I've been looking for a J2000 of any sort to post for a long time, but they have almost disappeared. Always like the front end that echoed the 1977-78 Firebird. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Pontia...re-/263122823402?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368
Would like to know what's with the Bubble Top behind it. At the current bid of $250, at the time of my posting, that's a bargain, considering the rust-free trunk pan and considering he's telling us everything and truthfull. Polishing that paint would be the first action for boosting restoration moral. The 4-banger's easy to work on and might just have a varnished float which wouldn't necessarily mean a carb rebuild. It's a project worth taking on, methinks.
Looks like a fun project if priced right. Needs carb rebuilt, lots of elbow grease, tires, and those things Texas Mike could fit in an afternoon.
Modern tires get so hard and cracked they sometime blow while a car is sitting. On the other hand my 1939 Ford still has the same air in the tires from over 50 years ago. Tread seems to last much longer now but the tires don't. I'd love to test clean that Pontiac with some Mothers cleaner and polish. I'd bet it will shine like new. Even the convertible top looks good. However it may be dry rotted like the tires. Also the plastic nose could be brittle. The bubbletop is just an ugly 4-door Chevy.
I know what it is, Sir. A '61, in fact. It looks like it's in good shape and maybe they want to sell it? It will, indeed, shine like new, if I may repeat myself. If the top is rotted and the nose is brittle, that can be expected. In a worse case scenario, fiberglass or Bondo can temporarilly replace the nose. It's still worth way over the $250 and the price hasn't budged from that. Once you chuck the carb, you won't be needing the catylitic converter, anymore. You'll just have to find an organ donor, first:
I learned long ago some of those older 4-door sedans like the '61 Chevy may be low mileage non-abused family cars great for grocery getting and going to work. I used to buy decent old Buicks and Chevys for $100 or so with only rust from midwestern salted roads with under 50,000-75,000 miles on them then sell them for often more later. Now that figure might be $1,000 but still a bargain.
Since then, how many families might have ridden in that old heap? The family which originally rode in it is close enough to retire and the driver likely croaked.
I am surprised at how little rust this car has for a WI car and considering how these models rusted almost as bad as a Vega (or insert any 1970's Japanese car) with no reserve and a starting bid of $250.00 heck if I owned one that needed a new top I would be all over it for parts. But fortunately I don't own one, WHEW!!!! that was close!
What's so bad about owning it? Is it an Aztek or what? We're talking $250 for basic economical transportation. If I was there, I'd jump on it.
I only said that as I consider the 1st Generation GM J-cars to be one of the worst Driving cars I have ever had the pleasure of driving. I am not comparing quality with a Vega, but a Vega was better handling, stopped and drove better, had a better seating position, and only rusted slightly faster than a 81-85 J-car. This Sunbird Convertible is about as good as they got in 1983. Back in the late 80's when I was looking for a cheap DD convertible I almost bought several until I actually test drove them.
Be it as it may, it's only a $250 car to burn less fuel and get you to where you want to go. Nothing more.
Ad says Not Running, restore or parts, I won't argue its worth $250 for parts, but I don't think its worth much more if you intend to repair and drive it.
The present owner likely hasn't the proficiency required to get it going. If he indeed does have it, he just might not feel like dealing with it. Might be lazy, on drugs or going through a bummer. We don't know and it doesn't matter. It's only 250 bucks. I'd buy it as a parts car, first, if I were you. Then, get it running and evaluate it. If feasable, then sell it as a running car for much more than you invested in it. If not feasable, then part it out. I would, myself, buy it for dependable economical transportation.
