1970 basket case
 

Ok guys. Next week I'm going to look at a 1970 T/A Lucerne Blue, blue interior, Ram Air 3, 4 speed (not original block but heads and all are SUPPOSED to be original). Same owner for 40+ years and he says it is a basket case.

It has rust in the floor pans and trunk but comes with replacement parts. I know that rear rails are a beast so I will be looking hard at them. I know the 70 cars are tuff to restore but would you ever buy one and not worry about how correct it is in the end??? I'm not the kind of guy to worry about numbers but the 70 car is worthy in my book.

What's a good buy in price for a car like this?

Thanks, Rg

I am the same way, please ignore the few shark-tankers and LIVE this hobby. I have never worried about things like underhood bracing on early TAs and inner fender braces. Please pursue the car and bring it back to glory if it is a worthy
candidate. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that exists here and elsewhere, but the reality is that very few 100 point benchmark cars exist.Best of luck, Pete

Pics
 

Post up some pics and I am sure the comments will fly.
Bigger the basket case the cheaper they get. But be careful, You can end up buying a parts car today that will cost you an arm and a leg to restore to mid level correctness. Paint and body are the most expensive. Budget for about 15-20K if you're not a painter and have the facility. no more 5K paint jobs. paint and materials are 2-3K now.
More correct parts the better the deal and easier the project.
No correct block will kill the finished value by half. Just be aware of that when you get ready to make a deal.
If you don't care about the final value when finished and don't care about ever selling it throw as much money as you can afford at it and have fun. it will be a great learning lesson.

There is a blue 4 speed with original block on Facebook that looks pretty rough. Guy is asking 25k. Car is overpriced IMO...

Attachment 638932

I would shop around first. Maybe find one partially started and the guy lost his shirt already or budget for one already done (that's what I did because mine was too far gone)...getting one of those back from the grave will be daunting and many of the parts are one-off

Correctness be damned if it is the car for you and good luck!

Hard to put a value on it without a bit more info on condition, and what parts are still with it.
And a car like that only makes sense if you can do a lot of the work yourself, because its market value will be driven by other people who are planning to do the work themselves.

Check the carb real close when you go (3-5k)
Shaker and drop base pan (1-2k)
Correct dash bezel (500-1k)
3.55 or 3.73 12bolt posi (1500-2500)
JW wheels (500-1000 each)

There's over 10k right there

You'll probably find advanced rust around the lower front and rear glass channels too.

Check out the 70 TA Build Thread by 72projectbird and see if you have the vigilance and desire to afford bringing back one from the rust.

The big question I would have is how far do you want to take the restoration, and what are the replacement parts.

In addition to the parts Baron listed, early fenders, hood, and core support are very hard to find and very expensive when you do. If the replacement parts are NOS, they're probably not correct because I have seen very few NOS 70-72 fenders. Pontiac switched over to the 73 style fender for replacements and discontinued the 70-72 fenders. I had an all numbers match 70 T/A automatic that I parted out because the parts were worth far more than the car is worth.

Personally, I'd expend much more time & $$$$ on quality metal work of a documented (but NOM) LUCERNE BLUE '70 T/A 4spd project before spending anywhere near the same amt of effort on a similar rusty white auto RA3 '70 T/A project.

When it comes to correct early fenders, have jigged up & swapped out the rails in numerous mid 70's straight solid straight fenders. Worried about not having the correct inner structure in an early T/A hood, that can be remedied as well. Early core supports haven't been a problem here, sure the supply is drying up, but nothing like the supply of other large items.

It's sad to say, but I think a non-running car may be worth more for parts than as a whole. I have a Lucy Blue 1971 T/A automatic with a/c I've owned it since 1982. It is a tuxedo interior car. The original paint was cracking when I bought it, so I had a guy in my local club media blast the roof and top of the quarters and prime them in epoxy. Quarters have no holes at all, but there was a little surface rust around the rear window frame. The window was removed and the channel blasted. The car has the complete correct motor, tranny, rear, fenders, hood, core support, etc. It was a one owner car driven by a woman before I got it and still has all of the original parts. If you add up all of the parts and still have a solid body shell left, it gets quite expensive.

Lot of expensive original parts, but I'd wager as a very desirable color combo '71 T/A worth more running & able to drive up on a trailer.

Well, I had to pass on it. Although it's an interesting car (but I like them all!) the amount of work needed to get it back on the road is more than I care to do. Sorry, guy didn't want me to take pics, I can understand it. Rear rails are shot and I don't want to do a full rebuild.

He says he has a guy who is ready to buy so hopefully it will make it back on the road.

What was the asking price?


:confused:

Not for the weak of heart for sure...do u figure all those hi dollar parts were there?

North of $10k

Guys are asking 10k for esprit’s that are garbage. I can’t say they are getting it but prices are ridiculous on the early second gen’s. I’ve been looking for a 70 esprit body that’s fairly clean in the tub for a while now.
The prices have been coming down and the supply is getting better lately though. Problem
Is the ones Im seeing are on west coast and shipping is prohibitive for just an esprit. Not to mention you never really know what your getting unless you see it first hand.

Turbo69 what state are you in?
PM me with details of what type of Esprit your looking for