1958 4 door biscayne w/picturesto buy or not to?

how much should i be looking at paying for it?

the guy has put a 327 with an automatic it sounds lopey he said that he has gone over and re done the drive train within the last couple years.he has taken out the tail lights but he has the besesle but not the leanses.. he has all the side trim and it's been recromed.. he has re done the the floor boards but there is still a little near drivers door on the inside.
exterior is kinda thrashed no interior pannels on back two doors driverside is haggered p***engers side is alright.. head liner looks alright.
the guys told me he has just lost intrest in it..
the guy wants 2000 for it.. is this a good deal for what he has?

 

if it runs, drives, shifts and stops then maybe....body doesn't seem to be in rough shape other than peeling primer and some dents? I wouldn't pay more that 1500

 

1500 if it runs well and drives. That thing has a **** ton of doors

 

First, it depends on how badly you want to own it. Can you take it or leave it or is it a must own? I would low ball him to start and take it from there. Be armed with some points on your side; it's a more door, the interior is shot, it's a biscayne and not a bel aire, etc. Double check that all of the chrome is there if you intend to use it. Listen to it run for awhile and drive around the lot or block if you can. Bring a respected friend along with you to back you up. I personally have a soft spot for the 4 door cars and think the HAMB can always use another member with one.

 

except for the roof, the car's in great shape. with a little work it could be cool, if u can get him down a lil on the price, i'd go for it

 

I paid 4 grand for a much better Bel Air, some rust over the head lights was all. Interior great, but inline six and PG.

 

I'd look at it as a simple driver and if as already noted it runs and drives good somewhere in the teens is likely a good buy.

For just a beater driver I'd likely sell the rechromed trim and mags and get some of your money back there and then just drive.

Likely isn't worth the money to put it back real nice.

 

this thing would be my daily driver .. im just seeing if it would be worth the effort.. and as far as it goes about the four doors you know what i like to say "more doors more fun"

it just seems like im having a bad time finding cars that seem put together enough in my price range and that aren't compleatly outa my area

 

If I remember correctly the side trim is aluminum so it's not rechromed, may have been buffed.

 

Hey its got 2 doors......on each side. 1200.00

 

If it's being bought as a 4 door project car, 1200-1500.

If it's being bought as a parts car for a 2 door, $2000.

To the right person that front clip's gotta be worth a grand by itself. Engine, trans, wheels, and a few other misc pieces of trim and suddenly it seems alot more valuable in pieces.

 

There are 2K in parts there.

I'd want to be sure all the chrome trim is present. That stuff could get expensive in a hurry. Have someone who knows what he is doing check the engine. Get under it & check for more rust. Does it go? Does it stop? Drive it.

With a two-tone primer job, cheap lowering, & all the chrome back on it...... it could make a decent driver. If it checks out & all the chrome is present I'd guess it's a good deal at 2K or less.

JH

 

Purchase negotiations sometimes require some psychology to get the best deal. Is the guy really tired of it or does he really need the cash to keep the lights on? OR, if he is realllly tired of it, then perhaps he would take a low ball price for the Bisquit just to get away from it. See if he has any receipts from the machine work, rebuild he did. Is it a small journal 327 with camel humps or a disguised 307 medium journal? If it were me, I would run the casting #'s, but that is just me. I always want to know what small block I am buying, print out all the casting #'s from www.mortec.com and take them with you. I'd shoot for $1250 to start. The fenders sure look good. A great deal better that my 58 Biscayne's eyebrows. There is a lot of good advice above.
Mark

 

That is a parts car.
If you aren't in the parts reselling game and don't need the parts for another '58, p***.
Last 4 RUNNING parts cars I bought were $50, $300, $300 and $60 in that order.

 

It is a $500 roller with a $500 motor. Unless he's got receipts to prove it, no motor is rebuilt unless you've done it! You're going to spend $500 to get it road worthy.

It is up to you, you can go any way you want to but if you are already on a budget, then that means you'll need money left over to make it a driver.

 

$1000 is fair. No matter what you will likely spend another $500 getting it on the road.Now if it was a Delray 2 dr. coach...

 

Aint that the truth...

 

here's something to consider... when you are an old fart you will never look back and say to yourself "damn, I sure wish I bought that 58 chevy four door for 1500 back in 2008".

I've owned a bunch of cars. If I had a do over I would have p***ed on more than a few of them. there is really only one I p***ed on that I wish I hadn't, that was a 65 GTO 389 4 speed for $800.00 in 1979.

if in doubt... p*** it up. something else will pop up.

 

p***-the world is full of used up 4 doors

 

You said that it was going to be a driver. If all it really needs is taillight lenses, then $2k isn't a horrible price.

That's a little gem right there. Make sure that you or someone you know who is knowledgeable takes a look at the car ALL OVER. I personally would start the negotiation at a grand-ish. Do yourself a favor, and don't buy the car just because it is conveniently located. The trip to pickup a car is all part of the fun. Good luck, and I hope that it goes well for you.

 

yeah it's not that distance is really all that big of a deal it's just that im looking for an daily because i at this point have gotten myself in a pickle so i don't have transportaion at this point...and i reeeeealllllllyyy don't want to start looking at honda's eeeekkk

 

no dis-respect but its has way too many doors,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

looks like a parts car to me

 

If you are looking for a daily and this can be daily driven, or you posses the skills to make it such within your budget, then its a ton cooler than a Honda or Toyota.

 

Buy it but not for that much.I would offer about $1400.

 

I know this aint Oz, but you'd certainly pay more than $2k here. Sedans are generally acceptable in our culture, especially American 5o's ones. Besides looks like no serious rust. If it needs work, then it's a project!

 

The body looks pretty good! I've seen worse for the same price. If it runs and drives,i'd say YEA!

BUT....ALWAYS counter-offer first!!!!

 

no one has mentioned it yet but take a good look at the frame. the back half of these x-frame cars likes to rot off. and who ever said 4 doors are more fun never could afford a two door

 

either buy it for cheap, not much more than a grand, and have some fun with it. do some cutting.

if the dude will not sell for cheap, keep saving your money for a *****in 2 door. i recently looked at a fully running 2door and the guy was not asking much more than 2g.

 

the drivetain is worth a good bit of money, front clip would be worth some money, if it has all of the same rims you could clean them up and sell them, the chrome would sell too...so if you buy it and find out that it wont do good as your daily driver then you could always take it apart and to a swap meet or somethin...you will get your money back outta it

 

If it were me i wouldnt buy it, unless you plan on keeping it, if you gonna try to resell youd most likely lose on it... id cost you 10 grand to make the car worth 5 6 depends how it comes out