I think he paid too much and has grandeur of what it's worth!

[auburnseeker]

Ok I spend way too much time on Craigslist searching for the right car.  With such varied interests I look at a lot of different stuff.  This one caught my attention because the lead photo is a dead on nose shot.  then I saw the rest when I clicked.  It's a bit rough.  Here is the ad below.  I was curious about a price but never really determined what he want's out of it with all the numbers he threw around, but I did see frame repair, North East car and other key words that will make any old car guy run.  I do know according to what he said he paid for it,  he doesn't sound anxious to lose money on it.  I like the mouse nest in the Glove box.  That's a nice touch.

 

 

 

"For sale is a beautiful 1962 Pontiac Bonneville two-door hardtop with original 389 Engine with 4 bbl carburetor. This Engine could possibly be a 425A Trophy Engine. I am still researching this. I purchased the car in 2001 with the anticipation of my Dad and I to rebuild into a show winning modified Pro Street classic but after his passing the venture is too sad to continue with. 

The car has spent its life in New England, thus has succumb to the weather with bubbles in the paint with the clear coat peeling and lower rocker panels that need the most attention along with holes in the rear end of the frame that suggest a need for a FULL restoration. Frame repair is about $700. This car has been in storage for over 8 years thus it is not drivable and most likely the brakes are soft.

This car is a great original 90K mile car with all original body panels, original paint and an outstanding interior. The Engine is original though smokes a bit initially then goes away and the generator would need to be replaced. It does have The transmission had been changed to accommodate the shift on the floor. Chrome and stainless trim look pretty good with normal wear. There is also a small 4-inch crack on the driver side of the windshield. 

Please keep in mind that though this car is in great shape for being over 50 years old, it does need restoration. Please ensure that there is an understanding that there is no warranty and the car is sold with the intention to fully restore. This car would make a great original example, customized street rod or even cloned to the highly coveted 421 Super Duty Catalina which is rated as the highest collectible Pontiac.

As far as restoration cost are concerned, if you decide to go to one of those "typical" shops similar to what is on the Speed Channel, you will get screwed over. I researched restoration costs when taking on this car thus should not be outrageous if one does their homework, especially for those who are mechanically inclined who can do the work for even less. My vision for this car was pretty extreme and even with that goal, restoration costs were not nearly as high as some may think.

My insurance company valued this car at over $25K and that was 8 years ago and during that time the average auction sale for this car in average condition was $32,742! In 2014 the highest sale value at auction was $86,900 for a mint example and the lowest sale value at auction was $6.268 for an incomplete "field find" example. ! I paid over $12,000 for this car in 2001.
Base value Low is $12,450 and with this particular engine the total is $15,563; Base value Average is $20,600 and with this particular engine the total is $25,750; Base value High is $28,100 and with this particular engine the total is $35,125. 
I expect respectable offers considering what the car is worth. This is not my first "rodeo" so know this is an excellent investment, as it will substantially appreciate in value once fully restored.

If the offer is enticing enough, who knows I just might bite. Looking forward to giving this great car a new home! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, show contact info But please, please, please...no ridiculous texts. Thank you for looking.

If you are serious about this car I am willing to be flexible even entertain motorcycle trades of Honda, Triumph and Aprila sport bikes. I will even consider two bikes as long as the value equates."

 

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/6128800693.html

 

[Guest]

He just needs to move all his decimal points one place to the left.

The shifter hacksawed off the steering column is a nice touch.

[joe_padavano]

" This Engine could possibly be a 425A Trophy Engine. "

 

Yeah, its always "possibly" something rare.  PROOF of such a claim really IS rare...

[60FlatTop]

I listed a Jaguar XJS on Ebay about 10 tears ago and a car dealer sent me a very complementary letter about how I could sell so much sizzle and excitement without ever describing the car.

 

I sold it to a guy with a .edu email address.

 

Three cars out in my garage are targeted for possible sale this summer. Reading that ad makes me mischievous.

Bernie

[Spinneyhill]

If it has been stored in a closed non-vented container it will have suffered. It will have been sweating as if it were under a plastic sheet. I have seen the results in an RO80 after 15 or 20 years in a container. The carb. was completely blocked by corrosion of the aluminium!

[GARY F]

its not the clear coat peeling , its the bondo

[joe_padavano]

27 minutes ago, GARY F said:

its not the clear coat peeling , its the bondo

 

That's probably the least of it's problems...

