What is it worth???

Topic: What is it worth??? (Read 1926 times) previous topic - next topic

What is it worth???

April 15, 2017, 05:59:23 PM

Hi,

New guy here, just joined. I'm not really a T Bird Cougar guy, I have a 1979 F150 Ranger Lariat, 1968 AMC AMX, 1970 Rebel Machine, & 1971 Javelin AMX. So, a car & truck guy, just not a T Bird Cougar guy. But.........

A guy I work with had a tree cut down, asked if I wanted the wood. Sure I'll take it. I went to his place to pick up the wood & in the driveway is a 1988 Cougar XR7. I give it a quick look over & am stunned by the nice condition. I ask my co worker what the deal is. He bought it new in 1988, drove it as a toy, always garaged it, never in snow or salt. In 2002 it wouldn't start, so he left it in his garage. It sat untouched for the next 11 years, until his wife told him to get it out of the garage. He pushed it out, where it has sat on a concrete driveway, in a fairly sheltered area, to the present day. He thinks it has less than 50,000 miles. He suspects the fuel pump is the reason it wouldn't start, but never tried to get it fixed, he had other things to drive.

It is absolutely rust free, it is amazing underneath. Lower control arm still has a part # stenciled on it in white. I haven't got inside it, but the interior looks super clean. Only flaw is a little sun fading on the outside edge of the drivers seat. Wheels are excellent, no corrosion & flaking clearcoat like aluminum wheels get here in the rust belt. Paint is badly faded, needs redone. Not a scratch or dent on it, only bad spot I could find is a chip smaller than a pencil in diameter. Rear quarter lips are mint, amazing condition for a rust belt car.

Its red with a red velour interior. 302, Power driver's seat, premium sound are the options that I noticed.

So, he wants to sell it, & gave me what seems to be a reasonable price. Its a risk though, if I can get it to run. Who knows what could be wrong with it, & how much $$ it will take. Plus I already have enough projects to last me well into the future. But, it is talking to me.... Low miles, original owner, sharp color scheme......

So, my question: What is something like this worth as is? What would it be worth running & driving? Running & driving with nice paint? Please let me know your thoughts. I'm going to try & get inside it & under the hood next week & will get some pictures too. Thanks, Scott

What is it worth???

Reply #1 – April 15, 2017, 10:09:30 PM

It doesn't run, but could be a simple fix like a fuel pump, or a little more involved. Might even be a TFI needing replaced, though with less than 75K I'd be doubtful.

First things first...if the price he gave YOU seems worthwhile, I'd not hesitate. SOme kid might come along with a fat wallet and a thin brain...

Without seeing pics, I'd go as high as 3500-4500, but I'm not at all a fan of the porno red interior. (inside forum joke).

If you can get it for less, say 2500, and get it home, and fix it for cheap, as in fuel pump etc. You sir, have made out like a f*cking bandit.

I'd easily pay 2500 for it. Maybe more, if I could look at in person, and it met/exceeded expectations...

Also, depends on what you plan to do with it. Just merely fix it, update the needed mechanicals and drive, or something more involved? HO swap, 5 lug, rear discs, 5 speed?

What is it worth???

Reply #2 – April 15, 2017, 10:18:15 PM

Quote from: scottscott;460333

Paint is badly faded, needs redone. Not a scratch or dent on it, only bad spot I could find is a chip smaller than a pencil in diameter. Rear quarter lips are mint, amazing condition for a rust belt car.

Its red with a red velour interior. 302, Power driver's seat, premium sound are the options that I noticed.

Me, with it needing paint, I wouldn't pay a $1000, then I don't much care for red interior or Cougars for that matter... They no longer show up at auctions but I never paid more than $1400, that was for a nice dark blue 5-speed Turbo Coupe with blue leather interior... Most were far less, red one in sig pict was like $425, the two between it and my white 5.0 converted TC were $400 combined... My white one with black interior was $1200, bought specifically to swap to 5.0...

What is it worth???

Reply #3 – April 16, 2017, 01:36:23 AM

See if the motor turns over before you speculate anything.

Rats like to eat wires. Even if they didn't get inside, there might not be anything left in the engine bay. A car that's sat for a long time will need everything rubber replaced more likely then not, and we haven't even gotten to the point of why it's not running.

If it's been sitting for 15 years and one intake or exhaust valve was opened, just the moisture could have rusted the cylinder to the point you can't get the engine to turn over. If the engine turns over free and all the lights light up with a good battery, the gas has probably rotted out the inside of the tank. If there was no gas in it, that's pretty much guaranteed. Then all the fuel lines will clog up and gas likes to turn into a black tar if it sits for too long.

My guess, if it's in good condition and the initial no start is a simple fix, you might be able to throw $500 at it and have a 30 year old car in need of some work, but will run. Worse case, a couple grand especially if you aren't mechanically inclined.

What is it worth???

Reply #4 – April 16, 2017, 05:21:47 PM

Thanks for the replies!

I hope to get a look inside & under the hood later this week. I need to get the keys from the owner to open it up. As suggested, seeing if the engine is free is the first step. If it is not free, I wouldn't want to mess with it. If its free it will get a very close inspection before I make a decision. I realllly don't need another project, but this one is talking to me.

If I do get it, the plan would be to get it running & driving. Just what it needs, keep it stock. If it behaves, it would get paint. Bad thing about red (like this car) is it is usually the most expensive paint to buy. Last pint of basecoat I bought in red was $150, & it will take a whole lot more than a pint to do this car. Maaco's $400 paint job would be an option but the originality & condition of this car deserves much better. From there, it would be driven while I try to sell it, maybe even make a little $$ or at least break even.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures of it for you in a few days, work & weather permitting.

I really like the red interior, but then I do have a thing for interior colors other than basic black...... My 79 for & 70 Rebel are pictured.

What is it worth???

Reply #5 – April 25, 2017, 03:43:35 PM

Pictures would be good, for sure.........