Help me understand the Formal market. Please!

[1978 NYB]

I'm the guy who bought his for $5700, drove it all across the country, and then dumped a bunch more cash into it fixing stuff that needed to be fixed.....

There's a bunch of cars posted on this thread...

Which one did you buy?

 

[Pclancy]

So now thst you have owned and driven it for awhile, I'm interested in your observations of what you actually got vs. the ad's description.

The "problem" was the guy who sold it to me had not put many miles on it. Must have been a garage queen. So I think he was honest in disclosing issues with the car, but in reality, he had no clue. I bought the car to drive it, and drive it I did/do. So I more or less immediately needed to rebuild the front end, as everything was worn. And then the lean burn crapped out. And then many seals were bad. And then the brakes needed new calipers. And it still leaks oil from the valve covers. The body? As advertised--in great shape. The interior--impeccable. I still love the car. But the mechanical issues have been and remain numerous. You never know what your're getting until you've put some miles on it.

 

[Pclancy]

There's a bunch of cars posted on this thread...

Which one did you buy?

Go to BAT and search for Newport. The green 1977.

 

[Dobalovr]

Go to BAT and search for Newport. The green 1977.

As one of the bidders on this car I am interested in watching your progress in restoring it. I had a max price of $2000 in my head at the time based on expecting the kind of issues you are experiencing. The area of Alberta where the car lived is actually pretty close to Arid conditions so I was confident the body would be solid but with many low mileage survivors seals suffer and maintenance was likely sparse. Keep posting your progress please and thanks for saving me the trouble of having to deal with these issues.....lol

 

[commando1]

The "problem" was the guy who sold it to me had not put many miles on it. Must have been a garage queen. So I think he was honest in disclosing issues with the car, but in reality, he had no clue. I bought the car to drive it, and drive it I did/do. So I more or less immediately needed to rebuild the front end, as everything was worn. And then the lean burn crapped out. And then many seals were bad. And then the brakes needed new calipers. And it still leaks oil from the valve covers. The body? As advertised--in great shape. The interior--impeccable. I still love the car. But the mechanical issues have been and remain numerous. You never know what your're getting until you've put some miles on it.

Yep. Actually that sounds normal to me.
My NYB was a low mileage, one ladyowner, pampered and meticulously maintained car. As delivered, you'd say all it needed was a good buffing out.
I've had to literally rebuild the car mechanically bumper to bumper.
Age. It's a *****.

 

[Pclancy]

As one of the bidders on this car I am interested in watching your progress in restoring it. I had a max price of $2000 in my head at the time based on expecting the kind of issues you are experiencing. The area of Alberta where the car lived is actually pretty close to Arid conditions so I was confident the body would be solid but with many low mileage survivors seals suffer and maintenance was likely sparse. Keep posting your progress please and thanks for saving me the trouble of having to deal with these issues.....lol

It has been quite the experience. But I am driven to fix every problem, and if I ever sell it, the next guy will have won the lottery.

 

[Dobalovr]

the next guy will NEED TO win the lottery

Fixed