Selling a project car?

[Wall]

The question is what is the best point in the build to sell a project car if you want to get rid f it quick? As a seller which would be the best stage to sell and get the best return without holding on to it for too long?

Roller - All sheetmetal replaced and epoxy primed but finish bodywork not completed. Missing glass and various trim and interior pieces. This may be for the guy with a rusted out complete car that could transfer his parts over to.

Running - Car has had all the metal work done and is partially assembled. All body panels are installed, motor and trans are installed and car runs/moves. Brakes are installed and in working order. Glass not installed, car in epoxy primer but final bodywork not completed. Some trim pieces are missing.

Complete - Running, driving, painted. Everything very clean but no real expensive parts. Front disc brakes, rear drums, pontiac 400 engine, 4-speed trans. Car would not be restored to factory spec but just a nicely put together clean car.

[fishface]

This is just personal opinion, but a well done roller leaves open the buyers choice of suspension, engine etc and I would think would be more appealing, particularly if the buyer had some of the needed parts on hand.

[Bonehead]

Your definitions vary quite a bit from mine! Though after doing this with my Dad and on my own for the last 25 years, I think I like your definitions better. I'd LOVE to find a roller with all the sheet metal work and primed. Maybe my next one will start that way.....(doubtful!)

[Wall]

Yeah I did taylor these definitions more toward my particular project and not what they usually mean. I have 2 cars and have to get rid of one. The one I am going to sell was torn down before I figured out I wanted to sell it so basically I have to get it to that point (roller) to be able to sell it.

At first I thought about building the car and taking all the parts I don't really want to use and finishing the car and selling it. But after all I have been through with these cars I don't think I have it in me. Roller is what I am leaning towards, I guess it seems like it would be appeal to more people because the price is going to be lower and it will be a blank canvas for someone.

[Bob in St. Louis]

What do you have?

[Wall]

Both my cars are 67 firebirds. I bought one that was running and driving but later found all the rust issues. I originally bought the second car which was just the body and subframe because it had all the panels replaced and it was a good deal. My plan was to put all my parts from my car on it and save some time but I ended up having to do work to it to make it right.

[dhutton]

Tough to make money on a 67 Firebird. I would not put additional money into it. Sell it as is.

Pontiacs need to be numbers matching high horsepower cars to make money in my experience.

Don

[Build-It-Break-It]

To me selling it as a roller would bring you less money but the benefit would be you would have a lower investment with less money loss. The problem is certain cars fetch more money in the roller form. A 69 camaro will probably almost be double the price of a 69 firebird (just an example). I'd sell it as a roller without drivetrain.

[Wall]

At this point I realize I probably won't be making money but I am too far into it to sell it as it is. It has a one piece floor, one piece trunk floor, new firewall and upper cowl, inner and outer wheel houses have been replaced. I was hoping to only do quarter skins but I had to order full quarters.

Right now I plan to install the quarters and epoxy prime it then sell it as a roller. Not sure how much I will ask yet but thinking around $5k.

[vintageracer]

If you choose to install the quarter panels PROPERLY then DO NOT prime the car if you are going to sell.

If the sheetmetal install work is done "right" why would you cover up that work with primer????

Sell the car in bare metal so the buyer can really see what they are getting. Cars for sale as projects in primer are usually primered for a reason and that is to cover up crappy work.

[Z06vet]

If you sell it in primer just document all your work with good pics before & after. I wouldn't leave it sitting in bare metal. If you have some good parts to go with it that are usable I think 5K is reasonable.

[Wall]

If you sell it in primer just document all your work with good pics before & after. I wouldn't leave it sitting in bare metal. If you have some good parts to go with it that are usable I think 5K is reasonable.

So far I have sprayed the inside of the car in epoxy primer, I took out the dash and sandblasted everything before I sprayed epoxy. The roof is good and I am waiting on the quarters so I can install them and the tail panel. Then I have a small patch to do in the passenger side rocker panel. After that I can get the exterior in epoxy and go through my parts and see what I want to let go with it.

[Great White]

Well, its a pretty "regional" question in my mind.

Around here, a guy buying a shell usually knows what he's looking at and is going to offer accordingly (ie: low ball).

A runner often pulls in the "dreamers". The guy who sees a running car and says to himself " I can do that"! They typically pay too much and end up subsidizing the next guy they sell it to when they realize they're in over their head. "Pidgeons" might be the word. They think they are getting a deal but have no real idea of how much more work (and $) there actually is.

Then there's the complete cars. Hard to say what they go for usually. 90% of the time they go for less than what the seller has into them.

So, for around these parts a runner will often bring you the most profit.

That's around here, no way of saying for sure what your area will fetch.