Advice on 73T w/ 3.2 Value

[Type911]

Posting for a friend who is interested in this car. What do you guys think this car is worth based on condition and upgrades ?

http://inventory.switchcars.com/card...p?VIN=1973911T

[karlusmagnus]

$60k for a 73T targa, with paint done 5 years ago, w/3.2 and original T engine, is a bit rich.
If you want a hot rod, and its built the way you like it, then you are amongst the smaller pool of buyers that this appeals to. Someone spent money on it, but it doesn't mean that your friend has to repay the cash.
It looks nice but its value with the 2 engines, if a good PPI was achieved and body/paint was good, receipts from reputable shop etc, would for me be something over half the asking. Perhaps mid to hi $30's.
Nice to have original engine, though. It just strikes me as a lot. Sam Gassel sold a beautiful hot rod on ebay for mid $30's IIRC, and I would take that car over this if given a choice and that budget.
Perhaps Bobby Smith will chime in as he seems to have a good eye on the climate for these hot rods.
There have been too many nice cars come around recently that supercede this in my pecking order, particularly at the asking price.

[Type911]

Karl,
My thoughts as well. Car does look nice, however the sum of money spent does not equate value.

Any other opinions....?

[Bobby Smith]

HA, I don't know how good my eye is for these conversion cars but I've been looking for a long time. Still am. I agree with you guys in that it's over priced.
BTW the ad list the price as $48,9xx. This one seems to be nicely done however it's a Targa and the seller will need to find a buyer that is looking for these exact mods. Otherwise all the money spent on the car really means nothing. I happen to love Targas but as we all know they are a tougher sell. I saw Sam G's car and it is a beautiful piece. Well bought in the low 30's IMHO but let's remember, this is not the same environment as a few years ago. There are a lot of really great cars available when you get into the $50K range.
Bobby

[berettafan]

$30k and that much only because the work looks really nicely done (don't trust pics myself but assuming it is as it appears...).

kind of a 'guilty pleasures' car with lots of nods to comfort. i'd go softer on the t-bars and make sure the stereo is up to snuff, put 60 series rubber on it (can't tell but looks like 50's on it now) and make sure nobody from ESReg ever knew i owned it lest i be called a pansy for enjoying something so soft (kinda like that Bee-Gees Gold cd set i have).

[tfmcmahon]

Chris,The 72Targa that was sold at Auto-Kennel was $35,000 and had similar features with a 3.6 in it .It sat for a long time before it sold.It too was a very nice Targa,but with a limited market.

[cosley]

Having had a '73E Targa with 3.2 I think you really need to flare (RS) the rear fenders and go with wider wheels & tires to utilize the h.p. & torque. A 7:31 r&p gives it much better bottom end, and the list goes on to build a nicely balanced car. I would think $25-30K. I prefer the targa over the coupe, clearly in the minority.

[jaudette3]

The money spent on a project is largely irrelevant - it all depends on how it's spent. I have a perfect example in a warehouse that I rent. The former tenant, who left hastily, was in the midst of building a limousine out of a Lear jet. Pretty cool, but a pretty small pool of buyers.

The car is nicely done (so is the Learmousine). But my sense is that until you start approaching the Jeff Smith level with a hot rod that the modifications reduce the value of the car as compared to original. It undeniably increases the fun, but it narrows the number of buyers and therefore the price. I'd say $35K or so unless you find that one person whose duck starts quacking when he sees the car.

The owner should keep it and amortize the money spend over a high number of *spirited* miles.

Cheers,
JohnA

[sithot]

This is different.

Tom

[jaudette3]

This is different.

Tom

I think as a group that we do many things with these cars that are considered cool in todays environment. But I feel strongly that years from now there will be many who frown on our efforts and will feel that we have molested the cars. "What were they thinking?"

There are times I think that if we want a newer and higher performing car that we should just buy one - and leave these priceless examples of form follows function alone. Then I start envisioning a great hot rod project.

In the final analysis it's the owner's money and perogative. But we sure look askance when someone strays from what is considered "cool". And the definition of cool is in a constant state of flux as time goes by as fashions and attitudes change. There was a time when disco was cool.

My .02.

Cheers,
JohnA