Value Question - 1964 356 C
 

Hey - friend of mine has recently 'obtained' what appears to be very nice 1964 356. It has had one repaint, was a California car. I do not see any rust repair and the fit /finish is good.

The bad: The motor is gone and has a hot-rod bug motor in placeand recarro seats in front. Guy is asking $15K / he says he can put his hands on the OE motor for an additional $4K

Opinions please. I know almost nothing about these cars other than rust issues. thanks

Would need to see good photos and more details or confirmation of condition, but $15k is definitely the bottom of the scale for any 356 these days. Just check ebay instead of asking here, that's where actual bids and completed sales are. Everyone in the world looking for a cheap 356 is on ebay.

If I bought this, I would flip it - but am really shy because it has a bug motor. I know it is all about condition. It is a very solid car. I have pics but took them late yesterday and they did not turn out well enough to post.

Ebay is where you would flip it. To someone overseas. Re-read my last post.

Yes I did check ebay prior to looking at car last night - completed listings seem to be all over the place. I'd like to find someone near me that could look at it or advise me further.

Of course the completed listings are "all over the place". They are valuable cars, depending on condition. Did you see any that actually sold around $15k? What were they like? This is not rocket science.

I'd look and see what else is not original. You say you don't know much about the cars. You might want to find someone who does to go over it. 356 motors have become very pricey. A friend of mine has a 912 short block that would go well in a car like this, but that's not much of a start. I mention that because I don't think he'd sell it for a grand. Probably cost more.

So flipping the car might bring some profit or it might be a gamble. For the hassle factor involved, I would walk. Sounds like some speculation is already in progress.

$15k for a running 356 in decent shape?
Even with hamster power, that is a DEAL!!
$19k with original motor is a no-brainer.

+1
If I found a 356 like that with the original engine available for under $20K, I'd snap it up in a microsecond. Wothout rust is a huge plus.

Just talked with the guy again - I will go back (possibly this afternoon) in nicer weather and do a more thorough inspection, the car is only @15 mins from me. Then I will post pics and more info.

I'd be really careful doing that, it might get snaggled from you. The web is a big place. :cool:

no worries - he is not an 'internet savy' guy - just a good old school hot rod guy. time is my side

the seller now says he may have access to a lot of spare parts that came with the vehicle from the previous owner (who is also local) and possibly may have the original front seats. stand by.

We have a guy on the R1100S board that would skate you in a heartbeat.

$15K for an original 356 with good panels/frame doesn't sound bad, even with a workable engine.
Even the decent aftermarket clones start at $30+ new.
Engine is separate.
You should research the market.

There's one for sale in Colorado for 21k with an non matching numbers engine but still the right type and a little rust in the floor pan. It's been up for a little while now with steady price reductions.

Mine, original, rusty and not running, but all there except the dash clock (Dad replaced it with a volt meter forever ago) had an agreed/stated value policy on it of 10k.

If it doesn't need body work and just needs an engine put in it, probably worth clse to 15k or maybe a little more. Engines crop up every so often, right now there is a running ready to drop in 912 engine for sale in the 356 section

double post

Thanks guys, still watching the market. The seller has been very busy (he does not have a 'normal' 9-5'r)and we have have not gotten together yet. We have talked tho.

So I will update possibly later this week prior to Carlisle

if it is running and NOT RUSTED BUY IT

seats and motor are dirt cheap compared to a rust restore

50k car if nice and mostly original

Not sure there..............I saw a guy on Ebay asking $3900 for a nice pair of complete front seats (black)............that is kinda pricey for me.

Also it does not have the original steering wheel, and replacement wheels are stratosphere $$ as well...........................so

I need to find out for sure where the original seats are and get it on a lift to inspect

Update - So the short story is: the current owner is a 'flipper' / hot-rod guy who's back 15 acres looks like a "car-complex". He has all sorts of stuff laying around and like 8 Corvettes - all C3 cars half of which are original 427's all in various states of disrepair. A '50 period correct lead sled that is proported to be a Barris original (and looks to be). Try a 1970 Buick GSX convertable with matching engine and trans (1 of 135) sitting out in the woods under a tarp. The list of stuff goes on and on and on.

He has a small body and mechanical shop to support his 'job'. The guy has a great reputation for being honest and fair. The same day I went and looked at the car, a close friend of his also saw it and wanted it so he gave him first right of refusal with a short time frame. Current owner gives his friend until yesterday to come up with the cash or fair trade. Friend could not come with the cash.

