1976 Eldorado barn find buy or pass??

[gary griffin]

I am considering an actual barn find with no known history. It is showing 46,000 miles and last licensed in 1995.

    Body fillers are shot and car is dirty but engine is running smoothly and there is no evidence of rodent habitation yet. No obvious rust issues. I doubt I will be able to verify mileage unless lube stickers are present. I won't see the actual car until this week end but looks O K in pictures.

    I would expect to do brakes, tires, hoses, belts and flush gas tank and  change all fluids but what other expensive surprises would I be subject to? I can guess costs on body work and paint, and even upholstery. If it cleans up good and I do the above work what would  it be worth if the mileage is accurate? Current owner will sell cheap to get his barn back I think? The gray color isnt my favorite but it would be O K?   Any advice will be appreciated!!

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

There is a similar thread running now about a person wanting to buy a 70's
Eldorado that "needs work".

If it's really rust free, then it might be worth it if it's really cheap (meaning
$1,000 or so).

However, I wouldn't want it if it was free.  If you need to do all that you
describe, including upholstery, possible repaint, etc. then you're going to
start running into serious money.  Add a complete brake rebuild, possible
tranny problems, cooling system issues (from sitting for many years) and it's
just not a good idea.  You'll have $5K or much more in it in a heartbeat even
if you do much of the work yourself. 

There are too many nice '70's Eldo's available on the market that you would
have to do little or nothing to.  You'd be way ahead on the Dollars spent by
buying a very nice driver for $6K - $7K than buying this money pit.

Mike 

[gary griffin]

       Thanks for the reality check Mike.  I definitly will keep it in mind. 

        I am figuring on a driver and in Seattle a convertible is not the best driver and I have 2  convertibles (73 Triumph Stag and 48 Triumoh 1800 roadster) already.
   
        I will look carefully at the upholstry and paint carefully. I can probably get it at near scrap price according to the owner and it may be worth taking a chance on it??

        Any other suggestions?

[76eldo]

Near Scrap Price?  That's like $500.00 to $800.00?  Yeah, I'd take a chance.  Lots of parts there.

Brian

[waterzap]

For $1000, yes, the previous post is correct. Should be lots of nice parts. Is it carbs or EFI ?
If the car is EFI, you could probably sell the whole EFI system to someone.