[kgreen]

Here you go:

 

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/982735/1962-pontiac-bonneville-for-sale-in-scottsdale-arizona-85250

 

For twice the money you get 10 times the car.

[Guest BillP]

I wonder if the bungee cord around the gas tank is a factory high performance option.

 

But seriously, 61 to 66 big Pontiacs are (to me) very attractive cars.

[auburnseeker]

I've seen convertibles in the low teens in better shape.  Much better shape.  I was going to comment on the Bungee cord but wanted to see who else noticed it.  If it's a factory option,  the rubber is really holding up well

[auburnseeker]

There is this "survivor" one in AZ that looks reasonable for $13,900

http://www.autozin.com/1962-pontiac-bonneville---13900--dolan-springs--az---1602149-atzlisting?utm_source=Claz&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=global&trmsource=clazoutfeed

[auburnseeker]

Or $5200  for this one in WA state.  Needs the motor rebuilt. 

http://www.autozin.com/1962-pontiac-bonneville---5200--lowell--1560562-atzlisting?utm_source=Claz&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=global&trmsource=clazoutfeed

 

This one in OH for $16,500

http://www.autozin.com/1962-pontiac-bonniville---16500--ontario--ohio--1712336-atzlisting?utm_source=Claz&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=global&trmsource=clazoutfeed

Or this one for $7000 in NE

http://www.autozin.com/1962-pontiac-bonniville-2-dr-ht---7000--north-platte-ne--1694089-atzlisting?utm_source=Claz&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=global&trmsource=clazoutfeed

 

 

[F&J]

too busy right now to read any of the replies....but he is off his tree...babbling about 421 clone,  bla bla...then silly prices on what?  Says Average Pontiac 2 dr ht at 25=K  to ,,,,,,,35 bla.

 

idiot,  dreamer,

It's a rot bucket, rotted frame heap, and not many people care about those anymore, nor ever did.... even a clean one.  $500 over current scrap is max, but I'd not pay it

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

 How often have we heard words like this?

"this is an excellent investment..."

 

If it's such a great investment, why is he selling it?!

[joe_padavano]

Another terminal case of Barrett Jackson disease.

[MarrsCars]

"Low values" for automobiles do not generally include this poor of a condition, this would rate lower than the "base value low" he is quoting quite significantly.

[Bhigdog]

Yeah, but he says it can be restored quite reasonably if one knows what he's doing. I suppose he means Bondo and rattle cans. ...............Bob

[Paul Dobbin]

Keep looking, that's a load of rust an problems.

[Guest]

re post 14  John, it reminds me of all the people who either never owned a business or went broke in business and now are "Business Advisors".

[padgett]

I liked this part "cloned to the highly coveted 421 Super Duty Catalina ". Since the Bonne is on the long wheelbase and the Cat is on the short, that would be quite an undertaking.

[edinmass]

That's the longest ad I have ever seen for a poor conditioned parts car.

[F&J]

4 hours ago, edinmass said:

That's the longest ad I have ever seen for a poor conditioned parts car.

 

 

Much like the long winded Dealer ads on ebay with fancy page layouts, 80 % of which is talking of the history of that car company, who was the designer, and what color socks he wore when he sketched the design on a napkin at the local diner...and very little words on the car they have up for bids.

Edited May 31, 2017 by F&J (see edit history)

[joe_padavano]

24 minutes ago, F&J said:

 

 

Much like the long winded Dealer ads on ebay with fancy page layouts, 80 % of which is talking of the history of that car company, who was the designer, and what color socks he wore when he sketched the design on a napkin at the local diner...and very little words on the car they have up for bids.

 

Thank you!  This is one of my biggest peeves.  I KNOW the history of the cars I'm looking for.  I don't need a lengthy page copied from some website that may or may not be correct.  I also don't need 200 photos, taken at every five degree angle around the car.

 

Tell me what's WRONG with it.  Show me the common rust areas. Spare me the BS.  I do find that price is directly proportional to length of the prose in the ad, however. 

[F&J]

9 minutes ago, joe_padavano said:

 

Thank you!  This is one of my biggest peeves.  I KNOW the history of the cars I'm looking for.  I don't need a lengthy page copied from some website that may or may not be correct.  I also don't need 200 photos, taken at every five degree angle around the car.

 

Tell me what's WRONG with it.  Show me the common rust areas. Spare me the BS.  I do find that price is directly proportional to length of the prose in the ad, however. 

