I've wanted to hang onto my '86 Custom Cruiser for sentimental reasons, don't get me wrong, I love wagons outright, but I am financially unable to keep a car that is as far gone as mine. With that said, I've had a lot of time to think about this, and there are a lot of variables, I mean my parts car has a running engine, and a fully functional transmission I could use, but my wagon still needs a lot of work, suspension, ball joints, new bushings front to rear, differential needs to be gone through, might've been what nuked my transmission. Plus the body work, quarter panel, rust on the spare tire pan, rear windows are leaking and possibly rusty, all four doors are rusty at the bottoms, front right fender is dented, both bumpers are pretty well wrecked. It just goes on, however, I don't want to scrap them, I can't do that, I'd have to sell them to someone who would fix my wagon with the parts car. But I see noone crazy enough to do that when there are still pristine examples available. Point of it being, unless someone here on the forums wants a T boned '89 Custom Cruiser with about 130k miles, 307, 700R4 automatic, loaded, great interior condition, and my trashed '86 Custom Cruiser which was meant to have the parts from the '89 donated too, and I can't find some other wagon lover to sell them too, I dunno what I'm gonna do with them. This has been a long time coming, I really am attached too my car, and if it went to someone who would fix it, I'd be content, but I cannot scrap it. That's like asking me to go out back and shoot my dog (if I still had a dog). I am putting serious thought into this, and while I do not have a title for the '89 as far as I am aware, the '86 has a clean title. Wouldn't mind some input on this, frankly I'd rather take on an easier project or just find some beater I can piece back together as need be for the time being. It's simply not something I can do to keep these cars now, I don't have anywhere to keep them, my father wants them gone from his property, I can't blame him. So, if any locals are interested, around Roanoke, VA, tell me, I'd like to see my ole yellow tank go to a good home. I know this belongs in the for sale / wanted area if it where an ad, but it isn't an ad, it's just a thought, unless someone really does get interested, then I will handle it over personal messages. Either way, this is just a wagon owner realizing he probably has to part with his car.
Sadly this is probably the best thing to do, sell them and forget them. It really makes no sense to attempt to fix any vehicle that is too far gone. As you wrote, there are better examples ready to drive and tinker with at a lower price than the repairs you would need. I am facing similar decisions with projects. Not that they are too far gone. Rather I am too far gone to finish them. These are only material things. Life and good times are far more important. Never give up hoping and looking for another project. We have another member with what he thought was a very good wagon to build a cruiser and RV hauler who found it too was too far gone. He bit the bullet and now his parts car will be his project. Plans do change but it's not the end of the world.
Cats, said it all good luck with whatever you decide to do Dead Reckon no one knows what may come your way
You're making the right decision - don't throw good money after bad. Get yourself in the mindset that this is business, not personal. You've got a tough sell with a damaged vehicle and one with no title, so be realistic. Set a price that will get the vehicles sold - one that is not based on sentiment or emotion. You can't worry about the future of either vehicle once you've got them for sale, so don't get caught up in making sure they go to a "good home". If they end up as parts cars or demolition fodder, so be it. The faster that you get the sale over with, the better you'll feel. Sorry for the tough love - only trying to look out for your best interests. I've been there, done that - got the t-shirt too. Good luck.
I had someone offer me $500 for the parts wagon, for a demolition derby, thought made me cringe, I'll have to look around though, see if I've got a title on that one. If I do it's in my fathers files somewhere, I might be able to find a local wagon owner who wants 'em.
