Thinking of getting this 1A2, think it looks any good?

A little while back I posted this thread asking what sort of station wagon would fit my needs. In the end, it was determined that a Chevrolet Caprice 94-96 wagon would suit what I wanted. I spent some time looking around at used ones for sale, but also keeping my eye out for a police model, the 1A2. I happened upon one, but I was wondering what the more experienced folks of it from the forum thought.

Here's a few photos I was sent. The guy is asking $2700 for it























Yea, there's some obvious rust, but mostly around the wheel wells. Also, the owner mentioned that it needs a new distributor cap.

 

Ouch, the distributor cap is a pricey problem.
They are a few hundred bucks, and not easy to install.

 

I would forget about that one, Koz. You will be spending money on this car and it will never be as nice as getting one for the same money.

 

if I may offer a counter point here.

$2700 for a 1A2 is a deal if the mileage really is 89k.
change the plugs first. if it still acts goofy do the cap and wires. caps are not as cheap as a traditional dist. but can be had from other forum members on the ss forum fairly cheap. (i paid 80 for an msd...and that was for the whole thing. ). the 1A2 is a rare car anymore. and that one is clean. if i had the $$ it would be in MY driveway! The rust on the inside fenders happens to cars in arizona!

the reason that the rust on the fenders happens is that GM (in their infinate wisdom) thought it would be a good idea to rust proof the fenders BEFORE the accesory holes were drilled!

my thoughts....PULL THAT TRIGGER

 

I expect to spend some, by why do you think it wouldn't be worth it? The car before the one I have now was a police car, and I really liked the heavy duty suspension, which was one of the reasons I was keeping an eye out for a 1A2. But if there's something you see that you think would be a big problem/money pit, then let me know.

Also, I'm going to be asking him for some more specific pictures. I wan't to see the underside/frame for one. Any specific places people want to see?

 

I'm not saying I wouldn't buy it, and deal with whatever issues come up.
But you have to know what you're getting into first.
If the mileage is correct, that's a good price.
I paid $3000 for my 9C1 with around 100k on it.
Mu point is you may be able to haggle him down on the price given the acknowledged optispark issue, and whatever else. You should consider the cost replacement at a shop with a stock part as part of the package, and I bet that would run a bill of over $300.

 

What do you think would be a good deal? $2500?

 

Well....I guess I should make my comments with greater reservation in the future.
I didn't know you were familiar with and LIKE cop cars. I don't. Yeah...I know all about the heavier suspension, etc but, to me, the use trumps the advantages. Spends most of its life sitting around at idle, holes & switches drilled in the dash, cloth in the front and vinyl in the back, decal burns in the paint, usually a bare bones car. These are some of the things I don't like about cop cars. This particular one has those things I don't care for plus a dent and rust. I, personally, wouldn't buy this car just because of the rust. Is this a NY car? If so it is likely salt rust. And one reason it needs a new Opti could be that it got wet....the engine compartment in that car is filthy and shows signs of being wet in the past. A lot.
BUT....there are those that seek the cop cars because of a few parts and if you like cop cars then I withdraw my previous comment. To each his own, I say.

 

$2,700 sounds high to me for a NY car with obvious rust issues, and the seller says it needs a cap, it probable needs more. You need more, better pics especially of the underside. All the HD stuff on cop cars are of no use if the rust and rot ate all the rest of it, the 4 body mounts on the firewall in particular. I'd go buy a high mileage southern car before I buy a rusted pile from NY. Where in NY are you/the car located?

Mike

 

The car itself is in mid-Ohio, so it should have less of a rust problem than a local NY car with all the salt. But Mike, you're right about the high mileage southern car. My police car came from Georgia, nearly 200,000 miles on it, and it was in great shape.

Silverfox, I know just what you mean. Really, the purpose of this wagon is to have something that I can tear into. I have a newer, nicer car, with various fancy things, a nice paint job, etc etc. It's so nice that I fear driving it around half of the roads of northern NY, which are more pothole than road. I don't like loading it up with too much stuff, or filling the back seats with dogs. That car is my nice, good mileage vehicle. This wagon would the piece of junk with holes drilled in the dash that I don't have to worry about. I want something hearty (but with those big comfortable seats), not a looker with all the bells and whistles.

The owner said the opti-spark started having trouble when the water pump leaked on it. The water pump has been replaced.

 

The thing I like about them is the rubber flooring.
The optispark vent harness is/was an issue and there is a fix for that.
It's good to have a car that's a little beat up so it can still take a few more hits and you're not worrying about a $5000 paint job.
I use my wagon to haul stuff around, and that looks like a good candidate for a working wagon - if the rust isn't too bad.

 

Yeah, koz...from your last post I probably couldn't say it better than Andy just did. If you want a quick driver for some fun and you like the cop car set up, then this may be just what the doctor ordered. But, I will reiterate what Andy said.....IF the rust isn't too bad!

 

I e-mailed the seller asking for several photos of the underside so I can see what the rust is like.

HandyAndy, any advice/link on fixing the optispark issue? Or should I just get it replaced with something like this?

 

OK...I'll probably take a hit for this post, too. Especially from Ian. BUT...I am a FIRM believer that when replacing the Opti you use OEM ONLY! Use either the AC Delco or the Delphi. Trust me on this. OK....take aim everybody.
Also replace the water pump and the vent harness at the same time. Probably wires too...Delphi are the cheaper AC Delco wires.

 

Yeah X2 on that. But the seller already did the water pump.

Do a search on the impalass forum for endless optispark discussion and huge amounts of blather.

I go here for the facts and good answers on b-body stuff:
http://z9.invisionfree.com/The_Caprice_forum/index.php?act=idx

and here for a yahoo groups thing:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/9c1/messages