I had saved up $600 over the course of several months, money my wife wasn't aware of, and I got in a lot of trouble when one Saturday morning I went to an impound auction and brought home this 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier: $475 plus a $38 buyer's fee at 8% and then $67 to tow it home. I've since put $68 into a battery, $70 into tires, $5 for a battery hold-down rubber wedge thingie, and $2 worth of missing lug nuts. $725 invested so far and here it sits awaiting title and registration and then it'll need an inspection sticker. Somebody did NOT know what they were doing with this car. From what I gather, this was sold at an auction in Travis county after it was a theft recovery. The person who bought it put in a steering column from a 1999 Sunfire (along with incorrect airbag) and left it hanging in pieces. At that point they decided to drive it up here on a paper tag with no inspection sticker and probably no insurance and they got arrested by the Wichita county Sheriff and the car was seized. Not impounded, seized. As in the Sheriff's office took title to it and they couldn't get it back unless they went to the auction to get it. I think they may have been arrested for other things, but I have no proof of it. They also managed to put all the fuses in the wrong order (they are very different between 1999 and 2001 apparently). They also wired up the cooling fan (the one on the radiator) with a HOUSEHOLD LIGHT SWITCH. I've fixed the steering column and reset the Passlock anti-theft system so the car now starts and runs fine. Next on my list is something less important, the radio which is still in lockdown mode: And then I'll air up the right front tire, get the title and tags done, take it in for inspection, and hopefully it'll pass. It does have ABS and airbag lights on so I'm worried about those, but everything else works (but the radio so far) and is in decent shape. I'll have $900 in it by the time it's roadworthy and they seem to sell for $1500-$2500 easily if they run and drive with high mileage. This one only has 92525 miles showing and that means I should be able to get more for it than some. Probably start a CL ad at $2450 when it comes time and see who bites my ankle at that price and what they want it to come down to. If someone walks up with $1200-$1500 in cash they're probably driving away in it. That means I make enough money to buy something else and that's all I want to do with this thing. Now when I first got this thing I got it with the intention of giving it to my stepdaughter to replace the POS Cougar she's been driving. But she hates red, and hates Cavaliers. I'm ok with that. So I think I'll sell this and take a little profit for my efforts to un-mess it up and see what I can do next with the money.
Pretty clean little car and once you fix the heres and theres that were so nicely "rigged" for you, I think fetching 1500.00 at the least would be a snap. Nice find Occupant!
Hope it turns out good fot you. I like the switch..... I remember years back looking at a Dodge Dart and the horn was rigged up the same way
Sometimes wives choose the oddest things to get upset over. Nice score on the little red chivy. Sounds like it will be Good for at least doubling your money. You shouldn't have any problem moving it. All around good deal. Although I must say, my favorite custom touch is the switch.
I love Texas. Only place I know you can go to the state surplus warehouse in Austin and have your pick of about 50 patrol cars, desks, chairs, and all the silly stuff they have siezed from people just about to get on an airplane... Buckets full of pocket knives etc...Saw a bowling ball there once that they took from some guy.....