In the interim the current owner knows I have the money and am a willing buyer. This morning, owner is backing the 356 out of the shed so I can look underneath on his lift........... His mother stops by and sees the car............................................... .and has to have it.

So now he (and I) are in a pickle.......he says that he now wants to give the car to his mom for Xmas as a present because when he was a teenager he was constantly in trouble (including re-hab) and that they paid multiple ways/times over to get him straight and that he now 'owes' them. I know this to be fact because 2 months ago he bought his father a nice 2008 Duramax to tow the 1 year old gooseneck camper simply because his father mentioned he'd like to go camping...........................w/o the hassles

Owner then calls me and apologizes......... profusely..................................So I counter offer. I say how about I find and buy a nice BMW Z3 any color she wants, make it perfect and trade title for title for the 356. He gives the BMW to his mom for Xmas, I get the 356...... all is great.

His now discussing this alternate option with his father to see if this will fly. Stay tuned

If it were me at this point, I'd just let it go.

+1.
@gambler, don't work too hard on a deal.

Absolutely forget it. BTDT, you will never get this car. Things are either straight forward or they are not in life.

walk away.
take the gsx convertible with you.

I have flipped many cars over the years and have done well by my disciplined approach. The current market is the toughest to make money as I have ever seen.

This car is NICE. Right color and almost right everthing else. I see the fiberglass speedster cars selling for high teens (some cases higher) in my area. I see real 356's that are either rusted heaps needing more $$ than they are worth to restore OR complete restorations that are $48K +

This car is neither, but has great history and presence. It looks like a $40K car. There are a few on Ebay now but if your search CL how many affordable real drivers are out there?

There is a lot of margin for me left in this car. After months of searching and visiting Fall Carlisle - there isn't much stuff out there with this kind of opportunity.

In this economy a good deal takes real work. If this was 6-7 years ago....... I would walk. I have a lot of connections in the business so the Z3 would be easier and I would be in the deal for less money going in. It's a no brainer.

check back after the holidays..
pretty sure it will not have moved...
Mom wanting the car is a whim..

Rika

It's just one car. Let the guy take care of his Mother. Make a hand-shake agreement that if she decides she doesn't want the 356, you get first shot.

Mom's are precious and it sounds like he has quite the history with his parents yet all turned out well. Let the guy "pay back" in a way that means a lot to the family. There's no way I'd try to get between that deal.

YMMV

I have not paid any attention to the 356 market. I had no idea these cars and engines had gotten so valuable. I have my '56 coupe insured for $15,000 and it looks like I ought to review that. I probably have enough parts to build a couple of engines and most of a body. When I think of all the 356 stuff I've sold cheap or given away over the years ...

Do you honestly think that you can show up with a nice Z3 and this deal will go down without another hitch? Seriously? Because here's what will happen - you'll show up with a mint Z3 that his mom won't want because she has her eye on one owned by a neighbor. The neighbor's willing to sell, if you can get her pothead son into Dartmouth. But it's cool, because you know a tutor who could totally get him in, he's a miracle worker, but the guy's hiding from his bookie because he bet the farm the Cubs would make the World Series this year (which no one would believe but the guy's from Chicago, so what you gonna do?). Now the bookie just happens to be the brother-in-law of your ex-wife and she might get him to hold off breaking the tutor's legs until the kid passes his SATs, but she doesn't like lying to her sister and her sister HATES you so if she admits it's a favor for you the deal's off. But she'll consider it if you're willing to put a new roof on your old mother-in-law's house. You ask why she needs a new roof, because you know the roof on her place is good. Technically, yeah, she says, but she'll need a new one when you add another floor. Which, btw, will mean changing the zoning in the neighborhood. And there's your problem, because the zoning commisioner is 356 guy's ex-boyfriend who got dumped after rehab when the guy discovered that without large amounts of drugs in his system, he's straight, so ever since the commisioner's been bitter and lonely and the only way to get him to lighten up and give your ex-MIL a waiver is you be his new boyfriend.

Now, are you willing to blow a low-level city official to get this freaking car? Then walk the EFF AWAY. Geeze.

he says that he now wants to give the car to his mom for Xmas as a present because

Blah blah blah. Everyone has a story.

Move on.

Yeah, you might want to review that. :rolleyes:

If it's dry, original and complete, you're missing a zero, more or less.