[Foot_2_Floor]

So I'm at a bit of an impass and I thought I would turn to a few hundred of my respected friends. I currently own a 69 Buick Skylark 2 door hard top that is about 650 miles away from my house. The land that it is on is not mine and is up for sale ... thus I've been asked to move it. So here is the delima.

The car is a 2 door hardtop, 95% (needs a hood and grille)complete. It has virtually no rust (Wyoming Car) but it has probably 30 bullet holes in various places. It hasn't had windows in it for years (because of the bullet holes) but the interior is all there and complete enough it could be redone.

I basicly have 2 options...

#1. Sell it to the local junkyard who will no doubt crush it. This options sucks - They just aint making these cars any more. Without pictures (and being able to meet someone out at the farm its on) I don't see how I could sell it otherwise.

#2. Go get it - take 2 days off work ($$$) and drive 1200 miles($$$) to get a car that I'm not sure is worth it.

What might help would be to know what parts interchange with a Chevelle... (I've heard differing opinions on this)

I wish I had a picture to show you it's condition - I know that would help a lot.

So the question is - to save it or to let it get crushed (and get probably $100 for it)

Give me your thoughts - and if you know a part on this car that will work on a Chevelle I would love to know that info as well.

Thanks,
David

 

[AXEMAN39]

I say go get it, But I live in the rust belt.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I would get it if it were mine. I hate to see any old car go to waste.

 

[Johnny]

I may be reading more into this but I get the impression it was setting out in a field for years with people taking shots at it. If it has 30 bullet holes in various places unless they were done recently there is going to be rust there. Also with no windows there is going to be lots of rusted places inside the car along with the dash ,floorboards,and all electrical componets. Im all for saving these cars but the few that I have seen in a case like yours are usually gone to far. I hope Im wrong but I would get someone in that area to email you detailed pictures of the car so you can make a better decision on how to procede. Best of luck.

 

[herb396SS]

Production numbers were somewhat low for Buicks,,you would think there might be value there,,,but then again it is a Buick.
1969
California GS Coupe 350-4V N/A N/A 3,574 N/A total 3,574
Hardtop 350-4V 233 632 5,440 N/A total 6,305
Hardtop 400-4V 117 785 N/A 5,444 total 6,346
Hardtop 400-4V Stage 1 9 415 N/A 832 total 1,256

 

[Foot_2_Floor]

I may be reading more into this but I get the impression it was setting out in a field for years with people taking shots at it. If it has 30 bullet holes in various places unless they were done recently there is going to be rust there. Also with no windows there is going to be lots of rusted places inside the car along with the dash ,floorboards,and all electrical componets. Im all for saving these cars but the few that I have seen in a case like yours are usually gone to far. I hope Im wrong but I would get someone in that area to email you detailed pictures of the car so you can make a better decision on how to procede. Best of luck.

Your not far off - I guess thats my delima. How far is to far? The car has been sitting like this for the past 8 years... In northern Wyoming they get so little rain that a Mustang I had without windows for 10+ years still had totally solid floors in it... Think desert... So I still contend that the sheet metal is probably without much rust. Where the actual 'punction wounds' were there was surface rust from a lack of paint but in Wyoming this takes forever for it to become anything more then that.

A few years back I would have let it go and not given it much thought ... but now I see people fixing cars I would have never thought they would. Some of the great Chevelles I've seen restored on this site 10-15 years ago probably were parts cars at best.

But then the realist part of me says how much money do I spend to save a car for car guy sentimental reasons.

Is it justifiable from a 'parts' perspective for the 2 69 Chevelles I have (and future 68-69 Chevelles I hope to have)?

 

[Foot_2_Floor]

Production numbers were somewhat low for Buicks,,you would think there might be value there,,,but then again it is a Buick.
1969
California GS Coupe 350-4V N/A N/A 3,574 N/A total 3,574
Hardtop 350-4V 233 632 5,440 N/A total 6,305
Hardtop 400-4V 117 785 N/A 5,444 total 6,346
Hardtop 400-4V Stage 1 9 415 N/A 832 total 1,256

These numbers are great I'm just not able to follow the columns??? This car is a 350 non GS, Automatic. How many were made? You're right on the Buick values...

I do really like the body lines of the car - just not fond of the grille/headlights. You know when I first got the car 10 years ago I considered making a dirt track car out of it but now all the rule books exclude cars of this vintage... hee hee. Of course at the dirt track I was racing at 10 years ago 30% of the cars on the track where 68-72 Chevelles! Sorta sad in a way.

 

[Hutch85]

I'd say it is.. even from the standpoint of posting it as parts for sale for the Buick guys. Try the GSCA club (http://www.buickgsca.com/) or one of their chapters to see if someone wants it, you might find someone interested in it.

 

[Merlin]

I recently had a 69 LeMans that needed more work than I could provide, and to make a long story short, I opted to part it out. Very little interchanges with a Chevelle. The frame is the same, disk brakes will interchange, some of the glass as well (although that is not an option for you), a few interior items, seats (with new covers of course), suspension pieces, window regulators, etc. I ended up with about $2000 in my pocket after selling everything I could. But I had some good sheet metal and good glass. GTO guys bought most of the stuff. Given the fact that you will need to spend money and time to retrieve the Buick, and the fact that the glass is gone and at least some of the sheet metal is shot-up, and the fact that it is not a Chevelle, or even a LeMans/GTO for that matter, with all due respect to the Buick guys... you just might be better off sending her to the closest slavage yard. Or you could consider donating to a tech school or trade school and take a nice tax write-off.
I can't believe I would actually advocate sending an old A-body to the junk man, but it may be the most fiscally sound thing to do.
Good luck,
Patrick

 

[Jay65SS]

Andy will take it

 

[davewho1]

Andy will take it

Beat me to it.

 

[Mr69]

Go get it.
I parted out a 68 years ago and the 68 and 69 core supports are 1 year only. You'll get good money for that if it's not rusted out somewhere. There are a lot of parts that are hard to find and guys are fixing these cars up.
The whole suspension is the same as Chevelle. Steering linkage same. Steer box same.
The trunk lid is valuable and one year only. The body moldings are desirable. Back seat is desirale. Glass is all desirale. 2 door Doors are desirable. Fenders are very desirable. Inner fenders.........etc etc
What I am trying to tell you is that it will be worth it to get it and part it out if the cars is't rusted beyong any value.
Odds are it will be worth for for the sum of it's parts, rather than to try and sell whole.
The grille and surround are worth big bucks.
The bumpers are also one year only and worth about $150-200 in any kind of decent shape.

Put the parts on ebay and watch the Buick guys go nuts.

 

[crazychevelleman]

I would go get it. its worth a bit of cash if you sell it.

 

[Nor Cal Chevelle]

I would go get it - I hate to see any 2-door hard top get crushed.

 

[Bob80Elcam]

Go get it and submit your name to "Overhaulin'".

 

[1badss396]

Andy will take it

Beat me to it.

Where is Andy when you need himl

 

[Alwhite00]

Have someone take pictures of it for you and throw it on ebay, Someone will buy it - Just have them pick it up where it's at.

LK