Advice Needed: Rust on '65 Imperial

[Mick]

Hello Everyone,

I am close to pulling the trigger on a '65 Imperial Coupe. As the car is in Richmond, VA, I had an appraisal done and am relying on talks w/current owner and, of course, the appraisal. The main concern that has popped up for me is rust around the frame. Pennsylvania car. I could really use some good advice/opinions about how big an issue this could be. No lift was available, so pics are good, but not plentiful.
Thanks in advance.
**Update: I am going to pass on this one. Thanks all for the great advice. Back to the hunt.

 

[mr. fix it]

We've seen worse here. I've worked with worse... the thing to consider is you will more than likely be fabbing up your own replacement metal so you have to ask yourself how much work do you want to do to restore this car?

 

[mr. fix it]

How close to original are you concerned about? it is mostly underside then you can clean things up patch and do your best to prevent future rust issues.
These Imp's don't hold too much resale value so you better be doing this for yourself and not worrying about resale value.

looking inside the trunk I see the seller undercoated it? Did you happen to touch the surface? is it hard or soft?
Seriously a good restorer or preservationist would not do that... Rust Bullet or POR15 then a spackle paint would be a good solution..

 

[mr. fix it]

this body mount needs some attention but not a deal breaker.
What's the asking price compared to the appraisal?
Looking at the photos, I see a number of loose body mounts..

 

[boltupal]

Hello Everyone,

I am close to pulling the trigger on a '65 Imperial Coupe. As the car is in Richmond, VA, I had an appraisal done and am relying on talks w/current owner and, of course, the appraisal. The main concern that has popped up for me is rust around the frame. Pennsylvania car. I could really use some good advice/opinions about how big an issue this could be. No lift was available, so pics are good, but not plentiful.
Thanks in advance.

Screw the rust, drive it and have fun .For what its cost to fix the rust. Just buy a better car.

 

[mr. fix it]

those rusty bits are what hold the car together...

 

[Mick]

this body mount needs some attention but not a deal breaker.
What's the asking price compared to the appraisal?
Looking at the photos, I see a number of loose body mounts..

 

[Mick]

What are those loose body mounts indicative of? Accident? He's asking 12,500, and mechanically it seems fine. The body has been patched before and painted, but some bubbles coming up. Because of the rust, it came in around 9000.

 

[Mick]

Screw the rust, drive it and have fun .For what its cost to fix the rust. Just buy a better car.

Possibly. I didn't want to walk, though, if it's not as bad as I think it looks.

 

[rexus31]

I'd find a Western car in better shape. They are out there, you just have to look a little harder.

 

[Mick]

I'd find a Western car in better shape. They are out there, you just have to look a little harder.

Thanks.

 

[Big_John]

Some of that is an easy fix and some is indication of more trouble. I'd walk away from it at $9k. The guy doing the appraisal is way off. We've seen much nicer for less.

If the car was $3K, I'd say go for it, but not with an asking price of $12K.

 

[Mick]

Some of that is an easy fix and some is indication of more trouble. I'd walk away from it at $9k. The guy doing the appraisal is way off. We've seen much nicer for less.

If the car was $3K, I'd say go for it, but not with an asking price of $12K.

 

[Mick]

Thank you.

 

[Mick]

How close to original are you concerned about? it is mostly underside then you can clean things up patch and do your best to prevent future rust issues.
These Imp's don't hold too much resale value so you better be doing this for yourself and not worrying about resale value.

looking inside the trunk I see the seller undercoated it? Did you happen to touch the surface? is it hard or soft?
Seriously a good restorer or preservationist would not do that... Rust Bullet or POR15 then a spackle paint would be a good solution..

I just want it to be safe. I am in another state, so having to rely on the appraiser. That coating concerned me, too.

 

[GregG48203]

loose body mounts indicative of

When I saw the missing nuts, I wondered if someone had started a frame off restoration, saw the extent of the rust, and bailed on the project.

 

[Mick]

When I saw the missing nuts, I wondered if someone had started a frame off restoration, saw the extent of the rust, and bailed on the project.

Wow. I couldn't make sense of it, but you might have something there.

 

[Mick]

We've seen worse here. I've worked with worse... the thing to consider is you will more than likely be fabbing up your own replacement metal so you have to ask yourself how much work do you want to do to restore this car?

I am not qualified in any respect to take this on myself. This would be a body shop deal. I am looking for a very solid #3 cruiser that I could just mess with. Any idea roughly what it would take just to make it strong?

 

[moparnutcase]

Just my opinion, but what I sold my Monaco to Dan for and what I paid for my Cordoba......$9000 is WAYYYYYY overpriced. Sorry, not trying to burst your bubble but as others have said.....find something better in the same price range, they ARE out there.

 

[Mick]

Just my opinion, but what I sold my Monaco to Dan for and what I paid for my Cordoba......$9000 is WAYYYYYY overpriced. Sorry, not trying to burst your bubble but as others have said.....find something better in the same price range, they ARE out there.

Thanks, I appreciate the input.