TheSamba.com :: View topic - What do U think my 79 Convertible is worth?

Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:07 pm

Flippers are a way of life....lazy ones suck! Its the crap of "silent auction" that gets me (just go to ebay). You don't know what is worth.....do some research (good research) with cars that sold in your area and put a price on it and be done.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:09 pm

Yea, I know, I bought my '69 from a flipper. I thought this guy was just a newbee, just got a car and wanted to know what it was worth. He's not going to be a contributor to this forum so why bother.

-jeffrey

Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:18 pm

And his ad got "flagged". Looks like your not the only one who doesn't like a flipper :D

Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:04 pm

jhicken wrote: I hate flippers, no more advice then.

That makes no sense...why else would I be asking for advice on a car's worth? That is the title of the Thread?

I want to sell it...if it is worth more as an original...because I'd rather buy a updated, redone NOT OEM Beetle Convertible that I wouldn't worry about day to day.

If this car ended up being something valuable, and it got hit someday at some Grocery store or some idiot without insurance...that would SUCK.

If I get $8K+ for this...it goes to someone that will take care of it as a Valuable Beetle... Then I can go and get a Daily Driver Beetle that I don't have to worry about day to day...

If this car is truly worth only $5k....I'll just keep it...this will be a daily driver...

Since pricing/Value of this car was still so random, I did post in on Craigslist as a "silent auction" to see what it was worth to someone out there....NOT necessarily on here.

Some ASS Flagged it...but got a lot of response on it before they did that. So, my guess is, that there is a lot of interest in it.

As far as the "rust" on the Engine Lid...it's NOT from the Cat, it's a dent from the Hood being closed onto something that was left inside I think... That is what caused the Paint to flake off.

I found the car in a garage...but did not say that it WAS Garaged all its life... Obviously it was stored in a crappy way...left outside a lot of the time.

BUT, the engine does NOT lie about it's use... It is the original Block...and it has ZERO stains on it... The Engine Mounting bolts have never been "broken" and there are NO Wrench marks anywhere either. Pedals and linkage show virtually NO wear at all on them...just the rubber is old an cracked.

The shop working on it, specializes in Older VW's and they have been going through it end to end. They were confused about the mileage too...and that someone at some point removed all the SMOG stuff and some upper parts of the engine for some reason, and reassembled it wrong....which led to more confusion & issues.

Anyways, I do appreciate all the advice and information...that is the point of Forums isn't it?

Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:14 pm

The round shape rust on the engine lid is from the A/C compressor pulley. Someone closed the lid on it. That dented it. When the dealers installed the A/C compressor it was a very tight fit. If moved just a bit it would hit the engine lid.

You also have rust at the bottom of the apron. That is probably from the CAT.

As for value, I know original is worth more but rotting original is worth less IMO than restored.

When I found my beetle it had 26k miles on it. It still have the original spare tire that was never used. The interior was dry rotted and my car was sitting in a clean garage for 12 years. The top looked pretty good and is original but after opening and closing it several times the seams all separated and the headliner is now hanging. I'm going to redo the top because I believe a restored top is better than a rotted original.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:28 pm

eviloval wrote: Flippers are a way of life....lazy ones suck! Its the crap of "silent auction" that gets me (just go to ebay). You don't know what is worth.....do some research (good research) with cars that sold in your area and put a price on it and be done.

This IS part of the Research...if you read the ad too before Flagging it...you will notice that I put in information about Recent Auctions for a similar car...right down to the Magazine Issue Number, Page Number and Date Printed.

You guys should express your anger issues somewhere else...just be useful and helpful as this site should be.

Just because I'm new to this site, doesn't mean that I'm new to VW's...I've owned probably 6 VW's in my past....all different types/years.... Loved all of them...

Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:59 pm

All you have to do is type in 77 or 78 or 79 VW into CL's search engine on what ever place your going to sell it and you'll get results. There is a 77 that is a driver in better shape for $5.5k, there is a restored 79 for $10K there is a 78 non op for $8.5k. and that is just in SF/Bay...you could try Sac, Fresno, etc. On top of that you can just use the search option here and type in a zip code and "x" miles from your zip and see whats out there. Better still you could've of ran the plate thru DMV and see the smog history of the car. It fails everytime it was smogged from 99 to 03 (then it falls off the earth). You could also get that documented mileage statement from the DMV to prove its mileage (they do note the mileage each time you smog a car). I'm not a collector....I'm learning sort of like yourself. There are better ways to get your info. And, of course....its easier to say that your going to sell the car upfront on the 1st post so that the other people responding can just give you that info or atleast a path on which to seek it.