He,he... Joe, you may know I own a project 32 Nash, so I sure do look around for 32 Nash info, and videos also..

 

...I watched a "longwinded Dealer sales YouTube video" of a top shelf restoration(their presumption) "taken at every five degree angle around the car."

 

I watched it a year later and then spotted it had a much older version of the "Big Six" engine.  Heck it was not even a Big Six (true designation), nor even close in it's outward design or parts.  Geez...  and I would bet that they didn't even know it when they bought it to flip

[John_S_in_Penna]

49 minutes ago, joe_padavano said:

Thank you!  This is one of my biggest peeves.  I KNOW the history of the cars I'm looking for.  I don't need a lengthy page copied from some website that may or may not be correct.  I also don't need 200 photos, taken at every five degree angle around the car.

 

Tell me what's WRONG with it.  Show me the common rust areas. Spare me the BS.  I do find that price is directly proportional to length of the prose in the ad, however. 

 

The sellers who write ads like that (mostly dealers) almost

never tell of a car's needs and imperfections--though those are

as important to know about as the restored and rebuilt parts.

If they stated things in writing, a buyer could hold them to account.

 

"Mr. Buyer, didn't you see that incorrect part in Photo #49?

Of course we knew about it--we make our living with cars.

We just didn't happen to mention it in our description.  Too bad!"

[poci1957]

1 hour ago, joe_padavano said:

 

This is one of my biggest peeves.  I KNOW the history of the cars I'm looking for.  I don't need a lengthy page copied from some website that may or may not be correct.  I also don't need 200 photos, taken at every five degree angle around the car.

 

Tell me what's WRONG with it.  Show me the common rust areas. Spare me the BS.  I do find that price is directly proportional to length of the prose in the ad, however. 

 

It is hilarious, as if using as much copy as possible will suck a buyer into the "grandeur".  Auction companies and dealers both do the lengthy (and often slightly wrong) history lesson too, as if a casual buyer will say to themselves "...gee, here I sit with $50,000 cash dying to buy an old car but I know nothing about them.  Such an exciting description makes me ready to throw it all at this one even though it is rusty and needs everything, how lucky I spotted this ad...."  I don't think so, Todd C  

[Guest Turismo]

7 hours ago, poci1957 said:

 

It is hilarious, as if using as much copy as possible will suck a buyer into the "grandeur".  Auction companies and dealers both do the lengthy (and often slightly wrong) history lesson too, as if a casual buyer will say to themselves "...gee, here I sit with $50,000 cash dying to buy an old car but I know nothing about them.  Such an exciting description makes me ready to throw it all at this one even though it is rusty and needs everything, how lucky I spotted this ad...."  I don't think so, Todd C  

I wholeheartedly agree with this, but we can't act like these tactics HAVEN'T worked for generations of the car market. Shame to see the naive suckered in. 

[JohnD1956]

If this isn't his "first rodeo"  I have a bridge to show him.

[cahartley]

I am the total opposite of the kinds discussed above.

When I sell something I make it a point to spell out every deficiency of which I am aware.

I've sold a fair amount of tractors over the years but only three cars.

Not that I would anyway but the internet can make you or break you real fast and I have been a victim.

Let's just say the ones who misrepresented their goods to me didn't get a pass. 

Filling in several, well chosen, acquaintances is all it takes because it's a small small world.

Nobody will EVER be able to come back at me about how I screwed them since I've already done it to myself because I like to sleep at night....... 

These words from former FBI director Robert Mueller fit well here:

“If you have integrity, nothing else matters, and if you do not have integrity, nothing else matters.”

[Zimm63]

His job at the rodeo must have been shoveling the manure.  Not very good at that, but he uses a lot of it.  

 

 

[Guest SaddleRider]

He forgot to call it an "antique classic"... For shame !

[boojoe]

 Another example of to much time watching Barett Jackson !! No way would I buy any car from the northeast!!!

 

[auburnseeker]

3 hours ago, boojoe said:

 Another example of to much time watching Barett Jackson !! No way would I buy any car from the northeast!!!

 

Actually there are alot of really nice old cars in the East,.  Some were just never used in the winter and stored away,  often in a heated garage out of the sun,  the rest we imported from all the good dry states.  It's not uncommon to find a car in the Northeast with CA lineage.   If you live in the east,  saves 2500 in shipping fees to find one already on this coast.