There's alot of work there, more than it looks on the surface. My suggestion is if he really wants a Chevelle/Malibu/El Camino then look to the 73-77 models. You can get much more for your money those years and done right still have strong muscle car vibe.

:yes: You guys could check out El Caminos as well, they usually are cheaper than a similar Chevelle.

Looks to be a bad idea...buying this car. I would be very hesitant, specifically about the electrical system. While you guys brought the mechanic for his expert advice, and were also hoping he'd like it, you still need to mind his advice. If you buy it, will he even work on it for you?

I suggest that you post more info about what your entire purchase/fix-it-up budget looks like and see if anyone can help you find a more suitable car. :thumbsup:

The worst thing to do is to buy the first car he likes. Take your time and it will pay off.

Sonny has some good advice I fell into that trap when I was 17:mad:

Keep looking! :( There are better projects out there...
IMO, that's too much money for the condition.

Lacey, from the looks of the front and rear of this car, you are looking at major body work to repair the damage on this car. Pass on this one, you are looking at throwing serious money on this one.

Keep looking..

LACY, i don't know if your a single mom, and i don't know what your finances are, but in this case, you'd be dropping $ in a car that probably would never be worth your investment.

it is nice to be a chevy person, or a mopar family or what ever, but i think when you have a limited budget (like most of us) it's better to be car people. just to give you an example, my son in law recently called, found a nice little dodge dart, v8, two door, fairly clean for 3,000. yes, it could use a little body work, but over all, it's solid, driveable, and a solid investment.

if you are lucky enough to find a clean chevelle, so be it, but i wouldn't rule out other cars. you won't have to leave team chevelle, a lot of these guys not only own chevelles, but have mopars, buick, pontiacs, and yes fords. we are car people who perfer chevelle's.

your son is young, so the first priority is to find something solid and safe, if you are lucky enough for it to be a chevelle, great! if not, he is young and can work on, and drive something now, and keep on the look out for that chevelle we all want to have.

i know he is heart broken now, but in the long run he'll thank you for not buying a money pit. g.m. made many fringe cars, in other words, the chevelle isn't the only A body worth owning, although some will disagree just to be anwry.

anyway, i'd keep an eye out for chevelles, but also, skylarks, cutlass, lemans....

there is absolutely nothing wrong with a nice mustang, fairlane, comet...

affordable mopars can be found, darts, dusters, early barracuda's.

want to be car people? subscribe to hemmings muscle, and you'll see there are many cool muscle cars out there, and they aren't all chevelles and camaro's. and your son will act like it's christmas every month when they arrive, plus great articles on how to do things and where to get things.

you guys hang in there, and by the way, it is best to find a car, as finished as possible. these guys can talk you threw a lot of repairs, but it isn't always cheap, and i'm sure right now it would be best to find something you can participate in the hobby. going to shows, or local cruises, and then, if the budget allows, start looking for a decent project or update the ride you have.

i'd hate for you guys to end up with a money pit, and have it sour your son on the hobby. we like new blood, we love it when families are involved, and we'd like to see you guys stick with it. so look hard, have a plan, and maybe you can find a real decent ride. that particular car isn't it.

heres a suggestion, of course you'd have to look at it, to make sure it's solid, but looks to be a decent ride for the $....

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1464456417.html

or maybe this, http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1463565493.html

Good post, as always Bill. I was looking around through searchtempest and saw quite a few older cars available up there, in the $2000-$3000 range. One was a nice looking yellow 2 door cutlass, around '73 or '74. That is a big car. I have no idea if that is out of the budget or not though.

flipped through seattle for a minute and found a few to maybe check out..

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1469462191.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1470048708.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1466638008.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/1470862608.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1465929780.html

Nothing to crazy special but that took me five minutes to find so im sure you can track down something with a better platform then the chevelle. if i was closer i would get that 79 monte in a minute!

