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View Poll Results: What would you say this car is worth?
$15,000 to $20,000 16 34.04%
$20,000 to $25,000 11 23.40%
$25,000 to $30,000 11 23.40%
$30,000 to $35,000 or more 9 19.15%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 08-02-2021, 05:01 PM
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65madgoat 65madgoat is offline
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Default Your estimate of VALUE for this 1973 Pontiac Firebird....

So here we have a Firebird that started life as a 1973 Pontiac Espirit 350.

Now set up to look like an early 1970s Trans Am.

Completely stripped and torn apart and rebuilt. But no interior save for an aluminum dash with custom gauges, some cheap racing buckets, and a Jegs cage.

New 1/4 panels, and no rust at all on it. Custom painted top and bottom.

Stock bore overhauled 1970 400 block with #13 heads -- all new and nicely detailed. New Jegs turbo 350 trans and 10 bolt with disc brakes from a 1979 T/A.

Custom hooker fender flares from the late 70s. 10" wide rims and 295/50 tires.

So with with no windows or hardware in the doors, and basically a gutted interior, but set up to look like a race car (however it clearly isn't a race car being all stock drivetrain and suspension wise), what would you guys put as a value on this car??

Ready for some responses and any cars noted in your reply as comps links to the sale would be appreciated. Trying to help a friend determine it's worth (and yes I get it that it is only worth what someone will pay and yes this market is flush with cash right now).

But go ahead and let me hear your thoughts and vote in the poll if you wish after reviewing 209 pictures here:

https://classicreaction.shutterfly.com/pictures/1093


Thanks!


Last edited by 65madgoat; 08-02-2021 at 05:19 PM.
  #2  
Old 08-02-2021, 05:38 PM
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That's pretty phenomenal...

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  #3  
Old 08-02-2021, 05:45 PM
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That car is awesome. No way that is a 15-20k car. Maybe on this site that must agree undervalued cars (especially modified ones).

I’m thinking 25-35 for it.

  #4  
Old 08-02-2021, 05:56 PM
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Here is a very clean 1971 that sold around the $35K mark last year as food for thought when comparing apples to oranges for early 70s 2nd gens.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=841345


Which makes it so tough to value a modified car with basically an incomplete/race-ish interior.

Keep the responses coming!

  #5  
Old 08-02-2021, 06:47 PM
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I think the reason these cars keep such a high value is that most segments of the hobby appreciate them:

Concourse restoration
Fun drivers
Restomod
Roadkill crowd
Vintage racing

I wouldn’t change a thing about this car

  #6  
Old 08-02-2021, 07:27 PM
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This is a tough one due to all the custom work.

Kind of reminds me of the 80s Pro Street craze but without tubs.
Not really a race car but looks like one.
Looks fast but stock drivetrain.

I would have to go 25 to 35 (start on the higher side)
To me this kind of fits in more of the street rod category, which most value is in the work and your friend will need to find the right buyer.

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  #7  
Old 08-02-2021, 07:31 PM
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I think it's pretty cool. That said, if I were buying it, I'd need to factor in the cost of building out a new interior for it, painting over those silly numbers, etc. I think that cost would kill the deal for me.

It's a small niche market type car. I say put it on BringaTrailer.com. Those guys over there will buy anything - and pay through the nose.

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Old 08-02-2021, 07:56 PM
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The numbers on top are just decals over painted on "T/A stripes"..... and the round spots on the doors for a number are decals themselves too. The custom fender flares bolt on from behind the fender so can be removed without damaging the body.

Not having an interior (and just an aluminum dash!) hurts - plus doors are gutted save for door handles.

Surprised no one has mentioned the truck side pipes yet... granted they can be unbolted and a normal exhaust fitted.

  #9  
Old 08-02-2021, 08:12 PM
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Cool car. I'd say 20k-25k range but I may be little low. It would help if it had a dash and at least door panels/interior. Fuel system needs some work but I'm just nit-picking. Wheels spacers are pretty thick as well. Not sure if that would fly with tech if you tried to autocross it. But again I'm just nit-picking, overall it looks like a really nice car.

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  #10  
Old 08-02-2021, 08:18 PM
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If that interior is ones like, great. If stock style is, then 5K to put back (interior alone). This gets down to if you like it as is. If I was making a stock looking TA clone I would rather start with an unmolested stock Esprit (with gauges caveat) and build on it. The racer look attempt is a narrow market.

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Old 08-02-2021, 08:31 PM
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Different value to different buyers. Those wanting to restore it back to original won't pay what it's probably worth.

I agree that the owner should throw it up on BaT and see what happens (if they can agree to the reserve price).

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  #12  
Old 08-02-2021, 09:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 65madgoat View Post

Surprised no one has mentioned the truck side pipes yet... granted they can be unbolted and a normal exhaust fitted.
Yep - that would have to go for me. Also - the $to build up a proper engine. Who does a car like that and puts in a “stock rebuild?”

The dash really kills it for me. Putting a proper dash back in would be an ordeal…

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  #13  
Old 08-02-2021, 10:16 PM
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I would say the person that buys this car probably already has at least one stock-ish car.

This is definitely a niche car as others have said. I would love it- but not for every time I want to go to a cruise.

  #14  
Old 08-03-2021, 06:54 AM
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Great looking car. Agree about points already made on finding the right buyer. Based on recent sales (word of mouth/anecdotal) I’d estimate you could get a buyer to pay over $25k and possibly over $30k

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  #15  
Old 08-03-2021, 07:37 AM
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Curiosity to the OP, are you buying or selling?

IMO (which is not worth a pinch of salt) I wouldnt spend more than $20k on that car. Im not into racing and would want it stock. That would take a few dollars to make it look like a decent trans am that it really isnt any way. Its still just a hodge podge firebird, albeit very well done.
On the other hand, IF I wanted a car for vintage racing, this may be a good platform to start with. Maybe pay $15k for it, sell the motor to get some money back and put in something to race with (assuming the suspension is good to go, if its not, then it has ZERO value as a race car).

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Old 08-03-2021, 10:42 AM
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I don't understand the exhaust.

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Old 08-03-2021, 11:05 AM
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Some of the Trans Ams that raced in SCCA back in the day had sort of half side exhaust pipes, like the BFG Tirebird. If the owner of this car was going for a vintage look that would have been more appropriate, but for street use I think side pipes in general are kind of a pain - they just limit ground clearance.

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Old 08-03-2021, 11:36 AM
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I find it very interesting that looking at your little poll, the car is almost equally split in value estimates! So what's it worth? It's worth $15,000.00 to over 35,000.00. Meaning it's worth allot to the RIGHT buyer and not much to the some. FWIW, I really like it. If your a seller, get it out to the widest audience possible for the best result.

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Old 08-03-2021, 11:56 AM
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Not my thing so it's not worth much to me. But, it looks fairly well done and somebody spent some money on it. I would not do a car like that unless I meant to keep it. It could be worth a lot to someone, but it's a narrow market.

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  #20  
Old 08-03-2021, 01:55 PM
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Keeping in mind you CANNOT get in this car and drive to a cruise night as is, and its Not race ready, it needs 17k in work to make it into a car ( without drivetrain)
Why 17k? Total interior, wiring, gauges, seats, you gotta buy cores first, door hardware, cut out the cage.. you would be well into 17k getting this stuff done so its a nice, SEALED, and at least basic driver. Its very nice to look at, and some cars are better to look at than look out of.
People who say they wouldn't touch a thing have NOT sat in those plastic seats.
I would say 20k IF I was going to keep wheel flares ( who knows how they got installed)
15 k to buy and made into a racy lookin driver.

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