I can't seem to find anything online about the prices of these cars to see if it's overpriced or not. It's a 79, ad says manual and 100k miles but who knows if thats accurate or not. The guy said the previous owner told him the engine was in good condition before he parked it. Its missing a molding, needs a taillight lense, a new hood, the deck lid is dented and needs to be fixed and the rest of the car probably needs painted too. I do paint and body work so I'm not super worried about that. Its spark yellow which he said was rare. He said the interior is really nice besides the dash being cracked. He said the seats have always had covers on them so they're super nice. Anyone have a clue what it would be worth? He's asking $1800. Thanks!

 

Pictures would help a lot. 1800 sounds below average.

 

 

Bumpers look fine, but the *** is all pushed in. If you can pull that back out you're in decent shape.
"ran fine before it was parked" is the scary part. How long has it been parked? Will it start and run now? How close are you to the car... meaning, can you go check it out and tell us what you find? Or is it a "buy it on the internet and then go get it" sale?

These cars are getting hard to find parts for, so you'll need patience and you'll need to learn all the good sources for parts. You'll spend lots of time scouring epay and Fapbook looking for used parts, so be sure you want to take on a resto project. I love 1st gens but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone that doesn't have space to work on it, time, patience, and disposable income.

 

"Ran when parked" doesn't mean anything. What matters is does it run now. If it doesn't then you have to treat it like it needs a rebuild or another engine and the price needs to reflect this fact. If you can inspect it and at least turn it over and maybe try to start on starting fluid, it would give you an idea.

 

So basically if it doesn't run or at least turn over it wouldn't be worth it?

 

For $1800, for me, the interior would need to be pretty good and not tore up and the body not rusted or major dents. The hood is easy to replace, but that rear-end is going to take some work or another piece welded in. The other aspect with a 1979 is if it's a lowish VIN number. Those built in 3/78 are the most desirable because that was the first month of production. The VINs started at around 500000.

I have VIN 501673

 

For me yes. I'd give 1k and that's if this car would not be your primary means of transport and you have a few grand to sink into it.

Lets just say you do need another engine. Try doing a search for one and see what comes up. And if you do find one, does it run? A rebuild will cost at least 1k and that's if you do it yourself and all the current parts are usable. Not trying to discourage you, but just be prepared for what the future might hold.

 

In my opinion, you're overpaying at $1800. Probably also at $1k unless it's a parts car for you that you plan to strip. That spark yellow first year is pretty sad as far as body and general degree of care, and that's not even going into engine issues.

If you're new to SA/FB, this car is going to sit and rot while you try to figure out what you got into, and then get sold for something less than what you paid or scrap - whichever yields more. Having owned an SA for many years - and selling it to another enthusiast for $1 (*yes, you read that right...) - I was done with trying to keep it running by finding NLA parts, spares, and the general maintenance required on a 40y/o car.

Unless you're in love with it for some reason, it's going to be a labor of love or an albatross hung around your neck,

 

The pictures are not very detailed but it looks kind of rough. Spark Yellow is kind of a rare color. Looks like its had bodywork before however, thats a 1980 rear bumper on it. (Spark Yellow was a 79 only color) Others have given a good account of what to expect if you need parts, its not as easy as getting Camaro or Mustang parts. A compression check (with a rotary compression tester) can give a good idea of the engines condition. Something 90 PSI or over is a good reading.

 

Most things have already been covered. The general consensus is that most would pay $1000 or less for the car. Given the body damage, unknown rust issues, unknown health of the engine, its a big gamble at $1800. Spark Yellow is fairly rare which is good. Would definitely love to know what the vin is to see how early the car is as well.

 

$1800 would be ok if the engine is ok. Way to tell is remove the plugs, and turn it over at full throttle. If the swooshes are uniform, then ok. If you have 5 swooshes, and one non, then the apex seal is blown. So RUN ! Look up vice grip garage on youtube.

And if it is going to rust, it will be behind the storage bins, rear wheel wells. You say you do body work? Then if that area is rusted out, great!! You can use that to talk him down. "Seats always had covers on them"??? Big deal. You can get seats from a auto salvage yard.

For $1800, the seller should be happy to let you check those things.

 

I have an SA and would agree with what has been said.

 

I would say its a $500.00 parts car given how rough it is and the fact that it probably doesn't run. Since you do body work, you know how much work is involve here for that, now factor in all the unknowns. If you have room and can get it for around $500.00 it would be a great parts car for when you find a better one. You will need the parts and if the interior is decent, that alone could lend valuable parts to another project.

 

This thread just reminds me why I hate my SA. It's hard to find parts.. I love everything else about the car MINUS the hard-to-find ****.
=

 

Well, this was all for nothing. The guy told me that something came up and that I could come the next day. That next day he said he decided to keep it 🙄

 

Sorry to hear it worked out that way. There are others on the market. Perhaps the next on you find will not in as poor of condition.

Shame you couldn't get the vin. I know a guy that is looking for his Spark Yellow 79 that he bought new and sold. He has been trying to find the car for the last 30 years and every Spark Yellow 79 I see, I always ask for the vin just in case.

 

One of my friends is on IAAI and a non runner '79 went for $4000, and it wasn't even stock, it had some *** ugly body kit on it. Mind you, this is vehicle auctions only accessible to dealers and salvage yards - whoever bought it expected the car to turn a profit in parts or resale.

I would have paid $1800 for that all day and twice on Sunday.