Good post, as always Bill. I was looking around through searchtempest and saw quite a few older cars available up there, in the $2000-$3000 range. One was a nice looking yellow 2 door cutlass, around '73 or '74. That is a big car. I have no idea if that is out of the budget or not though.

jake, why aren't you over on the b.b.q. sauce thread??? yeah, i saw that 73, nice ride for a real decent price. i'm a big fan of fringe cars. yes i would love nothing more than to have a full on ls6, or a 69 b.b. 4-speed car, but reality is, i drive the hell out of my cars, and the lower models are a better fit for me.

my lemans is even a little too much, a/c, vynil top etc. (well it is the LUXURY model), but it has a 400/400 combo with console. i couldn't touch a chevelle in this shape for 2-3 times what i paid for this car. buuut.... it's not a chevelle.

besides the s.s. cars, my dream cars are a b.b. 65 caprice 4-speed, or a t-37. i really like stripped down rides with dog dish wheels and caps. something about a car that's nothing but an engine and a stick.

i have a b.b. sitting in my garage, and someday, i'll find that 300, or caprice, and hopefully have some $ to pull it off.

My only hope is you have not bought this, well I will be nice, car. If not you have already succeeded where others fail, buying a piece of crap. Sorry Lacey, but you have entered the world of Whats it Worth and it can get brutally honest in here. I am not sure the car is worth much more than what it will bring across the scales at your local scrap yard.




^^Cant say I fully agree.

A good ammount of cars arround here start out as scrap not worth much more than the scrap yard will give you. Shoot, look at my car. The deciding factor of what the car is actually worth is the owner (your son in this case, not necessarily the name on the title). If this is his dream car and he is pasionate about it, it could be worth a million dollars to him. Granted there are better cars than others out there, do your homework, buy realisticly, and be realistic about the time and money you can put into it along the way. (also, try not to kid yourself about what's going to need to be done) . I would also try to stay away from this as my sons primary mode of viable transportation. If hes looking at it JUST to get his hands on a 68 chevelle, or a muscle car...pass until he is serious.

flipped through seattle for a minute and found a few to maybe check out..

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1469462191.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1470048708.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1466638008.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/1470862608.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1465929780.html

Nothing to crazy special but that took me five minutes to find so im sure you can track down something with a better platform then the chevelle. if i was closer i would get that 79 monte in a minute!


that 66 Olds all below looks quite nice for the money :)

I actually do tend to disagree with some of you....while the car might be too expensive (negotionable) it's a perfect learners project.... get some maintenance books..... drop by any Home Depot store and get some bondo and sanding paper, and watch what effort je'll be taking in it.

here's my thought.....

Get the price down to 700/750

Pick the car up, and install a new battery immediately, regardless of the battery now in it.

Replace Air/oil filter and all fluids ASAP

Test the brakes!

Now watch the suspension for rust and replace where found rust!

Get some old maintenance books..... drop by any Home Depot store and get some bondo and sanding paper, you can ask Andy69 on this forum for bondo-skills.

After you've done all above then you can decide whether you like to stick with it or not, and if not.....the loss wont be too big anyway. :)

I actually do tend to disagree with some of you....while the car might be too expensive (negotionable) it's a perfect learners project.... get some maintenance books..... drop by any Home Depot store and get some bondo and sanding paper, and watch what effort je'll be taking in it.

here's my thought.....

Get the price down to 700/750

Pick the car up, and install a new battery immediately, regardless of the battery now in it.

Replace Air/oil filter and all fluids ASAP

Test the brakes!

Now watch the suspension for rust and replace where found rust!

Get some old maintenance books..... drop by any Home Depot store and get some bondo and sanding paper, you can ask Andy69 on this forum for bondo-skills.

After you've done all above then you can decide whether you like to stick with it or not, and if not.....the loss wont be too big anyway. :)

i think this is a fantastic idea. i always look for cars that need 5k worth of work minimum, so i can sell them down the road, for a fraction of what i have invested. great plan, stellar.

That car is worth 500 dollars tops... and it would take 10 grand to make it a 3000 dollar car.

that car is worth 500 dollars tops... And it would take 10 grand to make it a 3000 dollar car.

yep....

i think this is a fantastic idea. i always look for cars that need 5k worth of work minimum, so i can sell them down the road, for a fraction of what i have invested. great plan, stellar.

Hey,I thought that was my secret. I do it all the time.:D

i think this is a fantastic idea. i always look for cars that need 5k worth of work minimum, so i can sell them down the road, for a fraction of what i have invested. great plan, stellar.

Getting cynical eh?

I don't know how you are calculating your prices, but I doubt everyone buys their parts gold plated.

