1970 Ford Country Sedan

390 V8.

http://smd.craigslist.org/cto/4276969843.html

 

Over all in very good condition for the age. The rust is nasty looking, but not yet serious. With the recent work done to it, and the parts that come with it, this seems like a very good deal, especially for what amounts to a one owner car, since the seller is the son of the original purchaser.

 

Very nice for the price.

 

I have been emailing the owner since yesterday evening. There is a hole in the frame in front of one of the rear wheels. The windshield has a big crack, hence the replacement on hand. I am trying to decide if I really want to trailer that thing around DC.

Should I go for it? Even with the pending transmission rebuild and frame repair?

 

A transmission rebuild would run what, maybe $1,000? It's been awhile since I had to have one rebuilt, so I'm not sure what the going rate is.

Regarding the frame repair, bodywork and paint, I'd be tempted to get a quote first, before deciding to buy it. Unless, of course, you're able to do some or all of the work yourself.

Then, once you've got numbers in hand, you can decide how badly you really want it.

 

IMO the frame is something that should be inspected personally or by a neutral party. One rusted out hole in these frames could lead to paper thin swiss cheese spread out. When I looked at my 72 witch is the same frame, basically the same car from the windshield back I had the same exterior rust ishues as this wagon. Because of that I was nervious about the frame. I was luckey as the car was at a school with a lift, I beat the crap out of the rear frame with a hammer and was lucky it was solid, if the hammer had went through any where I would have walked . I personally would not take a chance on any car that I could not view personally after the seller says there is frame rust. I will ad, it was nice of the seller to disclose that information. A good deal is not a deal if your possibly going to need frame rust repair or even worse a new frame, and then all the other repairs.

 

Second the motion. The frame is your #1 priority. The doglegs and quarters are not terribly difficult for a skilled body man. Expect a good tranny rebuild to be in the $1500 - $2000 range. I think I paid $1800 for the C6 rebuild on my '70 Country Squire.

Above all, inspect the car in person before buying, unless you're a '70 Country Sedan fanatic and you're willing to sock almost any amount into it.

It seems to me the '70 Country Sedan is even rare than the Country Squire, and the Squire is not exactly common these days.

 

Picture #1 of the rust. I'm in a fight with flickr trying to get the other picture.

edit: and I give up on flickr. Here's a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24428532@N06/12055872126/in/photostream/

 

Rust in frames all ways concerns me. I'm guessing the seller sent you these pics?

As I mentioned before, I would be very cautious unless you can inspect it yourself or have a neutral party look at it. That flaking IMO could turn into a gaping hole and who is to say other areas of the frame mite turn into that with a couple bumps of the hammer

 

I'm with Tedy on this one. That frame needs a good close up inspection. That kind of rust can be a car-killer.

 

Well, the owner claims the rust is an isolated thing and that he has had it looked at by a body shop. If that is the case, then my theory is that what ever this weld is in the foreground of the first picture, caused a heating of the adjacent metal on the frame. Any surface protection went away and oxidation started at that lone point.

Wishful thinking perhaps. I will be calling the guy tonight. I dint want to dive over five hours to get there and decide I don't want it.

 

That pic with the quarter shows some pretty bad rust. You would have to open that hole to about 5" wide in order to get to good metal. Maybe that one area could be repaired, but what about the rest of the frame? I would not buy this wagon without a thorough inspection, including putting it on a lift to check underneath.

 

Big gamble, IMO the odds a against you re- the frame thing.




How about.......


A bit more $, but it is in VA

http://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/4279685357.html

 

That one looks pretty good!

 

I've been seeing that one for a while. The front seat is a little torn. Can't tell from the pictures in the ad if there is any rust on the lower panels. He's sent me more pictures from a phone that aren't any more clear about rust. If I can talk the guy down a bit, this one becomes an option for me. $5500, is a little steep for what I can do at this point.