Value of a theft recovery '87 GN?

[Blazer406]

I have been admiring '86 - '87 Turbo Buicks since the late '80's. I really wanted to find some day, a reasonably priced T-type. I don't have alot of extra funds around, so I concentrated what resources I had toward my '89 S10 V8 Blazer. I am in the process of selling it to do something different. I know of a good friend of my brother-in-law's that has a high mileage (150K+) '87 GN that was stolen several years back and later recovered. It is a solid roof car complete minus all the interior. It has no seats, no door panels, no carpet, no headliner, all the interior trim pieces are gone, some of the console is missing..... ect. Other than that, the car is supposed to be in really nice shape. It is a southern car too, so no rust. It has been sitting now under a pole shed for about 3.5 years since it was recovered. I am thinking about offering to buy the car, but have no idea what it might be worth. So I need some opinions. I think it is a one owner car. I am sure it needs filler panels by the bumpers and a good buff/detailing.

What do you guys think it is worth?

If I do get it, I would like to put all the stock interior back in it (if I can find some good used stuff). I would probably freshen everything up and install the basic bolt on's. I would then proabably start driving it at least 3 days a week to work.... maybe more.....

So gimme your opinions please.......

 

[Tony87gn]

I think you could get the car for fairly cheap. I dont know how readily available all those interior pieces will be though, could get fairly pricey.

 

[Drac0nic]

I'd say even if it has a good running drivetrain they're worth 1200, rollers sell for another 1200, and the diff can be worth 500+. If you're willing to do it I'd find a regular Regal donor car and swap in it's interior, then start swapping in GN interior parts as you get funds for them. I'd try 2500-3000, and see if he takes it. I may be low balling him a bit, but parted out even with no interior it'd probably be worth that much. Be sure it starts and run good before you buy it, people who steal cars tend to beat the hell out of them.

 

[MaxVO2]

It's a great project if you have lots of patience and a good work area to keep the car while you put everything back together, but as someone else pointed out, cars that were stolen, tend to have been beaten up on pretty bad.

Check the drivetrain thoroughly, and make sure that car has a true BRF tranny, and the 8.5 inch rear as opposed to something else. You can probably get the interior off another regal pretty cheap, but in my experience, this kind of project can nickel and dime you to death unless you have a great donor car to just swap everything out, and into your car.

I've done an entire interior swap on other much more popular cars that have plenty of donors still available in the bone-yards, and it came out to a pretty healthy chunk of change to put it all together, and have it look presentable. It's little stuff that adds up.

If you just want something to drive, and don't care too much about the looks, go for it. Otherwise, given the history of the car, I would personally pass on it and save up for something with a known good drivetrain, as well as some semblance of an interior, unless you get the car really cheap.

If you do some searching on this site, you will quickly get the idea that whatever $$$ figure you think it might cost to get it to work should be doubled at the minimum. Especially engine/tranny work.

Good luck

Billy
Montgomery Village, MD

 

[GNVAIR]

That would be an easy fix.
The special items unique to an 85-87 GN interior are:
2 toned Front and rear seats
Cloth upper door panels and clothe rear quarter fillers (the cloth matches the gray cloth in the center of the seats)
Black carpet insert on lower door panels
Black carpeting
2 toned front seat belt buckles (the buckle is gray and the bottom is black)
The center console is 2 toned as well
3 spoke sport steering wheel (center emblem has a black tri shield)
special plate over glove box (says Buick and has a Grand National emblem)
It should be noted that some of these items are the same as a T model. The dash (minus the cluster) and the rest of the interior hardware is the same as any 85-87 regular Regal with the gray interior.

 

[kh440]

The big potential for trouble is: does the car still have a VIN number? If the state re-issues a title with their own # it could cause problems, and if the car has a "salvage" title you're really in for a good time. Interior parts can be had, between Mike McCoy and Bweavy there is a fair ammount of good used stuff out there and seat covres are being reproduced by Jax. But again if the paperwork isn't kosher there's not much you can do....

 

[toofastforyou]

Question for ''kh440''...

''kh440'', just for my information, why is a ''salvage'' title so bad?? If the owner intends to keep the car for a long time, then what differernce does it makes?...Also, if the state issues a legit number, then why would it cause some problems, and what kind of problems? The only issue I can think of is that the car might have a little less value when the time comes to sell it, but other than that, with a nice complete interior from ''Bweavy'' or Mike McCoy'', it can surely become a very nice car again!...
Claude

 

[Blazer406]

Theft Recover GN ..... good deal or not?