Investing is something you do on Wall Street, I honestly think if you are going to invest in a car for the sale value, you'll be taking away the hobby aspect for yourself.

Oh.....and next time you'll be trying to act as a smartass, I might get a little less nice on my next reply.

Well Mr. Speedy here is something and a couple of others do not take into consideration.

State Inspection Sticker. The cost to get a car like this to pass could easily equal the asking price. There is probably a lot of reasons the mechanic told them to move on.

Well Mr. Speedy here is something and a couple of others do not take into consideration.

State Inspection Sticker. The cost to get a car like this to pass could easily equal the asking price. There is probably a lot of reasons the mechanic told them to move on.

that was something I've forgotten.. some states in the US indeed requires state inspection :), and I have no clue about their requirements :)

Getting cynical eh?

I don't know how you are calculating your prices, but I doubt everyone buys their parts gold plated.

Investing is something you do on Wall Street, I honestly think if you are going to invest in a car for the sale value, you'll be taking away the hobby aspect for yourself.

Oh.....and next time you'll be trying to act as a smartass, I might get a little less nice on my next reply.

you can be less nice as you want. bottom line here is, that particular car is going nowhere. i want you, this kid, and his mother to enjoy our hobby, to attract more people, because car people overall are the coolest people i know.

paying too much for an undesirable, overpriced model is no way to go. back when i was a kid, and parts were plentiful in the junk yards, i'd be with ya. but gold plated, copper plated or lead plated, this car is a disaster. i don't see a project, i see a poor family dropping thousands of $ into a heap that won't be worth half the investment $.

have you priced the grill and trim pieces? did you look at that body? there isn't a panel on that thing that hasn't been hit. if this was a two door, with a 350 or better, it would maybe be a project. but i don't see $500 of usuable parts on that car.

i'm an uneducated, blue collar worker, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that p.o.s. is headed for a crusher.

i don't think you always need to make $ on a car, but i think you need to look at things realistically. if we take a poll, you'll see most will agree, that car is not the project somebody with limited talent or budget should approach....

Looks like a parts car to me....

Even if it was in good condition it wouldn't be worth much.

What happened to the OP?

Maybe I should say something . . . I just don't know what!!!! ;) so my thoughts on this post are going to be somewhat jumbled. Bare w/ me please.

Good, bad or ugly, I'm hearing what everyone is saying. Most of which I have no friggin clue what yer talkin 'bout!!! j/k LOLOLOL (what's the "OP?"). I guess it just didn't seem like a huge mess when I looked at it . . . I'm glad I asked. Which I must admit, answers the ONE nagging question I had: why aren't there tons of guys jumping all over themselves to get or even look at this car . . . I think I know now!!!! I'm glad I asked. After reading the comments I don't feel so guilty about quashing that car. And when 'BACS' saw them he felt a bit better for it.

That said.

Wow, so much info, where to start. I appreciate all of the research you guys did too!!!! :hurray: My boy is looking into NOVAs now. I called about the one listed by jefft28 from CL ('76 NOVA (http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1469462191.html)). . . the guy wasn't very talkative on the phone . . . I won't give him all the credit, the connection wasn't great. I think he mumbled something about the wheel barings, taillights not working(?), and wanting to make back what he's put into the rims(?) referring to the price. He also said something about it being a mess and needing some work . . . I couldn't follow that part.

We aren't set as to what kind of car we want to get. We are totally open on that issue. Honestly. What requirements are we looking for in a car? Ummmm . . . well it has to be pretty!!!! LOLOLOL no I'm kidding!!!! But it has to be pretty to us . . . he wants a muscle car from the '60s or '70s. Mustang, camaro, chevelle, nova, mopar, challenger :D, thunderbird , skylark, etc . . . doesn't really matter. He wants something that runs and needs very little work under the hood to be driveable. Not alot of bodywork. I think that will probably be more my area as I'm more detail oriented than m boy. I think most of the big stuff (brakes, whatever we can't learn or do under the hood, painting, etc.) will be farmed out. I do believe in a decent paint job so that comes in to play I'm hoping it mite take up most of 'the budget' . . . Engine . . . he wants loud and smooth . . . kind of how I like my scotch!!!! hehehe No he just wants it to NOT sound like a . . . ummmmm hopped up Toyota!!!

