1971 Trans Am 455HO matching numbers car $94K
 

I'm listing this for a friend it is not mine.

1971 Trans Am 455HO 4 speed matching number car. White with blue stripe/inserts (or whatever you call them). Off the road since 1977 and owned by him since 1980. Always stored inside. 60,000 mile car. I will post pictures in a couple of minutes. Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Call owner Pat Bennett 337-912-6315 for more information.

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OK Pat has gotten no calls in response to this ad or his post on Facebook putting the car up for sale. He needs to sell the car so asked me if I would come back here and ask you what you think the car is worth as it sits. It is a running driving car or was at least when the engine was rebuilt by Pat in 1980 after he bought it. The original owners had blown the engine and broke two rods. The block, heads, and possibly crankshaft (I cas ask Pat) were ok so Pat rebuilt the numbers matching engine. Pat owned and operated a machine shop for forty years before retiring and rebuilding engines is what he did. Anyway do you feel Pat should be asking for this car? I told him he should have it detailed and take it to a Mecum auction but he wants to sell it as is.

I meant to say "what do you feel Pat should be asking for the car?" in order to sell it as pictured.

If those are the best pictures you have of the car that’s going to be a problem, anyone seriously interested in this car wants to see good pictures and a lot of them.

The car is filthy, in order for anyone to determine the actual condition of the car it should be professionally detailed to show both the good and bad. Getting top dollar requires some effort so get the car looking good and pull it outside for some better pictures. People want to see what they’re paying for so show them.

It is really running and driving? Get a handle on that and find out exactly what’s what.

The car has been advertised here for a total of 3 days. Don’t expect to have someone who’s interested to have seen this ad already. Looking to sell a car like this for top dollar won’t happen overnight, give it some time. It might sell quickly if he slashes the price heavily, getting good money takes time as you have to wait for the right buyer to come along.

I understand what you are saying and as I said in post #4 I told him he needs to have it detailed and take to a Mecum auction if he wants to get his best price, but he doesn't want to do that. His call. My question was "what do you think he should be asking as it is shown in the pictures?"

I get that.

Pat needs a reality check, he needs to clean the car and show it’s a running driving car otherwise slash the price by at least 25% would be my take. Looking for a quick sale means a low price. Not wanting to deal with auctions is understandable.

How much as it sits? You can’t see enough of the car to determine exactly how it sits. No pictures of the underside and no really good pictures at all.

And again don’t let 3 days of exposure for this and other ads convince him so quickly to drop the price.

$500 worth of detailing might net him another 10 to 15k. Who knows it might turn out that this car is a nice unrestored survivor that’s not in need of a full blown restoration only a careful detailing and preservation, cars like this are rare and potentially worth nearly as much as a nut and bolt restoration.

Some auction results of similar cars may help determine the value. Sitting in a barn for over 40 years pretty much says it will need a restoration. Seems as he is pricing it like a restored car would be priced. I would guess 25-40k as it sits.

Thanks for the responses I just talked to Pat and read this whole thread to him. He asked me to add that it is an air conditioned car, that he will have it detailed, and he guarantees it is a running driving car. I will post more pictures as I get them.

Remind Pat, cleanliness is next to godliness. Have it professionally detailed by guys that do high end cars. Even if it's $2K to do that it will net him 5X that much when he goes to sell it if not more.

Haggerty insurance has a valuation tool you can you for free.

As it sits right now that is around number 3 condition. That makes it way over priced

40 to 45K

Put that B up on B AT. Someone will pay the original asking price.

When was the last time it actually ran and drove? If it hasn’t been started or turned a wheel in 40 years, there’s no way that can be guaranteed. I wouldn’t chance trying to start a valuable engine that has sat that long. I’m not saying it’s bad, but I would pull it and at least do all the seals gaskets and check the internals. Did that on a 429CJ numbers matching engine that had sat for 20 years and it saved dropping a valve.

Pricing as is could vary between 30-50k, depending if it has original rims, carb, undercarriage condition etc. I slightly disagree with the detailing aspect as untouched dust on barn find is highly appealing to some buyers though the original condition crowd are paying strong money for unrestored cars that present well. Too much imo so that may be the way to go.

He's been getting good advice here.


How about just showing the motor will turn with a breaker bar so there is little risk of damage.



I waited a long time to find a mostly original 4 speed air car in the right colors and when I did, paying perhaps more than what it was worth didn't slow me down. Point is, no matter how these cars were originally equipped there will be someone who loves it just that way and will pay above it's worth especially the more unusual and original it is. The more you can prove is original the more you will get paid! Dirty or clean.


My personal guess, 60 to 65K IF it's not rusty and is mostly original. Totally agree, Bringatrailer seems to be a great place to sell these days after seeing a 71 Formula bring 145K!

I'd give him 40k cash for it. 94k is just out of the stratosphere for a car that hasn't run since the 80s.

Would have to look a long time to find a car like this. But 94 seems like a lot.

Has it had mice in it?

Will need a good mechanic. Brakes, old gas, old tires, hoses, belts and more. But what a time capsule!

The only way he could get 40-50k out of the car as sits would be to verify and document each piece of the engine from the carb to the partial VIN stamp and everything in between.
And pray that its all correct.
Getting it running properly after that would mean a lot towards trying to get 50k.

The underside is probably going to look about as ugly as the radiator support,
and all the corrosion under the hood is really bad vibe.

Depending how all the numbers match, how it runs, how it cleans up - it might get 60-65 after a full effort cleaning and full servicing. That might get it to #3 condition status

It was probably close to mint condition 40+ years ago when he got it.
The way it was stored could only preserve it at a certain level.
A cherry mint #s 4spd survivor today could bring 94k probably

If he really wants or needs to capitalize on the sale of the car he should heavily get involved with finding a company to blast it under hood and underneath with Dry Ice.
Amazing non-destructive results

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