I'm not rich by any means, but I want another bus and have been saving cash. I'm up to about 4K, and a decent bonus and some stock options vesting at $0, both of them in the next couple of months.
My parents are getting older, my mom has retired (early - not her choice) and she wants a 5th wheel trailer to travel in. She wants my dad to get rid of the '68 cougar in the garage that he doesnt work on. It's a '68, I think my dad is the 2nd owner. All original car, Original paint except the hood and one fender, one baseball sized dent in the whole car. The hood paint is cracking. Black vinyl top needs to be done, but it's not that bad. Original interior, pretty good shape for what I remember. No rust on the car whatsoever, unless some is hiding under the top
It is a #'s matching 302 v8 automatic car. Not an XR7, one step below. AC, power steering, brakes, etc. We had the original trans rebuilt. I drove it for a couple months, and then we tore the engine out. It's been rebuilt, heads rebuilt, painted etc, and sat in the garage out of the car for 4 years. It finally got put in, the engine compartment was all detailed first. valve covers, intake, air cleaner are all powdercoated. It's never been started, as far as I know it needs a new carb. So it's been sitting. I think the AC has to be put back on, maybe a few more accesories.
I do have some sentimental attachment to the car, I got laid in it when I was young, but it was my dad's dream, not mine. If he is forced to sell it as is, I don't think he will even get enough to cover the engine and trans rebuild, it's not running and needs paint and a top...
I've thought about buying it. I would probably need to fly home, spend a couple days to get it running enough to get it on a transport, and get it shipped to Houston. Once here, I would probably dial in the engine and trans, get a semi-cheap paint job, and a new top, and drive it as is for a while. Maybe some nicer rims than the stock hubcaps. I would drive it around while it's for sale.
What do I offer my dad? I don't want him to give it to me too cheap, cause I don't intend on keeping it. Realistically, 68 cougars running driving but not restored do not bring big money at all. Especially in Sacramento. And it's not even running. I think I'll get a lot more for it in Houston being rust free, and original. I think 80K miles.
A friend propsed that I get it running, get it here, put some cash into it, and when I sell it, split it with my dad.
I know it's a strain on my parents right now, mom wants it gone, dad always wanted a 68 cougar. There will be some family drama if this goes wrong
any thoughts?
Already new brakes front to back, should just need the fluid replaced, maybe 500 miles on the brakes. New lines, calipers, pads, shoes, master, booster. How much does single stage paint cost nowadays? I hate 2 stage base clear on a 60's car. It would literally be sand and shoot, the body is perfect other than one little dent. Looks like the top is actually pretty cheap, $100 for one thats cut and the texture is correct. $50 in trim. People say it's easy to do, but even if I were to pay someone to do it... Shipping is $600 to $800 as long as it's running and driving. New carb -$400, I have points and vacation time to fly home and do the labor. It literally should be run some electrical, some new fuel line, new carb, new battery. It has a brand new wiring harness already installed and everything working prior to the engine rebuild.
I think the 10 to 13K is realistic when I'm done. Running driving but needs restoration like 4K tops. I see him getting like 3K max as is, and I know he's got 4 into the eng and trans as a minimum
it would definetly be easier to not be involved at all. One of the few things I like about being 2000 miles away
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