Which brings us to . . .

Budget??? . . . . . blah blah blah!!!! LOLOL (I talk like I write . . . so imagine me laughing my arse of rite now!!!!) No, I simply don't even know what to say . . . Don't beat me up on this one guys. I read that question on several posts and I wanted to crawl into a hole. I won't go into my stupidity except to say, I am embarrassed to say I didn't have one. :o And yes, I know that's a HUGE mistake in my process. I guess my problem is, I don't know. Meaning, I don't know what all is involved to know what I want to spend. I'm unfortunately not schooled enuff to know what 3000 is going to get me in restorations, etc. I won't say I've bitten off more than I can chew . . . not yet . . . I just need to hone my knowledge more about certain things. Lots of things LOLOLOL

I appreciate everyones ideas and suggestions. No matter what, I'm glad we asked. I can definitely see y'all know your stuff. And to the gentleman that asked, yes, I'm a single mom. And to all of you that inquired . . . no I don't have a lot of money (was that redundant??? LOLOL) so yes again, that is my biggest concern. This will without a doubt be a long term project. But I owe him ('BACS') and really want to do this for him. He's a great kid. I'm confident I/ we can learn to do almost anything and we're willing to learn. And cars are something we've both taken to recently . . . so it's a really good project for us to do together.

And I think we are better for the whole process . . . so see, we've already learned something. Which is half the battle, right??

Maybe I should say something . . . I just don't know what!!!! ;) so my thoughts on this post are going to be somewhat jumbled. Bare w/ me please.

Good, bad or ugly, I'm hearing what everyone is saying. Most of which I have no friggin clue what yer talkin 'bout!!! j/k LOLOLOL (what's the "OP?"). I guess it just didn't seem like a huge mess when I looked at it . . . I'm glad I asked. Which I must admit, answers the ONE nagging question I had: why aren't there tons of guys jumping all over themselves to get or even look at this car . . . I think I know now!!!! I'm glad I asked. After reading the comments I don't feel so guilty about quashing that car. And when 'BACS' saw them he felt a bit better for it.

The OP would be you, the Original Poster. You chimed in right at the right time. People were pretty reserved on this one, maybe you guys are being spared a bit. Some guys get told RUN away from that car, or worse. :)If they are like me, they appreciate that you guys aren't looking for a 90ish civic or prelude or something. ;)



Wow, so much info, where to start. I appreciate all of the research you guys did too!!!! :hurray: My boy is looking into NOVAs now. I called about the one listed by jefft28 from CL (http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1469462191.html). . . the guy wasn't very talkative on the phone . . . I won't give him all the credit, the connection wasn't great. I think he mumbled something about the wheel barings, taillights not working(?), and wanting to make back what he's put into the rims(?) referring to the price. He also said something about it being a mess and needing some work . . . I couldn't follow that part.

This looks like a better car. Looks like it needs a lot less work than the Chevelle you guys liked. The guy may have taken 5 phone calls from wishy-washy people right before you called, don't count it against him that he was short on the phone or whatever. Go see the car, and bring CASH if you are ready to pull the trigger. If he is saying that it needs work, let him tell you all about it. Chasing down wiring problems aren't a lot of fun, keep that in mind.

We aren't set as to what kind of car we want to get. We are totally open on that issue. Honestly. What requirements are we looking for in a car? Ummmm . . . well it has to be pretty!!!! LOLOLOL no I'm kidding!!!! But it has to be pretty to us . . . he wants a muscle car from the '60s or '70s. Mustang, camaro, chevelle, nova, mopar, challenger :D, thunderbird , skylark, etc . . . doesn't really matter. He wants something that runs and needs very little work under the hood to be driveable. Not alot of bodywork. I think that will probably be more my area as I'm more detail oriented than m boy. I think most of the big stuff (brakes, whatever we can't learn or do under the hood, painting, etc.) will be farmed out. I do believe in a decent paint job so that comes in to play I'm hoping it mite take up most of 'the budget' . . . Engine . . . he wants loud and smooth . . . kind of how I like my scotch!!!! hehehe No he just wants it to NOT sound like a . . . ummmmm hopped up Toyota!!!