I've seen enough verts both low mileage and high. The wear on this car is in line with something thats got 100k+ on the clock. And, on top of that the speedo could of been replaced because it died (they are prone to do that). My issue is with the lack of simple research (and honesty upfront) on this car. You've listed it on CL in line with something that has its documentation. Yours is very far from that and you could of pulled someone in who has no idea. Would you like to get $15K from the car and have the new owner keep all the ad's details and find out from the DMV that something is wrong with the mileage? And, that the only reason they bought the car was that it was a low mileage, unrestored vert that they always wanted? What do you think is going to happen next? Are you going to refund their money....or....are you going to say tough luck? That's the difference between a lazy flipper and one that is willing to get all the info before they make a move.

The motor is either a rebuilt motor (since you mention the smog devices are missing/removed from the motor) or a brand new motor (that is not unheard of....but that doesn't make it original anymore). You might be able to confirm the motor # is in fact its original by getting the car's birth certificate. BTW Pedal pads are nonsense to figure age....my 70 standard still has its original pedal covers with very slight wear (bought the car from the original owner....with over 200k on it). My 72 vert is the same (168k). And the car has all of its original parts. It also has clean pans, a top with only a couple of cracks in it, and the motor was as clean as it if it just left the assembly line.

I'm looking for a vert and I'm only going to buy one that I'm happy with 100%...so I look over CL all the time looking for a late car. I only mentioned your ad on CL is since you sort of tossed it into thesamba looking for a value. And while I made light of your "silent auction" I didn't bother to flag you. I really think your misleading people with this car. You have not bothered to take the time to get the proper documentation prior to making outlandish claims of mileage. If it is indeed a 16K mileage car....then I take it back. But, before you make that claim you better back that up with some documentation or the person you make believe that could come back to haunt you in court.

Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:46 pm

I have to say...it is cool to be on a Forum with people that are this dedicated to a specific subject...referring to how much you were willing to write as a response back.

The SMOG idea is a Great One...I have a friend that owns a Smog Shop and I'm sure he can look up the information on it....will Post on that result later...

I've checked with CarFax = Nada

I've checked with DMV = Nada

Even called the Car Owner's Children to get an idea of how much that car was driven...they said she never drove farther than to Sacramento, she lived in Auburn. They also said that she loved that car since the moment she bought it new off the lot. They thought it was totally conceivable that the mileage never exceeded 17k. But, they were not in touch with her very often during her "driving years" as they put it.

The car was Non-OP'ed in 2005, paperwork shows a request for a Smog in 2003...

Weirdest thing, there is a Registration Certificate from DMV, On THEIR Paper that shows TWO Years of Valid Registration...2001-2003. In other words, the registration was paid for and good for 2 years in a row!!! I've NEVER seen that before!

Even though there is a TON of Past Valid Registrations, Bill of Sale and the Original Pink Slip....which is interesting looking by itself...there are no maintainance receipts that show mileage unfortunately.

I think that the Smog History is the best bet...

This is actually a good exercise in solving a mystery of sorts...more interested in finding out the Mileage History than the car at this point... When the car is totally functional and driveable, I'll probably be more excited by it then.

Right now, it's a $3000 & growing, Money Pit...and that's just fixing it...

But...have to say...the cars I've loved the most in the past...were the ones that I spent the most money on fixing up.

Oh...back in College, I bought from a Family friend, an older BMW M3, 1989, red and in pretty good condition. I bought it mostly because he took REALLY good care of this car and most importantly for me at the time, it was All-Wheel-Drive.

Yes, that is right, an M3 AWD. NO, not a 325ix...an M3 complete with the Trunk Wing, Boxed Fenders and ALL badging everywhere. I didn't know SHIT about cars back then, only a little more now, but had NO idea how truly valuable and rare that car was until MUCH later when it was too late.

I bought it because I worked at a Ski Resort, like the idea of an AWD BMW and thought it looked cool to boot...not to mention a total blast to drive. I drove the absolute crap outta that car...through snowstorms, flooding creeks...put like 80k on it in 2 years+.

All that time...NO ONE ever said anything about that car to me, about it's Unique-ness or Specialty...

Some random guy at a Gas Station in Turlock, California...stopped me and asked me about it and if I would sell him the car. He offered me $10k and said he could pick it up the next day.

Seeing as I only paid $8k for it...drove the hell out of it...and it needed a whole bunch of maintenance work & tires...and being a broke College student, that kind of money was enticing...so I sold it...like an idiot...

That car ended up being like 1 of 5 ever produced...a Street-Legal Version of their Rally Version M3...who knows how valuable it is now...

