Mostly I haul Turds.....today was different.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by speeder

It would cost $20k to make it into a $20k car. My $8.00 Misubishi parts runner truck would also cost $20k to put back in showroom condition and I could ask $20k on auto trader for it. That doesn't make it worth $20k, (or that old Chevelle worth $42k), unless and until some moron actually pays that for it.

The muscle car bubble was incredibly strong and long lasting, covering about the last 25 years. If any domestic car has any collector appeal at all, there should be dozens of confirmed sales or auction results online. Google 1972 911S or "Hemi 'Cuda" and read for days. Absolutely no one on earth collects 1973 Chevelles, at least not intentionally.

The only way that it has any value to anyone is if it was their mother's car, and it's purely sentimental value. It's a shame that mom didn't get the urge for a big block SS Chevelle 3 or 4 years sooner. Then you might have something w some collector value.

There is something appealing about these mid 70's cars, not all of them, but some of them. They are so different from what's being built now. As time goes on, they will look even more different. Not saying they'll ever fetch 911 S money but they will appreciate. The fact that most of them were junked helps too. Even a nice Pinto is worth more now than when new.

I think it looks nice from behind, kind of defines an era.

[speeder]

That’s a matter of personal taste but most people and the market in general disagree. It’s not an appealing car.

[911boost]

I am seeing an uptick in this era of cars as well, I agree that they will never reach the muscle car heights, but they are slowly picking up steam.

[speeder]

That’s a matter of personal taste but most people and the market in general disagree. It’s not an appealing car.

There is an old saying in the car business, “there is an ass for every seat.”

And it’s true. Even the most hideous cars sold to someone, at some time. But in 2018, with probably 8 cars in existence for every person in the world who wants a car, there are 1000 asses for every early 911S in existence but they cannot afford them. There is not even a half-ass for every mid-‘70s GM car on 🌏.

[911boost]

Like you said, to each his own.

They are a cheap(er) way to get into something cool. Retro is now cool, anyone else notice the flip phone Tony Stark used in the new Avengers.......

I am not saying I would buy it, but I do see more mid 70's cars on the road now than I have lately.

[sand_man]

I'm in agreement with speeder's comments throughout this thread. Just not seeing anything there...not my cup of tea, and that's okay. In other words, I see a turd...

[sammyg2]

In 1973 that 454 had 245 hp.
Anemic by today's standards but that was fairly hot in 1973 with the flat cams and low-compression ratios to deal with emissions rules and unleaded gas.

The 350 with 4bbl had 175 hp.
with a 2bbl it dropped to 145 hp.

Definitely post-muscle car era. But .... it had hardened valve seats and with the right parts could be turned into a fire-breather. Lots of parts.

[herr_oberst]

One thing that came to me while I was re reading this thread....

The market for four door versions of the Detroit cars that us geezers think of as iconic, for instance the tri-fives, the early-and-late-sixties Impalas and Galaxies and Falcons and Chevy II's and Satellites, is expanding because there are people who would love to have a version of the car they had a boner for in high school, but can't afford the price of admission for the good body style. So they find the next best thing and hot rod it to the best of their abilities and budget.

Same thing might happen with the '73 Chevelle. Especially with a Rat motor. But will it ever get the money that a comparable halo car will fetch? Only time will tell.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

Even a nice Pinto is worth more now than when new.

Summit Racing in Akron has two rotating carousels with a spiffy car on each near the front door.

Went in to buy some manifold studs for a truck this AM and they had a "sweet" Cosworth Vega on one of them.

If the chicks in the bar don't meet your standards.............lower your standards.

[Baz]

It's a collector car on several levels.

Doesn't mean it's in the top 100.

Preserve it and in the future it will be worth big bucks.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

One thing that came to me while I was re reading this thread....

The market for four door versions of the Detroit cars that us geezers think of as iconic, for instance the tri-fives, the early-and-late-sixties Impalas and Galaxies and Falcons and Chevy II's and Satellites, is expanding because there are people who would love to have a version of the car they had a boner for in high school, but can't afford the price of admission for the good body style. So they find the next best thing and hot rod it to the best of their abilities and budget.

Same thing might happen with the '73 Chevelle. Especially with a Rat motor. But will it ever get the money that a comparable halo car will fetch? Only time will tell.

Wheeler-dealer fixed up a '73 moostang mach 1 a while back, got good money fer it too.