A 4 door isn't a bad way to get into the hobby, and is definitely a more affordable way. If you would farm out bodywork, it would be in your best interests to find a car that needs little or no body work, that could possibly just require a maaco paint job or something that wouldn't be very costly. That is the smartest thing to do. Think about it, buy a car for a grand or 1500, then spand that much more just on filler and paint? :noway:Don't think so much about resale value either, because the car is going to be DRIVEN, not really restored and resold for a pofit. It will be a daily driver. Resale value, Shmeesale value....."kapeesh"?;):D



Budget??? . . . . . blah blah blah!!!! LOLOL (I talk like I write . . . so imagine me laughing my arse of rite now!!!!) No, I simply don't even know what to say . . . Don't beat me up on this one guys. I read that question on several posts and I wanted to crawl into a hole. I won't go into my stupidity except to say, I am embarrassed to say I didn't have one. :o And yes, I know that's a HUGE mistake in my process. I guess my problem is, I don't know. Meaning, I don't know what all is involved to know what I want to spend. I'm unfortunately not schooled enuff to know what 3000 is going to get me in restorations, etc. I won't say I've bitten off more than I can chew . . . not yet . . . I just need to hone my knowledge more about certain things. Lots of things LOLOLOL

I appreciate everyones ideas and suggestions. No matter what, I'm glad we asked. I can definitely see y'all know your stuff. And to the gentleman that asked, yes, I'm a single mom. And to all of you that inquired . . . no I don't have a lot of money (was that redundant??? LOLOL) so yes again, that is my biggest concern. This will without a doubt be a long term project. But I owe him ('BACS') and really want to do this for him. He's a great kid. I'm confident I/ we can learn to do almost anything and we're willing to learn. And cars are something we've both taken to recently . . . so it's a really good project for us to do together.

And I think we are better for the whole process . . . so see, we've already learned something. Which is half the battle, right??

The number you've thrown out is VERY do-able. I'll bet that you can find a granny car or similar that is ready to drive for less than that. Then you'll be wondering which go-fast parts to buy or which wheels to put on it, right?

Thanks Highway Star!!!! I was worried I'd get ripped a new one with my admissions!!! hehehe I'm going to try to get out to see the Nova today . . . Thursday . . . I don't want to jump on it too fast . . . if I did that I'd own a 68 Chevelle rite now!!!! LOLOL besides I'm a little gun shy, I didn't see the 1st as a bad deal. Got to get my mojo back!!! :hurray:

Thanks Highway Star!!!! I was worried I'd get ripped a new one with my admissions!!! hehehe

Jake's Right...just be patient and you WILL find a better bang for your buck...with money left over for you to upgrade parts to make the car even better.

You may need to travel a bit to find a good one...but I have complete faith you'll find a good driver, that runs and looks decent for your budget. good luck! :beers:

Look at these:

$2400 (http://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/1437819996.html)

http://images.craigslist.org/3k23p83le5O55T35S59apc5382b1097bb13ed.jpg


$1600 (http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1466211805.html)
http://images.craigslist.org/3na3m33lc5T45Q75P29be806484d26a061243.jpg


Look at THIS!!! (http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/1472400223.html)

http://images.craigslist.org/3k23ma3le5O85S45R99bi673c5fe1f2b91b3f.jpg



I use www.searchtempest.com (http://www.searchtempest.com)

It searches lots of car sites for you, by zip, price, keyword, etc. Spend a few minutes searching around.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Do not overlook the 80's model Monte Carlo SS's.

lacey, you are headed in the right direction, and these guys are going to be a great help. THE car will happen, it's a matter of patience, which as we all know is hard for a young man, but in the long run he'll thank you.

you say you are willing to learn, and that's also great, just remember, when doing repairs, you need correct tools, and tools cost $, another reason to find something as finished as possible, and maybe start hitting garage sales to aquire tools.

also, if you able to look outside your area for vehicles, it helps. maybe you'll find a great car down the street, but you'll find many of us have found cars quite aways from us. the car i have now, came from medford or. that's pretty far from me, but was worth every penny of the $600 it took to get down here.

my advice is, everyday put a few moments aside and look at craigslist, e-bay, traderonline, and any of the search engines these guys suggest.

one thing you'll find, is "THE QUEST" is a big part of the hobby, finding that jewel and getting there before everybody else.