I just can't believe how I drove that car, not knowing what risk I was taking with something so valuable... I'm glad that it ended up with someone that recognized and appreciated it for more than just "cool transportation"....which is what I would want for this Beetle.

Sat Nov 21, 2009 1:55 am

What's the VIN?

Sat Nov 21, 2009 2:35 am

zoti wrote: What's the VIN?

1592028670 1979 VOLK Plate Number 706XBP

Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:12 am

More bluntness ahead ...

Original pink slip is not much of a documentation. The car's condition trumps that it hasn't been registered since the original owner had it registered. Documentation means service records and such.

It is not an one-owner car anyway. My '02 Cabrio was bought by me in September 2001. It was sold by me in September 2009. That was a one-owner car. My '86 Jetta was bought by me in May 1986. I sold it to a shop in Pennsylvania in September 2002 so he could rebuild the engine and flip it. I also sold two manilla folders worth of all associated records and the okay that I could be contacted as the original owner for any perspective buyer.

Your car seems to be a one-registered car. Documentation-wise, a buyer doesn't know if this car was abandoned 15 years ago or what. A pink slip is also different than a title. At least a title would show if it's clean, salvaged, restored or whatever other categories a particular state has.

A '79 convertible is a funny animal in that they are more desireable as a general statement than their older brethren (at least back to '73). However, they are much more common as well. Your car will be going up against enough others for potential buyers to make making a killing a tough project.

The more you do, the less original your car will be, The less you do, the more savvy buyers will calculate what they need to do to get it to where they want it. You are caught in the middle. It is not a lose-lose situation, but whatever you might gain by fixing it up, if anything, may not be worth the time and effort.

I am looking for a Super to replace my '71. I can tell you I would not pay five grand for your car. This economy has forced a lot of buyers into two camps -- one looking for a needy seller (and there are more of those now than just a couple years ago), or one who is willing to wait until the right bargain comes his way (like me).

There are 52 ads on the Samba for '79 convertibles, and nine on eBay. I didn't bother checking Craig's List. The nine on eBay are of more interest to me because most of those are trying to be sold in seven days. Sure, sometimes you find a chronic relister there. On the Samba, all you know is the asking price. It could be sitting there as an ad for years. Even when a car is sold, one doesn't know how close to the asking price the deal was made.

Take a hard, honest look these 61 ads. If you have three grand in yours already, I'd say wipe the stars from your eyes now and take a whatever profit you can. Let some enthusiast enjoy bringing that car back to life, and go back to the water-cooled side of things. Flippers should deal in what they have a familiarity -- especially in this economy.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:11 am

I have a '79 Super. IMHO, if you like the car and want a daily driver then you have it in front of you. I wouldn't put a ton of time and money into it just to flip it and buy something else that you can then put a ton of time and money into. When shopping I narrowed down my search to two cars. Both '79 'verts.

One was restored, new paint, top, interior, cracked dash, strong engine, 75K for $6500. The other was all orignal, 22K miles, two owners, all documentation, original everything (right down to all 5 tires), it had never spent a night outside of a garage. The only issue with it was some road rash on the nose and an unidentified fluid leak. I drove both cars.

I bought the restored model, but stayed in touch with the other owner of the other car. She couldn't get what she wanted for it and had to sell it out of financial desperation. She sold it on Ebay, overseas, for $14K. Sometimes when I look at my cars imperfections I wish I had spen twice the price and bought the perfect one. But, when I leave mine parked at the high school where I work, or the grocery store with the top down, I don't worry about it.

In the end I bought the right car. I suspect if you want a driver you have the right car as well.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:20 am

P.S. I would keep it as original as possible. Buff the hell out of that paint and ditch the damn Mickey head. See if you can get something for it on Ebay if it is old. I live in Orlando, trust me, don't disrespect that car with M-I-C-K-E-y :twisted: Just my two cents.

Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:14 pm

SignLangLady wrote: P.S. I would keep it as original as possible. Buff the hell out of that paint and ditch the damn Mickey head. See if you can get something for it on Ebay if it is old. I live in Orlando, trust me, don't disrespect that car with M-I-C-K-E-y :twisted: Just my two cents.

The Mechanic hates Mickey too evidently...childhood issues possibly...or got denied from the Mickey Club... He already pulled off the Head...stomped on it...

Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:21 am

That is so wrong of him to stomp it.....but your post made me laugh.

Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:35 pm

Get some Griot's and buff that paint. Should come right back. Then you can have the areas that need attention fixed.
It's important to buff the paint to the best possible before fixing the damaged areas so that you get a good, close match.