I put a call for him tonight. I knew about this car for the past few years, but never thought serious about trying to buy it. I am at the point on my S10 where I am removing alot of the more expensive go fast goodies and putting some stock stuff back in it's place so I can sell it. Hopefully I will be able to sell the S10 easier because it won't have all the $$$ parts on it and I will take less money. It will still have a V8 that makes about 300 HP, but at least it won't have my '87 GN rear end, my trick flow twisted wedge heads and my PI Vigalante 7-disk lock-up converter.

One thing that got me to thinking about one of these black cars ... is that it is a sold roof car. I really didn't want a sunroof or T-Tops. I was able to talk to the guy briefly about it at the Super Bowl party my brother-in-law had last night. Until last night, I never thought about trying to get the car. Now I kinda got the fever......I need a TR.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

you should have bought more beer for everyone, brought the notery repulic, and made a deal after the beers were finished! then today you would own the car legally for alot less, beer talks

BW

 

[turbojimmy]

I think the older the car the less impact the salvage title has on the value. Most of these 18-20 year old cars have been restored in some way anyway. Restoring a theft amounts to the same kind of work. There's still an impact, but not as great as a late model car.

Mine's a recovered theft. I picked it up for about half of book value back in '98. Just make sure you completely understand your state's rules around registering a salvage car and that you get a clear picture of this car's status. That way you won't be stuck with something that you may not ever be able to legally drive. NJ makes it somewhat easy if you're on the up-and-up. Just an inspection by the salvage/anti-theft unit. You get to use the original VIN, but the title is marked "R" for reconstructed.

Jim

 

[Blazer406]

update

Well,

I talked to the guy at the race track the other day. I asked him if he would sell me the car. He asked what I was going to do with it. I told him I was going to put it back "stock appearing" as much as possible. I told him I want to put all the stock interior back in it. I might freshen the motor up and replace the stock turbo with a better (but still stock appearing) one. He nodded in approval and said I could get the car cheap.

I said I needed to sell my S10 first before we could make some type of deal. He said fine.....it wasn't going anywhere.....

I was hoping he would have said like $6K .... then the decision would have been easy...... no deal.... move onto something else.....I could forget about it.......

I will go talk to him after I sell the Blazer. I should be ready to place an ad in a few weeks.... I hope......

What the future holds..... I dunno..

 

[John Larkin]

I think the $3000 estimate is close, maybe a "bit" high. If you work the numbers backwards, a salvage title earns it about a $2000 discount. Interior will cost somewhere in the $1000 range time you get all the pieces and who knows how the wiring or column survived the theft. So there is $6000 (minus the salvage deduct), which is plenty for a 150K mile GN that still needs cosmetic work, assuming it runs fine.

Looks like you have a rare opportunity to build a car that you can put a bar in and not have to worry about hurting it's value.

 

[Blazer406]

title

I forgot to ask him about the title. I just left him a voicemail. When he returns my call, I will know what kind of title he has for it.

 

[Blazer406]

update.... clean title

I was able to talk to the owner this weekend. He said it does have a clean title. I still am somewhat apprehensive about actually going to look at the car and making an offer. I know this car cleaned up with an interior installed in a running/daily driver condition is probably worth 6-10k...... but this one has been sitting for maybe as much as 5-6 years. It has had the PowerMaster replaced before..... if that even counts..... I am reluctant to offer too much given the unknowns from sitting sooooo long. Also, I haven't sold my S10 yet, so I don't have the cash to finalize the deal. I do believe this guy is not looking to sell it to anyone else at this point.... and it is mine if I want it. He has stated that he will let me have the car "right" if I want to do something with it.

Given all the baggage that comes along with the car .... and the time it has set up..... I am inclined to think the car is not woth 3k...... maybe half that...... It is probably sitting on 4 flats..... I know it has been under a pole shed for 5-6 years......with stuff all stacked around the car....... probably has dust 3" deep on it..... possibly could have mice damage to the wiring........

With all that said.... I think it would be to my advantage... to get the best deal..... If I don't go look at it.... until I have cash in hand......and a car trailer with me......

 

[1ARUNEM]

If you decide to back out, let me know. I live not too far away in Alabama and would be interested.
Thanks..

 

[Blazer406]

Update!

Ok guys.....

I sold My S10 Monday. Now I have the money to go look at this car and bring it home. I have made arrangements to go look at this car with him early Saturday morning...... with car trailer.....and cash. We briefly discussed $$. I told him that from all my research...and all the unknowns..... that I was prepared to give $2000 for the car. He said that was cool.... he was thinking about $2500...... so we are in the same ball park at least. He told me that prior to parking it under the shed, that he jacked it up and put it on blocks. He took the tires and wheels off of it so the car would not be sitting on them. He also drained the oil.... I can't figure out what the benifit of that is.....

