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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT - finding value for an old car

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Revredneck

08-24-2006 06:37:03




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Hi guys, I need to know how to determine the value of an old car. I'm helping a neighbor get his '78 Ford LTD ready to sell. It's the last year for the big LTD, and it only has 27k original miles. The only drawback is that it's been sitting in a shed for several years, and it's really dirty. Where can I look to get a ball park figure on this beast?
Good Luck and God Bless, Tommy




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Gary in Mozarks

08-25-2006 04:24:21




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Water is cheap in Michigan but expensive in Saudi Arabia, If you really want to know what an old car is worth (not someones optomistic guess) go to ebay and punch in the item-then look at completed listings for that item. It will show you what has actually sold and what people have actually paid for that make, model recently. People will always say "its worth X dollars" but it's only valid if they OFFER you x dollars for it. When you see someone has paid $68,000 dollars for a 57 chevy convertible, you know thats where the value is for that car, in that condition, in that location. etc. My nickels worth

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Hal/WA

08-24-2006 19:44:57




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
It would depend a lot on if the mileage is 27K or 127K or 227K, the odometer would read the same. Condition, condition, condition. I have seen Grandma cars from that era with spectacularly low mileage and that were always garaged, really nice cars sell for more than they cost new. But they have to look nice and really be in good, drivable condition. If it is just dirty, it could be run through the car wash a couple of times and vacuumed out. If it actually has only 27K, it should run if you put in a battery. If it has been sitting for a long time without being run, all fluids should be changed, and you may get leaks from the transmission and maybe the power steering. The brakes also might be bad, depending on the humidity.

On the other hand, if it won't run, or is beat up, it might be a haul-away. Many of the LTD,s had vinyl tops. If this one does and that is in poor condition, it will really lower the value of the vehicle. The same with the interior.

If I was trying to sell it, I would clean it up and get it running. I also would probably try driving it around some, even at 9 or 10 MPG. They were big, comfortable cars and you might decide that it was worth keeping yourself. You might also be surprised at how much it might go for on e-Bay. But I would not ever expect to get rich selling ANY 1978 Ford.

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John M

08-24-2006 17:27:36




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
May have been the last year for the LTD ,but I had a 79 LTD II. The hood was longer than the rest of the car. That thing would flat out go!!! Guy up the road from me has a LTD, not sure of the year, but its all original except for one heater hose, had like 30000 on the clock and he sold it last year for 4000,at auction.His was a show car of such, since it was all original, I guess it made it worth more.

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you

08-24-2006 16:36:07




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 my gosh!!! in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
a 1978 car is old-now im getting depressed lol



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Davis In SC

08-24-2006 14:48:11




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Those old Fords have become very popular with the young Black guys around here.. With the low mileage it has, it would be a good car to buy, unless sitting has dried up all the seals & such..



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John M

08-24-2006 17:24:07




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Davis In SC, 08-24-2006 14:48:11  
Dont forget the Caprice! Saw one somewhere around here that had been raised and 30" rims put under it, I think it was at the Beacon. Wheels and tires were worth more than the whole car



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Midwest redneck

08-24-2006 14:00:11




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
A guy near me (SE. Mich.) has a 1976 Grand Prix for sale $1,500. I dont know how it runs. It looks like all the body panels are solid, I am viewing from 300' from a main road though.



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Vern-MI

08-24-2006 16:13:45




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Midwest redneck, 08-24-2006 14:00:11  
Now if that were an Old's Cutlass he could drive it into Detroit and sell it in a second (or have it carjacked out from under him).



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other Will

08-24-2006 13:55:26




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Go to www.oldcarspriceguide.net



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Jim.UT

08-24-2006 10:34:47




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
In my town there are probably a dozen people who would give you $500 for it. Then they would prep it for next year's demolition derby. That's the most highly attended event in our county all year!



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jmixigo

08-24-2006 09:51:56




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Determining how much to ask for it won't near as tough as finding someone who wants it. Sedans from the 70's just ain't hot commodities.
Sorry bout that.



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Keith-OR

08-24-2006 09:31:00




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
try looking in the following website. Last time I looked they had my 74 Plymouth Duster listed.


WWW.NADA.com..... ..... ...or try
WWW.bluebook.com

Keith & Shawn



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Steven@AZ

08-24-2006 07:31:37




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Spend $100 to have it cleaned/detailed and waxed.

Take some good photos (lots of them) and put it up on eBay with no reserve and a $1 starting bid. Then you will find true market value.

Also depends on what engine/transmission it has in it. A hot rodder would love to have a 429/460 and C6 transmission... if it has the crummy 351M/400 it will be worth less. A 302 C4 would be right in the middle as far as value. Just my thoughts and opinions...

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Jonfarmer

08-24-2006 09:56:12




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Steven@AZ, 08-24-2006 07:31:37  
Yeah, but he said it was a big ol' heavy car, so in that case a hotrodder wouldn't want it unless you mean they'd want it for parts, but then, a 460 or 302 is a easy find from a junkyard, problably along with a good C6. I'd imagine it would depend upon what part of the country you were in as to just how rare finding those engines are, now here in the north country, finding those 2 engines is real easy since they were installed in not only cars, but alot of pickup trucks, and those vehicles have gotten rusted out by the road salt used on our winter roads, but the drive train is still fine. Finding a 427, 429, or somthing like that however would be alot harder to get. I hear you on the 351M, and 400 those were junk pickup motors that can't be hotrodded too much, the junk yards are really full of those!.

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rgvtx

08-24-2006 07:27:04




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
third party image

Tommy, You can look it up on the NADA site and get an idea. You didn't specify which LTD it is, so I chose one of the fancier ones and came up with this:
Thursday, August 24, 2006print this page Original MSRP: $5,970 Low Retail Average Retail High Retail Base Price $725 $1,825 $2,350 Options

351/152 HP V8 Engine 15% 15% 15% Air Conditioning 10% 10% 10% TOTAL PRICE $906 $2,281 $2,938

Cars just like tractors are worth exactly what you can get for them and not a penny more. Try this link once you get more information on the car. BTW, it didn't ask about the mileage.

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Way Up Here

08-24-2006 07:01:32




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Don't want to sound negative but I think the one price below was a bit generous. I guess the market will determine what it's worth but unless there is someone nearby that wants it for some reason, they are pretty much unsellable I'd say unless we're talking 500 bucks or so. As far as the mileage, unfortuately the 27 thousand is on a 5-digit odometer and unless the owner has documented and accurate records, the milage on the odometer will not mean a whole lot to anyone.

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dhermesc

08-24-2006 06:55:04




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
A big 4 door 1978 LTD isn't going to be worth much, even with only 27K on it. Completely cleaned up you might find someone that will give you $3000 for it if its in really good condition. After that it could go as low as $1500. Gas at $3.00 a gallon didn't help their resale any.

If it were a Thunderbird, Cougar or a Lincoln Mark V those numbers would more then double.



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Wild Bill

08-24-2006 06:45:22




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 Re: OT - finding value for an old car in reply to Revredneck, 08-24-2006 06:37:03  
Tommy, I would look on ebay and see what one like it is going for, (you have to follow an auction all the way to the end to see what it really sells for and not what the guy is asking) You probably won't find another one with only 27K original miles, but you should be able to get a pretty good idea of what the market will bear.



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