Advice for a newbie

[Eric]

Welcome to the nest.
I think I recall seeing that green car on ebay recently. In today's market, you should be able to find a real road runner in that same condition for $14K or less.
I track 71s by VIN number. If you come across one you're considering buying, let me know and I'll see if I have any history on it.

[NCbluebird]

Here is the VIN on this car according to the dealer

vin number is RP23G2G191866

Bill

[Dave]

Bill,

If I were in your shoes, I'd seriously consider that $7K Satellite that's here in Cleveland. If you want, I'd be more than willing to go look that car over, take a bunch of pics and send them to you.

1971 Road Runner clone. $7k 1968 383 motor, 727 slapstick, 8.75 suregrip w/ 3.55 gears. Was originally 318 sattelite. Has air grabber hood and air cleaner, but not functional. Painted in prowler purple, and has very nice interior. Needs little tlc. May consider 67-72 Abody trades. Located in Cleve. OH. call A.J. with any questions 10 AM to 4 PM (216)326-0684 THANKS MOPARTS!

Look at it this way - for $7K, you start out with a car that already has the big block in place, and if you have a $14K budget (ignoring shipping, since shipping a $7K car should cost the same as shipping a $14K car) you have 7 grand in your pocket to fix, upgrade or do whatever you'd want to it. Heh, you might even be able to get it squirted green.

[bruce]

Shoot, notice that car even has a rear sway bar?

[NCbluebird]

Well! I just got burned so to speak.............

So the dealer emails me with a stunning email:

BILL i just got a email from a broker telling me that he is looking for a car for you, because you are not buying our road runner, because we are being uncooperative...he has another buyer for our car now...as i have a fellow in minnesota that wants the car.......please let me know if you are planning on buying this car or not....so i can sell it to another buyer....they are calling me back tomorrow.......no problem here...just need to know.....we are taking the "sale pending" off of the road runner clone now....let me know....thanks ray

Now, I can't blame the dealer here at all, I had no hold money on the car and he had the decency to email me and let me know it happened and gave me a first refusal, as much bad as has been said, this was a decent move on his part. I feel betrayed by someone though, most likely the appraiser I called who is also a broker, seems like he might have found a buyer to get a commission off of and got me out of the way in their favor. Maybe Ray should give me some refferal cash then huh? Oh well so that makes my decision for me I guess.

On to find my unicorn and I will apreciate all the help I can get from the good folks here!!

Bill Haenlin

[Dave]

Wow - that email sure sounds like the old "someone else is coming tomorrow with cash, so you better buy it today" attempt to close a sale. Then again, from what I've heard about TTB, that fits with their reputation. As others have said, the General Lee they sold speaks volumes.

Either way you slice it, the 72 clone they have is overpriced by about $7-8K, imho. Heck, the carpet isn't even installed right. Letting that "other guy" in MN have it is probably your best move.

[steved]

...or it was a ploy to get you to jump. it wasn't meant to be.

"sometime ya gotta know when to walk away" --Robert DeNiro (in Heat, iirc)

BTW...before I found the GTX...I looked at this one. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1250675283.html

Dark blue Metallic originally. not a bad looking car, some bondo, but solid 1/4's. 383 didn't match, very little interior (incorrect), non-rallye cluster, auto on the tree, rallye cluster in the trunk. buncha spares. RM21 vin.

sjd

[bruce]

Like I said on Moparts I'd bet he read one of these threads (or both) and pulled that email crap to force your hand. I wouldn't feel bad about it, stay patient and you'll end up with something BETTER!

[NCbluebird]

well, had a long talk with the Wife last night. She suggests I finish a few mechanical items on the Galaxie to ready it for sale at the Fall Auto Fair in Charlotte, this is first weekend in September here. I've heard it's going to be even larger. So all of Lowes MotorSpeedway inside and over 400 acres outside! I'll book a spot to park the Galaxie for sale I guess and see what I can find there.

[bruce]

Good plan! I've seen some nice stuff for sale at Charlotte although it can be pricey. It'll be interesting to see if the prices reflect the current economy or if folks are still living in the past price-wise. At Carlisle it seemed like the later was true.

[ct71rr]

Yup, I agree. I got the old "Are you going to buy this _____ because I got another guy here now that's interested in it too" a few years back when I was looking to buy a new Dakota. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book. What a turd!! It sounds like it wasn't meant to be. You'll find one, be patient. God only knows what issues are hidden in that car!! If you don't believe me there is a thread on here to a post where a guy bought a General Lee for a boat load of money only to find out that it was a total piece of garbage. He is now making it right ($$$$$$$$$). Like others have stated, buy one for $7000.00 and put the rest toward making it what you want. Good luck and welcome to the Nest!!!!

[Serious Satellite]

well, had a long talk with the Wife last night. She suggests I finish a few mechanical items on the Galaxie to ready it for sale at the Fall Auto Fair in Charlotte, this is first weekend in September here. I've heard it's going to be even larger. So all of Lowes MotorSpeedway inside and over 400 acres outside! I'll book a spot to park the Galaxie for sale I guess and see what I can find there.

Wow, the car I traded in for the 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner back in 1975 was a 1970 Ford Galaxy, 2 door, Midnight Blue, bench seats (which actually came in handy at the drive in) ((and before anyone can ask what the hell were you thinking, my dad picked it out "for me" when I was 15 and he drove it until I was 16, and then he bought the damn thing for himself when I traded it in. ..I think he liked that car.))

The coincidences in life are such a strange thing. ..

[NCbluebird]

CT, I agree with ya, wasn't meant to be, move on. But damn I would love to track who buys it and see what they got out of curiosity ya know

Serious, I know what you mean, I flip back and forth from the older Fords to the late 60's early 70's mopars, I like them both. I'll attach a picture of the Gal from the last show I was able to drive it to a month or so ago. I'm buried in Pwr sterring pump and a leaky tranny right now, but should get it fixed up soon. I have more pics on http://www.photobucket.com/motorheadwilly

Details if any are interested: Z code car, 6.4 ltr FE 390 4bbl, Cruise-o-matic, bench, new windshield, rear glass, new door panels and upholstry, carpet is clean and new. new headline ( not installed yet ) all inside trim ( doubles of most pieces) needs floors but they have been patch on the inside so it's sealed up. New flowmaster exhaust ( dual ) new shorty ceramic headers, custom chrome valve covers, new fuel pump, new wheels and tires, Trunk is perfect, bumpers done and chromed. What needs done? Sorting out pwr steering pump leaks, headliner and trim needs installed, dash needs to be cleaned and such but all is intact. as typical gas gauge doesn't work. so it's 80% complete, paint is good but has some solvent pops and needs to be cleaned up on the top surfaces.
I'd take $7800 for it as it sits now.

[bruce]

Wow, good looking car!

[Dave]

Yea, great looking ride! For the record, mid 60s Fords are almost kinda on topic for the Nest. My mom gave up a 64 Fairlane to purchase the 71 Satellite that started everything for me, and indirectly this whole site.

Sadly that old Fairlane still sits on my uncle's farm pretty much right where Mom parked it back in 71.