[carmak]

A friend of my parrents passed recently. He had stashed away a 1976 GP in the garage.

His son called it the Golden Anniversary car.

It is really very solid looking and has been stored indoors since new. The paint all looks original and in nice shape. The doors shut really nice. The chrome also looks nice.

The interior is a bit dingy but looks like it would clean up.

It has a cracked/blown head/bolck/head gasket and the trans slips really bad. As I understand the story the engine went bad when the car was only 4-5 years old and it was parked. The trans went bad from sitting.

The family needs a ballpark value to settle the estate.

I have no idea what mid 70's GP's are worth (I am a late 60's Bonneville guy). What is a real world value for this car.

Thanks.
Carmak
Riverside, Iowa

[form74]

I'm not an expert on these cars, it looks like a nice car, but value is really going to be hurt due to it's non-running condition. Selling outright you might get some good money from somebody who is into these cars, but as it sit's I'm going to say 1,500 to settle the estate.

Since you've seen it, I would look around Ebay or other sites and see if anything similar comes up.

[carmak]

Clean looking non-runners are hard to find to compare to, most of what I find a rusty runners.

The family needs a number for the estate. Once the estate is setteled I have recomended they investigate why it's a non-runner and possibly fix it to sell.

Carmak

[Lightfoot]

I never heard of a trans that went bad 'just from sitting'.
I bet it leaked out from dried seals and that's why it won't go; low fluid. Someone may have trashed it from trying to 'force it to drive' when the fluid was too low is also a possibility.
Knowing what the odometer reads would go a long way towards ballparking the value.
I can't see it being worth more than a grand unless it has super low miles.

[2002Z4CSS]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

I never heard of a trans that went bad 'just from sitting'.
I bet it leaked out from dried seals and that's why it won't go; low fluid. Someone may have trashed it from trying to 'force it to drive' when the fluid was too low is also a possibility.
Knowing what the odometer reads would go a long way towards ballparking the value.
I can't see it being worth more than a grand unless it has super low miles.

Common for trans fluid to leak from the dipstick seal when sitting due to the convertor drainback.

[camerjeff]

I agree that with the $1500-$2000 figure if the body is solid for a non runner with a non cracked dash, deduct $500 if the dash is cracked. Worth more if it is a 455 or 400 Powered car, I can not remember if the anniversary editions came with the standard 76 GP engine of a 350 2bbl or not. But it does seem to be a anniversary car, correct Color and Hurst T-tops so it may gather more interest.

I would agree that repaired and in good shape they have more Value, but top end on those cars is not what a 64-72 GTO or Lemans will bring. No one will get rich selling it.

[mrrat1]

trans went in my pops 66' cat from "just sitting" no 2-3 shift. Its possible!

[Keith Vrabec]

$1k-$2k at best

[daduck]

If it does not run/drive I would say $1,000 would be the most you could get from someone that knows these cars (73-77 Grand Prix). And that assumed good condition. I personally have never paid more than $150.00 for a 73-77 Grand Prix that I could not drive onto a trailer.

Best bet is sell it on eBay to someone that thinks it is a $10 K car for $2 K.

[red1975pacer]

Ill give you 1500, and Ill try but probably wont be able to make it a 10000 car. Why? Its very hard to find parts, Dont believe me? check out the thickness of the Grand Prix restortion parts books. Scott 216 410 1904

[Txbobcat]

I am in the 1K to 2K ballpark

[charles bledsoe]

There should be a 50th aniversity medialion on the trunk key cover, and on the nose. Can't tell from the pic posted. Check around on the Internet you should be able to come to a what's it worth figure. First you need to find out if it is in fact a 50th aniversity model, or a G/P with a T-top. It also should have the 455 engine.

[red1975pacer]

Not all came with a 455

[carmak]

Update ---

The condition of the engine/trans noted above was provided to me by the son of the owner.

The GP got pulled out this weekend and looked at by a professional. Not a cracked head etc... just a stuck thermostat. Not a bad trans, just low fluid (may need new seals waiting to see if they soften up again).

Right now it runs and drives as good as possible on 20+ year old Sears tires.

Did discover some rust starting on the inside of the driver door at the bottom.

The interior will need new carpet and a serious cleaning.

It has the correct emblems and it's a 400 car.

I hope to have better pictures in the next few days.

Thanks for all of your help.

Carmak

[carmak]

I got a good look at the car this weekend. Got to look at it on a hoist with good light.

It's not nearly as nice as I thought it was. It has some filler, been repainted, has had the rear floors patched (leaky T-tops) and there a bubbles poking out around the edges.

It is a great 20 footer but not the clean example I once thought it was. Bummer

Carmak
Riverside, Iowa

[GpFreak]

What is the emblem next to the Gp script on the front fenders... LJ, SJ?

[carmak]

It's an "LJ"

[red1975pacer]

Still willing to pay around a grand as is. Scott 216 410 1904. One thing im just about positive is that it is a 50 Aniversery. They all were Lj's, with 400 motors, and 455 optional. I know for a fact, because I almost bought a few over the years

[red1975pacer]

Mr Camak, just call me leave message and Ill call you back

[76GoldGP]

Did you sell the car?