56 bel air, what is it worth, 2nd look today

Hey guys, how is everyone doing today? I wanted to know what the value would be for a 56 bel air,2dr with no motor or trans and still owned by the original owner. this car has been stored since 1971 after the motor blew and was removed with the trans. I have posted pictures in "my junk pile" of the car but unfortunately was not able to get inside and that's why im going back today for a second look and talk to the owner in person. this car has almost everything original to it except for the back p*** emblem and he also has a new trunk lid for it. what should be a reasonable offer for this vehicle? I was thinking around $3k. thanks for looking and taking the time to respond back.

 

Let's start with what the owner is asking, which is......... ?

 

I find that out today. i just didn't want to get blown away if he said 7 or 8k, supposedly there is very little rust under it and if everything did look good I just wanted to know the general starting point for negotiating. the wife needs to go take a look after i have taken a second look, so i will take interior pictures and have a price range from the owner when i get back in about two hours.

 

around here a solid shell is worth 5k---with misc stainless pieces---if complete prolly 6500-7k-----im not saying thats what i would pay----but i have seen these prices

 

Wow, sweet! My older step sister's first husband had that exact model and color when they got married, first Tri-5 I ever took interest in and been partial to '56s ever since. Don't know what it's worth but you are welcome to use this information in your negotiations.

 

If it is fairly rust free and local to you in Michigan, you might want to do the math on how much $$ it would take to fix a typically rusty 56 or haul one up from the south.

 

blowby---i am trying to complete a deal on a 55 two door ,mind if i use your info ?

 

no problem

 

X2.

 

IMO, $3K is tops, I wouldn't personally pay more than $2K. I looked at your pictures of the car, it's in rough condition and is going to need a lot of work.

 

I'd say a '56 Belair 2 door is worth at least 5 maybe more depending on body condition. I restored a '56 Chevy 4dr wagon 16 years ago and it cost me $3200 in running condition.

 

worth about 800 down here...

 

As with real estate, located is a major factor in price of any car. Up here in the rust belt a decent, restorable car is going to be worth more than the same car in the sunny south west. It would be fairly hard to find a car in that condition around here unless it's been stuffed away in a dry buiding somewhere. If it's been left outside for any extended period of time it's going to be nothing but a rusty hulk holding up some stainless trim.

 

ya, I take back what I said earlier....thats pretty rough....... Without lifting the carpet..... I think you're looking at a $1000 car

 

Two door Bel Air post car, not very common. Pretty rough and rusty, would want to know what the floors look like.

What Steve said, maybe a grand.

 

$1500 if youre in love with it. You couldnt pay me to take it. Sure its mostly all there, but it needs almost every part refurbished or replaced to be nice.

 

Go to magazine stand and get a copy of latest Old Cars Report Price Guide and look at values for various conditions

Go to eBay and see what '56 Bel-Air 2 dr sedans have sold for. That should give you a ball park for value when it's finished

Then figure what it would take to get the car up to the standards you want. It might be less expensive to buy finished car (or one nearly finished) than to buy this one and restore it.

 

Let us see the floors, inside the trunk, the inner wheel house, the rockers, the last 6" aka tail pan. You can get a real good idea from crawling under the car.

 

Maybe this magazine has changed in the last few years but, when I last looked at it(probably 4 or 5 yrs ago), alot of their values were really high(some as much as 4x IMO). So, unless it has changed, I would say that magazine is only relevant to the same crowd that thinks Barrett-Jackson has anything to do with reality.

I do agree that ebay can be a good source to look at. Ignore the 'buy it now' prices though... 50% or more of those numbers seem to have been arrived at while the seller was under the influence of ?.

***uming the floor is consistent with the rest of the car(not totally gone but definately needing some patchwork), I'd say 1500 to 2500 in my neck of the woods.

 

$600.00-$800.00 I think you should look for something in better condition. This is a parts car.
Jay

 

FWIW:
In June 2010 I bought a 56 4dr Bel Air hardtop in better looking condition (but the frame was bad) for $1250. Had a V8 (stuck).

I parted it out, made $1100 profit, and still have the complete dash and the steering wheel and column.

 

thanks for the feedback and help. I think I might offer 2500 for the car as I am able to do most of the work here at the house while my cousin does the welding for me. he has done several cars and is a welder by trade. I beleave anything over 2500 is to high.

 

IMO here that car would bring at least 3k.

 

$1200 tops

 

From the pics that 56 is like a woman with loads of makeup on but when its off shes in rough shape. $2500 is about $1000 to much.

 

So what's the seller want?
Start low, you can always go up.
Check the frame !

 

just bought a 55 with extras for 700 not any better than yours---2 extra sets of 2dr doors...

 

I'd walk if I had to give more than $1000.

Frank

 

Amazing what different parts of the country differ In price