1977 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser

I have my 1977 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser for sale. Link to the ad:

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5710757974.html

Runs and drives great. Rebuilt carb. New fuel pump. Frame mounted trailer hitch. Trailer brake control under dash as well as a CB radio.

 

Got better headlights.

 

Does the A/C compressor come with it? I didn't see it in the engine room pictures...

 

It doesn't. It came without one. Will cost a decent penny to make it all work again.

If an A/C compressor makes or breaks a sale, I can include one in unknown working condition.

 

Bump

 

Nobody remotely interested in a really solid wagon?

 

Hey, you asked. I see several problems with your car that will turn people off.

First, the whole right-front area is a mess and will take some money to fix up. It's unfortunate that this happened to the car, but it is a turn-off.




Second, THIS particular rust area looks frightening. It suggests that there are other, hidden rust problems in the car.




As a general comment, CLEAN the car up! Why is this crap all over the floor in this photo? Get it out of there, and THEN take the photo!




Finally, why are we seeing your feet in these photos? Are you trying to show off your pedicure? Can't you take the photos without your foot dominating the picture?






The above being said, your price is not unreasonable. But you have to recognize that your car, in spite of its virtues, is a beater. It is in poor cosmetic condition with stains, rips, and tears in the upholstery, carpeting, etc. pretty much anywhere you look. It has significant rust issues (a "soft spot" in the floor on the driver's side does NOT mean that the floors are solid--it's just more evidence of the rust we suspect is everywhere based on the second photo above), and the body needs lots of work. It may have a frame-mounted trailer hitch, but that's only of value if you can actually tow something with it, and if the frame is as rusty as your photos suggest, it might very well be unsafe to tow anything with this car.

You're to be commended, actually, for being so up front about the car's problems. Ultimately, you may have to lower the price to below $1000 to attract any interest, and even then, selling it to the auto recycler might be all you can get for it.

Just my opinion, and, again, you asked!

 

Given the fact the car was born here in Kansas and probably maybe grew up all it's life here it's extremely solid compared to what it could look like.

Yes it has rust. Some of it is in the typical areas of this generation of GM cars.

Yes the front seat has a rip or two. It's 40 year old GM vynl with 144K miles of use on it. It's extremely nice compared to what it could look like. Many people on this site know all too well the interior quality materials GM used back then.

Yes my feet are showing. I'll try to get better pictures since feet offend some here.

If you know someone in the area that can check the car out for you, I will gladly meet with them.

The frame is very solid. It's not rusting away with holes in it. Again for a midwest car it's not going to be perfect but given what it could look like it's a yon better.

The front is damaged yes. If I fix the header panel the price will go up a small bit considering my time and money to fixing it. Or I can leave it be and someone else can do the work if they wish.

If someone doesn't want the hitch I can have it taken off.

The asking price is reasonable given the condition of the car and where it came from. The price is or best offer. The price is also fair considering other ones out there that are worse.

I can't give it away for free like everybody out there wants. I saved it from being destroyed in the next local demolition derby and I would rather not see it go that way. Still has many many years of life in it.

 

Three comments:

It's not your feet that are offensive. It's crappy photography that's offensive. Your foot being the most dominant thing in the photo, especially the one of the CB radio (why are you showing us the CB radio, by the way...this is a selling point?), is crappy photography. So is the junk on the floor in front of the passenger side front seat. You want to present this car in the best possible light, and showing it with junk stored in it does not help. It suggests that the car has been treated shabbily.

No one is asking you to remove the trailer hitch. All I'm saying is that, given the rust issues in the frame, it may be nothing more than a decoration as the frame may not be strong enough anymore to tow anything.

The front end damage is more than the header panel. The right front fender most likely needs to be replaced as well. If it was just dented, it could likely be repaired. But there is a significant chunk of metal missing just behind the header panel. A replacement fender should be relatively easy to find, but then it, along with the header panel, has to be installed and repainted. I figure at least $1,000 to make the front end nice again.

I don't disagree with you that your asking price is reasonable, but you may need to come down some as you're the one who asked why there hasn't been any interest in the car since you started this thread almost 2.5 months ago. You need to ask yourself that question. If you don't want to hear honest, frank opinions, which you are perfectly free to disregard, you shouldn't be asking that question. We're not here to belittle you or your car, we're here to help you sell it, and that means seeing the car as it is. We don't want to see it go to a derby, either. But sometimes that means making sure you see the car as a perfect stranger sees it, not as the wonderful vehicle that has carried you through thick and thin.


One other thing. In your post above, you said this comment or something similar four times:

I assure you that how much worse the car could look is not a selling point.

 

The front should not cost $1000. I've priced both a header panel and a fender. Should cost around $200 approx for both. Depending on condition of either. The current fender isn't missing a chunk out of it. It looks that way.

I showed the CB because some it might be a selling point. To me it doesn't make a difference.

Either way, this is how the car will come most likely. It will be cleaned up before it changes hands.

 

Seeing that gasket on the floor makes me wonder if it needs a gasket replaced. Just saying. As for jaunty's comment about your feet, it's distracting from the photo and why have your feet in the photo when you can show more of the car in place of them to give more detail?