i'm also glad that you guys are open to fringe cars, because you'll quickly find out, you'll get much more car for your $. as you saw with the ad for the buick i posted, you'll find a much more driveable car within your budget.

i would be careful looking at late 70's into the 80', not because there is anything wrong with them, but it was the start of computers and other items that can be hard to diognose, or find replacement "boxes" and sensors....

what's funny is, you've probably already noticed, we get just as excited trying to find cars for others, as we do for ourselves....

you'll find many search engines for cars have a price box in them, always put in the very most you can afford when searching, this will keep you from having to look at many cars that are out of reach.

get some part house catalogs, so that when you find that car, you'll know what the cost to replace damaged or worn parts. you'll find on some cars, parts are expensive.

another reason i say get as complete a car as possible is, even though your willing to learn repairs, if you have an issue that a mechanic needs to do for you, they have bills and family, and hourly rate can add up quickly. think about it, a 4 hour job at even $50-60 an hour and $ are leaving quickly.

say your budget is 4k, with 3k in account for repairs, sometimes it's just better to find a car in the 5-6k range that is more finished than a car that is 4k, but has hidden issues.

you'll also learn the lingo, california car, no rust, original, survivor, straight, solid, etc...etc... these are usually hot air, trying to sell a p.o.s. to an unsuspecting buyer.

hang in there lacey, market is low, it's almost winter, there is a deal waiting for you...

http://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/1467866426.html

lacey, you are headed in the right direction, and these guys are going to be a great help. The car will happen, it's a matter of patience, which as we all know is hard for a young man, but in the long run he'll thank you. I agree everyones been extremely cool!! But you're assuming I'm the patient one in the family. hehehe :D

also, if you able to look outside your area for vehicles, it helps. Maybe you'll find a great car down the street, but you'll find many of us have found cars quite aways from us. The car i have now, came from medford or. That's pretty far from me, but was worth every penny of the $600 it took to get down here. I get this part, but 600 is a large portion of what ever budget I have . . .

one thing you'll find, is "the quest" is a big part of the hobby, finding that jewel and getting there before everybody else.Hmmm . . . again I agree . . . it's just that . . . well if ANY of you guys saw that ''68 and it was a decent car, you'd have snatched it up before I could've even called. You all could simply LOOK at the car and see what I couldn't. Maybe it's my lack of mojo at the moment definitely my lack of knowledge. But this is a big part of the search for me. It'll be some time before I can remotely beat anyone to any car. Again, had I followed my "instincts" . . . I'd own that Chevelle now.

i would be careful looking at late 70's into the 80', not because there is anything wrong with them, but it was the start of computers and other items that can be hard to diognose, or find replacement "boxes" and sensors....yeah, I'm not interested in a computer in the car.

what's funny is, you've probably already noticed, we get just as excited trying to find cars for others, as we do for ourselves....I've noticed that this was true!!!! :hurray: which is good for the homework portion AND it lets me see sites & other resources I didn't know existed.

get some part house catalogs, so that when you find that car, you'll know what the cost to replace damaged or worn parts. You'll find on some cars, parts are expensive.I will, this is a good idea. I thought I had ordered some but never got them. Maybe it's the PO Box, we haven't gotten any of our regular mags either.

you'll also learn the lingo, california car, no rust, original, survivor, straight, solid, etc...etc... These are usually hot air, trying to sell a p.o.s. To an unsuspecting buyer. hehehe . . . "california car" ummm . . . yes. Although some of the others I didn't realize were terms for p.o.s. I have so much to learn . . .

Again, good learning experience. Well at least you all were gentle with me. :snicker: :yes:. . . okay next lesson???

:yes: You guys could check out El Caminos as well, they usually are cheaper than a similar Chevelle.We haven't ruled out an El Camino either. Just not schooled . . . yet.

that 66 Olds all below looks quite nice for the money :)

Agree on that one!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aZniZlzG90Y/SwWmaBu8aHI/AAAAAAAAELo/wxXucOD64b8/s800/ScreenHunter_05%20Nov.%2019%2012.10.jpg

If it is as good as it sounds that is a heck of a deal!
+ We've got a resident Olds guy in Rambo in the group.

Check it out - NOW

Dan