maximum value for horrid '85 Targa?

kiesan · 01-17-2005, 12:23 PM

Hey guys I'm looking at a car that has needs like there is no tomorrow. '85 Carerra Targa (US market) that has 85k miles and runs and drives OK and hasn't been modifed. That is the good part. On the bad side the interior is completely ruined (like, there is not one salvageable item) from being parked outside in the Pacific NW for years with a targa top that looks like Buffy mistook it for a vampire. Seats, dash, belts, every interior panel, carpets, etc. are hopeless. The guages are kind of OK. The paint appears to be original but is badly faded everywhere and there are some poor repairs to one rear quarter with a newer major dent there and also to one of the fenders. Has decent original Fuchs with round rubber stuff around them that sort of resemble tires. She's not rusty and actually appears to never have been severely smashed up. All the glass is pretty decent.

Based on my description, is this a parts car? What should be my absolute top offer? I am not opposed to driving around a ratty Targa that runs and drives OK.

Rot 911 · 01-17-2005, 12:29 PM

I wouldn't buy it unless I did all my own body and paint work. Even then, I wouldn't give anyone more than $5000 for it. If you pay someone to do the work, you are looking at $10-$15K to bring it back to decent shape.

john walker's workshop · 12:40 PM

that car was just in my shop. if i had known it was as bad as it was, i would have passed, but since he had it towed in, i agreed to do the bare minimum to get it going, which was to repair a totally corroded away wire connector in the plug for the DME relay. i told him i wouldn't pay anymore than $3500 for it, as a parts car. too much to fix to ever be a decent car again. a virtual swimming pool. no maintenance ever. you would think he could have duct taped the 2 foot gash in the top to try to keep the water out. been sitting down in wallingford for quite a while.

s2per · s2per's Garage

Interior parts are easy to replace; someone is always building a racecar. If cosmetics are the only issues, $6 to 8K would be a bargain; if it doesn't check out well mechanically, who knows? I bought an '81 Targa that needed much of the same things about 3 years ago for less than $6k and had a ball fixing it up. Sold it and recapped all my upgrading $, plus had the satisfaction of modifying it the way I wanted.

What would you rather drive--a Targa or a 6 year old Asian anycar?

Rot 911 · 01-17-2005, 12:39 PM

JW, having seen the car in person, to me, has put the max value on it.

kiesan · 01-17-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by john walker's workshop
that car was just in my shop. if i had known it was as bad as it was, i would have passed, but since he had it towed in, i agreed to do tyhe bare minimum to get it going, which was a totally corroded away wire connector in the plug for the DME relay. i told him i wouldn't pay anymore than $3500 for it, as a parts car. too much to fix to ever be a decent car again. a virtual swimming pool.

Swimming pool is right. He actually has the computer balancing on a bottle of Penzoil in the shallow end. Thanks for the info, John.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Run-don't walk from this. Maybe it has value as a parts car, but not worth the repair effort it sounds like.

jpnovak · 01-17-2005, 12:51 PM

Think it would sell cheap? Or is the seller interested in top dollar for a pile of crap? I would like an older Carrera as a parts car.

kiesan · 01-17-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnovak
Think it would sell cheap? Or is the seller interested in top dollar for a pile of crap? I would like an older Carrera as a parts car.

Well, I/we now know the owner turned down $3500 so we'll see. In 2 weeks when the owner returns from holiday I'll either strike up a deal with him or if that fails turn you guys loose on him.

speeder · speeder's Garage

The motor is worth ~$3500 if it's running and complete, trans maybe $1k, (more if it happens to be a ltd. slip), Fuchs wheels are $5-600 for all 4, plus there are a LOT of other parts that are sellable if it's a complete car, even w/o the interior. Nobody really wants a Targa shell, but still it's worth something, maybe $1k.

So do the math if you're willing to chop it up, but it doesn't sound like it's worth fixing/saving, much cheaper to just buy a nice one.

s2per · s2per's Garage

I'm with Jamie on this one; I'd love to have a ratty Carrera with a decent 3.2, and I'd offer the guy more than $3500 for sure. Geographically, this car wouldn't make much sense for me. But if anyone knows of a ratty Carrera (esp. a Targa) in the southeast, PLEASE let me know.
Have trailer, will travel

john walker's workshop · 07:44 AM

if you're going to part it, breaking even sucks. that's why i would only go $3500.

EDIT (from Noah): whoops, I accidentally hit the "edit" button on your post John instead of reply and started typing! They're right next to eachother and it's easy to do...