I saw this car on ebay.

looks sweet, but the rust at the frame rails looks kinda serious. got some body rust around the hood, smokes on start up and the brakes are spongy.

is this typical rust for the breed? the car looks redemmable, but not having built one of these before, what's the consensus? what's the relative real world value outside of ebay crazyperson land?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4592192072&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Personally I wouldn't even drive it like that. Looks like you'd probably need to replace both frame rails and one or more floor pans to make it roadworthy. Not sure what it's worth. Personally I'd look for another one but then again I have more choices out here in the West.

I would be cautious because without scraping off all that(or at least in random areas) undercoat I don't see how you could realistically estimate the amount of underbody rust one might encounter. That to me determines the value of this car.

From the pics...looks like the inner fenders/rockers are gone too. He has the good floor replacements, but youll need new rails too. To get rails/floors/rockers/inner fenders bought and welded in is big bucks, I JUST did mine. He's not including the rims either. I would stay away and get another one if you can. I learned my lesson..get the best frame you can!

Zak

That vioded and glassed framerail didn't happen in the last eight months-there is a bunch of the story missing...in addition to a bunch of metal.

He is keeping the wheels-I think the current biid is too high with the failing prior bodywork, and the hints of the problems that are showing...

rails are gone, not even sure if its too safe to drive. theres no way there is no more rust....

Smokes on start up? Please. No problem. Spongy brakes? Pshaw--child's play

RUST? Hmmm...where there's smoke, there's fire.

Whatever rust you see, the reality is ike 5-10 fold worse, as most Z cars rust from the inside, like within the front frame rails, quarter panels, rockers etc. Bottom fenders rust from debris caught up where the cowl drains into the inner fender...floorpans rust for a number of reasons including moisture trapped in between metal and asphalt sound deadener, leaky door seals and leaky heater tubes under the dash...Battery tray rusts from moisture/battery acid corrosion etc etc

Need pics of engine bay, battery area specifically...

The front framerail looks scariest to me. I wonder what hides under that undercoating? Is the T/C rod bucket going to fall off next? Better be good with a welder. The passenger floorpan is replaceable, and it looks like the seller knows it.

If I had to guess, the seller has realized the extent of restoration involved and may be trying to bail. Seems upfront about it in the ad, although the car hasn't "started to rust"--more like "the rust has started to show." Can't blame him/her after seeing that frame rail...

Caveat emptor. Examination in person is likely paramount. Pics only give a "tip of the iceberg" impression to me...Restorable? Sure! Just depends on how much $$$ you have. If you can get someone who likes welding a shot at it you may do fine. Everything else pictured looks good...

Good luck.

Edit: Zak's Z: I am not sure the dash is a cap...where do you see a seam? I looked closely at the pic with the driver's door open, and it looks like a real dash to me...

XRAY...youre right. my bad. The one pic of the dash head on looked like a half-cap. When I checked at my home computer its clearly NOT a half-cap. SUNDOWNER, sorry about that...dash looks great!

Zak

For a car that has been sitting for a while it definately has a lot of rust. Most of which is covered with that fresh undercoating. I would bet my Z that if you took a putty knife to those frame rails you would go clear through the floor. Granted he does offer new floors, I think that is the least of your worries. This is a northeast car, and it has definately been driven in the snow/salt. Also the paint is shot. Cracking and rusting. The engine, at a minimum needs new valve stem seals. This car has not only sat, it has been neglected. The interior is intact because nobody has been in it. But the outside is in serious need of some $$$$. $1500-2500. Tops.

I kinda figured the rust was worse than it looked.

I've been down that road with too many Jeeps and Toyota trucks.

I could probably handle the rust repair. I'm pretty good with that kinda work. but for the $$$ the car is getting for itself, I'm getting the impression I should be either shopping for a cleaner example, or find an un-gussied basketcase at a basketcase price.

thanks for the help, all.