I hope to go Saturday and put a battery in it, fresh oil and filter.... check all the basic fluids..... and fire it up...... hopefully to load it up under it's own power..... if all that pans out.... $2500 sounds fair to me.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Roc87]

I would be concerned about starting one of these engines if it has sat for years and years, it might have lost the prime for the oil pump. If it has, it won't pick up any oil in the pan at all. Maybe someone else has experience with this, but it's not like a small block.

 

[Blazer406]

I finally have one!

Well,

At 6:15 AM yesterday, my brother-in-law and I left on an adventure that ultimately brought my first turbo regal home! The car was located on an old farm plantation about 2 hours away from my house in an old barn. The car was originally stolen in 11/01. The gas in the tank (nearly 1/2 of a tank) was circa 2001 also. It was recovered by the Houston police less than 12 hours after it was stolen.....but was recovered w/o any interior. When the original owner (which is who I bought it from) moved back to Mississippi, he moved the interior-less GN to the family farm and stored it up on blocks in an old barn. That was 2 1/2 to 3 years ago. That was also the last time it had been cranked. When we got there....it had dust caked over the hole thing....just like a blanket. After a fluids check (turned out that they didn't drain the oil like he thought they had) .... we put a new battery in and tried to crank it..... turned over about 10 seconds.... and she hit once..... 10 more seconds.... and she hit again...... and again..... until it actually cranked on about 4 cylinders.... after 30 seconds or so.... it was pretty much hitting on all 6! We all couldn't believe it was running on 11/01 gas. Eventually we got it headed out of the barn under it's own power..... and loaded it up. Once back at my brother-in-laws..... It got about 2 hours worth of pressure washing/cleaning/vacuuming...... Now it actually resembles a GN! I am going to order a 255 LPH fuel pump and some bumper fillers today. I plan on draining all the old gas an installing the pump late this week maybe. I hope to pick-up an interior from a donor car here local I think I might have found. Car has abut 140k miles. Engine has never been touched....power master was replaced some time back.... alternator has been replaced...... but other than that.... it has had just gas an oil and plugs put in since new.... It doesn't smoke.....either. I will probably replace the valve springs before I go very far as well.

I'll try and post some pics soon and update this thread with a link to the pics.

Wish me luck.

 

[Gn-ing]

I have been admiring '86 - '87 Turbo Buicks since the late '80's. I really wanted to find some day, a reasonably priced T-type. I don't have alot of extra funds around, so I concentrated what resources I had toward my '89 S10 V8 Blazer. I am in the process of selling it to do something different. I know of a good friend of my brother-in-law's that has a high mileage (150K+) '87 GN that was stolen several years back and later recovered. It is a solid roof car complete minus all the interior. It has no seats, no door panels, no carpet, no headliner, all the interior trim pieces are gone, some of the console is missing..... ect. Other than that, the car is supposed to be in really nice shape. It is a southern car too, so no rust. It has been sitting now under a pole shed for about 3.5 years since it was recovered. I am thinking about offering to buy the car, but have no idea what it might be worth. So I need some opinions. I think it is a one owner car. I am sure it needs filler panels by the bumpers and a good buff/detailing.

What do you guys think it is worth?

If I do get it, I would like to put all the stock interior back in it (if I can find some good used stuff). I would probably freshen everything up and install the basic bolt on's. I would then proabably start driving it at least 3 days a week to work.... maybe more.....

So gimme your opinions please.......

My car was a theft recovery that I bought in 1996 from a local salvage yard in Columbus Ohio..The car was complete,except for wheels and tires and the radio..From the result of theft is needed a header panel ,a front fender,and a windshield. The car had several dents due to the thieves kicking the car. had 70,000 miles at the time.. I paid 5000. for the car,but remember,this was almost 10 yrs ago...anyway,I found some GN orginal wheels,and drove it out of the junk yard...and then,let it sit for 6 yrs. In 2001, I had it painted and tuned it up...i've been playing with it since,and have raced it several times...It's not perfect,and it has a rebuilt salvage title,but it is fun...

 

[Gn-ing]

My car was a theft recovery that I bought in 1996 from a local salvage yard in Columbus Ohio..The car was complete,except for wheels and tires and the radio..From the result of theft is needed a header panel ,a front fender,and a windshield. The car had several dents due to the thieves kicking the car. had 70,000 miles at the time.. I paid 5000. for the car,but remember,this was almost 10 yrs ago...anyway,I found some GN orginal wheels,and drove it out of the junk yard...and then,let it sit for 6 yrs. In 2001, I had it painted and tuned it up...i've been playing with it since,and have raced it several times...It's not perfect,and it has a rebuilt salvage title,but it is fun...

here are a cpl of pictures taken today of the GN