Funny thing, they kept saying is was supposed to have 224 hp.
That's not consistent with the documentation I can find. Maybe they were using some weird British hp measurements
Most likely the dyno guy was correcting for drivetrain loss and that was over Mike's head.

1973
351 Cleveland V8, 2-barrel, 177 bhp @ 4,000

351 Cleveland V8, 4-barrel, 266 bhp @ 5,400

[stevej37]

When I first read the title of the thread...I thought he was having problems on the throne!

[sammyg2]

266 x 85% (typical guesstimate of 15% loss) puts it at 226 hp, that's prolly it.

[sammyg2]

[speeder]

The Laguna was the better looking car in 1973 w that composite front end. There was a girl up the street from me in Junior High whose mom had a loaded new '73 Cutlass Supreme. That was the best looking of the bunch, IMO but it's a relative thing. They were a low point for Detroit.

[sammyg2]

LOL From wiki:

Speed and Supercar magazine said in a June 1974 "Street Test": "Chevy gets it right on." "Enough is plenty, that's how we feel about the 350 Laguna. "... We couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell you what a groovy all around car it is even if it can't smoke the quarter-mile in 13 seconds. And what car in '73 can." "It's not overpowering but it's enough - and so comfortable that the editor bought the car." "The Laguna is the type of car you want to own for fast, comfortable transportation in quiet luxury."[27]


Motor Trend - 1973 Buyers Guide said: "Chevrolet is fielding an all-new intermediate Chevelle series at a time when competitive lines from Ford and Chrysler are one or more years old...when you look at what the stylists have done with what we used to call the pillar coupe, you might want to rush out and buy some stock in General Motors."[citation needed]

Motor Trend said: "The Grand Am and the Laguna are large "small" cars. Nimble, quick and responsive." "The cleanly styled Laguna has a lot to recommend it. The car has a very tight feeling, a by-product of the heavily ribbed underbody and double paneled roof. Strongly in the Laguna's favor is the integrated, body-colored urethane bumper-front end. It's a lot better looking out-front than the big bumper approach."[citation needed]

Car and Driver said: "Directional stability is so strong on the highway that the Laguna seems locked on some guidance-beam radiated from your destination." "The Laguna's urethane nose cap allows the front end to be flat and free of gaps in this day of jutting bumpers; its block-cut fenders are chauvinistically masculine, and no sheet metal is wasted cloaking its tires from view...so the Laguna looks like it could bowl over most of the cars on the road."

[sammyg2]

Remember. there's a big difference between ASKING price and SALE price.
Some folks throw out a crazy high price looking for a fish to bite.

1973 Chevelle SS 454 - Matching Numbers - 4 Speed - 33k Original Miles - $19000 (Orange County)

1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
condition: like new
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 33000
paint color: custom
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe

This is an original Chevelle "SS" (I know the back windows have been filled in, but that is easily reverted back to stock) custom paint job, everything else is original. Upholstery is meticulous. Mechanically this car is perfect. You can drive this daily or it makes the perfect weekend show car. I have the original build sheet.

The pictures speak for themselves, please call me if you are serious and want to talk

Asking $19,000














1973 Chevelle SS 454 - Matching Numbers - 4 Speed - 33k Original Miles - $19000 (Orange County)

1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
condition: like new
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 33000
paint color: custom
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe
This is an original Chevelle "SS" (I know the back windows have been filled in, but that is easily reverted back to stock) custom paint job, everything else is original. Upholstery is meticulous. Mechanically this car is perfect. You can drive this daily or it makes the perfect weekend show car. I have the original build sheet.

The pictures speak for themselves, please call me if you are serious and want to talk

Asking $19,000

[speeder]

Exactly what I said. Asking $19k and probably take a lot less. And it's a 4-speed. American iron is not flying off the shelf these days, unless it's really special.

[sammyg2]

Agreed, that looks like a lot of car for $19k but he'd prolly take less.
Got my wheels turning ......
big block, warmed over, 4 speed, chevelle ........ good price ...... plenty of spare rear tires


I have a buddy who had a 70' chevelle with a 454 that was really, really clean (not numbers matching) that dyno'd at 426 hp. It was show-n-shine clean.
Had plenty of go-fast autocross stuff but looked totally stock. He sold it last year for under $30k.
And it was an automatic.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by speeder

Exactly what I said. Asking $19k and probably take a lot less. And it's a 4-speed.

That truncated rear window is unfortunate.

Is that a stick or a manual 4-speed?