What to expect for under $3000. . . in Georgia

[TBone028]

Here are my thoughts:

$3000 can buy a couple of different scenarios:

1) A decent running Z with a couple of things that need to be addressed mechanically/electrically but it still runs. It will have some rust and probably some bodywork. Paint is a "10-footer"

2) A "rust free" shell in primer without glass, interior, or powertrain. Basically a rolling shell. Great foundation if you have a complete parts car, or are resourceful and patient in acquiring parts.

3) A "backyard special" Z with an engine transplant (poorly executed V8 swap or something similar) and a whole bunch of rust (floors, rails, battery box, hatch, etc). A basket case that the owner is tired of dealing with and is trying to break-even on their investment. Essentially a project car gone wrong. Not for the feint-hearted.

Personally, I would opt for holding out until you find the cleanest, rust free example possible. If its just a shell, then I would buy it and find a running parts car.

My first Z was an impulse buy. $1500 for what looked like scenario 1. Upon further investigation, I realized that the amount of money needed for rust repair and body work made the car a poor foundation for my weekend driver. Be patient, these cars have traded hands for +30 years. They will continue to pop-up for sale and go to new homes. It took me 10 years to get the perfect weekend driver.

Good luck!

[jrecee]

Sure, there are days when the car doesn't run. It does run most of the time, and sometimes you can even plan out when it won't be running. Has it ever left me stranded? Absoutely. The cost? Being an ongoing project, you can pick the cheaper and lenghty things (clock/tach rebuild, cleaning wireing terminals) when finances are tight... and save the more expensive (gauges, interior trim, fibreglass resin) for when the budget sees a little room to expand. Lots of love, too.

It actually runs probably 95% of the time I want/need it to. Maybe not perfectly, but working out those quarks is... can I say... part of the experience?

This is one of the reasons why I'm buying a Z. There are a few new cars out there that I would like, but I already have a perfectly good daily driver, and can't bring myself to make $400 payments month in and month out on a new car. I realize a lot of money can go into an old car, but I don't have to worry about consistently coming up with a big payment every month. I can inject money into it as I have it. The way I see it, even if I spent $20,000 over 5 years, I still get off cheaper than buying a new car. And in my opinion, a classic car that I spent 5 years fixing up, is worth more than a $25,000 flavor of the day new car that I bought off the lot, even if KBB doesn't think so.