Knowing what I got?

[Guest]

I have just found a 52 desoto firedome the body is straight and of cource the in side is way past rough, but it does have the factory hemi in it.And the guy that has it wants 800.00 for it is it worth it? Or should I say is it hard to get parts for it. any help I can or insight would be great.

[Pontiac59]

If it runs, it's worth the money, but if the motor's set up it's high. Especyally if it's a 4-door. They aren't too hard to find yet in junkyards and such as far as used parts, and with the hemi there is a lot of replacement and afetrmarket stuff around. I don't have my current guide handy but one from a few years ago says $400-$600 for parts cars and about $1300-up for complete restorable cars. Real market is probably lower, they aren't as popular, but a decent hemi is worth an easy $500 and if it has a decent grille this year is a hot ticket for the custom crowd, I wouldn't be surprised if even one with bad chrome would bring $100 as long as it's solid. if you figure the rest is about 3000 lbs soaking wet you have $75 or so as scrap with no effort made at parting that out, so $700 or so is a good place for the break even point... knock a couple hundred off if the motor is set up with rust.