Should I buy this 73 conv

[sbpickup]

So I have a chance to buy a 1973 Ghia Convertible.

It has about 51,000 miles on the clock. The interior is rough, but all there. It has solid floors and rockers. (NO RUST) Nice orig top and paint. It even has a nice orig top boot and a tissue dispenser.

Now for the bad, was hit in the driver side front in 1975/6 and has been in dry storage ever since. The car looks almost new from the cowl back. Passanger side front is swayed toward d/s and the frame head is twisted.

Asking price is $3000, located in Southern PA

Any thoughts?

Thanks guys!!

Sean

[70 140]

Yes. In the least you could put a one piece front end on it, or buy fiberglass panels, but the asking price is too high. It does have the accessory centre console.

[sbpickup]

True, I missed the console. I have one in my other car as well

[70 140]

whats the orange car?

[sbpickup]

[Ozzie]

That could be a great deal. 51k miles is barely used. However, that dry storage dosen't look very dry. I see a bunch of rust. It's been sitting for 30 years. Anything that should move will be frozen & anything that is supposed to be tight won't be. It all boils down to what you expect to do with it. Are you going to patch it up & hit the road or are you going to take it apart & restore it? I think I'd pull it out in the light & crawl all over it first. It looks like it would make a great project.
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Oversteer is when the back of the car hits the wall...

[stancey53]

Dude, that car probably isn't all that bad but 3k is probably a bit too much. You are looking at at least a grand to fix the wreck assuming to do the work yourself. At least another grand to fix the interior, assuming you do the work yourself. Lastly, at least another grand for unseen stuff that you are going to find. That's at least 6k to get the car just decent. Really, that's not a terrible price for nice '73 vert but you know how these things go, it always cost more to fix than you think.

[70 140]

[70 140]

[Ozzie]

[sbpickup]

[img]I thought so. Bent? like from an accident, or bent from the rusties? [/img]

Bent as in hit passanger side. I will have to get a better look at it some time.

If I bought it it would ba a patch and play car. Nice, but not a show car.

Ill have to see what I can do about the price.

Sean

[retrowagen]

Naw, don't. A car like that will take over your life, one way or the other.

Either you'll spend all your time and money trying to get it on the road, or it'll be a continual albatross around your neck and in your garage. The price is tantalizingly low, as is the mileage, but it looks quite corroded, it's structurally banana'ed (body and chassis), and the interior fittings appear weathered and moisture damaged beyond reasonable salvage.

Looks like a bravery/stupidity test to me.

Save a little longer, find a better one, insert yourself in the driver's seat, enjoy. My $0.02.
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David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[Ozzie]

[NOVA Airhead]

I would say its a $1,000 car.

Remember that '73s are not considered the most desirable year so their value restored will not be as great relative to other years. If you can get it for $1K and there is little rust in the rockers and channels, you can get the engine running with a tune up and oil change, you might have a decent car with another $3K to $5K.
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Ghia Owner Emeritus

[Ozzie]

See if the engine turns.
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Oversteer is when the back of the car hits the wall...

[sbpickup]

There is surface rust on all the bare metal. The floors and rockers are solid. I did not feel any soft spots on the rockers or lower body.

That said I felt the price was a bit high, and the car a bit over my head.

I am not hurting for a Ghia, I am in the process of getting my 70 ready for inspection. I am looking for another one as a project for my oldest son. He has a 1970 that he bought when he was 12 that is VERY rough.

I am trying to find him something more complete and in a bit better shape.

I am going to pass on this one I think. I may list it in the classifieds for the owner. Not sure how negotiable he will be on it.

I think I am going to buy the car that is sitting in front of it. Looks to be a 68 or 69 coupe that is straight and complete. Looks to need some work around the pass side headlight. I can’t tell if it is Amber (69 correct) or Sunset (68?) because of the dust. This one also feels solid in the rockers; I still need to look at the floors. I am going back tomorrow to get the vin so he can hunt the title. While I am there I will try to clean it off, and get some good pictures.

Thanks everyone!

Sean

[Gary]

I wouldn't put a fiberglass front end on the car; however, I do have a replacement front fender for it.
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West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)