1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate 454

This CE is back. Probably still priced too high given the rust issues, but it is loaded up.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/4538839866.html

 

Very rare Caprice Estate 454 wagon!

 

Its rare yes but for 6K I would take the gold 73 Squire instead. And all this is said knowing that I wanted a 73 454 bb Caprice with A/C and a full power tailgate to start with but my 76 Caprice (still in California) runs rings around this one. There is just too much rust under that rear glass for my liking and it is a real mess under the hood amoungst other things as well. it is just too rough for me!

 

Any thoughts on what this Caprice Estate is realistically worth? Rare and loaded up, but what could that rust repair cost?! Probably unrealistic to speculate without a first hand inspection. I think the CE wagon is certainly worth saving, just a matter of how much to put into it.

 

What's the news?

 

Me I might take a punt at 2-3k, allow perhaps 7-10k for rust repair paint and wood and maybe couple more for cleaning up under the hood. That is as much as $13-$15,000 and we do not know what is wrong with that tailgate or how good the trim is either. The problem with $3,000 is it would most probably be derby bound at that price unfortunately.

 

TOTALLY worth saving! But with rust around the rear curved windows (and assuming there is more somewhere else), I wouldn't jump in at a purchase price this high. The rust repair around these windows would be a a pricey yet necessary part of the investment. If it were closer to my "back yard", I would consider it at a purchase price of around $3K, but would venture to go see it in person regardless of the asking price. This is a car with great potential, especially considering the odometer reading. My "two cents worth" here is of course based only on what we can see/read from the ad. I really hope this wagon finds a caring new home.

 

This one really is kind of a dilemma. Not worth the asking price given the rust, but if the price falls too low, it really does have the danger of being derby bound.

 

That's so true...and heartbreaking. If I had the means, I'd grab it just to prevent THAT from happening.

 

Still there.

 

Sadly, most clamshell wagons (unless from a dry garage since new) or a desert, will have rust around the rear cargo area windows. A very common rust spot on these cars.

 

I have often thought that people with cars like this, with known big ticket issues, often put a fairly high asking price on them to weed out the derby crowd. Go look in person, enthuse a bit about the car, talk about how you would lovingly bring the old girl back, and it is amazing how quickly the price drops. I have actually had to negotiate in reverse with a couple of sellers over the years, as the car really was worth more than the asking price was dropped to when they saw I really did love the car.

 

I'd be in it for three, tops. To fix that rear window requires removal of the curved side windows. Say one or both get broken or cracked in the process - are you going to find another? What about the window seals?

 

I think these windows are easily removed the the glue is probably so old they would practically fall out. One good thing there are a lot of clamshell wagons out there that are pretty rough that are being parted out and all 71-76 GM cargo area windows are the same IIRC.

Still, they should be professionally removed. That is what I am going to have done with mine. My windshield has to come out as well.