1961 lesabre 4 door........Is it worth it?

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDo***ent> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDo***ent> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> I found a 1961 buick lesabre 4 door for sale for a $1000. Its got the 364/auto. Its not running at the moment but the guy claims he rebuilt the thing recently. Its got a new tank as well as a new radiator and the body is in great shape with only surface rust. The only rot is a 3”x3” section in the trunk. There is some bondo on the bottoms of the doors and lower fenders so it was probably hit at some point in its life but other than that it is surprisingly strait. As for the interior, it has seen better days. It will need door panels and a new seat cover up front as well as carpet all around. The headliner isn’t in to bad of shape. I did some shopping and its going to be about 500 bucks for widow seals etc. I just want to get some feedback since this will be my first project. Let me know what you think and possible ideas. Thanks

-Dave

 

If you like it that might be an ok price. It depends on what you want. Also do you have the skills or money to fix what needs fixing? It is ok if it is a bit more than you have skills for, but you don't want to pick a project that will overwhelm you and make you give up on it. I made that mistake before.

 

It sounds like a fair price but make sure it is the one you want since it will consume lots of time and money.

 

Take a long hard look at the frame for the last foot or so, the rear bumpers like to fall off of these things from frame rot and that's a bad spot. Also, obvious bondo on the bottoms of the doors and fenders usually means poorly repaired rot and not a hit so check that out a lot closer.

If the motor was really rebuilt, then it's probably a pretty good deal for the money, but just because the guy says it was rebuilt, that doesn't mean ****. Especially considering you can't hear it run. There's a lot of questions I'd want answered before I'd buy it, especially being a four door. But it might be good, just have to dig deeper.

 

well, if it has the 4bbl intake and carb on it that's $150; the gas tank if really new would cost you $200; the rearend is sellable to guys converting 59-60 Buicks to open drive; we're up to $500 with just a few pieces, so $1000 for the car probably is not bad even if it does turn out to be junk.

However the interior will be expensive, it may cost more to redo than the car is really worth.

 

If you do not want a more door do not start with a more door. Find something you can live with, forever, if need be. Yes yes you will get it done in X amount of time. But if you don't, you still have something you love 30 years later. I have a 40 Ford that as waited thru 3 businesses, 2 concieved and raised kiddo's, 4 moves, no BIG money to get it where I want it, but yet I perservier. It was 400 big ones in a stream with no love......ah ****....who am I? Buy it .....La Sabre's are COOL.