84 T-top Cutlass-abandonded?

[darkred87T]

On my way to work in Port Jervis in the afternoon I see a white 84 Cutlass with Burgundy buckets and t-tops for sale at a park and ride. It's a V8 and looks like it's in O.K. shape. The odometer seems to have flipped and is reading 8,000 mi. The for sale sign in the window is asking $3200 or b/o (a little high) so I thought I would call and make an offer.

Here's the catch, it's been sitting there for at least a month and a half as far as I know and I can't get through on the number provided on the for sale sign (I call it once a day). I'm beginning to wonder if it's been abandonded . I slid a sticky note in between the window molding with my phone # on it. That's about all I can think to do. Is there anyway to track the plates and found out who the owner is?

 

[darkred87T]

O.k this car is not abandoned. I got a call yeasterday from the son of the owner (James). He got the note I left in the window. I went out with my brother to take a look at it today and all I can say is that there is more than meets the eye. He told me he wasn't sure whether it had a 108K on it or 208K.
It's an Olds Cutlass Calais and by the looks of it, it seems more like is has 108k on it. The body is in pretty good shape besides some rot around the corners of the windsheild from the t-tops. The engine, however, has a lower end knock which the seller wasn't even aware of until today. It sounded like he just wanted to get rid of it.

I called him back earlier this evening and made him offer for $1300 but he came back with $1800 and no less. Is that way out of the ball park? I figured I would wait to see if he can't sell it. I know even $1300 is a lot to pay but the T-tops kind of make it unique. What do you guys think?

 

[GNTIM]

Sound like way too much $. 1800 is o/k if it didn't need a motor.

 

[57loboy]

I agree with GNTIM, $800 is in the ballpark in my mind...

 

[darkred87T]

Yeah, I first offered him $850. I somehow wound up around $1300 and he rejected it. I figured it was worth going over my original offer by a few hundred. It would be hard to find another one like it with t-tops and the other nice options. He said he'll let it sit there if he doesn't get his $1800 Lol.
I figure if he calls back I'll offer him a $1000 cash.

Anyhow, here are some of the options:
t-tops
307 4BBl
P windows
p door locks
bucket seats
full instument cluster including tachometer
power antenna
cassette player
rally wheels

 

[Dewey]

I had one of these cars some years ago and they're ok and not as rare as you might think. This was probably 15 years ago and the car was a nice looker and had upwards of 160k on the odometer and I still only gave $2100 for it, and this was 15 years ago. Nice car, but your boy is way too high. Explain to him that by the time you put a new motor in it you'll have way more in it than what it's worth. Maybe he'll come to his senses.

 

[SPOOLN]

These G Body cars are becoming harder and harder to find. That car would make a great sleeper with TR drive train in it...

 

[darkred87T]

These G Body cars are becoming harder and harder to find. That car would make a great sleeper with TR drive train in it...

That's what I was thinking but the seller does need to come to his senses. I think he'll come around. It seemed like he really wanted to sell it to me. He's not going to get offers anywhere near what my original offer was.

 

[sasmith350]

2 things that kill the deal for me...t-top already starting to rust( looks like a roof replacement to me, mine was ok till i pulled the weatherstripping out and saw the holes) and rod knock.... unless the car is perfect otherwise i wouldn't pay more than $500-$600, sure these are getting rare, but not rare enough to justify spending $2000 on top of $1800 just to have a "decent car"....but i'm just picky since i can find a few examples for less than $500 or so in the same shape here in mid missouri.

 

[psycho6cyl]

Hmmmmm....

I would ay if you like it get it. Up north here to get these cars in decent shape is har, most of them have been beaten on. I saw a clean white NA Regal Limited in Carlisle Pa go for 5,500... So the these cars are on the rise. I kno it maybe a load but if you really like it get it. You will be happier later o instead of ohh I shouldve couldve and wouldve.... good luck..

 

[darkred87T]

I asked myself if I would be heart borken if someone came along and offered him just a little more than I did and I know I wouldn't be. By the time I made it a" good driver" I would have put more money into it than it's worth.

At this point it's just a waiting game. I know he needs to get rid of it but I doubt anyone is going to pay him as much as I'm willing to pay to for it.

 

[turbojimmy]

I went with Mike to look at the car and I think his offer was more than fair. The reason the car has sat there for so long is because the guy is dreaming about the price. I'm willing to bet that what Mike offered was the highest offer he's gotten for it.

It is a nice car. Not beaten, but definitely worn. It is a North Carolina car and has no rust at all except for the little bit at the tops of the A-pillars from the T-tops. The Calais was the sport version of the Cutlass and it's a nice looking car with all the options. The a/c even works.

The 307 has a subtle bottom-end knock that is only going to get worse. It's a good, rust-free shell basically. It would really be neat with a better (read: more powerful) drivetrain in it. I've always liked the looks of the Cutlass but this guy is just out of his mind. It's sitting at a Park-n-Ride (owned by the state of NJ) without any tags. He's already been warned. It will eventually be towed, the guy won't want to pay for the impound fees, and it will be auctioned off and probably crushed.

Jim

 

[darkred87T]

Yep, and I know for a fact it's been sitting there for months. If they had something better to do with the car they would have done it by now. If I still see it there next week I'll give him a ring again and tell him my offer still stands but after that...

 

[Grumpy]

RUN AWAY !!!! what a $$$ pit you can sink thousands into it and it is still a nothing car

 

[TurboDave]

T-Tops leak bad enough when they're in seemingly perfect condition. It'll cost you an arm and a leg to get the roof and sealing surfaces around the tops fixed. It goes a lot deeper than you can see!!
Geezz I HATE glass topped cars, and I even own two of them!!
86GN
84Z28

 

[darkred87T]

It just thought if I grabbed it cheap enough it might make a nice host for an LC2 or even an LS1 conversion someday. Heck, with a good running stock motor and the t-bar roof repaired it might just make a nice driver.

BTW, what would I be in for if I had to repair the rust around the roof?

 

[Grumpy]

BTW, what would I be in for if I had to repair the rust around the roof?

more than the car is worth ..BUT hey its only $$$ and time and more $$$$$ ... and it's still not worth anything good luck chasing a dream

 

[darkred87T]

I was just curious, that's all.