71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
I wouldn't call this car junk by any stretch...if it could be gotten for the right price, the quarters can be fixed.
NOT MINE '71 Polara 2-door.
- Thread starter crv
- Start date
I wouldn't call this car junk by any stretch...if it could be gotten for the right price, the quarters can be fixed.
The dealer needs to come down to the "right price".
Unless this is a family members or personal car of someone with ties to the dealership and they want a top dollar price, I'd doubt they paid less than 1/2 for it if it came in as a trade-in for another car.
Without putting eyes on it, are we only to assume how bad it is because of those crappy lower quarters or has there been confirmed info this one is a bondo car?
I'm not a player for this car, but I see some good features it does already have, that would save someone big money on a restoration.
Unless this is a family members or personal car of someone with ties to the dealership and they want a top dollar price, I'd doubt they paid less than 1/2 for it if it came in as a trade-in for another car.
Without putting eyes on it, are we only to assume how bad it is because of those crappy lower quarters or has there been confirmed info this one is a bondo car?
I'm not a player for this car, but I see some good features it does already have, that would save someone big money on a restoration.
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
My guess is it had the typical IL car rot in the quarters and at some point it had the horrendous quarters that were available installed. Id bet the car is actually pretty good other than this.
I'd be (and am) more in this view, too. My hunch is Its probably OK, value discounted IMHO for these goofy quarters, whether one fixes them or rocks it "as is".
Wherever it lived, such that the original quarters could ROT away, or otherwise (unlikely) BOTH got damaged to the extent they got repaired apparently very badly, the rest of the car looks remarkably good. IF the goofy quarters were the ONLY problem, there is likely a GOOD car there.
However, there is still a mystery, then, of a different type to me in that case. Maybe lost on the sands of time, there is a story on this one we havent heard/seen yet.
WTF happened to those quarters? What is their status TODAY?. If I were a buyer, my philosophy is assume the worst, go look, listen, expect answers that make sense, etc., and then decide if the price of the deal makes sense. Or just maybe make a new friend for the next deal if the one in front of us doesnt work.
From my tepid evel of interest (only because I like fusie coupes), and distance from putting eyes on it, I cant figure this one out. Maybe the story will come out, better yet somebody confirms it IS a good car, and worth a few grand to somebody ready to do right by it.
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
I was in Elgin today and stopped over to look at this Polara.
We beat it up. It's been around. I felt like I knew the car already when they brought me to where it was sitting. Honestly after laying eyes on it. This is a typical northern car. Would make a really nice driver/cruise night car, especially if/when the quarters get repaired properly.
The rear window channel has some rot too but after looking at the package tray from inside, a few small patches would handle it. The rear body panel behind the bumper has rust in the lower corners. The rear rails look fair, but it's hard to tell, they look thick... The whole bottom of the car is covered in thick Ziebart undercoating, and there's plugs in various places confirming that. Trunk floor looked okay with some flakey rust under the mats, nothing that is out of the ordinary. However the drivers side rear floor had some ripples/damage from and accident or something. Floors, rockers and stub all look good from what I could see. There are holes in the rockers on both sides. What for who knows. These quarters are absolutely the aftermarket ones. They did what they could and it's pretty awful. The rest of the car is pretty good. From what I can see. I think the fenders were patched, but they came out pretty good. Someone hacked the inner fender up to do get at the antenna or blower motor. Not uncommon to see that example of laziness. Front valance is pushed up but repairable. Bumpers need to be replaced with better driver quality ones or rechromed. Grille is cracked in a few places.
Under the hood everything looked pretty much untouched. Lots of undercoating everywhere. Washer tank looked good but empty. The firewall and cowl looked really good but the spot between the wiper motor and booster is rusted through.
The interior of this car is absolutely beautiful and I believe it to be all original. Under the seat covers the seats look incredible and like new. The only thing the interior needs is a a Dashpad to look showroom nice.
They said it won't start and they are putting a new ignition switch in it. - Probably not the repair needed. Fusible link is where I would have started...
Here's the pile of pics.
I think IT is a worthy car. Just needs someone willing to take it on.
We beat it up. It's been around. I felt like I knew the car already when they brought me to where it was sitting. Honestly after laying eyes on it. This is a typical northern car. Would make a really nice driver/cruise night car, especially if/when the quarters get repaired properly.
The rear window channel has some rot too but after looking at the package tray from inside, a few small patches would handle it. The rear body panel behind the bumper has rust in the lower corners. The rear rails look fair, but it's hard to tell, they look thick... The whole bottom of the car is covered in thick Ziebart undercoating, and there's plugs in various places confirming that. Trunk floor looked okay with some flakey rust under the mats, nothing that is out of the ordinary. However the drivers side rear floor had some ripples/damage from and accident or something. Floors, rockers and stub all look good from what I could see. There are holes in the rockers on both sides. What for who knows. These quarters are absolutely the aftermarket ones. They did what they could and it's pretty awful. The rest of the car is pretty good. From what I can see. I think the fenders were patched, but they came out pretty good. Someone hacked the inner fender up to do get at the antenna or blower motor. Not uncommon to see that example of laziness. Front valance is pushed up but repairable. Bumpers need to be replaced with better driver quality ones or rechromed. Grille is cracked in a few places.
Under the hood everything looked pretty much untouched. Lots of undercoating everywhere. Washer tank looked good but empty. The firewall and cowl looked really good but the spot between the wiper motor and booster is rusted through.
The interior of this car is absolutely beautiful and I believe it to be all original. Under the seat covers the seats look incredible and like new. The only thing the interior needs is a a Dashpad to look showroom nice.
They said it won't start and they are putting a new ignition switch in it. - Probably not the repair needed. Fusible link is where I would have started...
Here's the pile of pics.
I think IT is a worthy car. Just needs someone willing to take it on.
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
More....
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
There is minor bubbling in various places, nothing terribly atrocious until you look up behind the rear valance.
Package tray on the inside looks clean
Package tray on the inside looks clean
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Engine bay and cowl rust...
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Last batch
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
That was my assumption as well. Would make the most sense
tbm3fan
Old Man with a Hat
Grade 3- car Not over $6500.
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