[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by transam1972

so numbers matching white or blue,stick or auto,standard or deluxe,air or not,old fenders or new fenders,survivior or redone is atleast 150 k....got it!!...I am glad that the pressure is off me and I can restore my measly 1972 H.O. the way I want...really a 10 to 20 thousand dollar hit 30 years from now will not matter to me....I can only dream what a RAM AIR V would bring?....a cool million??

Consider inflation ( devaluation of the Dollar) and its all relative. Right now investors are seeking other currencies, so things of know value ( this car) are in demand. Anything but the very rare, or very desirable from a "resale" point of view isnt going get the big $$.
ENJOY your car= VALUE....
Cost to "store" a car in a DRY temp controlled garage is $200/month... ( 30 years) 360 months at $200/month.. $72,000 ...

[transam1972]

to me,1970 to 1972 Trans Ams all look alike...I would think low compression is a good thing...I was more into options when I decided on my car,mileage & original owner were a score...colour did not matter as it needed a total repaint...I even toyed with the idea of finding a mint 72 white Esprit and doing a rebody...as my car needed paint and quarters...closest I came was a 70 white Esprit I drove for awhile....decided against it(1990) as still a lot of work and too many differences...I feel it has preserved well in a regular garage, however since I am looking at moving a cargo trailer may be a new home...in & out..I will never get crazy because of my initial investment...will be happy the day it gets painted!!!...and still the process of putting it all back toghther....and yet it will never be like a true survivior car with low miles...in 1978 I wanted a Shelby white 1965 with 23k,parents would not loan me the $4500 as it was an old Mustang!...had to be GM and that's how I discovered T/A s....anyway a 70 RAIV is big $ and so should a 70 Buick GS X Stage 1

[roundportponchos]

I really like the HO cars, have a 71 white, & blue one. & a cali LS 1. All are van nuys built.

I always thought they would take off,. IMO, they are a real bargin compared to a RAIV 70. The 70 , as quoted before, is 1 of only 88...., and the rarity & desirabilty dictates price.... IMO

[transam1972]

70 RA III I joke around a lot, but this is a very serious question....you have seen photos of my car...72 H.O. auto,air,pw,pdl.edf,tilt,am/fm stereo,tint,bumber guards,and rare Lucerne blue...58k,and I am the 2nd owner..except for sheetmetal,never dismantled....any sheetmetal replacemrnt is GM...trim,weatherstrip,console,etc is GM...suppose I get a paint job top level for $15k..finish the car myself.... do you mean 25k for an unrestored clunker!?....so my car finished would be worth about 60k?...I just want facts on T/A s and restoration...what will my car be worth finished?...yet I still believe,the less restored car is more valuable because that is ''survior'' territory....thanks, transam1972

[70RAlll]

72TA your car with just a repaint is not a full resto. A full resto is having the body dipped,edp coated then replacing any rusted metal. From that all original fasteners replated in manganese phosphate or cadmium, then assembled . Basically a full off frame every single piece restored-not using repo look alike bolts etc.. Some parts you can't help using repos,but fewer better. Even then, your car is 60K on a good, a real good day. You could probably bank on a complete resto as I described getting $45-50K. And as your car sits, maybe 25.. 72's ,of any GM variety, just do not bring much, market considers that after the muscle car time period. . Your car is probably more like a $15-20K as it sits. I could be off +/- 10-15% either way. ANd these are just my opinions. one guys angle on cars values.. I am sure I am the the ballpark with my numbers..

[transam1972]

RAIII....that's cool....I have avoided restoring parts that I felt did not need it, of course when I started to restore it, it was a different time...I got new fenders at a Pontiac dealer!...restoring a car vs. owning a low mileage original car is totally different...to do over again I should have kept looking for an original paint,low miles car...even in the late 70 s I looked at atleast 4 early T/As that were trashed then...one had no motor!..actually I am stuck with what I got...it will be interesting to see if I make any progress this year...thanks for the advice! peace transam1972