70 LS6 conv.

[FlyinGN]

take a look at this.. wow.
$140k and still did NOT reach the reserve..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419487153&category=6164

 

[Captain Mark]

Unbelievable!!

 

[GNVAIR]

The sad thing is they probably bought the car for $20-$30k.
Quite a mark up!

 

[jon_we4]

I know a guy that has a car just like that in just the same condition along with a few other nice rare cars

all they do is sit

 

[gofstbuick]

A few years ago I saw what looked like (IMHO) a $100,000 plus 70 Chevelle SS. Everything was perfect all the way to the correct headlights. Why would a 40,000 mile car need a frame off restoration? Where are the stripes? Where is the functional cowl induction hood and correct air cleaner. I've always thought the non-functional cowl induction hood was reserved for 350I, or 402I, I've never seen a LS6 SS without the functional cowl induction hood. At least the parking light lenses are correct. All I can say is . I feel sorry for the person who wins that auction. But a fool and his money are soon parted.

 

[gn85]

You mean to tell me that you spend all that money on a body off resto, put the thing back together then take pictures with rusty exhaust pipes?? HUH?

 

[Vsix]

The SS stripes and cowl induction were optional remember you could order these cars anyway you wanted

Jim

 

[Captain Mark]

....hmmmmmm.........how many different Buicks could I have for $180K?...........

 

[GNVAIR]

All the 70 SS models came with a domed hood. But cowl induction was still an option, even on LS6 cars. Same with the stripes. Same thing with bucket seats and console. People think that things like that were standard and that simply isnt true. With the 454 cars, you HAD to pay for the transmission as well. There was no standard transmission (such as a 3 speed stick on lower level cars).
I have an article from Super Chevy from approx 1988 and they ran a feature on a black on black 70 LS6 convert set up the same way with no stripes and no cowl induction. The guy was the original owner and had all the paper work as well.
Its the paper work that makes the value IMHO.
Many people try to clone these cars and with the advent of repro parts can do a really good job. But items such as build sheets and protect o plates can be difficult to come up with.
I cant tell you how many 70 Chevelle SS are passed off as LS6 cars. Truth is many started life as 396 or LS5 454 cars.
Its just a shame that Chevrolet doesnt have the same deal as Pontiac where you can call in the VIN# of your vintage Pontiac and they can tell you the original options and colors and engine/trans, etc.
Makes it impossible to clone any type of rare Pontiac now

 

[dhauser]

Great post Lee! Very informative!

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by GNVAIR
Its just a shame that Chevrolet doesnt have the same deal as Pontiac where you can call in the VIN# of your vintage Pontiac and they can tell you the original options and colors and engine/trans, etc.
Makes it impossible to clone any type of rare Pontiac now

Mercury had a similar deal for some of their Musclecars. We were able to get a copy of the original window sticker for our '70 Cyclone spoiler. We just gave them the VIN and nothing else.

They were going to throw all this info away, but an employee took it upon herself to keep it.

As for doing a frame-off on a 40K mile car, we did one on our 7K mile Baldwin Motion Camaro (well... a subframe off). Musclecars were not left stock. People like to monkey with their cars for some reason . In order to win national shows or command big bucks at an auction, a frame off is a necessity.

I have a '72 Chevelle convert. They ride and drive great. The LS6 is a great motor. Makes lots of power. If you wanted to duplicate this car to drive, I'll put an LS6 in my convert and sell it to you for $30K. Basically, the remaining $125,000 is going for detail, correctness, sentimental value and snob appeal

I'd rather take that $125K and buy an new Viper (and have $50K left over to buy something nice for the wife)

Expensive musclecars are DUMB. I used to be the guy that looked down on others because they didn't have the correct date code on their tires. Having seen both sides, I feel sorry for people that pay big bucks for muscle cars. Compared to the cars out today, they aren't that great.

 

[GNVAIR]

One last post on this thread from me....
I have a friend that works in the same office that is into old Mopars among other muscle cars. We talked about what people perceive as correct....
He said that many of the automatic trans 70-71 Hemi Cuda's/Challengers came with column shifters and some even had the bench style seats, but many restorers that bought these cars to speculate on ended up replacing the seats and columns with bucket seats and console mounted shifters because the average guy with money would think that is the way they were supposed to come. Pretty sad, but obviously there are a lot of people with money that can afford these cars.

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by GNVAIR
One last post on this thread from me....
I have a friend that works in the same office that is into old Mopars among other muscle cars. We talked about what people perceive as correct....
He said that many of the automatic trans 70-71 Hemi Cuda's/Challengers came with column shifters and some even had the bench style seats, but many restorers that bought these cars to speculate on ended up replacing the seats and columns with bucket seats and console mounted shifters because the average guy with money would think that is the way they were supposed to come. Pretty sad, but obviously there are a lot of people with money that can afford these cars.

I ran across a '71 440-6 Cuda back in the 80's that had a bench front seat. That was a cool car. I think the guy wanted $7500 but I felt that was too much (My 27K mile '70 440-6 was $6500 at the time) and this car had high miles and no shaker. No regrets, though

At a car show, 90% of the people who walk by that LS6 chevelle convert won't give it a second look, because 1) clones are a dime a dozen 2) nobody looks at blue cars (speaking from experiece of owning one) 3) for a frame off resto it doesn't look all that great (like he actually drove it after the resto)

The first rule of a frame off is NEVER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. If you want to, you never should have done the frame off in the first place.

 

[FlyinGN]

$145k AND still DID NOT REACH RESERVE! LOL

 

[motorhead]

Originally posted by FlyinGN
$145k AND still DID NOT REACH RESERVE! LOL

But it now for $180,000

Geezus. Gimme something I can drive, race, wrench and beat on.

 

[FlyinGN]

no.. still 145K

 

[Rollin]

GNVAIR:

The sad thing is they probably bought the car for $20-$30k.
Quite a mark up!

Just compare the original dealer invoice to what they want for it, now... that's a mark-up!
"Blue" with "Rusty exhuast" that's still a nice car, I'd put the top down and drive it, only to be snobbed by those who assume its a clone Lol.

GNVAIR

Its just a shame that Chevrolet doesnt have the same deal as Pontiac where you can call in the VIN# of your vintage Pontiac and they can tell you the original options and colors and engine/trans, etc.

True how True, the build sheet and Protect-o-Plate to my 70 are long gone.... along with the TH-400 and steering box
At this time I waiting on PHS for our Trans Am's info.

 

[GNVAIR]

My father summed up the crazy prices that people get for musclecars. His point was aimed mostly at Chevrolets but can be applied to Fords, Chryslers, Pontiacs, etc
"What a sad world we live in when a car that was originally sold for the average working man can now only be afforded by the wealthy."

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by GNVAIR

"What a sad world we live in when a car that was originally sold for the average working man can now only be afforded by the wealthy."

It's not sad because the "little guy" is the one reaping the huge profits".

The wealthy can have them. I'd take Five 03 Cobras any day.

 

[turbonatr]

I miss my 72 SS.